From An Influential Consumer Advocate to Member of Parliament

Premila Kumar is best known for her work as a consumer advocate with a distinguished professional career as trade policy and investment facilitator, environmentalist, teacher and teacher educator.

As Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Council of Fiji until July 2018, spanning 12 years, she has not only taken up pressing consumer issues and resolved these through mediation and changes in Government’s policies, but has also turned the organisation into a high profile and dynamic entity – least known prior to 2006.

She became a powerful voice of those who were disadvantaged and exploited by unscrupulous traders and service providers.

She has dealt with issues in practically all areas that affect consumers. Such issues include dealing with the financial sector, (banks, insurance companies); supermarkets; hire purchase organisations, landlord and property owners, and many more.

In the international arena, she has continuously supported Consumers International’s (CI) global work as well as extending support to the Pacific Island countries such as Vanuatu, Tonga and Kiribati on consumer affairs through attachments and training.

She was a member of the ACPEU Follow-up Committee of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) from November 2015 to April 2018 and a council member of Consumers International.

Premila was awarded the Executive Woman of the Year Award in 2015 by Women in Business and Fiji Times Award for the Most Influential Woman of the Year in 2010. She has served on various boards and committees.

Ms Kumar obtained her Master of Science degree in the area of Trade and Environment (with Distinction) from the Netherlands. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree, Post Graduate Diploma in Biology and Post Graduate Certificate in Education.

She is married to Jaindra Karan and they have three children (two sons and a daughter).