Tackling challenges
MORE women are successfully carving out a career in the field of events and operations, and Eleina McDonald is no exception.
In fact, she finds the challenge of juggling priorities and working to deadlines very motivating.
Eleina is the Fijian Drua’s events and operations manager.
Born in Suva to a Tongan dad and a mum with links to Savusavu, Rakiraki and Nadroga, Eleina has a long sporting background, which is an added advantage to the passion she has for her work.
Exciting, educational and privileged are but a few words to describe her experience since joining in October, 2022.
“We’re very lucky to have landed in this space and there are so many exciting things going on because it’s the first that Fiji has and we’re learning so much. There’s a new lesson every day,” she said with a smile.
As a 15-year-old she fell in love with basketball and represented Fiji in 1999 before switching to rugby at 21.
She played hockey for four years, became a national rep in 2011 and then attended the Fijiana try-outs “just for fun”, which landed her a position in the team for Oceania in 2018, her last time on the field as a player. So, does she still play?
“My body won’t allow it anymore,” she laughed.
“So now, I’m just putting myself into administration work and being a boss in that space.”
Her responsibilities, she said, required a lot of thinking and planning.
From dealing with suppliers, making sure that timelines are met on a daily basis, liaising with a wide range of stakeholders, making sure there are proper match official rooms and that the field is of international standard to achieving successful delivery of home games, arranging entertainment for spectators, having well-managed ticketing systems and just mapping everything else out, her team is nothing short of amazing at what they do.
“I’ve put in a footprint there, so that I can bring in the right people to work together every season.
“We’re only operating for six or seven months in a season, so that’s when we get a very specific skill set of people in match operations to come in with us in that short period.
“So, that’s one of the challenges. Just bringing in and organising the whole thing, the delivery and then picking the right people to get involved, on top of making sure everybody is doing their part.”
Laid back with an outdoorsy personality, Eleina loves spending time at the beach.
Shorts, vests and flip flops are her style.
You will rarely see her dress up unless, of course, she wants to. And when she does, nods of approval would be received.
She even admitted to getting a kick out of people’s reactions.
“I can be girly when I want to. “If I have to dress up, I will.” She hopes her involvement in rugby — on and off the field will prove that women can contribute to all areas of a sport.