Speaking at the launch of Leadership Fiji’s 25th Anniversary celebrations at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Parkinson reflected on the organisation’s journey since it was founded on 6th February 2001.
Parkinson, who started Communications Fiji Limited in his early 20s says now at 64 he realises that his time as a leader is finite.
He described Fiji’s recent history as the coup era from the 1980s to today, saying it has featured significant turbulence, periods of anarchy and has been a challenging time for those in leadership positions.
He says the founding of Leadership Fiji came during a frightening and disturbing period in Fiji’s history.
INSERT: Parkinson on Leadership Fiji 5th Mar
Parkinson says the goal was to help create a new generation of leaders who could guide Fiji forward as a multi-racial and multi-religious democratic state capable of facing the future with confidence and competence.
He says that many people of his generation were scarred by the political upheavals of the past decades, and this has influenced how they approach leadership and nation-building.
He says it is important for Fiji to move beyond that period and set a platform for the next generation to take on the mantle of leadership and guide the country further into the 21st century.
Parkinson says that the first group of participants began the programme in 2002 with just 21 members and that since then, Leadership Fiji alumni have gone on to hold senior positions across the country, including cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, members of the judiciary and leaders in the private sector.
He says these examples prove that capable leaders already exist in Fiji.
He highlighted young professionals, police officers, community organisers and religious leaders who are addressing social issues, improving policing through digital communication tools and working with youth facing challenges such as drug abuse.
He adds that there are plenty of leaders out there, but that the real question is whether they are given the space to lead.
Parkinson stressed that responsibility does not lie only with the older generation.
INSERT: Parkinson challenges young leaders 5th Mar
The event also saw the induction of 28 Leadership Fiji 2024 fellows and the introduction of 26 participants of the 2026 cohort.
Parkinson urged members of the Leadership Fiji alumni network to reflect on their own leadership goals and recommit to the vision they set during their participation in the program.
He says that each cohort develops a shared vision during its opening retreat, and encouraged alumni to revisit those goals and consider how they are contributing beyond their regular careers.
He says leadership can take many forms, from standing for public office to helping local schools or community initiatives.
He says ultimately it is about solving problems and driving change.
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