fiona lÜth

FOUNDER AND CEO

Fiona Luth founded Fiji Book Drive in 2012. It came about after the death of her second parent. Fiona was in Kadavu, Fiji and had a flash of inspiration, realising she wanted to create as much positivity in the world as possible. She met an inspiring couple called Peter and Margaret Long who run the charity 'Children of Fiji'. Hearing their stories of helping Fiji's children inspired her further. She spoke to her friend Lavenia Tamani about the lack of books in schools. She became aware that all schooling in Fiji was compulsorily taught in English. Fiona thought she could do something about this problem.

Back in Australia, Fiona mentioned her idea of doing a book drive to her friend Laura Hahn. Laura liked the idea and provided support through her family's freight forwarding business for five years.

lavenia tamani

FIJI OPERATIONS MANAGER - advisOr to the board

Lavenia Tamani is the Operations Manager of Fiji Book Drive. Prior to sending the donations, Lavenia surveys the schools and assesses what is needed and the infrastructure available. When the donations arrive in Fiji, Lavenia deals with the logistics of schools receiving and delivering the books. She is critical in developing relationships with the schools, and her people skills are second to none.

She grew up in Kadavu, Fiji in the village of Naivakarauniniu. From when Lavenia's children were at primary school till now, she has seen a massive change in school resources in Kadavu, largely due to the work of Fiji Book Drive. She has four adult children and believes in the importance of education. 

Daniel luth

DIRECTOR

Daniel is an equities analyst with Melbourne-based wealth manager Mutual Trust. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the Univerisity of Melbourne and is a Fellow of Finsia. He has visited a number of schools on Kadavu and seen first hand the positive impact that Fiji Book Drive has had on the children and staff.  

Emily Makiv

Board member

Emily is the CEO of JKLP Group, managing a portfolio of leading hospitality businesses including Jacaklope Hotels and Black Star Pastry. With a background in marketing spanning hospitality, sports and fashion, Emily brings a wealth of creative and operational experience to FBD. Fiji is a country very close to Emily’s heart, having travelled there frequently since childhood.

Malcolm Dow

Director

Malcolm has been a supporter of the Fiji Book Drive since it since its inception in 2012. As an experienced educator with over 40 years of teaching and school administration experience in the Victorian Education Department, Malcolm brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and connections in primary school education to the board. 

In 2019, he travelled with his wife Elinor, who works in a primary school library, to the island of Kadavu in Fiji to experience first-hand the positive impact that this charity is making to the lives of so many Fijian students.