Gaining top role at world’s biggest services firm huge for Pasifika community

Our Partners, Deloitte New Zealand, have officially appointed their second Pasifika woman as a Partner. 

Fiji-born Lisa Tai joins as a Partner at the largest professional services firm in the world. 

“It is a great achievement, not just for me but for my family. I’m proud to be in this role, but more so proud that it’s not just for me but also for the Pacific staff that we have at Deloitte and what it represents for them,” says Lisa. “I won’t lie but I was also slightly nervous, it is a big role and you want to make sure you do it justice and you make everybody proud.”

“I’m proud … that it’s not just for me but also for the Pacific staff that we have at Deloitte and what it represents for them” — Lisa Tai

For Lisa, this marks more than a milestone for herself: she believes she won’t be the last Pasifika woman to be appointed as Partner at Deloitte. It’s this goal to see more Pacific representation in professional services that lead Lisa to create Pås Peau. Rotuman for ‘to break through waves, Pås Peau is Deloitte’s Pasifika Services Team. 

Not only does this help the professional services reflect the community they serve, but provides an equitable lense and focus for a myriad of projects.

“I’ve always thought, if we were called in to work on a project that’s related to educated, or health, social services — those recommendations are going to impact on our Pacific communities. So we need to understand that when we are undertaking those projects, that we’ve got the people who will be impacted directly involved,” shares Lisa Tai. 

For Lisa’s full interview and commentary on this exciting move, read the full conversation over on RNZ.co.nz.