The University of Fiji Council on 30 November 2013 through a unanimous vote has appointed Mr. Anil Tikaram as the new Pro-Chancellor of The University of Fiji (UniFiji) under Section 9 of The UniFiji Decree 2011. His appointment came into effect on 1 January 2014. At the time of his appointment as the new Pro-Chancellor of UniFiji, Mr. Tikaram was a distinguished Member of UniFiji Council appointed under Section 13 (4) of UniFiji Decree 2011. Under the provisions of Section 9 (5) of UniFiji Decree Mr. Tikaram also takes the responsibilities of the Chair of the University Council.
Anil Tikaram
Mr. Tikaram hails from the Tikaram family of Suva and is the son of Late Sir Moti Tikaram. He is a Lawyer by profession and attained his LLB Degree from the Auckland University, New Zealand. He is a former student of Marist Primary and Marist Brothers High School in Suva. As a Lawyer, he was admitted to the High Courts of New Zealand and Fiji. During his legal career spanning some 39 years Mr. Tikaram has worked for Wm. Scott Grahame & Co and Mitchell Keil and Associates before establishing his private firm – Tikaram and Associates. He also had a 3 year stint as an Associate at the Auckland Law Firm of Kennedy Tudehope Railey and Martin from 1989 -91 and on his return to Fiji in 1992 re-established the Firm – Tikaram and Associates. In 2010 he moved his Law Practice to Rakiraki and along with this he has become an avid Bee Farmer trading under the name Waitika Honey in Wairuku, Rakiraki. Mr. Tikaram is a Director and Trustee of Unit Trust of Fiji since 2009 to date.
Mr. Tikaram is a current member of Fiji Law Society, Past President of Fiji Judo Association, Fiji Club, and Oceania Judo Union and continues to take keen interest in soccer, cricket, rugby and golf.
Mr. Tikaram succeeds the Foundation Pro-Chancellor of UniFiji Pandit Bhuwan Dutt who has served the University as the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council from 2005 till 2013 with much acclaim. Pandit Bhuwan Dutt remains a member of UniFiji Council as a nominee of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji – the Founder of The University of Fiji.
The University of Fiji welcomes Mr. Tikaram as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chair of UniFiji Council and expresses its sincere gratitude to the outgoing Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council for his outstanding services to UniFiji for past nine years.
(Kamlesh Arya is the Registrar of Uni Fiji)