Date: 08 Jan 2026
Empowering Women Through Rugby and Leadership
When Esther Karanavatu, a single mother and dedicated community leader, joined the Women in Leadership Pipeline Program 2023 – a partnership between Balance of Power (BOP) and the Fiji Council of Social Services
(FCOSS) – she saw it as another opportunity to learn and grow. What she didn’t expect was how much it would strengthen her confidence and sense of purpose as a woman leader.
“I’ve been part of many leadership trainings before,” Esther said, “but this one was different. It helped me see leadership not just as a position, but as a responsibility to speak up, to lift others, and to make real change where it matters most.”
Esther’s leadership story is as diverse as it is inspiring. In addition to her community service through FCOSS networks, she is breaking ground in the world of sports as the only female executive in the Nasinu Rugby Union Women’s Rugby team, where she now serves as General Secretary. Being a woman in a male-dominated sport has never been easy, but Esther has carved her place through persistence, skill, and empathy.
“Rugby has become more than just a sport for me,” she said. “It’s a platform for empowerment especially for young women who’ve faced rejection or hardship. Many of them have turned away from drugs and risky behaviour because of the discipline and teamwork that rugby teaches.”
For Esther, leadership often means stepping into the role of a mentor and mother figure. Some of her players are young women ostracised because of their sexuality or family circumstances and have found refuge in her home. “When they come to Suva for training, they stay with us,” she said. “It’s become a family thing. My sister, my brother-in-law – we all help. We just want these girls to have a safe space to grow.”
This year, Esther and her team are launching Fiji’s first-ever women’s agegrade rugby tournament fully organised and led by women. “We want to show that women can lead just as well as men,” she said proudly. “This is about empowerment through sports and giving our girls something positive to aim for.”
A key turning point for Esther was participating in the 2024 Fiji Women’s Mock Parliament. The experience gave her a taste of political decision-making and a new appreciation for the power of women’s voices in national spaces.
“That mock parliament opened my eyes,” she said. “It showed me that leadership comes in many forms and that even grassroots women without formal qualifications can make a difference. I walked away knowing I belonged in those spaces too.”
The training also helped Esther expand her network of women leaders across Fiji connections that continue to support her work today.
As a single mother, Esther has learned to lead with both strength and empathy. She understands the daily struggles women face managing homes, raising children, and leading communities, often with very little.
“Women are natural managers,” she said. “If we can make a small household work with limited resources, we can manage organisations and even lead at national level with the same care and balance. We just need the chance.”
Esther believes true leadership is people-centered, grounded in service and humility.
“Leadership is not about recognition,” she said. “It’s about staying focused on the people you serve. You’ll be criticised and challenged, but you can’t lose sight of why you’re there.”
Esther hopes programs like the Women in Leadership Pipeline will continue to expand, especially for young women in non-traditional fields.
“We need to build leaders in all spaces – sports, farming, fishing, business,” she said. “If young women get that training early, they’ll grow into confident leaders who can shape Fiji’s future.”
She has already begun mentoring younger women, especially in rugby, teaching them how to manage teams and navigate challenges.
Esther’s journey reflects the spirit of transformation that the Women in Leadership Pipeline aims to inspire; empowering women to see themselves as capable agents of change.
“The program reminded me that our stories matter,” she reflected. “We don’t need to wait for someone else to lead – we can start right where we are, with what we have.”
From community halls to rugby fields, Esther Karanavatu continues to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction, proving that leadership isn’t about titles or positions but about creating spaces where others can rise.