When the world was grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19, Chris Vanualailai was facing personal and professional crossroads. Like many others, the pandemic disrupted his trajectory, forcing him to step away from his family’s environmental consultancy business and start from scratch. At just 28, he launched his own freelance consultancy, working solo and navigating a volatile economic climate. It wasn’t easy.
But Chris didn’t back down. By 2023, he officially registered Envirotech Solutions Pacific, opened an office in Suva, and hired five full-time staff. Today, his firm has over 100 successful projects under its belt and a growing footprint in the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea with Tonga next in line. His journey from struggle to scaling up is proof of what resilience, purpose, and technical excellence can achieve.
Now, Chris brings that same drive and expertise into his new role as a Climate Service Advisor with Business Link Pacific (BLP). With more than a decade of hands-on experience in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and compliance work, he’s helping MSMEs across Fiji build stronger, greener operations.
At the heart of Envirotech Solutions Pacific is a strong B2B approach. The firm specializes in environmental audits, compliance project management, and technical reporting under the Fiji Environmental Management Act (2005). But Chris’s work doesn’t stop at regulatory support. His team also delivers civil society education, using real-time data from air quality, water, and noise monitoring to raise environmental awareness. Soon, the firm will introduce Environmental Compliance Training, designed specifically for businesses.
“Environmental compliance shouldn’t be viewed as a box-ticking exercise,” Chris explains. “It’s an opportunity for businesses to identify risks early, become more efficient, and build credibility with their customers and regulators.”
Through one-on-one consultations, field visits, and practical workshops, Chris and his team tailor solutions to each client’s scale and sector. He’s worked with companies in tourism, real estate, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, and more, consistently encountering a lack of understanding about existing regulations and low-cost solutions for climate risk.
“We need to stop overlooking the basics,” he emphasizes. “If we don’t get waste management right today, we’ll be facing a crisis that could cripple our environment and economy 20 years from now.”
Now is the time for action.
Through the BLP network, MSMEs, landowning units, and community groups can access subsidised environmental consultancy services delivered by Chris and his team, tailored to real market needs and backed by technical expertise.
A standout success was Chris’s work with Kuata Island Resort, part of the South Sea Cruises group. His team led the resort through full environmental compliance, culminating in the launch of a marine biology centre that enhances both tourism appeal and marine conservation. The project was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Bill Gavoka, marking it as a milestone in sustainable tourism.
To help MSMEs take their first steps toward climate resilience, Chris recommends simple yet impactful changes: rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting, supply chain diversification, and basic continuity planning for extreme weather.
“Embed sustainability into your business model from the start,” Chris advises. “There’s a growing market appetite for green-certified products and services. Aligning with these values now will position your business for future success.”
His story began humbly in high school, supporting his father with environmental surveys on weekends. By 17, he was writing reports; today, he’s building a legacy of his own. As his company expands across the Pacific, Chris remains grounded in his mission: to equip local businesses with the tools they need to meet environmental challenges head-on.
“At the end of the day,” he reflects, “our goal is to build local capacity and leave behind a community that understands how to manage its own environmental responsibilities, one business at a time.”
👉 Visit www.businesslinkpacific.com to connect with Chris and explore how your business can become environmentally compliant and climate resilient.
