In November last year Hels was invited by The Secretary of Pacific Communities to be part of an IACT Forum In Fiji. The main goal of the European Union Funded project is to Increase Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) and to strengthen the export capacity of Pacific countries in primary industries. Hels was one of eight consultants involved with the workshop (one of them being the wonderful Stella Muller of Hot Samoan Boys Chili Sauce fame). Helen’s role was to present on branding and workshop with each of the 28 companies involved to advise and mentor them on their brands, and assess their readiness for export. It was an extraordinary week, she met some incredible people and her eyes were opened to the extreme logistics Pacific Companies have to over come simply to get their products to their many markets. Unsurprisingly Hels returned inspired and determined to be a part of the next stage of the journey – helping those companies ready for export with their branding and brand strategy.

As a result one of her key projects this year is to return to the Pacific and work with six of the companies chosen by the IACT project team, helping each of them to develop and prepare their brands ready for export and their respective markets. Each path will be very different, some brands being luxury goods, while others will be heading to supermarkets here in New Zealand and abroad. Hels is loving the challenge – Watch this space!