The Fiji International is a world class golfing event boasting a million dollar prize purse and world class field, tournaments like this don’t just happen it takes a dedicated team of experts to ensure their success.
One of the newest recruits to the Fiji International team is 21 year old Francine Pickering from Pacific Harbour.
Pickering has joined the Fiji International team in a full time capacity administration role after her successful involvement with the tournament last year.
“This time last year I was working in a cafe in Pacific Harbour. Harmony Thomas the Fiji International Manager was a regular customer at the cafe and saw potential in me,” said Pickering.
“She offered me the opportunity to work during tournament week at the Fiji International last year and that has turned into a full time role this year.”
“It has been an incredible opportunity at my age. Working on an international sporting event, I have learnt so much already and it’s really helped me launch my career in sports administration.”
Already growing in her role, developing new skills and demonstrating exceptional talent, Pickering’s responsibilities have expanded to be more than just administration; she is now also responsible for coordinating the junior golf program, delivered by Fijian PGA Professionals, in schools across the country.
“I love visiting the primary schools and helping introduce golf to the students, it would be one of the most rewarding parts of my job,” added Pickering.
“I think that is the biggest success of the Fiji International; the level of interest for golf has increased dramatically and that is just during my six months of working on the tournament.”
“The people of Fiji are really starting to recognise golf and embrace the sport.”
The demands of organising an international sporting event are many and varied. The Fiji International is a global event which will attract the world’s best golfers from Europe and Australasia and as such the level of service and the quality of the tournament needs to be second to none.
“Some of my biggest day-to-day challenges of working on the Fiji International are prioritising my time,” added Pickering.
“There are so many different facets to the Fiji International; from marketing the event, to helping sponsors get the most out of their partnerships with the tournament. Then the logistical side of organising the event like transport and ticketing.”
“The world’s eyes will be on Fiji and the Fiji International so we need to make sure every detail of the event is perfect.”
“The opinion and experience of the players during the tournament is also extremely important to the long term success of the event. We need to make sure they all enjoy their time in Fiji so that they have good stories to tell people in their home countries so that entices them to come next year.”
Having worked on the Fiji International last year Pickering already has positive memories of the tournament but can’t wait for event week this year.
“Last year was so exciting. Watching Matt Kuchar win the 2015 Fiji International inspires me to make sure the 2016 Fiji International is bigger and better,” added Pickering, who can’t wait to work with the international teams.
“Being based on the ground in Fiji and working year round on the tournament is a brilliant experience, but when tournament week arrives so do the international staff from the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, the European Tour and Sport and Entertainment Limited.”
“They have so much experience and knowledge; I can’t wait to learn from them to continue developing my skills in sports administration and management.”
The Fiji International will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 6-9 October.