NASINU, Fiji — Ashaana Lata, the newly appointed Assistant Instructor in Leadership and Management at the National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC) of the Fiji National University (FNU), is positioning practical, locally grounded leadership development and women’s empowerment at the centre of the nation’s workplace transformation.
Lata, who has been with FNU for six years and joined NTPC’s training team nearly a year ago, says her work focuses on producing leaders who are “purposeful and people focused.” Drawing on her classroom and field experience, she delivers programmes in strategic leadership, emotional intelligence, communication and team effectiveness that she says are designed to be immediately applicable in Fijian workplaces. “We deliver training that is grounded in real‑world examples and practical, hands‑on activities,” she said, adding that tailoring content to the Fijian context helps participants translate learning into day‑to‑day practice.
Her emphasis on women’s leadership is a defining thread in her training and research. Lata described empowerment of women as a strategic priority: “I am passionate about empowering women, equipping them with the confidence, capability, and leadership readiness to step forward and lead with purpose.” She cites tangible outcomes as the best measure of impact — not just positive feedback forms but observable changes in workplace behaviour, including increased willingness among women trainees to speak up and address entrenched issues with superiors.
Lata’s programmes have reached both public and private sectors, giving her a broad view of organisational needs across Fiji. “Working across sectors has enabled me to tailor training to suit different environments, ensuring it remains practical, relevant, and impactful,” she said. She recounted a recent cohort of women participants where one attendee, after completing the course, gained the confidence to confront a supervisor and surface unresolved workplace issues — a moment Lata describes as emblematic of the kind of behavioural shift she seeks to foster.
Beyond training delivery, Lata is advancing academic research into women‑led organisations, a development that NTPC officials say will strengthen the evidence base for targeted leadership interventions. Her dual role — practitioner and researcher — aims to bridge classroom insights with organisational realities, informing both curriculum design and policy discussions on workforce development.
Her work comes amid a broader momentum in Fiji toward bolstering female leadership across sectors, complementing other initiatives that have sought to build networks and provide targeted leadership upskilling for women. NTPC’s programmes, Lata argues, respond to that demand by emphasising practical tools and local case studies rather than abstract theory, ensuring participants leave with skills they can deploy immediately.
As Fiji continues to prioritise productivity and inclusive growth, Lata and NTPC frame leadership development — particularly for women — as an investment in national resilience. “By investing in people, we are building a stronger, more capable workforce and contributing to a more inclusive, productive, and resilient Fiji,” she said, underlining the link between individual development and broader economic goals.