Professor Arun Elias.

The Fiji National University’s (FNU), College of Business, Hospitality, and Tourism Studies (CBHTS) will host the inaugural International Conference on Business, Hospitality and Tourism on November 25-26 at the Namaka Campus in Nadi.

The conference is centred on the theme “Post-Pandemic Resilience: A Sustainable Approach”.

CBHTS Dean Professor Arun Elias said the conference will help businesses, participants, speakers, and the audience understand how the business world has changed after the pandemic.

“This is an important international business conference that will benefit both our local and international participants. The pandemic has changed a lot of things for individuals, businesses, governments, universities, and all the sectors associated with the business world,” Professor Elias mentioned.

“The inaugural conference is a collaboration with academia and practitioners to discuss a sustainable approach towards post-pandemic resilience.”

“The world is trying to become resilient after the disruptions caused by the pandemic. The move towards post-pandemic resilience is now threatened by geopolitical issues leading to wars, and emerging impacts of climate change. The situation demands a sustainable approach to resilience.”

The two-day international conference will include international speakers, including University of Wollongong, Faculty of Business and Law, Executive Dean, Professor Colin Picker, who will present on the pandemic supply chain crises and focus on the role of international trade law.

Former Deputy Dean and Head of Management School at Victoria University of Wellington, Professor John Brockelsby, will present on the strategic positioning of business and hospitality schools in a post-covid environment.

Reserve Bank Governor Ariff Ali and Acting Dean (Engagement) of Griffith Business School Prof Ruth McPhail are also keynote speakers.

The conference will also include a panel discussion on Women in Leadership chaired by the FNU Deputy Chancellor, Dr Nur Bano Ali along with Director of Pacific Destination and the member of the FNU Council, Lala Sowane, Chief Executive Officer C2C Logistics, Australia, Kathy McDonogh, and Aspiring Entrepreneur of the Year, Eileen Sankaracharya

CBHTS Associate Dean Research, Dr Avanish Shukla, said the College anticipated a wide range of participants from academia, industry, and the public sector from both Fiji and overseas.

“Everyone is expecting to learn new innovative ideas that they can use in their businesses to flourish and come up with solutions to the problems the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to everyone,” Dr Shukla said.

“We are getting back to our feet, and we need to work collectively to get solutions and revive the business world.”