Former Raiwaqa Bakery Chef Thrives On Royal Navy Job
Ms Luke previously worked as a chef at the Raiwaqa Bakery owned by her mother.
Tuesday 22 March 2022 | 13:17
From humble beginnings as a chef at the Raiwaqa Bakery, Unaisi Luke has become the first in her family to join the Royal Navy as a photographer.
The 32-year-old was born and raised in Suva, and moved to the United Kingdom (UK) in 2012.
She was among crew members of an offshore British patrol vessel, HMS Spey, which arrived in Suva on March 16, 2022.
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Ms Luke previously worked as a chef at the Raiwaqa Bakery owned by her mother.
“I moved to the UK in 2012, went through the recruitment process and joined in September 2013 as a chef,” she said.
The former Yat Sen Secondary School student had to leave her job as a chef because of medical issues.
It has been eight and a half years now since Ms Luke joined the navy. She said becoming a photographer was one of the best decisions.
“I enjoy being a photographer since every day is not the same.
“One day I can be flying in a helicopter taking photographs and videos of a task group. Or taking photographs and videos of a jet taking off a flight deck.”
Her advice to women who want to join this field is to take the initiative: “Don’t be afraid to take the lead.”
“Some people are afraid of the unknown, I just took the lead and landed a good job.”
HMS Spey is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel of the Royal Navy.
The vessel is on a five-year operation to the Indo-Pacific region alongside her sister ship HMS Tamar. HMS Spey will depart Fiji later this month.
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