ABV & BSP Mentoring Program

2019 will see the launch of Australian Business Volunteer's (ABV) Mentoring Program in partnership with Bank South Pacific (BSP) as part of BSP's commitment to the continuous professional development of its staff. BSP has engaged the ABV to partner in its Leadership & Management Development Program (LMDP).

ABV, an international development organisation, have been engaged to source and match suitable mentors from their extensive network of volunteer skilled business professionals to support the professional development of selected employees across BSPs Offshore Branches in Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga who are participants of BSPs Leadership & Management Development Program (LMDP).

ABV has over 35 years of experience delivering private sector strengthening programs in partnership with local communities, business and government, ABV brings great expertise to the initiative. Having completed more than 5,000 projects across 34 countries working towards the aim of promoting inclusive economic growth and sustainability. ABV takes pride in working at the intersection of business and development, and in developing tailored programs which correspond to the needs of partners and local communities. The underpinning principle for all ABV's work is that providing capacity building and strengthening of locally-developed businesses and institutions that support economic growth is a proven method of powering sustainable community development.

With partners ranging from large, influential corporates to small, nimble enterprises, ABV collaborates to co-design initiatives and programs which are customised, needs-based, and engaged with local communities. The Mentoring Program, developed by ABV, will see seasoned industry professionals being partnered in a mentorship relationship with each one of the of BSPs LMDP participants. The twelve-month mentoring program commenced in August this year with seven (7) LMDP participants in BSP.

BSP Leadership & Management Development Program

The BSP Leadership & Management Development Program (LMDP) has been in existence since 2015, focused around the development of staff in mentoring, grooming and preparing a pool of high potential staff to take up Senior Leadership roles within BSP. A leadership committee comprised of Executives and senior management of BSP oversees the annual activities of the LMDP.

Since its introduction, the LMDP program has progressed 23 former participants who undertook various training and development programs in-country and offshore.  

Speaking on the success of this program, BSP Group Chief Executive Officer Robin Fleming said notable promotions from our LMDP program are of two of the female LMDP participants to Executive positions. Hari Rabura was appointed as General Manager Human Resources in 2016 and Nuni Kulu as General Manager Digital in January this year.

"These Executive appointments strongly demonstrated yet again BSP's accomplishment of LMDP's purpose in mentoring, grooming and preparing a pool of high potential talent to take up Senior Leadership roles within BSP. Both Hari and Nuni are now contributing to the program as mentors to current participants, which is an example of participants supporting and adding value to the program, added Mr Fleming

The program currently has 35 participants (23 from PNG and 12 from the Offshore Branches) undergoing LMDP organised training and development activities.

With the engagement of ABV, BSP participants in the program are encouraged to learn as much as they can, identify key areas of development to achieve their short and long-term goals.