Supporting Pasifika Organisations and Leaders through Uncertain and Challenging Times

Overview:

We are facing unprecedented circumstances; COVID-19 is challenging all of us and changing our way of living and working. At this time, it is important we prioritize the care we show for each other and we come together as a community. 

The Ministry of Social Development, Ministry for Pacific Peoples, the Pacific Business Trust and Deloitte, have come together to support Pasifika organisations and leaders through these difficult times. The team is ready to help any Pasifika organisation (for profit and non-profit) with the following:

• Application Support – Providing tailored support (via a dedicated team at MSD) to prepare an application for the Wage Subsidy or Essential Worker Leave Payment Scheme (this will include helping you to check your eligibility and collecting the necessary records for your application).
• Business Advisor Workshops – Tailored virtual one-on-one workshops for organisations that have been impacted by COVID-19. We have designed workshops focusing on the most impacted areas of a business (e.g. Finance, Supply Chain, Talent/People etc.).

Join WPBN in collaboration with Pacific Business Trust and Deloitte to hear more about this support and how to access.  This workshop will cover:

Key topics include:

• What support is available through this initiative?
• How do I access the support?
• What do I need to know and what is involved?
• Initial common themes/areas businesses are requiring assistance with.

There will also be an opportunity at the end for Q&A’s to ensure you have the tools to help your business through. 

Workshop details:

• Cost: Free Webinar
• Date: Tuesday 21st April
• Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
• Webinar: A zoom link will be sent to you on the morning of the webinar. 
• Facilitators: John Faitala (Programm Manager, PBT), Justine Reed (Associate Director, Deloitte) and Lisa Tai (Associate Director, Deloitte) 

Our Facilitators:

John Faitala – Programme Manager, Pacific Business Trust (Niue)

A career starting with central government on Niue in Administrative Services and Foreign Affairs and an upbringing grounded in culture and traditional values, hard work ethics, respect, integrity and self-awareness have guided John Faitala’s journey.  With education qualifications in management, international business and marketing, followed by an MBA, and with a creative and entrepreneurial approach, John has worked for central government agencies and the private sector in Niue, Australia and New Zealand.

As the Programme Manager at the Pacific Business Trust, John brings his unique experience and insights framed within Pacific culture to set up the new programs and services offerings. John’s MBA thesis researches the drivers and influences of entrepreneurship in the Pacific cultural context.

John uses the Pasifika Innovation Approach, a co-design framework using the Kakala and Talanoa as Pacific frameworks to engage Pacific businesses and communities. In all bringing together experience from twenty five years at Auckland Council, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, BP Oils, Origin Energy and the Office of Foreign Affairs in Operations, Program Management, Project Management, Business Improvement and Service Design roles.

Justine Reed – Associate Director, Tax & Private (Ngai Te Rangi/ Ngati Ranginui / Aitutaki)

Justine is of Māori and Cook Island descent and has over 17 years tax experience in corporate, employer and individual taxation, including 6 years spent at the Inland Revenue. She has worked with a wide variety of different entities ranging from large multinationals to SMEs to individuals.

Justine currently works in Deloitte’s Maori Tax Services team and manages a range of multinational and SME clients. She is currently assisting Māori and Pasifika businesses with their response to COVID-19 through Deloitte’s partnerships with NZTE, Pacific Business Trust and MSD.

Lisa Tai – Associate Director, Forensic – Risk Advisory (Rotuma / Fiji)

Lisa has over 13 years of professional services experience working with Public and Private sector organisations in the areas of Governance, Risk, Integrity and Financial Crime.  Lisa is passionate about helping organisations protect their people, assets and reputation – fostering the right ‘tone at the top’, creating ethical cultures and ensuring organisations have best practice processes and sensible controls in place.

Lisa is Deloitte New Zealand’s Pasifika Lead and her personal passions lie in serving her community, working on ‘capability building’ focused initiatives designed to enable Pacific communities to thrive and providing visible opportunities for young Pacific people in the Corporate world.  This passion has seen Lisa develop and implement Deloitte’s Pasifika Business and Talent strategies. 

During Lisa’s career, she has worked on several high profile complex investigations and proactive risk management engagements over the years – for both Public and Private sector organisations (in NZ and in the Pacific).  This blend of experience enables Lisa to quickly focus on the material risk areas and help organisations navigate their risk environment.

This workshop is for:

• Business owners and/ managers
• Start ups
• Entrepreneur