The National Dialogue on Substance Abuse plenary titled “Substance Abuse – Let’s Talk About It! Finding a Fijian Solution!” is shaping up well.

Leadership Fiji CEO, Sharyne Fong said “speakers who have confirmed to participate in the plenary include a reformed addict, Drug Free World, Ministry of Moms, and the Salvation Army.  We will finalise other speakers as and when confirmation is received.”

The one-day plenary that is being organized by Leadership Fiji will be in three segments were panelists will speak on their role and the work they are doing in combatting this drug problem, followed by question and answer from the audience.  The panel discussions which will be moderated by concerned Leadership Fiji Alumni will cover speakers from Law and Order, Health and Education and the Community.

The National Dialogue is focused on the theme of ‘Finding Solutions’ and is scheduled for next Wednesday 13th November 2019 at the AusAid Lecture Theatre, University of the South Pacific.

This Dialogue will convene around 100 stakeholders from Government Ministries, Private Sector, Civil Societies, Communities and Young People to participate in raising their concerns as well as finding solutions on how to combat such an issue that lies prevalent in our society.

Sharyne added “We must come together as a community to find solutions to this drug and substance abuse problem. The objective of this plenary is to create a space where we as a community can come together and engage in conversation so the outcomes can be put forward to provide input into national policies and strategies.”

On the number of registrations received, Shayne highlighted that “The online registration will automatically lock down on reaching 100 and we have already received 60 delegate registrations since the launch last Friday.”

Those wanting to attend the National Dialogue must register online through the events page on Leadership Fiji’s website www.leadershipfiji.org in order to gain entry to the venue, and to assist the organisers with logistics.

-END-

For more information about Leadership Fiji or this National Dialogue, Ms. Sharyne Fong, can be contacted on 777 4857, or on email address [email protected] or visit our website www.leadershipfiji.org

About Leadership Fiji

Leadership Fiji is an independent, non-partisan, non-aligned entity that began in 2000. Following the political upheaval of that year a number of corporate and community leaders met and identified a desperate need to build broadminded and educated leaders across the nation. They were introduced to the concept of Leadership Victoria by Andrew Fairley, who had various business interests in Fiji at the time. This proved a very successful model to follow and with the assistance of Leadership Victoria the first Leadership Fiji program was launched in 2001.

Leadership Fiji is aimed specifically at assisting our leaders to cope with demands of the ever-changing world so that Fiji reaches its full potential in the widest sense. The aim of Leadership Fiji is to expose participants to leaders from across our society, in a structured manner, providing them with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their country, its history, economic and social structure. The result we hope will be the development of a new generation of leaders equipped to take Fiji forward as a united dynamic nation. The program allows members to explore their own values, philosophies, prejudices and beliefs through a variety of issues offered by the program; provides close interaction with Fiji Island leaders in fields such as the private sector, non-governmental organizations, government ministries, youth and faith based organizations.

Current members of the Leadership Fiji Board are:

  1. William Parkinson – Chairperson
  2. Sufi Dean – Director
  3. Kevin McCarthy – Director
  4. Nancy Loaloa (LF2009) – Director
  5. Ilaitia Tuinamoala (LF 2009) – Director
  6. Isireli Dausiga (LF2008) – Director
  7. Neelam Sharma (LF2017) – Company Secretary
  8. Sharyne Fong (LF2005) – Chief Executive Officer
  9. Tupou Halofaki (LF 2009) – Member of the Board and Leadership Fiji Alumni President
  10. Yvette Samson (LF 2018) – Member of the Board and Representative/Year Group Leader