Chandar is originally from Sabeto village in Nadi, Fiji. He is married to Rajnish, and they have two children daughter Nalisha (married to Raam) and son Krishant.

​

He completed primary  and secondary studies in Fiji before completing his Bachelor of Engineering degree with First Class Honours from Auckland University. His post graduate studies include an Executive Master in Business Administration from the Auckland University, where he was recognised on the Dean’s list for excellence in academic performance.

​

Chandar is a Chartered member of Engineering New Zealand as well as a Chartered Professional Engineer in New Zealand and Samoa. He is also registered on the International Professional Engineers and APEC registers. In New Zealand he is also a practice area assessor for registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer in New Zealand.

​

Chandar’s career of nearly 40 years has seen him employed in Fiji by the Fiji Sugar Corporation and Fiji Electricity Authority. Since moving to New Zealand, he worked for a lengthy spell at Robt Stone & Co Ltd and a short stint with Tenix Ltd.  In 2010, he started Pacific Engineering Projects Ltd (PEP), a New Zealand head quartered design and build engineering company working across the Pacific including Fiji. PEP works in the water, wastewater, power generation & distribution, petrochemical and food processing sectors.

​

Chandar is currently Managing Director of PEP and a director of other private companies in New Zealand and the Pacific. He is the current President of the New Zealand Fiji Business Council.

​

email. csen@pacificprojects.co.nz

mob. +64 21 467 736

Arti is an experienced tax lawyer who set up her sole practice, Arti Chand Tax Law, in 2015 after more than a decade in the private sector.  She provides domestic and international tax consulting advice to SME’s, not for profits, law firms, and high net worth individuals.

 

In addition, Arti is:

• Vice President (Wellington) of the New Zealand Law Society;

• Vice President of the Wellington branch council of the New Zealand Law Society;

• An executive committee member of the New Zealand Fiji Business Council; 

• Established member of New Zealand Asian Leaders and New Zealand Asian Lawyers; and 

• The 2018 Winner of the Pasifika Woman Business Owner Award (Pasifika Business Network).

• Arti is of Fijian-Indian descent and grew up in Fiji.  As such she is a strong advocate of celebrating the success of Pacific people and businesses in New Zealand.

​

 Qualifications:

• Victoria University of Wellington:  Bachelor of Laws

• Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (Economics and Money & Finance)
   

email. arti@actaxlaw.nz

Bhaskar Sharma was exposed to International Business and trading over 25 years ago while employed as Sales Manager, Pacific for Fletcher Challenge Steel International Limited and later with a private export trading company in Auckland, NZ.

​

Bhaskar established his company some 14 years ago and with his engineering background and experience has given Alrite Steel a competitive edge as a supplier of Steel Products into New Zealand and Pacific Islands. 

​

Alrite Steel & Services NZ Limited has over 25 years of extensive experience as Steel Stockists, Importers & Suppliers with two warehouses in Auckland, NZ.

​

Alrite Steel now represents various major New Zealand and Asian manufacturers and supplies all type of steel and associated products to projects, contractors and fabricators throughout New Zealand and Pacific Island Countries.

​

With New Zealand and strategically located manufacturers from around the world and our Auckland Warehouse, our team specialises in and supplies:

• All types of Building and Civil Construction Steel products – stockiest and distributors 

• Innovative kit set steel frame buildings

• Design, Detailing shop drawings, supply and fabrication of steel structures 

• General Civil and Building Construction products and materials (Projects)

email. bs@alrite.co.nz

​

mob. +64 27 6664 021

​

Originally trained in Hesketh Henry’s commercial property team, Ben re-joined the firm’s commercial group after 7 years working as a corporate lawyer in South East Asia.  Prior to his return to New Zealand, Ben was a senior associate in the Singapore corporate and M&A practice group of international law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP, specialising in cross border M&A and foreign direct investment deals into Myanmar and the wider region.  Ben’s legal experience and extensive business network in South East Asia compliments and adds depth to Hesketh Henry’s growing Asia Practice.

To read more 

  

email. ben.hickson@heskethhenry.co.nz 

​

mob. +64 27 529 8338

I was born and educated in Fiji, immigrated to NZ through Business Secondment in 2000 within the Fire Industry, being in the capacity of Portable Fire Equipment Manager, my current experience in the industry is over 40 years, in Fiji, Australia and NZ, still hold a great passion for the Fire industry, registered my Business, Portable Fire Equipment Ltd, in 2021.

 

​

email. edward@portablefireequipment.co.nz

 

mob. +64 27 211 1299

• Successful career in the International Freight Forwarding industry for over 25 years – covering imports, exports, customer services, sales, general management, now Managing Director/founder Nassau International Limited

• Started Nassau International 5 years ago – niche business tailored to small/medium businesses, identified a need/gap within the Pacific Islands requiring a NZ based company to assist with sourcing products, contacting suppliers on their behalf to get their orders/supplies/goods in a timely, cost effective manner.

• Travelling last 10 years to Fiji and Cook Islands developing a solid client base

• Forte – understanding the needs of the Pacific people

• Currently involved with project work to the Pacific Islands offering consultancy and support

​

email. jackie@nassau.co.nz

mob. +64 27  554 2984

Noel, Fiji born and originally from Lami, Suva, attended MBHS, Suva and completed his tertiary education in New Zealand. He is a Registered Engineering Associate, Charted Member of Engineering New Zealand and is a NZ Private Security Personal License holder (PSPLA) and consultant.

Noel is the MD /CEO of HTS Group Ltd /HTS Australia Pty Ltd and Traffic Safety and Solar Products Ltd, companies providing integrated and product solutions across Traffic, ITS, Public Transport, Digital Media, and Sports Timing sectors of business.

Noel has an established track record of undertaking projects in Fiji over the last thirtyfive years with the support of Fiji based servicing partners. He has supported and mentored employees to enhance their careers and establish successful business in New Zealand.

Looking for business opportunities to enhance bi-lateral trade.

​

email. nmaharaj@htsgroup.co.nz

mob. +64 21 241 3621

Pat founded Bridge It NZ in 2009. He has now stepped back from the day-to-day running of the business but still has a keen involvement in the strategic direction of Bridge It NZ. His in-depth knowledge of construction methods and his innovative and practical approach to complex situations is responsible for our company’s hard-won reputation in the market. He remains excited about providing customers with quality bridges and enjoys visiting our installation sites on farms, forests and rivers throughout the North Island.

Having raised six children, Pat’s pastimes now include kite boarding and flying aircraft.

​

​

​

email. pat@bridgeitnz.co.nz

mob. +64 

​After a thriving career in different businesses, MOHNZ was pleased to welcome Michael to the team. As a motivated, results-oriented collaborator, He’s helped to make us what we are today. 

 

​Major achievements:

• Being a high achiever in sales nationally for brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, and Citroen

• Awarded Audi Sales manager of the year Premium Status

• Running the team that raised over $50K for the Christchurch earthquake relief fund by way of having an open day at the Farmer Motor Group TGA for Phil Rudd (Drummer for ACDC). We had on display some of the 28 cars that I had sold him over 18 months, the most expensive one being the Ferrari F40 valued close to $1 million 

• Facilitating the event of the Audi R8 V10 racing the Air force Jet at Tauranga air show.

• Being part of the management team that produced the Corporate boxing event in Tauranga raising over $80k for Waipuna Hospice. Over 2500 attendees for this black tie event

• Attending Vehicle releases in Dubai, Germany, and Prague. Why is this a major event? …..
  I was one of 8 in the country.

​

email. michael@mohnz.com

mob. +64 29 268 2779

Born and raised in Fiji, Neha completed her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Auckland in 2006 and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2007.

 

She began her career in New Zealand in tax law, before moving to London in 2008 and working in asset restructuring for 4 years. She returned to New Zealand in 2012 and has worked in small law firms after a brief stint at running a liquor store franchise. Having been a Director at Neilsons Lawyers since 2022, she helps her clients with property, commercial matters and estate planning, with a special interest in finance and asset restructuring.

 

Neha is fluent in Hindi and Gujarati and often provides advice in these languages. She is an active member of the Business Network International.

 

When not at work, she enjoys playing Netball and watching football with her husband and two young boys.

​

 

email. neha@neilsonslawyers.co.nz

mob. +64 21727085

Neel Pillay is the Associate Director Markets for ANZ NZ.  An experienced Banker having worked for BNZ and ANZ, Neel’s current role sees him provide complex Foreign exchange solutions to Institutional, Corporate and Commercial customers using full range and appropriate use of the Bank’s range of vanilla, derivative and consultative FX products.

 

His previous roles included; Senior FX Relationship Manager Markets, ANZ Melbourne and Head of Markets Fiji.

​

email. neel.pillay@anz.com

​

ph. +64 9 357 4032

Rohil is the Operations Manager for Keola, a family run construction company based in Auckland.

 

After completing a BCom at the University of Auckland majoring in Finance & Economics he decided to take up Quantity Surveying, is a member of NZIQS and has managed projects up to $15m.

 

Having ties back to Fiji as a 1st generation Kiwi, he is a strong advocate for fostering relationships between the two countries.

​

​

email. rohil@keola.co.nz

mob. +64 21 162 1626

Ron is Chief Underwriting Officer at Tower with more than 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry in New Zealand, London and India. Ron’s previous roles include executive management of large operational teams (150+), risk and compliance overview of operational and sales teams, NZ Integration Lead for merger of two large Australian general insurers and managing large portfolios of intermediated and partner businesses. Ron has led business ownership of large transformation programmes predominantly for migration of legacy business to new products and platforms. He also represents Tower on Boards of Pacific businesses.

​

email. ronald.mudaliar@tower.co.nz

mob. +64 21 415 879

Samantha has more than 25 years’ experience leading contact centres and IT helpdesks. Her background also includes roles with large, multi-site outsourcing contact centres, in both the private and public sectors in New Zealand and overseas. With her business sector facing some new and exciting challenges over the next few years with the introduction of new contact centre technologies, Samantha is determined to help her colleagues and members navigate these uncharted waters to ensure their success.

Over the last five or so years, Samantha has really enjoyed collaborating with some amazing volunteers at CCiNZ (Contact Centre Institute of New Zealand), and most recently assisted CCiNZ as their treasurer and vice chair.

​

 

email. Samantha@phoneplus.co.nz

mob. +64 27 539 2077

Dr. Shaw Mead’s more than 25 years of experience and background is in coastal oceanography and marine ecology allows him to effectively bridge the multi-disciplinary gap between physical processes and marine ecological impacts.

​

email. s.mead@ecoast.co.nz

​

mob. +64 21 423 224

​