Asenaca Nawagalevu, the reigning Miss Suva City Council, recently made history as one of the first graduates with a degree in town and country planning, a feat reported by Fiji Times on August 7, 1991.
At 24, Nawagalevu embraced a new challenge by participating in the week-long Air New Zealand Hibiscus Carnival while serving as the assistant town planner at the Suva City Council. Initially, she felt uncertain about managing older colleagues, particularly as a woman in a predominantly male field, but she has since overcome these hurdles, attributing her resilience to her upbringing with her grandparents, which fostered her maturity.
Nawagalevu expressed her passion for her work, stating her need for comprehensive knowledge in her field. She described her career path as somewhat serendipitous, acknowledging the influence of her geography teachers on her interest in town planning. Additionally, she aspired to pursue a profession usually dominated by men.
Her personal interests include baking, reading, singing, and jogging. While at university, she participated in singing lessons and was a member of the Auckland Orpheus Choir, having previously sung with the Kadavu Choir for four years. Although she boasts a mezzo-soprano voice, she currently has limited time for singing due to her busy professional life.
During an interview, Nawagalevu highlighted the importance of organization and interpersonal skills in managing her responsibilities at work, which involves processing development applications, preparing reports for various committees, and addressing public grievances.
After graduating from the University of Auckland, she joined the Suva City Council in February that year. Nawagalevu received her primary and secondary education in Fiji and completed her seventh form at Baradene College in Auckland. She emphasized that Fiji’s charm lies in its friendly people and the multiculturalism that the region offers, inviting visitors to experience it for themselves.