At 51, Iliana Ikaniliwalala is not just a name in the bustling markets of Labasa; she is a story of resilience, determination and triumph over adversity.
Originally from Waitoga, Nairai, Lomaiviti, Iliana’s journey into entrepreneurship began unexpectedly during a visit to Labasa. What started as a temporary endeavour to sell fish became a calling, one that would change her life and the lives of those around her.
Iliana’s move to Labasa with her husband, Ioane Latianara, was initially driven by their children’s education. Ioane, hailing from Taveuni, supported her decision when she discovered her passion for fish vending in 2011.
At that time, her younger sister, Susana Duguci, had already established a stall.
Inspired by her sister’s success and the realization that she wanted to help her family, Iliana decided to start selling fish too. What started as a short trial became a lifelong commitment after she experienced the joy of running her own business.
The path wasn’t always smooth. In 2015, Iliana acquired her own table in the Labasa market after an elderly man sold his stall to her for $300.
Until then, she had been sharing her sister’s space. Like many budding entrepreneurs, Iliana faced challenges, especially with fierce competition and the complexities of running a business with no prior experience.
But what set Iliana apart was her unwavering determination to learn and grow.
Through the Fiji THRIVE program jointly designed by BSP and the Australian Business Volunteers, Iliana gained essential skills in customer service, cash flow management, and savings that she wishes she had learned earlier in her journey.
“If I had been doing this for years, I would have made so much more money,” she says, reflecting on how valuable the lessons were. Iliana’s business, aptly named Iliana Enterprise, offers a range of locally sourced fish, including ulavi, kabatia, and sabutu.
She buys her products from the hardworking fishermen of Naduri, ensuring that her business supports the local community and economy.
Despite the challenges, she managed to expand her business in 2017 to open Stall No.8 at Suva’s Bayley Bridge fish market.
As a woman in business, Iliana understands the unique pressures of balancing work with family responsibilities.
She is a proud mother of five children, ranging from 18 to 30 years old, and she also has a grandchild.
Iliana’s strength and perseverance are what guide her in running her business while also maintaining a nurturing role within her family.
Her long-term goal is to continue expanding Iliana Enterprise. Sustainability and quality are at the core of her business model and she sees her success as a way to empower other women in the community.
“Start a business only if it’s in your gut,” she advises. “You have to make up your mind because whatever you set out to do will benefit your children, family and your community”.
Iliana’s story is one of passion and perseverance.
From humble beginnings to a thriving fish vending business, she has shown that with determination, anyone can succeed.
Source: BSP Financial Group Limited
ABV CEO Liz Mackinlay is thrilled to be in Fiji, meeting with Senior Program Manager Ravi Chand, BSP Fiji GM Retail Ravindra Singh, and BSP Head of SME Rohit Sharma.
BSP Financial Group Limited and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) partner to support small and medium businesses, which are the heart of Fiji's economy.
The Fiji THRIVE program is all about helping these businesses grow stronger and more resilient, making sure BSP’s support has a lasting impact across Fiji and the Pacific.
Over the past two years, nearly 100 people—80% of them women—have gained valuable skills through our programs in Fiji.
Together, we're committed to empowering local businesses and building a more resilient future.
Skilled Business Professionals, Kaylene Benson and Cathy Corderoy are in Labasa, Vanua Levu volunteering their time to deliver Fiji THRIVE this month.
Kaylene says “Reflecting on my experience in Fiji, I continue to be amazed at the many ways people are connected and the importance placed on looking after each other. Everyone seems very eager to make the most of this opportunity.”
The program focuses on supporting Fijian entrepreneurship, with strong participation by women-led businesses, for more resilient and sustainable communities.
BSP Financial Group Limited and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) have co-designed this business-strengthening program, Fiji THRIVE, which is offered to micro, small, and medium enterprises across Fiji through in-person workshop training and ongoing online coaching and mentoring over six months.
THRIVE stands for "Together, Helping [to build a] Resilient, Inclusive [and] Vibrant Economy."
Happy Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Day! Today, we celebrate the businesses that are the backbone of our economies.
As mentors to small businesses, Australian Business Volunteers have a front-row seat to their challenges.
One participant in our program Gulshad Begum, entered the fiercely competitive world of Facebook selling and carved a niche for herself through integrity and persistence.
Launching her brand, Optimum Image, in 2014, with the support of her husband Zahir Ali, she was inspired by the rising trend of Facebook sellers importing goods but saw a significant gap in quality.
Gulshad faced substantial barriers, particularly in finding a reliable supplier who could deliver quality products at an affordable price.
"I would never want to sell something I wouldn't wear myself," Gulshad said. Driven by this principle, she contacted numerous suppliers until she found the perfect match. Overcoming the challenges of the customs process, she finally received her first shipment.
With no dedicated space, she transformed her sitting room cupboard into a makeshift showroom, inviting friends and family to view and purchase her garments.
Exposure became her key strategy. "I created my Facebook page and made friends with one and all, anyone I came across, I just made friends," she recalls.
Through her efforts, Gulshad's sales grew, and she built a home office off her sitting room. In 2018, after 20 years in the printing business, her husband established his own office supply company and started sharing the home office space.
Despite having to share her space with toner cartridges and stationery, Gulshad cherishes their collaboration. "Sometimes on his way to service an office, he will take a delivery for one of my customers. I keep his books as well, so we work well together," she said.
Balancing work and family life remains a challenge for Gulshad. She juggles customer calls, school projects, and last-minute requests, often going the extra mile for her clients.
Image: Gulshad and her husband Zahir.
"The other day we had an urgent call from a mother who needed a lion picture for her son's assignment. I printed it and handed it to her myself at the school gates," she recalls with a smile.
In 2023, Gulshad attended the Fiji THRIVE small business program, a partnership between BSP Financial Group Limited and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV).
This program offers bank customers like Gulshad essential business training, coaching, and mentoring delivered by ABV’s skilled business professionals who have experience working in a range of Pacific cultures, including living and working in Fiji. Gulshad found the sales skills she learned invaluable.
"The advertising tactics that I learnt with ABV were very beneficial," she said. The course also instilled a new discipline in her financial management, helping her separate personal and business finances and manage margins more effectively.
Despite her modesty, Gulshad is ambitious. Her future plans include setting up a larger space and possibly opening a shop for Optimum Image Clothing. Her eldest child has shown interest in fashion, hinting that the family business may soon become a shared passion.
This article was featured in the Fiji Times.
The night before virtually interviewing ABV mentor David Campbell and mentee Moana Korikalo, a 6.5-scale earthquake hit Vanuatu. Despite being woken up by her home shaking in the night, Moana showed up on time to chat with us with a positive attitude. "That's who Moana is; she always follows through on her commitments," David remarked.
As the Retail Head of BSP Financial Group Limited's Vanuatu branch, Moana guides clients through their business growth and steers them towards success. We matched David and Moana in May 2022 under BSP's leadership development program. Moana picked David for his impressive profile that showcased his extensive sales and business development expertise. On David's suggestion, they took a personality test to get to know each other. They found they were both 'protagonists'–the people who get things done.
Moana has been with BSP Financial Group since 2010 and is now in her 7th year as the retail head of Vanuatu. She manages a team of 59 staff—each day brings something new. Moana's real love is helping people; she initially started as an executive assistant at BSP and, in her downtime, would head downstairs to help customers at the bank. She quickly realised an assistant role wasn't for her; she needed to be with a team.
Moana embraced the chance to participate in the BSP/ABV mentoring program. Her main goal was to enhance her leadership skills, and with David's help, Moana has improved her confidence in leading her team. Moana's excellent communication skills are crucial to managing her multi-lingual team, who speak French, English, and Bislama.
David travelled to meet Moana for the first time in September 2023. "It felt like reuniting with an old friend. We have become great buddies over the years, and I felt comfortable immediately. I know our friendship will continue after this program," said Moana.
David met Moana's team at the bank and got to see the other side of his mentoring at play; "I asked the team for feedback on what was and wasn't working, and the level of candour was pretty refreshing", he said.
Moana has led her team to great personal and professional achievements. She shared a heartwarming story of how proud she was that one of her branch managers passed her driving test after seven years of her writing it into her 'development plan.'
Moana's leadership style has transformed throughout the mentoring program. Moana said, "My confidence and how I approach situations is so different, thanks to David's guidance. When people ask me how I've done it, I simply say, 'Meet my friend David.'"
ABV volunteers Matt Stone and Liane Arno went to Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea, to present the YES Grow program, which helps small businesses owners develop essential skills for sustainable growth.
Matt and Liane have been volunteering across the Pacific with ABV since 2006.
The YES Grow program has also been delivered in Port Moresby, Jiwaka, and Lae, as you may have seen in our updates. Accompanied by Carol Nokop from the BSP team, Matt and Liane visited some of the participants' businesses to learn about their services, including Enoch Stevens' Puma Service Station and Delilah Gori’s craft market.
During their visits, Carol had a perm done with the lovely Maria Kulunga from Binzqe Hair Salon. They also stopped by Anton Pugu's general store before finishing their day at Sir Mara Haus for a session on funding sources with the program's participants.
They had the pleasure of meeting the Governor of the Western Highlands Province, Wai Rapa who came to see the participants.
Matt and Liane look forward to maintaining a close connection to the businesses as they implement the lessons learned.
YES Grow is a program delivered in partnership with BSP Financial Group Limited in PNG, Fiji and Samoa.
In celebration of National Families Week, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our participants and partners for their contribution towards the success of Apeketon Business Hub. This year's theme, "Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families", resonates deeply with our mission. We are excited to share some updates from the Family Money Management sessions, which are a testament to our collective efforts in building economic resilience in Lihir.
Our mission to build economic resilience in Lihir involves strengthening families through financial empowerment and income stability. The Family Money Management sessions help families manage their income, set savings goals, and create budgets that align with their financial objectives.
The April sessions drew participants from Zuen and Londolovit villages, and the cohort included members of all six major clans in Lihir.
The Bank South Pacific Lihir Branch and Niu Ailan Savings and Loan Society presented during the training sessions. They encouraged attendees to prioritise their savings to facilitate their short-term and long-term financial objectives.
Merleyne Soralien, who participated in the second program, shared her feedback,
"I am delighted to have attended this training. I engage in informal market sales, I struggled with managing my finances effectively. This training has been immensely beneficial, equipping me with the knowledge and skills to budget and save money efficiently not only to sustain my family but also achieve my future savings goals."
This program is in partnership with Lihir Gold Limited (LGL), a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation
"Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool. We all, as humans, learn through storytelling," - Susan Goldie.
Susan Goldie has dedicated her life to humanitarian work, including mental health education, better end-of-life care, poverty reduction, and economic empowerment.
Susan joined us as a volunteer in November 2023 and has started working with our Nauru team on capacity building of local small-medium businesses. Susan's work supports the Nauru Private Sector Development Roadmap program, a 4-year partnership between ABV and the Nauru Chamber of Commerce to help foster closer collaboration across private, public and community sectors in support of Nauru's National Sustainable Development Strategy.
A key opportunity for Nauruan small businesses was the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant, held in Nauru in January 2024. This important regional pageant celebrating Pacific cultures was a landmark event for Nauru to host, and many small businesses, such as vendors, sole traders, and goods and service providers, stepped up to the challenge.
The previous year's Miss Pacific Islands winner, Josie Nicholas, advocated for increased youth involvement in sustainable tourism. This youth-led approach to building sustainable tourism resonates with the vision set by the Sustainable Tourism Working Group, established in 2023 as part of the Roadmap's implementation, to support closer collaboration between private sector, government and community stakeholders to achieve shared sustainable tourism goals.
Susan played a crucial role in conducting workshops for local vendors, volunteers, and hosts in preparation for the Pageant. These hybrid workshops, a highly tailored iteration of ABV's signature YES Program, were co-delivered by Susan with another ABV volunteer, Marcus Alexander, along with Jennifer Harris, the Nauru Chamber of Commerce's Business Hub Manager. The workshops covered essential aspects of customer service, work health and safety, and financial tools to start and grow a business.
Image: Volunteers Liane, Matt, Susan and Marcus facilitating workshops from online with Jenn Harris (Nauru Business Hub Manager)
One of Susan's unique approaches includes educating through her lived experience. "Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool. We all, as humans, learn through storytelling," she said. In her other community roles, Susan uses storytelling as a way to break down mental health stigma by delivering talks in schools and sharing her lived experience as a carer for someone with a mental health condition.
Outside of ABV, Susan is a board member of a community-owned mortuary service that supports people who struggle to pay for their loved ones' funerals and connects local organisations to better serve their community's needs in times of grief and loss.
Beyond her humanitarian work, Susan finds solace in Taiko drumming, a mind, body, and soul workout she discovered during her first trip to Japan. "The drums can be so large that you need a crane to bring them in; it's an amazing art form. I leave the studio after drumming feeling so refreshed and clear-headed."
Susan was excited to join ABV and contribute to sustainable change-making. "The theme of all my volunteering is to build capacity and empower people, which very much aligns with ABV's mission, and that's what drew me to the organisation," Susan said.
When asked what made Susan choose ABV, she said, "ABV is working in such a streamlined way; no one is indispensable, and people are valued. ABV continues momentum but never becomes the destination; they are the wind in the sails of the next community."
We feel privileged to have a volunteer with such diverse and meaningful experience. Thank you, Susan!
Image: Susan and her daughter hosting the Vinnies Community Sleepout in Western Sydney.
ABV, in partnership with BSP Samoa, has launched a program to support Micro, Small, and Medium businesses in Samoa. The YES Grow program offers a three-week workshop series with six months of ongoing online coaching and mentoring provided by ABV's experienced Skilled Business Volunteers.
The program aims to help businesses in Samoa succeed by providing mentorship, access to resources, and networking opportunities. This collaboration between ABV and BSP Samoa has been in place since 2018, and successful programs run in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
"We are thrilled to partner with BSP Samoa to introduce this transformative MSME Mentoring and Coaching Program," said Liz Mackinlay, CEO at ABV. "Our goal is to equip MSMEs in Samoa with the tools, knowledge, and networks necessary to thrive in today's competitive landscape."
Through customised, sustainable, and practical solutions, YES helps businesses reach their full potential and contribute to Samoa's sustainable economic growth.
This partnership is part of ABV's broader efforts across the Asia Pacific region, bridging business expertise with community needs. By empowering local businesses, ABV and BSP Samoa aim to drive growth and innovation in Samoa and support the development of a strong and vibrant local economy.
Image: Representatives from the businesses of the YES Grow Program attended the launch event.
Big Congratulations to the February graduates of our Family Money Management program! Run by dedicated local staff at the Apeketon Business Hub in Lihir, Papua New Guinea, this initiative equips families with essential tools for financial planning, budgeting, and saving.
It's truly inspiring to witness participants taking concrete steps towards their savings goals, paving the way for brighter futures for their families. Empowering communities to thrive begins with imparting financial freedom through knowledge and skills.
This program is in partnership with Lihir Gold Limited (LGL), a subsidiary of Newmont Corporation.
