James Trusler - President

Committee Member since 2016
Managing Director, Foneology Solutions Pte Limited
James is the Managing Director of Foneology Solutions Pte Limited, which is involved in a diverse range of business activities including Telecommunications Services, Alcatel, Apple, Samsung Manufacturer Warranty Service Centres, GPS Vehicle Tracking, IoT, Speed Cameras and various other Professional Services. James has completed his MBA from Central Queensland University (2006), Diplomas in Electronics (1994) and Telecommunications Engineering (2000). Prior to founding Foneology Solutions Pte Limited, he worked at Cable & Wireless (UK) Vodafone Australia (AU) and Vodafone Fiji (FJ). James has lived in Fiji since 2004 and is proud to support the Fiji New Zealand Business Council.

Renu Chand is the Partner in charge of Business Services for KPMG Fiji Practice. Renu is a Fellow Chartered Accountant member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Her advancement to Fellow was awarded for her substantial contribution to the accounting profession and the community. Renu also holds a Certificate of Public Practice and is a Chartered Accountant member of the Fiji Institute of Accountants. She has more than 25 years of chartered accounting experience, six years of which were gained in New Zealand. Renu is a past President and Treasurer of the Fiji Institute of Accountants. Renu is proud to have been educated locally and is an alumnus of the University of the South Pacific. She strongly believes in local talent and capabilities and is closely involved in mentoring and developing graduate accountants. Renu is a strong advocate of equal opportunities for women and diversity in the workplace. She is also the Vice President of the Fiji New Zealand Business Council, former Chair of the South Pacific Stock Exchange Annual Report competition and a former judge for Women in Business Awards, Fiji Sports Awards, and the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards. In her spare time, Renu is actively involved in community projects and enjoys family time with her three daughters and lots of competitive fishing with her husband.

Committee Member since 2020

Executive Director, Charan Jeath Singh Group of Companies 

Namrata is the Executive Director of Charan Jeath Singh (CJS) Group of Companies, which is involved in a diverse range of businesses including supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, night clubs, cinema, rental cars, real estate, manufacturing as well as farming. Namrata has completed her MBA from Washington State University, USA. She is admitted to the New Zealand and Fiji Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor. She obtained her Bachelors in Commerce (BCom) majoring in Accounting and Information Systems and Bachelors in Law (LLB) from University of Auckland in New Zealand. Prior to joining CJS Group of Companies, she worked as a Tutor at the University of Auckland, as a Legal Officer at the Counties Manukau District Health Board in New Zealand and thereafter as a Barrister and Solicitor in Gibson & Co. in Fiji. Like many millennial's, Namrata strongly believes creating a sustainable society and has an eco-friendly mindset. She is proud to be part of a business that operates South Pacific Waste Recyclers, the first and only paper recycling plant in the South Pacific. 

Kamal has a Diploma in Business Customs from Fiji National University.  He’s currently a Board Member of the Fiji-USA Business Council, the Fiji Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Fiji, and Chair of the Fiji Customs Brokers and Forwarders Council of Nadi.  He’s worked with Gibson Freight for 31 years and is their Country Manager. 

Country Manager of Central Pacific Chemicals Pte Limited (IXOM global).

Cama is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Fiji Institute of Accountants. He had previously served as President of the Fiji Institute of Accountants and member of FIA Council.

He has held various Executive positions in the area of Finance and Administration in the Service, Manufacturing, Hospitality and ICT industry. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Information System and a Post Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of the South Pacific. He currently serves as a Board of Directors of Rewa Provincial Holdings Company Limited (RPHCL), Floreat Viti Holdings Pte Limited (QVSOB Commercial Company) and Cricket Fiji.He is the Trustee and Treasurer of QVS Old Boys Association. In addition, he also serves as Company Secretary of Floreat Viti Holdings Limited. Cama is actively involved in community projects for his Vunisinu village in Rewa.

Committee Member since 2016

President  2017-2022

Managing Director of Narseys Plastics Industries Pte Ltd. 

Vinay is involved in the running and management of the packaging manufacturing plant based in Fiji. He completed a Bachelors of Commerce majoring in Management and Marketing from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He is an Affiliate of the Australian Institute of Management and also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has been involved in various roles with the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation for over 10 years. During this involvement he has served in various capacities including the Chair of the Manufacturing Council at FCEF. He currently is the Vice President of the organisation.

He is also a Member of the Trade and Standards Advisory Council (TSAC) in Fiji.

He is a keen believer in ensuring sustainable trade growth in Fiji working hand in hand with our New Zealand counterparts. Through the council he hopes that the trade gap between Fiji and New Zealand can be brought closer – meaning more opportunities for Fiji businesses to do work in New Zealand.

 Ilyaz has a vast experience in General and Employee Health & Benefits Insurance management, risk advisory, broking and wholesale placement, underwriting and claims, having worked for AON and Marsh Fiji for almost 17 years prior to joining Insurance Holdings Pacific in October 2019. He has extensive experience in the placement and management of Insurance Programs for corporate clients in Fiji and other Pacific Island countries (such as Samoa, American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati). Other than Pacific Island Countries, Ilyaz has also been involved in the placement of Insurance covers for his clients domiciled in Hongkong, Australia, Mauritius, Maldives, and Thailand. Over the past years, Ilyaz has also provided Lectures on Disaster & Risk Management to regional Students enrolled in University of South Pacific’s Disaster & Risk Management Postgraduate Diploma Course. Ilyaz has been in the insurance industry for 23 years now and his broad knowledge and experience in Fiji and the Pacific region. 

Committee Member since 2021

Kaushik Kumar is the Managing Director of United Apparel (Fiji) Pte. Limited, which is one Fiji’s largest garment manufacturer and exporter. He has been involved in the clothing industry for the past 35 years.  Kaushik hold a TAFE Advanced Diploma in Quality Management. He is also actively involved as a Board Member of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji where he has also served as President from 2013 to 2017. He was also a board member of the Australia Pacific Training Coalition from November 2016 to April 2019. Kaushik is strongly focused on ethical manufacturing and social compliance which is reflected in United Apparel being the only garment manufacturer in Fiji to have been certified as a (WRAP) “Worldwide Recognized Accredited Production” Facility. 

Mark is currently the manager for HG Leach (Fiji) Pte Ltd based at Naboro.   A previous FNZBC President on two occasions and Life Member, Mark has had a long time association with the Council. He is also the co-owner of The Beehive Homestay and Honey Farm in Rakiraki and has been Commodore of the Royal Suva Yacht Club from 2010 to 2015 - he is the current Rear Commodore.  He is also a Justice of the Peace, and with his wife, breeds Maltese Terriers from their home in Pacific Harbour.  Mark also holds a current Real Estate Agents license and works with Jokhan Real Estate.  

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Steph took on the role as Secretary for the Fiji New Zealand Business Council in March 2014 for three years until March 2017 when she handed over the reins and moved on to other things. In October 2018, she picked up the role again and has been with us ever since. The Secretary role is a part-time role for her and she does most of the work for the Secretariat in the evenings and at weekends – which is why there is occasionally a short delay in her responses to Members (for which she is very apologetic). Her day-time role is Financial Controller for Goodman Fielder International (Fiji) Pte Limited, a role she has held since June 2014.  She moved to Fiji, from New Zealand, in 2003 to join the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as Director Corporate Services.  She holds a Master of Science Degree (majoring in physics), a Bachelor of Management Studies (majoring in Accounting and Finance) and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration - all from the University of Waikato.  She is passionate about the Fiji New Zealand Business Council and the work that it does to help build and strengthen trade relations between Fiji and New Zealand.