Fiji Business Network committee members Nitesh Prasad and Ashik Lal tell Webfit News why the awards are returning for a second year, how businesses can participate, and why the real value of the event may extend well beyond the awards stage.
By Webfit News | 20 October 2026
AUCKLAND: Behind every successful business is a journey of challenges, difficult decisions, personal sacrifices and determination. For many entrepreneurs with connections to Fiji, building a business in New Zealand has also meant establishing themselves in a new environment, developing professional relationships and finding opportunities to grow.
Those journeys will once again be recognised when the Fiji Business Awards 2026 take place on Thursday, 12 November, at the Remuera Club in Auckland.
But according to the organisers, the evening is intended to achieve more than simply recognising business success.
In an exclusive live interview with Webfit News, Fiji Business Network executive members Nitesh Prasad and Ashik Lal discussed the return of the awards, the importance of supporting smaller businesses, and their efforts to build stronger professional connections within New Zealand's Fiji-linked business community.
Their message was clear: business recognition matters, but the relationships formed along the way can be just as valuable.
Awards Return After Strong Response to Inaugural Event
One of the most interesting revelations during the interview was that the Fiji Business Network had not originally planned to hold the awards again in 2026.
Following the inaugural event in November 2025, the committee initially considered organising the ceremony every second year.
However, feedback from participating businesses and attendees prompted a change of direction.
According to Lal, many participants reported positive experiences, particularly from the business connections and opportunities generated during the evening.
The response encouraged the committee to bring the awards back for a second consecutive year.
Organisers say the 2026 event has also attracted increased sponsorship interest, with businesses recognising the opportunity to connect with potential customers, partners and other entrepreneurs.
This year's programme is planned around six award categories, with recognition opportunities intended for businesses of different sizes and backgrounds.
Rather than focusing exclusively on established companies, the organisers want smaller businesses and emerging entrepreneurs to participate alongside larger enterprises.
From a One-Man Business to a Network of Support
For Ashik Lal, an insurance broker and the Fiji Business Network executive member responsible for communications, the benefits of business networking are personal.
During the interview, Lal recalled starting his business as a sole operator with a relatively small network of professional contacts.
Like many entrepreneurs, he had to make important decisions independently while managing the responsibilities of building a business.
Joining the Fiji Business Network gave him access to people from different industries who could offer advice, exchange ideas and share their experiences.
Over time, some of those professional relationships developed into business opportunities and customer connections.
Lal explained that having access to experienced business owners meant he no longer felt he was managing every challenge alone.
His experience reflects a broader issue facing many small-business owners.
Starting a business requires technical knowledge, financial discipline and determination. But growing one often depends on something equally important: access to the right people.
Professional networks can help entrepreneurs identify opportunities, learn from others' mistakes and develop relationships that may otherwise take years to establish.
Why Networking Matters Beyond Business Cards
Nitesh Prasad, a civil and structural engineering professional and Fiji Business Network executive member responsible for membership, has lived in New Zealand for approximately 26 years.
Originally from Fiji, Prasad graduated from the University of Auckland and has worked across New Zealand and the Pacific region.
During the interview, he emphasised that the Fiji Business Network is not intended exclusively for large corporations or established professionals.
The organisation aims to bring together people from different industries and business backgrounds.
Whether someone operates a cleaning business, works as a taxi operator, runs a small company or manages a larger enterprise, the network seeks to create opportunities for meaningful connections.
Prasad acknowledged that businesses are facing challenges in the current economic environment.
However, he believes connecting with other entrepreneurs can help business owners realise they are not facing those pressures alone.
Lal also highlighted a practical advantage of networking events.
During an ordinary working week, business owners are often occupied with customers, employees, administration and operational responsibilities.
Finding time to develop new professional relationships can be difficult.
Events such as the Fiji Business Awards provide an opportunity for people to meet in a more relaxed environment, exchange experiences and explore possible business relationships.
But the real test of networking is what happens afterwards.
Do those introductions lead to referrals? Do business owners find mentors? Do conversations develop into partnerships?
These outcomes matter far more than the number of business cards exchanged during an evening.
Recognising Women and Emerging Entrepreneurs
The 2026 awards are also intended to provide greater visibility to women in business and younger entrepreneurs.
During the interview, Prasad discussed the importance of recognising women's contributions, including those who operate their own businesses and those whose work behind the scenes helps businesses succeed.
He noted that significant contributions are not always publicly acknowledged.
Women often play important roles in business management, administration, financial decisions and day-to-day operations, even when they are not the most visible representatives of an organisation.
The awards aim to provide an opportunity for those contributions to receive recognition.
The Fiji Business Network has also identified young entrepreneurs as an important group within its wider business community.
Encouraging emerging business owners is particularly relevant as younger generations explore opportunities in entrepreneurship, technology, professional services and other industries.
For an established entrepreneur, recognition may acknowledge years of achievement.
For someone building a business, it can also provide visibility, confidence and an opportunity to connect with more experienced professionals.
You Don't Have to Be a Member to Participate
One important clarification from the organisers is that businesses do not need to be existing Fiji Business Network members to apply for the awards.
Prasad explained that the organisation wants to encourage participation from businesses with Fiji heritage, family connections or ancestral backgrounds.
The intention is to recognise achievement across the wider community rather than limit opportunities to existing members.
This approach potentially opens the awards to a broader range of entrepreneurs, including business owners who may not previously have participated in Fiji Business Network activities.
Interested applicants should review the official award information and eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
A $50 Membership Designed to Encourage Connections
For business owners interested in becoming part of the Fiji Business Network beyond the awards evening, membership is another option.
During the interview, Lal confirmed that annual membership costs $50.
Members receive access to the organisation's network, communications and business events, including networking activities organised throughout the year.
Lal said the network had helped him expand his professional relationships and connect with people he may not otherwise have met.
For smaller businesses, the membership cost may be relatively accessible compared with some other professional networking organisations.
However, the value of any business network ultimately depends on the quality of its activities, the participation of members and the practical opportunities it creates.
The Volunteers Working Behind the Scenes
Organising a business awards ceremony requires substantial preparation, particularly when the people responsible are also running their own businesses.
Prasad explained that Fiji Business Network committee members contribute their time voluntarily.
Many are balancing event responsibilities with professional commitments, businesses and family life.
As the awards approach, the committee has increased the frequency of its planning meetings.
Preparations that previously involved monthly meetings have moved to weekly discussions, supported by regular communication between committee members.
Responsibilities have been distributed across the executive team to ensure that the workload is shared.
Prasad described the approach as one built on cooperation and mutual support.
Rather than placing responsibility on one or two individuals, the committee is working collectively to deliver the event.
Meet the Fiji Business Network Executive Team
The Fiji Business Network is supported by an executive committee comprising professionals and business owners from different industries.
The current executive team includes:
Atesh Bhej: President
Yasin Mohammed: Vice President
Sanjesh Lal: Secretary
Ronald Kumar: Treasurer
Amrita Prasad: Deputy Treasurer
Sonali Patel: Website
Nitesh Prasad: Membership
Ashik Lal: Communications
Avinash Kumar: Marketing and Social Media
The committee's involvement reflects the voluntary effort required to organise networking activities, business recognition programmes and community initiatives.
During their conversation with Webfit News, Prasad and Lal acknowledged the contributions of fellow committee members in preparing for the November event.
Building on the Stories of 2025
The inaugural Fiji Business Awards in 2025 highlighted the achievements of entrepreneurs and business leaders whose journeys reflected years of determination and hard work.
One of the stories discussed during the Webfit News interview was that of Govind Sami Achary, whose journey from arriving in New Zealand with just $32 to establishing successful businesses has become an example of migrant entrepreneurship.
Such stories demonstrate that business success is rarely immediate.
For many entrepreneurs, it develops through years of uncertainty, financial pressures, changing market conditions and personal sacrifices.
Recognising those journeys can help bring attention to the wider contributions of Fiji-connected businesses to New Zealand's economy and communities.
It can also provide encouragement to younger entrepreneurs who are still establishing themselves.
Beyond Recognition: Measuring the Real Impact
While the Fiji Business Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate achievement, an important question remains.
What happens after the awards are presented?
An event can generate publicity and introduce business owners to potential contacts. But meaningful long-term impact requires those introductions to develop into something more substantial.
For the Fiji Business Network, that could mean helping entrepreneurs access professional advice, establish partnerships, find customers or learn from experienced business owners.
Lal's personal experience provides one example of how professional connections can contribute to business development.
However, the broader challenge for business networks is ensuring those opportunities reach people who may not already have established contacts.
Small-business owners, newcomers and emerging entrepreneurs can often benefit most from access to experienced professionals.
The network's continued growth will depend not only on successful events but also on its ability to provide practical value throughout the year.
Fiji Business Awards 2026: Date, Venue and Tickets
The Fiji Business Awards Evening 2026 will take place on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the Remuera Club, 27 Ohinerau Street, Remuera, Auckland.
The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM, with a Glitz & Glam dress theme.
The evening will bring together business owners, professionals, community representatives and supporters to recognise business achievement and encourage networking.
Both individual ticket options and corporate-table bookings are available.
Event details:
Event: Fiji Business Awards Evening 2026
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Remuera Club, 27 Ohinerau Street, Remuera, Auckland
Dress Code: Glitz & Glam
Organiser: Fiji Business Network (NZ)
Book tickets online:
https://www.tickety.co.nz/events/fiji-business-awards-evening-e10b15
Award applications, sponsorship enquiries and further information:
https://fijibusinessnetwork.co.nz/awards
Businesses interested in participating, sponsoring or attending are encouraged to contact the organisers through the official website.
More Than an Awards Night
As the Fiji Business Awards prepare for their second edition, the organisers hope to build on the momentum created by the inaugural event.
For Prasad and Lal, the focus is not simply on presenting awards but on encouraging business owners to connect, share experiences and support one another.
The awards also offer an opportunity to recognise people whose achievements may otherwise receive limited public attention.
For entrepreneurs who have spent years building businesses while supporting families and contributing to their communities, that recognition can carry genuine meaning.
But perhaps the greater opportunity lies in what follows.
A trophy may recognise what a business owner has already achieved.
A meaningful connection, a trusted mentor or a new business opportunity could help shape what they achieve next.
And that may ultimately be the most important measure of success for the Fiji Business Awards.
About this report: This article is based on a live Webfit News interview with Fiji Business Network executive members Nitesh Prasad and Ashik Lal, together with event information supplied by the organisers.
Editorial Disclosure: Webfit News is an official Media Partner of the Fiji Business Awards 2026.
