Who We Are?

Fiji Canada Business Association provides its member companies with business insight, understanding, and strong networks that help resolve the inevitable challenges of doing business in Canada.

Fiji Canada Business Association understands the need to promote Fijian Business community. This is a non-profit organization to gather our community together and understand each other. Like minded professionals share their knowledge with others. This organization is always take initiates to organize various events to bring people together.

Fiji Canada Business Association organizes events such as greet and welcome of diplomats. Introduce our exceptional talents hidden from the world. Association will also appreciate efforts done by various people in the community for the country or rest of the world need to be recognized.

President (Kavin Chand)

Kavin migrated to Canada in 1997 from Fiji at the age of 23. Working for 10 year as an operations manager for a distribution company Kavin continuously grew his Companies and by year 2019 Kavin is the owner of Aaisa Vacations Inc, JaniPro Solutions LTD, Chand Holdings and Ami Holdings (Fiji)LTD with shares in few other companies. He is also a real estate investor and developer here in Canada and abroad.

Kavin with his generosity and supporting nature has built a respective name in the community. As being the founding member of this Business Association, he believes in helping other’s to grow their business as he
did his own.

Kavin believes in giving back to the community as he is also the founding member and President of Humanitarian Community Society of BC and Fiji Disaster Relief Society, he is also Fiji’s first and only life time member of PICs and a vast community worker.

Vice President (Shabnam Khan)

Shabnam is a Private Practitioner at S.K Counselling Services in Surrey, British Columbia. She also practices as a Family Counsellor at UNITI – Semiahmoo House Society in South Surrey with additional roles as a PCT – Person Centred Trainer and a RPF – Restorative Practice Facilitator.

Shabnam is originally from Ba, Fiji Islands. She completed her Secondary School at Kamil College and then attended Fiji Institute of Technology. Shabnam then pursued her education in Sydney, Australia where she acquired her B.A in Business & Marketing. When Shabnam migrated to Canada, she continued her studies towards Psychology and completed her MPCC – Master’s Practitioner In Clinical Counselling.

She believes Counselling is a process of learning how to make good life decisions. Realizing that there can be a lot of reluctance in seeking Counselling Services, Shabnam is committed to break those barriers through awareness, advocacy and continued education. Shabnam specializes in Individual, Child & Youth, Pre-Marital, Marriage/Couple & Family Counselling. She works in areas of Self Esteem, Parenting, Depression, Grief/Bereavement, Assertive Communication, Anger Management, Boundaries & Relationships etc. Shabnam also advocates as an Adult Educator in Schools and Community Gatherings through workshops on Effective Parenting, Mother & Daughter Groups and Women’s Support Groups. Shabnam has passion for writing Inspirational Stories and her Articles are published in the Community Newspaper – The Miracle and at UNITI – Semiahmoo Foundation Blog. She also covers Special Edition for AAJ Magazine. Shabnam is an active volunteer in her community and often devotes her time in planning and facilitating at events. Her Quote: “Opportunities may come and go but the discipline, love, care, respect and motivation that surrounded us throughout our childhood will never fade. Those are the memories we carry on with us for life, as we are accustomed to them and want to cherish them becoming part of our identity” Shabnam was a recent recipient of Shakti Award of Public Service – Shakti Award 2020, celebrating Women in our Community. Shakti Society holds this event close to IWD – International Women’s Day Celebration. Shabnam was a recipient of The Miracle Writer’s Award by The Miracle Media Group. Shabnam was nominated for the Top 3 Business Award’s Category by FCBA – Fiji Canada Business Association, Surrey BC in 2019. She was also nominated in the Best Community Impact category 2019 and Premier’s Peoples’ Choice category 2019 – Small Business BC Awards.

Shabnam is a member of (SBOT) Surrey Board of Trade and sits on Women in Business Committee. She also sits on (NEVR) Network to Eliminate Violence in Relationships, (CRIAW) Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women and (WTC) Women Transforming Cities Committee. Shabnam is also an active member of the Shakti Society – Empowerment of Women, Children, and Families. She is also a member of Surrey Women’s Centre, Atira Women’s Resource Society and many other Non – profit organizations in Surrey, British Columbia. Shabnam supports inclusion and collaboration.

Shabnam enjoys spending time and traveling with her family. She loves nature, reading, and socializing.

Chairperson (Salesh Prasad)

Salesh Prasad is a Senior Program Officer at the Department of Public Safety Canada – National Crime Prevention Centre. Salesh joined the Department of Public Safety Canada in 2011. His work involves developing and managing crime prevention projects that are effective and cost-effective in preventing and reducing crime by intervening on the crime risk factors before crime happens. He works closely with partners and stakeholders in the provinces and territories to develop and implement results-driven projects that target specific crime issues in regions and communities across Canada.

Before joining Department of Public Safety Canada, Salesh worked as a Program Officer at Service Canada for Homelessness Partnering Strategy and New Horizons for Seniors Programs. Salesh has also worked as an Employment Advisor and Business Education Teacher in Fiji. In 2008, as part of the Canadian Immigration Integration Project, funded by Human Resources Development Canada, in partnership with the Scotia Bank, Salesh traveled to India to train CIIP Orientation Officers on Canadian labour market, Canadian workplace culture, and job search and career decision making skills.

Salesh has completed Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting & Financial Management and Economics at the University of the South Pacific. Upon immigrating to Canada from Fiji Islands, Salesh completed Baccalaureate Diploma in Human Resources Management and Career Development Practitioner Certificate.

Secretary (Raj Prasad)

Raj is a Senior Leader with over 20 years of Program & Portfolio Management and Strategic Planning dealing with Data and Analytics and Technology Consulting.

Director (Chandra Sharma)

Chandra Sharma PREC* is a realtor with Sutton Group-West Coast Realty (Surrey/120). He has years of professional experience in real estate field dealing with residential and commercial properties. His office is located at 7832 120 Street, Surrey, British Columbia V3W3N2. His company Name is Chandra Sharma Personal Real Estate Corporation. He has been in this business from last 25 years. Previously, he worked as an Accredited Mortgage Professional (AMP) at “Mortgage Alliance-AAA Canadian Lending” for 6 years. He completed his grade 12 at Richmond Senior Secondary. He completed Diploma of Technology in civil & Structural Engineering at BCIT and started 3 year of a science graduate program At UBC. Chandra can be contacted by phone at 604-720-6965 or by email at [email protected].

Treasurer (Ryan Mudaliar)

Ryan Mudaliar is a manager in public practice accounting. He specializes in private enterprises to help families, individuals, companies, and trusts reach their financial goals, ensures compliance, and assists with tax planning opportunities.

With nearly a decade of experience from bookkeeping at a small business, to providing audit and taxation services at different firms, Ryan has accumulated a wealth of knowledge. He has refined his skillset in many aspects of accounting, taxation, and assurance. Within public practice, he has worked with several organizations in various industries including (but not limited to) professional services, manufacturing, technology, and construction.

Ryan obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (with a concentration in accounting) from Simon Fraser University in 2018. He is currently a Chartered Professional Accountant with CPA Canada, earning the designation in 2022.

Advisory Committee Members

  • Jasen Verma
  • Shannon Permal
  • Shantel Chand
  • Soni Narayan
  • Sarita Chand
  • Haneez Khan
  • Raj Prasad
  • Doris Nadan-Ram
  • Rosie Khan-Gopal
  • Irshad Khan
  • Prashant Sharma
  • Sahim Mohammed
  • George Singh
  • Amrita Maharaj