As 25 members of the Leadership Fiji 2026 programme celebrate their graduation, Leadership Fiji founder and Chair William Parkinson is urging them to take responsibility for shaping the country's future and making a difference in their communities.
Speaking at the graduation and the organisation's 25th anniversary celebration, Parkinson says leadership is not about holding a position, but about taking action and making a difference every day.
He says the 25 graduates are now part of a growing network of 662 people who have completed Leadership Fiji's core programme over the past 25 years.
Parkinson says the organisation is now looking towards generational change, with its graduates expected to play a greater role in taking Fiji forward.
He believes leadership is not only about having the courage to stand up and lead, but also knowing when to step aside and allow the next generation to take responsibility.
Reflecting on the organisation's beginnings, Parkinson says Leadership Fiji was established following the political unrest of 2000, when many people were concerned about the country's future.
He says the events of that year highlighted the need to develop leaders who understood the importance of building a modern, multiracial and multireligious Fiji.
Parkinson says a meeting with representatives of Leadership Victoria in Melbourne helped inspire the establishment of Leadership Fiji, with a vision to prepare people who could lead the country towards a better future.
He says 25 years later, the organisation continues to invest in developing leaders who can bring positive change to their workplaces, communities and the country.
Parkinson also reminds the graduates that leadership must be guided by values rather than political divisions, particularly at a time when misinformation and political uncertainty are affecting societies around the world.
He encourages the graduates to carry Leadership Fiji's values of leadership, excellence, adaptability, diversity, empowerment, respect and service as they take on new responsibilities and continue their fellowship projects.
FM96 News Editor, Alipate Narawa was part of the 26 graduates this year.
Meanwhile, Leadership Fiji has also launched its Youth Leadership and Career Pathway Programme this year, attracting around 225 participants from across the country.
The organisation plans to expand the programme next year and is also working towards establishing a permanent leadership centre, with the aim of creating a regional hub for leadership training in the Pacific.
