Caption: Bringing the knowledge and skills back to Fiji – The Trainees. From Left to Right: Tevita Toloi (Trainee and Senior Road Design Engineer, MWH Global); John Aqulala (Trainee and Senior CAD Technician, MWH Global); Mike Rudge (Fiji Roading Network Manager, MWH Global); Mereia Kalivakatoga (Trainee and Graduate Bridge and Structural Engineer, MWH Global); Don Clifford (Technical Delivery Manager/Jetties and Bridge Programme Manager – Fiji, MWH Global); Dharmendra Singh (Trainee and Traffic Engineer, MWH Global). Photo: SUPPLIED.

A New Zealand based training programme committed to up skilling Fiji’s transport industry has produced its first successful graduates.

As part of its commitment to developing its own and other agency’s staff knowledge, MWH Global is transferring Fiji trainees to its New Zealand offices to be mentored by its recognised experts whilst they continue to work on Fiji roading projects.

The knowledge and skills developed during the three month programme will further enhance the participants’ abilities to contribute to building and maintaining Fiji’s roads, bridges and jetties.

“We are committed to transferring our expert knowledge and up skilling the whole Transportation industry in Fiji. This will undoubtedly bring about a sustained improvement to the country’s national roading network” said Mike Rudge, Fiji Roading Network Manager, MWH. “There has been a huge amount of knowledge transfer to local staff already from MWH and contractors working in Fiji. This has an on-going benefit for the individual, communities and economy as it means the country will become more self-sufficient and, in time, have less reliance on foreign workers to deliver an efficient and effective transport system.”

Mereia Kalivakatoga, Graduate Bridge and Structural Engineer at MWH, who recently completed the training programme in Christchurch, said “The training has been an exceptional experience and a milestone in my career. The knowledge I have brought back to Fiji with me has hugely enhanced my design and decision making skills and I am now applying it on a daily basis to successfully deliver the bridges and jetties that are needed here.”

Bringing knowledge and skills back to Fiji. Trainee of the MWH Global Immersion Programme, Tevita Tolio, being mentored onsite in Hastings, New Zealand by David Curson, Senior Transport Planner and Traffic Engineer, MWH Global. Photo: SUPPLIED.

Tevita Tolio, Senior Road Design Engineerat MWH is currently completing his training in Hastings. “I am boosting my technical skills and knowledge immensely whilst at the same time working with the experts in New Zealand on a project which will ease traffic congestion in Fiji by giving commuters the option of traveling between Suva and Nausori. My new found knowledge will result in the construction of even safer and higher standards of roads in future for the people of Fiji,” said Mr Tolio.

MWH anticipates that by the end of 2014 five staff will have benefited from this immersion style training in New Zealand.

They will have enhanced their skills in road safety management, bridge, structures and road design with a programme that brings a lasting improvement in capability.

In January 2012, MWH Global was awarded a five year contract by the Fiji Government to assist it in establishing the new Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), and to build and maintain the country’s 10,000 kilometers of roads, its 1000 bridges and 44 jetties.

In the next few years a major reseal and rehabilitation programme is to be implemented across Fiji’s entire road network together with the replacement of unsafe bridges and improvements to traffic signals and streetlights.

This game changing project, its systems, processes and objectives is now being brought to the attention of other governments in the region including Papua New Guinea, which is increasingly focusing on its infrastructure as its economy continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the Asia Pacific.

Putting new skills and knowledge to use back in Fiji. Mereia Kalivakatoga, Graduate Bridge and Structural Engineer, MWH Global carries out a monitoring Inspection of Wainalumu Bridge having successfully completed the MWH Global training programme. Photo: SUPPLIED.

Trainee of the MWH Immersion Programme, Tevita Tolio, on site in Hastings, New Zealand. Photo: SUPPLIED.