Mr Damend Gounder – Chairman
Mr Gounder is an eminent businessman in the Fijian community with over 33 years of experience in the business arena. He is the Founder and Managing Director of the Tour Managers Group, which consists of Tours Managers PTE Ltd, Paradise Brides PTE Ltd, Kimaya Resorts and Tour Managers Coral Coast PTE Ltd. Prior to this, he was the Group Director/General Manager for Adventure/Endless Holidays and Hamacho Restaurants (a Japanese company) for over 15 years. He has served as a Director on the Boards of Air Pacific – now Fiji Airways (10 years), Fiji Sugar Corporation and Fiji Visitors Bureau- now Tourism Fiji. He is a prominent figure in the Tourism industry, having served as the Chairman of the Tourism Action Group, President of the Society of Fiji Travel Associates and Member of various Tourism Business and Marketing task force groups. Mr Gounder cherishes community service and served as the International President of Apex International (1992), the National President of the Association of Apex Clubs of Fiji (1990), the General Secretary of TISI Sangam and a Board Member of FRIEND.
Ms Shyama Verma – Board Director
Ms Shyama Verma is a seasoned governance professional, currently heading the Market Operations Division at the South Pacific Stock Exchange Pte Limited (SPX). Shyama holds a Master of Commerce in Economics and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of the South Pacific (USP).
Ms Verma is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants (FICA) and a Certified Trainer for Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) for Boards and Environmental & Social Risk for Financial Institutions. She also serves as Gender Champion for Women in Finance Code Commitment, where she leads efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in finance.
Apart from her professional qualification, Ms Verma has experience and certifications in public policy for policymakers, Stock market operations, corporate Finance, accounting & financial management, corporate governance, compliance, ESG and enterprise risk.
Mr Jagdish Singh – Board Director
Mr Singh is a Civil Engineer with over 31 years of experience in the industry. He began his career with Housing Authority before moving to the Suva City Council where he stayed for 10 years and served as the Director of Engineering Services for 5 years. He then joined the University of the South Pacific as a Projects Manager and later moved to Wood & Jepsen Consultants. Mr Singh holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Ms Asilika Muavesi Rogers – Board Director
Ms Rogers is a Lawyer with Toganivalu Legal. She has also worked for Patel Sharma Lawyers and Amrit Chand Lawyers. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Fiji National University, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Fiji, a Postgraduate Certificate in International Relations and Diplomacy and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy.
Mr David Robertson – Board Director
Mr Robertson is a Suva-based businessman and capital market professional with over 40 years of experience in senior executive positions in Fiji, New Zealand, and the wider Pacific. He is currently the General Manager of South Sea Towage Limited, a marine services organisation operating out of Suva and Lautoka. Mr Robertson’s first association with Fiji commenced in 1970 as a career banker with the Bank of New Zealand. Thereafter, from 1990 to 1999, he acted as General Manager of Investments for the Colonial (CML) Investment Fund. Mr Robertson has served on numerous Boards in Fiji, particularly in capital intensive industries. He has extensive experience in banking, with an emphasis on lending arrangements, governance, and regulatory oversight.
Ms Emele Duituturaga – Board Director
Emele Duituturaga is a Development specialist by profession with experiences spanning 3 decades working with governments, regional organisations, bilateral and multilateral organisations and civil society organisations in the Pacific and around the globe. She currently works as a consultant on various assignments and projects with specific focus on Gender, Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion. She is also involved in business and private sector development. She is member of the Fiji Development Bank Board and a Director of the Lakeba Nawa Vision Company Ltd. Previously, she led the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) for a decade as its Executive Director where she was instrumental in PIANGO’s strong positioning as a regional and global civil society actor raising the profile of the Pacific and Small Islands Developing States advocating on climate change, localization of humanitarian aid, gender equality, development effectiveness and implementation of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. Prior to that, she was Fiji Government’s Chief Executive Officer/Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women, Social Welfare, Poverty Alleviation and Housing for 4 years.
Dr Salesh Kumar – Board Director
Dr. Salesh Kumar is an academic with 30 years of agricultural experience. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. He worked in the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture for 15 years before joining Fiji National University. During his service in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Kumar has worked in the localities of Ba, Lautoka, Vunidawa, Naqali and Nausori. He has researched and published in the area of agribusiness including agri-value chains in Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries. He provides mentorship to agribusinesses. Dr. Kumar is also a social worker advocating the need to assist underprivileged children.