Miss Suva City Council Asenaca Nawagalevu recently graduated with a degree in town and country planning, as reported by Fiji Times on August 7, 1991. At 24 years old, she has taken on the role of assistant town planner at the Suva City Council, a position she embraced with determination.
Initially, Nawagalevu felt apprehensive about overseeing colleagues who were older than her, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field. However, she has since overcome these challenges, attributing part of her resilience to her upbringing by her grandparents, which instilled a sense of maturity in her.
“I realized I needed a comprehensive understanding of my field, and I’m confident in that,” she stated. Nawagalevu expressed that her career path was somewhat serendipitous, influenced by exceptional geography teachers who sparked her interest in town planning, and a desire to pursue a career that was atypical for women.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Nawagalevu enjoys baking, reading, singing, and jogging. During her university years, she received singing training and participated with the Auckland Orpheus Choir. Although she previously sang with the Kadavu Choir for four years, her current schedule is too demanding to allow for singing.
When asked about her ability to manage her responsibilities, she emphasized the importance of organization and interpersonal skills. Her leadership experience as head girl at Dudley High School likely contributed to her mature demeanor and eloquence.
Despite her busy schedule, which included acting as town planner for two weeks, she found time to prepare for the upcoming Air New Zealand Hibiscus Carnival, planning to source most of her clothing locally aside from her evening wear.
Nawagalevu joined the Suva City Council in February after completing her degree at the University of Auckland the previous year. Her responsibilities include processing development applications, drafting reports for various committees, and addressing public grievances. Having completed her primary and secondary education in Fiji, she later finished her seventh form at Baradene College in Auckland.
She expressed pride in Fiji’s friendly and multicultural environment, noting that visitors have the opportunity to experience the diversity the country offers.