PM’S REMARKS AT THE LAUNCH OF THE EXECUTIVE PUBLIC LEADERSHIP COURSE KEYNOTE ADDRESS-(17-06-2026)

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Salutations

  • The Chancellor and esteemed members of the Fiji National University Council,
  • The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba
  • Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
  • Representatives of the United States Embassy in Suva,
  • Senior officials from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Fiji Police Force, Fiji Corrections Services and the Nevada National Guard,
  • Distinguished Guests,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen including Staff and Students.

 

Bula Vinaka and a warm good morning to you all.

  1. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand today, Vakaturaga ki Matanikutu vua na Gone Turaga na Qaranivalu, and pay my respect to their Chiefs, past and present, as well as emerging leaders. I acknowledge with appreciation their role in caring for the Vanua.

Introduction

  1. I am delighted to join you for the launch of this Executive Public Leadership Course.
  2. I wish to convey my sincere appreciation to the Fiji National University (FNU) Council, the Chairlady, and the University’s senior leadership for its steadfast commitment to advancing higher education and national development.
  3. This programme is both timely and necessary as it reflects the growing importance of preparing leaders who can navigate complexity, drive reform, and deliver results in an increasingly demanding public service environment.

Modern Leadership

  1. Fiji stands at an important point in its development journey, defined by both opportunity and increasing complexity. As we pursue our national priorities the demands placed upon our institutions continue to grow.
  2. In recent public discourse, there has been a clear and consistent call for the strengthening of leadership across our public institutions, with a particular emphasis on the need for quality, capable, and accountable leaders. In this environment, governance must extend beyond administration to one that is responsive, forward-looking, and firmly anchored in the public interest.
  3. At the same time, expectation from our people, our region, and our international partners remains high. There is a need for leadership that is collaborative, empowering, and resilient. Capable of navigating uncertainty whilst advancing our shared vision of a stable and prosperous Fiji within an “Ocean of Peace.” It is in this context that the importance of principled, effective, and high-calibre leadership becomes paramount.

Governance and Institutional Leadership

  1. At the heart of national progress is trust in institutions. Without strong governance, development slows. Without accountability and transparency, trust weakens. And without trust, reform is unsustainable.
  2. In this regard, this programme provides a timely platform for senior leaders across the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Government ministries, and public agencies – where decisions directly influence national stability and public confidence and to reflect upon and strengthen core principles that I have just stated.
  3. Whether serving in defence, policing, corrections, agriculture, education, or public administration, we are united by a common purpose – to safeguard the security, dignity, and prosperity of the Fijian people – today and the foreseeable future.

Leadership for National Development and Sustainable Development Goals

  1. This Executive Public Leadership Course is framed within the broader context of Fiji’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  2. It contributes to the strengthening of institutions, the advancement of human capital, and the promotion of sustainable and inclusive development.
  3. In particular, it reflects the principles underpinning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably the imperative for effective, accountable, and transparent governance as a foundation for national and global progress.
  4. The programme underscores the critical role of leadership in bridging global commitments with national priorities. It recognises that the successful realisation of the SDGs depends not only on policy frameworks, but on the capability of leaders to drive innovation and coordination, foster resilience, and ensure implementation delivers real impact across sectors.
  5. In this regard, the development of capable and principled leadership is therefore the critical bridge between ambition and achievement.

Strategic Partnerships and Regional Commitment

  1. For Fiji and the region, security has long been understood in its broadest sense, extending well beyond traditional military considerations. It encompasses economic resilience, environmental sustainability, climate security and human development. This broader understanding reflects the realities we face as island nations.
  2. This holistic perspective reflects both our geographic realities and our collective aspiration to advance a peaceful, stable, and resilient Pacific. What we have come to describe as an “Ocean of Peace.”
  3. Within this context, strategic partnerships play a vital role in strengthening our national and regional capacity. The collaboration between the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Nevada National Guard under the State Partnership Programme is a strong example of how institutional partnerships enhance capability, trust, and readiness in responding to shared regional challenges.

Collaborative and Resilient Leadership  

  1. Building upon the imperative for strengthened institutional leadership, Fiji’s position as both highly exposed to the impacts of climate change and an established advocate at the global level necessitates a deliberate and disciplined approach to leadership.
  2. This reality underscores the importance of stewardship that is guided by foresight, continuity, and a clear alignment between national priorities and evolving global obligations.
  3. Leadership assumes a defining role in advancing national responses to climate change. The effectiveness of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, the readiness and coordination of disaster preparedness systems, and the overall resilience of public institutions are contingent upon leadership that is structured and coherent. Such leadership ensures that policy direction is translated into sustained and measurable impact across all sectors.
  4. The stewardship of natural resources requires a consistent and principled approach to governance. The long-term sustainability of these resources demands careful balancing of economic, environmental, and social considerations, underpinned by sound judgment and institutional integrity.
  5. In this regard, leadership must remain aligned with both national interests and broader regional and international responsibilities, ensuring stability, continuity, and resilience over time.

 Leadership Expectations

  1. It is evident that the development of capable leadership is increasingly shaped by the strength of partnerships and the ability to operate beyond institutional boundaries.
  2. In today’s environment, leadership development is no longer confined within individual organisations, but is strengthened through deliberate collaboration, shared learning, and collective engagement across sectors and jurisdictions.
  3. This programme is therefore situated within a broader context in which leadership is subject to heightened and evolving demands. Across the region and globally, institutions continue to respond to shifting security considerations, economic uncertainty, and the intensifying impacts of climate change, alongside growing expectations for effective and accountable governance. These conditions reinforce the need for leadership that is measured, adaptive, and firmly anchored in institutional purpose.
  4. Leadership is defined not merely by the exercise of authority, but by the consistent demonstration of responsibility, accountability, and integrity. It calls for sound judgement, strategic foresight, and the discipline to act in the long-term interests of the nation. Such leadership remains essential to sustaining public confidence, strengthening institutional performance, and ensuring that national priorities are advanced with clarity, stability, and purpose.

Fiji National University

  1. Fiji National University plays a critical role in strengthening national leadership capability.
  2. By bringing together senior leaders within an academic setting, it provides a structured environment in which leadership practice is informed by research, critical reflection, and practical application.
  3. In doing so, the University contributes meaningfully to bridging the interface between theory and practice, ensuring that leadership development is both grounded and relevant to the realities of governance. This approach strengthens the capability of public institutions by fostering a more considered, evidence-based, and outcomes-oriented leadership culture.
  4. Such institutional leadership is of particular importance to the nation, reflecting the evolving role of universities not only as centres of learning, but as strategic contributors to national development through research, knowledge generation, and sustained local collaboration.

Appreciation

  1. It is also important to recognise the contribution of leaders from across Fiji, the United States, and the wider Pacific region, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening leadership, governance, and regional security at a broader level.
  2. I wish to acknowledge with sincere appreciation the United States Embassy in Suva, the College of Southern Nevada, the Nevada National Guard State Partnership Programme, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, and all development partners whose valued support and cooperation have made this initiative possible.
  3. Such partnerships reflect the value of collaboration in strengthening leadership systems and enhancing institutional capability across the region.

To The Participants

  1. To the participants of this inaugural programme, you are encouraged to approach this opportunity with both purpose and commitment, engaging fully in the exchange of ideas and perspectives. The value of this undertaking will rest not only in the knowledge gained, but in the depth of reflection and the quality of professional dialogue that it promotes.
  2. You are invited to contribute with thoughtfulness and professionalism, to engage constructively with differing viewpoints, and to draw on your respective experiences in enriching the collective learning environment.
  3. The relationships formed through this programme should endure beyond its duration, fostering a network of leaders united by a shared sense of purpose, responsibility and service.

Government Commitment

  1. Government remains firmly committed to the continuous strengthening of institutional capability, integrity, and effectiveness across the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Government ministries, and public agencies, as a cornerstone of national development.
  2. This commitment is anchored in a strategic emphasis on leadership development and the reinforcement of governance systems to ensure alignment with evolving national priorities and global obligations.
  3. Initiatives of this nature contribute to the advancement of a cohesive, resilient, and high-performing leadership cadre across the national landscape. Government will continue to prioritise measures that enhance institutional coherence, sustain public confidence, and support the disciplined, and coordinated pursuit of national objectives.

Conclusion

  1. To conclude, I am reminded of a quote by the retired four-star general and former United States Secretary of State, General Colin Powell,

‘Leadership is all about people. It is not about organisations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people–motivating people to get the job done. You have to be people centred.’

  1. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Fiji, I extend my sincere commendation to all partner institutions and collaborating stakeholders whose collective efforts have brought this important initiative to fruition.
  2. This programme stands as a testament to the value of purposeful cooperation in advancing leadership development, strengthening governance, and reinforcing regional engagement.

Let this initiative continue to build upon these foundations, contributing to the cultivation of principled and capable leadership across our institutions.

  1. With these remarks, it gives me great pleasure to formally declare the Executive Public Leadership Course officially launched
  2. Vinaka Vakalevu, Thank You and may God bless us all.

 

 

 

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