It has taken almost 5000 years of history for women to eventually start to have freedom over the design of their clothing but Fiji should not wait 5000 years for someone else to lead sustainable businesses.
These were remarks by British High Commissioner Dr Brian Jones in his address at the launch of the Green Star Awards at the Women Invigorating the Nation (WIN) 2024 Convention at the GPH in Suva on Friday.
“Research shows that women businesses are more ethical, more sustainable, care more about justice and consistently likely to drive higher standards of environmental, social and governance, and empower other women as a part of that,” Dr Jones said.
“So I’m absolutely sure that WEBC (Women Entrepreneurs Business Council) will succeed in promoting the Green Star Awards, and I look forward to seeing you do that, with one hand in your pocket.”
Dr Jones challenged the delegates at the convention to “not to take 5000 years to get this right”.
“So why don’t we start it here in Fiji with women-led business rather than waiting for everybody else to decide what’s best.”
Referring to an exercise on sustainability the delegates participated in, he said some words that came up were inclusivity, green, future, legacy, and self-sufficient.
“What research tells us that women businesses are more ethical. “So it’s only right that the Green Star Awards starts off right here. The environmental side, the efficiency side, the sustainability side, and the empowered women that are actually going to be drivers of that.
“I look forward to seeing the great success of what the awards is going to be.
“I am absolutely confident that you as women business leaders can all do it, not only that, you can do it with one hand in your pocket.”
