HE is "highly respected", "an outstanding example" and "an inspiration" among his colleagues, and in his community.
Amzad Khan is the oldest serving employee at the Shangri-La's Fijian Resort and Spa since joining in 1969.
At 60 years of age, he was to have retired four years ago but the resort. which has nominated him for the Pride of Fiji Medal in the Inspiration category, asked that he stay on because of "his invaluable knowledge of the resort's operation and commitment to his work".
"His encyclopedic knowledge of Yanuca Island continues to amaze many and his humble demeanour belies the achievement of this soft spoken man," the resort offered in its nomination.
Retained as assistant chief engineer, he is now project manager at the Natadola Farm an organic project set up by the resort earlier this year.
"Once again he was called on to drive the project and on any given day he can be found with his farm team tending to hectares of vegetables that are being harvested mainly for use at the resort."
He commutes daily to the Natadola farm and oversees the operation there in between delivering produce to the resort.
The resort's former general manager, David Hopcroft, sums it up best when he says: "The first time I met Amzad, his large smile and firm handshake tells you a lot about this humble God fearing man. When you meet his family you realise the genome has been passed down the line to his children.
"The whole family has the same work ethic never say no and do the job to the best of your ability and with a smile. He is a person who likes to share this knowledge and this is a rare trait which I appreciated and learnt from."
