You cannot expect to just be given the responsibility of leadership. You need to earn it. You need to take it.
Those were the words of Leadership Fiji's co-founder and current Chairman, William Parkinson as he challenged Fiji’s emerging leaders to step up and take a more active role in shaping the country’s future.
Speaking during Leadership Fiji's 25th anniversary launch at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Parkinson says you can see some of the challenges facing leaders today.
He says one of the questions he is regularly asked by people from his generation is whether there are leaders out there who are able to take on the running of a modern multi-racial, multi-religious democratic nation state in Fiji.
He says they are often stunned when he says absolutely.
Parkinson highlighted the achievements of the Leadership Fiji alumni, saying graduates have gone on to hold some of the most senior roles in the country, including Cabinet positions, a High Court judge, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions, and several permanent secretaries.
He adds that this requires courage and gumption, and that it requires putting your mobile phone down, not sitting on the sidelines whining about things, but getting out there and actually making a difference.
INSERT: Parkinson on young leaders 6th Mar
He says leadership could take many forms, including standing in national elections or volunteering in local community initiatives.
He says it is all about leadership, making a difference, solving problems, and driving change.
The event also saw introduction of 26 participants in the Leadership Fiji 2026 cohort.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Tower Insurance New Zealand Claims Team Leader Moses Waqa highlighted that his cohort is ready to take up the challenge given by Parkinson.
INSERT: Waqa on challenge 6th Mar
Waqa says he is delighted to receive this opportunity, which will help him learn how to be a good leader in the future.
He says he will learn from this programme as much as he can, so that he can go back and teach his own team.
