Ep 52: Nurturing Networks, Cultivating Friendships: Hafimi Abdul Haadii's Journey in International Boardrooms

Born into a third-generation business family in Brunei Darussalam, Hafimi Abdul Haadi is the Executive Director of the LVK Group of Companies. Her upbringing reflects a diverse cultural background since she spent her early years in Brunei, New Zealand, and Australia.

Dedicated to public service, Hafimi has held influential positions as the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of Brunei Darussalam since 2018. She was also a member of the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam from 2017 to 2022, where her contributions made a lasting impression.

Hafimi's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship is evident through her leadership at the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB) and as a key contributor to the ASEAN-China Young Entrepreneurs Forum. Internationally, she represents Brunei Darussalam at the APEC Business Advisory Council, chairing the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Working Group. Currently, she also leads the Inclusion Task Force as the Chair for ABAC in 2023.

In addition to her professional commitments, Hafimi holds significant board positions in various organizations, including UBD Corp Sdn Bhd in Brunei, TOQQA Global in Australia, and Jen Energy Africa Ltd in Uganda. She also serves as an International Advisor to Abodoo in Ireland.

Her passion for community development is exemplified by her role as the Chair of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation's Committee on Social Enterprise Strategy, initiating a living incubation project called "Ristaan Abadi di Kg Bolkiah.

Hafimi is an alumna of Deakin University, holding a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture (Honours). In recognition of her contributions, she was honored with the P.S.B. medal (The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei-4th Class) by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam in 2019.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Significance of profitability in business
• Influence and impact of grandparents and parents
• Earning your stripes, not taking for granted your position
• The unique way in which appointments are announced in Brunei
• No good organization can move forward if it has two masters
• The importance of contributing to and uplifting the community
• The significance of preparation and the power of a reliable network
• Ikhlas - genuineness and wholeheartedness in one's actions or pursuits
• Building strong relationships and not taking for granted time spent together
• Managing responsibilities by finding connections and intersections among them
• Detachment from Material Things, understanding the transient nature of possessions

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