Leadership (Fiji) Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of two distinguished professionals, Dr. Deepak Sharma and Jacqueline Hughes as new members of its Board of Trustees. Their appointments reflect Leadership (Fiji) Foundation’s ongoing commitment to establish, empower and equip exceptional leaders to create and support a better and just society for Fiji.
Jacqueline Hughes brings nearly three decades of experience in planning and development across Fiji, the Pacific and Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Town Planning (Hons) from the University of New South Wales and is currently the Managing Director of PLANIT Pacific Pte Ltd. Jacqueline is a registered Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant in Fiji, a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and has held numerous leadership roles in community and professional organisations. She completed Leadership Fiji’s Reflective Leadership Program in 2023 as an Australia Awards Alumni and her appointment as an Independent Trustee will be of huge benefit to the Leadership (Fiji) Foundation.
Dr. Deepak Sharma is an Emergency Physician at CWM Hospital’s Emergency Department with 12 years of experience in emergency medicine and 15 years as a practicing doctor. Dr. Sharma completed the Leadership Fiji program in 2022, where he was elected Team Leader, demonstrating his commitment to leadership and community service. His expertise in healthcare and his passion for community service is a great fit for the Leadership (Fiji) Foundation.
Established in October 2022, Leadership (Fiji) Foundation is a legally registered charitable trust dedicated to mobilizing resources and funding to support life-changing community development initiatives. The Foundation’s mission is to establish, empower and equip exceptional leaders to create and support a better and just society for Fiji. It is built on Leadership Fiji’s belief that leadership is about taking action and solving problems, and this will provide the Leadership Fiji Alumni with the opportunity to continue to connect via their passion community projects and activities for which Leadership Fiji has become known for.
Previously under a sub-committee of the Leadership Fiji Board known as the Leadership Fiji Community Fund, the Alumni members of that Committee had already supported a number of community projects totalling over $100,000 such as the funding of the build of a community play centre in Totoya in Lau which was undertaken by our Leadership Fiji 2015 Alumni, advocacy outreach programs of Drug Free World Fiji, supporting the Uto Ni Yalo Trust’s Traditional Sailing and Environmental Stewardship program, providing drone technology for monitoring and management of the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, providing life-saving equipment to Life Flight Fiji, partially funding the payment of a Van for The Greater Good Foundation to assist in the collection of stray dogs, assisting PPSEAWA’s Qoqa’s Greenhouse Project in Nagado Village, Nadi, purchase and delivery of a tractor and plough worth $40,000 to Montfort Boys Town, supporting TEDx Suva events and scholarships to participants in the Leadership Fiji core Program.
Call for Proposals: Funding for New Projects
In line with its mission, the Leadership (Fiji) Foundation Board of Trustees is excited to announce the Call for Proposals for funding and are encouraging the Alumni of Leadership Fiji to apply. The Foundation will support innovative projects in areas such as Child Development, Education, Food and Nutrition, Animal Protection, Women and Family Development, Leadership Training, Promoting Democracy, Free Exchange of Knowledge and Sustainable Community Environmental Projects.
The Call for Proposals Application Form is available on Leadership Fiji’s website www.leadershipfiji.org and organizations are encouraged to submit proposals that align with Leadership (Fiji) Foundation’s mission of creating lasting social impact.
The Foundation also acknowledges the resignation of Thelma Taria-Savua and Maureen Penjueli and extends its gratitude for their service.
Current Board of Trustees:
- Rajesh Patel – Chair (LF2002)
- Anare Manulevu (LF2005)
- Ritesh Ratiram (LF2017)
- Talei Tuitoga (LF2018)
- Iris Low – Independent Trustee •
- Including the two newly appointed Trustees – Jacqueline Hughes and Dr. Deepak Sharma
About Leadership Fiji
Leadership Fiji was established on 6th February 2001, as an independent, non-partisan organization focused on building educated and broadminded leaders across Fiji. The Leadership Fiji program offers participants the opportunity to interact with leaders from various sectors, deepening their understanding of the country’s history, economy and social structures. Through structured programs, Leadership Fiji aims to develop a new generation of leaders equipped to drive Fiji towards a prosperous future.
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