Official opening – Thursday, November 20, 2025
2pm-5pm – Registration in front of the conference room
5.30pm-6.30pm FCEF Welcome Cocktail on the beach – Sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (Fiji) Ltd
Day 1 Corporate Friday, November 21 – Dress Code: TOPEX 2025 Shirt
6am-7am Yoga beside the pool
8am-8.30am Registration
8.35am–8:45am – Briefing and housekeeping by the Master of Ceremony: Moses O’Connor, motivational speaker, leadership coaching, culture change management trainer
8.45am- 8.50am -Arrival of chief guest: Esrom Immanuel, Minister for Finance, Commerce and Business Development
8.50am-9am -Singing of the national anthem.
9.05am-9.15am -Welcome and introduction: Mr Eldon Eastgate, FCEF president
9.20am-10am -Address by Esrom Immanuel, Minister of Finance, Commerce and Business Development.
10.05am-10.10am -Vote of Thanks: Rowena Taito, FCEF vice president and TOPEX 2025 chairperson
Session 1 keynote speaker
10.15am- 10.45am -Dr Zelina Sherlock – CEO of Sherlock and Dutta Consulting & Deputy Lord Mayor of Hobart – will share her insights of leadership in today’s complex world, reflecting on the challenges, lessons learned and the values that guide her. She offers an inspiring perspective on resilience, purpose, and influence, for leaders aiming to make meaningful impact.
10.50am-11.05am -Delegate group photo in the Grand Ball room
110am-11.25am -Morning tea- Sponsored by Pacific Energy (SWP) Ltd
Session 2 Fire Side Chat: Navigating global economic headwinds: Impact on Fiji’s growth trajectory
11.30am-11.50am -This session opens the technical discussions with a macro-economic overview of Fiji’s business environment. The Reserve Bank of Fiji’s October 2025 review highlights growing global uncertainty and a downgraded 2026 outlook, posing medium-term risks. Lisa Apted, Managing Partner at KPMG Fiji, and Ms Naomi Muthoni Mathenge, Senior Economist at the World Bank, discuss economic policies and strategies to drive sustainable growth and Fiji’s vision of becoming a high-income by 2050.
11.50am-12.10pm -Fiji’s Trade Landscape: Opportunities and Challenges in a Shifting Global Trade Order: Global trade is shifting amid new US tariffs and rising US-China tensions. The Reserve Bank of Fiji’s October 2025 review notes growing uncertainty and medium- term risks for Fiji’s economy. While exports of gold, sugar, and water have declined, forestry products such as mahogany, woodchips, and timber are on the rise. Jenny Seeto, chairperson of Investment Fiji, speaks with Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, executive chairman of Tropik Wood Industries Ltd, on navigating opportunities and challenges in this evolving trade landscape.
Session 3 Story telling: Leadership, legacy, and impact: Beyond the balance sheet
12.10pm-12.55pm -Bringing together three of Fiji’s successful business leaders to share their stories of growth, challenges, and perseverance. Beyond financial returns, the discussion will explore how their leadership and values have shaped their businesses, highlighting the importance of legacy and impact in building businesses that inspire and endure.
Moderator: Sandeep Chauhan – Director, Star Printery Pte Ltd
Panelists
Vanessa Charters – Group managing director, Corporate Management Services Ltd
Viliame Leqa – Owner, Pacific Manufacturers Ltd
Dilip Khatri – Managing director, Jacks of Fiji Group of Companies
1pm-2pm – Lunch sponsored by Vodafone Fiji Pte Limited
Session 4 Panel discussion: Navigating global headwinds: Impact on Fiji’s growth trajectory
2.05pm-2.45pm -Building on insights from Naomi Muthoni Mathenge’s earlier session on Fiji’s economic strategies, this panel shares diverse perspectives, real-world challenges, and practical solutions for achieving business sustainability.
Moderator- Lisa Apted – Managing Partner, KPMG Fiji
Panelists:
1. Mark Halabe- Owner, Mark One Apparel PTE Limited
2. Petaia Tuimanu- Chief Manager Financial Markets, Reserve Bank of Fiji
3. Justin Smirk- Group Senior Economist, Westpac
2.50pm-3.30pm – Fiji’s Trade Landscape: Opportunities and Challenges in a Shifting Global Trade Order
Featuring representatives from a key trading partner, a major local exporter, and a global freight company, this panel builds on insights from an earlier fireside chat to diverse perspectives, challenges, and solutions drawn from real business experience.
Moderator: Jenny Seeto- Trustee, Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation
Panelists:
Peter Roberts – Australian High Commissioner
Saiyad Raiyum – Chief executive officer, Pacific Fishing Company Pte Ltd
Sarvesh Devan – Country manager, DHL Express (Fiji) Pte Ltd
3:30pm Wrap-up/Afternoon tea
Day 1 Evening
6pm-7pm -Pre-dinner drinks
7pm-9pm -Dinner on the lawn, sponsored by Telecom Fiji Ltd
Speaker – Charlotte Darlow, New Zealand High Commissioner
Day 2 Saturday, November 22 – Dress Code: “Past TOPEX shirts”
6am -Morning walk- meet at the lobby
9:00am-9:25am -Briefing & housekeeping by the Master of Ceremony
Session 5 Speaker: AI as a catalyst for strategic transformation: Turning global challenges into local opportunities
9.30am-10am -Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide- but how can Pacific businesses harness its power to address local challenges? This session explores AI as a strategic tool for innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth. Speakers will share real-world applications that turn disruption into opportunity, offering insights on how leaders can future-proof their organisations and drive sustainable transformation in a rapidly changing world.
Speaker: Leslie Lee Fook – Director AI, Automations & Analytics, INCUS Services Ltd, Carribean (Trinidad and Tobago)
Session 6 Fire Side Chat: Addressing Fiji’s skills crisis: Collaborative strategies for workforce development and retention
In July 2025, over 15,000 Fijians were employed under seasonal worker schemes in Australia and New Zealand, with 1133 departing in September alone. More than 20,000 are registered under these schemes, limiting local employment. Remittances of around $1.5 billion, low TVET graduation rates, and rising foreign work permits contrast with 18,000 unemployed Fijians and 26.6 per cent NEET rate.
10.05-10.25am – In this session, Vinay Narsey, managing director of Narsey’s Plastics Industries Pte Ltd, joins Paul Mackay, manager Employment Relations Policy; Business NZ, to discuss how governments and the private sector can collaborate nationally and internationally to address the skills crisis.
Session 7 Speaker: Cybersecurity is a boardroom responsibility: Protecting business in a digital age
10.0am-11am -This session will examine evolving cyber threats, the business risks of weak security practices, and the strategic role of leadership in safeguarding data, operations, and trust in an increasingly connected world.
Speaker: Alexis Bernadino – Field CISCO and head of Cybersecurity Product, Philippines Telco (Philippines)
11.05am-11.20am -Return and Earn
A coordinated, community-driven, and industry -funded system for collecting PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans nationwide for five cents per returned container of any beverage brand. Participating companies include Carpenters (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (Fiji) Ltd, Eddie Hin Beverages Pte Ltd, Frezco Beverages Pte Ltd, Motibhai & Company Ltd, Natural Waters of Viti Pte Ltd, Pacific Island Beverages Pte Ltd, and Pleass Global Ltd.
Speaker: Ryan Mahoney, Commercial director, CocaCola Europacific Partners Fiji
11.25am-11.35am -Morning tea sponsored by Essity Australasia
Session 8 – panel discussion: Addressing Fiji’s skills crisis: Collaborative strategies for workforce development and retention
11.40am-12.20pm -Building on insights from Paul Mackay of Business NZ, this panel brings together public and private sector representatives to share perspectives and solutions for Fiji’s skills crisis, highlighting lessons from both labour-sending and receiving contexts.
Moderator: Vinay Narsey, Managing director of Narsey’s Plastics Industries Ltd
Panellists:
1. Latileta Qoro – General manager, Group ESG, Vinod Patel & Co Ltd
2. Nemani Maritino – Permanent secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations
3. Viliame Naupoto – Minister for Immigration
12.25pm-1.05pm Productivity starts with health: Addressing NCDs in the workforce
This session explores the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease on workforce
productivity, highlighting costs to businesses and strategies for prevention, early intervention, and healthier workplaces.
Moderator: Ms Rowena Taito, TOPEX Chairperson, Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation
Panelists:
1.Keiko Nagai- Chief advisor, JICA Project for Prevention and Control of NCDs Phase 2
2. Dr Rigamoto Taito- General manager, Health Care (Fiji) Pte Ltd
3.Anna Morris- Chief People Officer, Fiji Airways
4. Eroni Sotutu- Athletic Performance Coach, Fijian Drua
1.10pm -2pm Lunch sponsored by DATEC
Session 9 Speaker – Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill
2pm-3.30pm – The Bill before Parliament is currently being consulted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. One of the most important legislation, the Bill will considerably change employment law in our country, and impact businesses all of sizes and all sectors. So, what does this all mean for employers, entrepreneurs, and investors? Employment Law specialist will address critical issues in the Bill and unpacks how it will re-define employment law in Fiji business sustainability.
Speaker: Jon Apted – Partner at Munro Leys
3.35pm-3.45pm -MC’s wrap up: Moses O’ Connor – Motivational speaker, leadership coaching, culture change management trainer
Vote of thanks
End of Day 2
4pm -4.30pm -Pool aerobics and beach volleyball
Day 2 evening
6pm -7pm -Pre-dinner drinks
FCEF’s 65 years Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Dress Code- Sapphire and Silver Glam
Sunday, November 23
Breakfast & Checkout
