A PASSION FOR JUSTICE
MEET THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ACCIDENT COMPENSATION COMMISSION FIJI, PARVEZ AKBAR
Parvez Akbar has become synonymous to Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF).
He is the face of the commission and he goes above and beyond to assist grieving Fijians, injured Fijians receive their right compensation.
However, many do not know his story.
Parvez Akbar’s history
Mr Akbar is the older of two siblings and hails from the West. He grew up in Nadi and attended Nadi Airport School and completed his high school education at Natabua High School.
Having received a Public Service Commission Scholarship, he then undertook the Foundation Social Studies programme at University of the South Pacific. He later went to Australia and completed a degree in Law and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. But, he is one of those who made a point of returning to Fiji to contribute in its growth.
Upon completion of his tertiary education, Mr Akbar returned to Fiji and began his career in 1995 as a Barrister and Solicitor where he worked as a lawyer in various areas of the law, at all levels, including personal injuries. He initially worked for a firm in Nadi and later established his own practice. In his own practice, Mr Akbar attended to Barrister and Solicitor work across a wide spectrum of areas including Civil Law, Matrimonial Law, Conveyancing and Criminal Law. He regularly appeared in the Courts in Fiji at various levels.
Assisting victims of motor vehicle accidents
Mr Akbar is no stranger to assisting victims of motor vehicle accidents and in terms of his experience with personal injury matters for motor vehicle accidents; he represented many victims of accidents. Being mindful of victims’ circumstances, he took great care when attending to the instructions of victims, including interviewing them, investigating circumstances surrounding accidents, evaluating cases and providing an honest view of the prospects of success.
It was always important for Mr Akbar that victims of accidents achieved maximum compensation and in doing so endeavoured to ensure matters were dealt with at reasonable costs and expeditiously.
He ensured that clients were treated with respect and represented ethically and to work in their best interest.
In 2002, Mr Akbar migrated to New Zealand where he specialised in Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), Employment Law and Health and Safety matters. This also included providing advice on Human Rights and Privacy. There he successfully provided legal advice, support and representation at various levels in his specialist areas, including Mediation, Employment Relations Authority, and Employment Court and as Counsel in the Court of Appeal.
He is admitted to the High Courts of New Zealand, Australia and Fiji and holds a current practicing certificate in Fiji.
Mr Akbar was senior solicitor in the Employers and Manufacturers’ Association, New Zealand Employers Manufacturers Association (EMA) Legal team until 2011 where he provided legal support to a diverse group of businesses ranging from small employers to larger national, trans-Tasman and global organisations.
His responsibilities extended over a broad spectrum of employment law issues including personal grievances, disputes, industrial action, accident compensation claims, enforcement of contractual obligations and breaches, status of employees, redundancies, health and safety, managing employees, privacy and human rights.
In this role, Mr Akbar supported his clients in many ways including obtaining remedies, providing legal advice and assistance on union related matters including advice during negotiations, bargaining process arrangements, collective agreements, strikes and lockouts, facilitating bargaining, and strategic advice on relationships with unions. He also provided advice and assistance with performance management processes.
Mr Akbar also attended to drafting, reviewing and developing policies and procedures, legal opinions, attending mediations, disciplinary meetings, providing representation at the Employment Relations Authority, Human Rights Commission and Employment Court, and assisting Counsel in the Court of Appeal, and all aspects of these attendances including preparation, pleadings and research.
The role also provided him an opportunity to contribute to legal submissions to the Employment Court on employment law matters of national significance.
As a member of the Employers’ Forum he contributed to regular submissions to Government on law reforms.
He mentored junior solicitors on all aspects of legal practice and provided tailored training (including research and preparation of workbooks) throughout New Zealand on a wide range of legal obligations.
Mr Akbar was a regular speaker at numerous conferences and seminars (including conducting webinars). This included presenting employment law/employment relations member briefing updates. He also was a regular contributor to the New Zealand Business Magazine – writing articles on his areas of expertise.
Joining Westpac New Zealand
After seven years at EMA Legal he took up the opportunity to join Westpac New Zealand as Head of Employment Law, and Health, Safety and Wellbeing. In this role he provided strategic guidance to the business, legal support, ACC and health and safety advice, and oversaw a significant improvement in the organisation’s safety performance.
In this role he was responsible for overseeing the management of employment Law cases, collective bargaining and managing the union relationship, and establishing and implementing company-wide policies.
He managed and oversaw the ACC Accredited Employers Programme (AEP) and worked with their ACC claims management expert to manage injuries and claims. Mr Akbar’s responsibilities included making decisions on injury cover, oversight and management of claims costs, and treatment and rehabilitation under the Accident Compensation Act 2001.
He had the opportunity to ensure any legislative reform took into account the business’ views on matters by making submissions to the minister responsible, and meeting the minister in person to advocate on behalf of the organisation. Mr Akbar ensured the employment law and health and safety teams added real value to the business and always emphasised the importance of high integrity and high engagement.
Joining NZ Post Group
He was later appointed Head of Employment Relations, and Safety and Wellbeing at NZ Post Group, providing legal and strategic advice, support and representation to the business on Employment Law, ACC, Industrial Relations and Health Safety. Mr Akbar was successful in establishing a stable Employment Law environment and saw the safety performance and culture improve considerably during his watch.
At NZ Post Group he was responsible for providing legal and strategic advice, support and representation to the business on Employment Law, Employment/Industrial Relations and Health and Safety. This included managing and overseeing the ACC Accredited Employers Programme (AEP) and working with their ACC claims management expert to manage injuries and claims. Mr Akbar made decisions on injury cover, oversaw and managed claims costs, and treatment and rehabilitation under the Accident Compensation Act 2001.
The role involved regular reporting and presentation to the Board on employment law and health and safety matters, preparation and presentation of board papers. Legal advice and opinions, risk assessment and mitigation, training/ coaching and legal representation and managing cases.
He provided leadership, governance and compliance assistance, including developing and implementing strategies, and establishing work streams to improve performance.
Mr Akbar was successful in establishing a stable employment relations environment and saw the health and safety performance and culture improve considerably. He was actively involved in the change transformation programme which saw the organisation make major changes from a customer and staffing perspective without disruption.
He worked successfully with key stakeholders, including business leaders, team members and unions to effect positive change. Mr Akbar successfully managed both the employment relations and health and safety teams, achieving positive engagement with the wider teams. Having successfully undertaken external and in-house roles, Mr Akbar established his own consultancy, where he provided advice, representation, coaching and training in his areas of expertise.
He provided advice, legal representation and tailored training/ coaching in all aspects of these areas including employment law and industrial relations, Accident Compensation claims, health and safety, privacy and human rights, compliance, performance management processes, reviewing and developing policy and procedures, disciplinary meetings, conducting employment investigations, mediation support, strategic planning and regularly speaking and presenting at conferences and seminars.
Returning to Fiji
Having always wanting to return home and contribute to the country of his birth, in January 2018 Mr Akbar commenced his role as the chief executive officer of the commission.
Since January 1, 2018 the commission has been receiving and processing applications for compensation for personal injuries and deaths arising from motor vehicle accidents in Fiji.
The scheme is designed to remove the unreasonable hurdles that victims of accidents previously faced in pursuit of compensation. This included lengthy and costly legal battles, the burden of proving fault, unreasonable exclusions and uncertainty of outcomes. From January 1, 2019 ACCF has started compensating for personal injuries and deaths from employment and school accidents. Mr Akbar attributes his success to his unwavering faith in the Almighty, the support he received from his parents, and the unshakeable strength and commitment of his wife and children.
His goal is to always be in a position in life to serve others, and his current role as chief executive officer of ACCF is a perfect enabler of that goal.