Our Board
Meet Our Board Members
Adv. Charmaine Van Der Westhuizen
Chairperson
Adv. Charmaine van der Westhuizen is a highly experienced legal practitioner with over 19 years of experience in various legal fields. Adv. Van der Westhuizen obtained an LLB degree and a Master of Business Administration (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch. From June 2007 to June 2020, she served as a member of the Society of Advocates of Namibia and currently practicies as an independent counsel. Adv Van der Westhuizen has served on the Boards of the Bank of Namibia and Agra Ltd. Her extensive experience includes corporate governance, risk management, compliance, strategic intervention, and corporate social responsibility.
Ms Hannelie Eksteen
Board Member
Ms Hannelie Eksteen has a BCom Law Degree from the University of South Africa, an Honours Degree in Business Management and Administration, and an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. Ms Eksteen has 30 years of experience in the financial sector, nainly in banking, and has worked in Botswana, Zambia and Namibia. Currently, she is a Senior Consultant at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management, where she provides training and consultancy services in strategic management, performance management, and business process management. Ms Eksteen’s expertise in legal, compliance and governance makes her an asset to the Board.
Ms Hilya Herman
Board Member
Ms Hilya Herman holds an LLB Degree from the Rhodes University; an LLM Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, specialising in company law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and securities; and a specialised Master of Philosophy in Development Finance from the Stellenbosch University Business School. Mrs Herman is an admitted legal practitioner with over 15 years of experience, specialising in financial services. Her specific expertise includes AML/CFT/CPF and legal and statutory compliance. She is currently employed as the Legal Director at Namibia Breweries Ltd.
Mr Pendukeni Filippus
Board Member
Mr Pendukeni Filippus has a BCom Degree from the University of Namibia, a BCom Honours Degree from the University of Cape Town, and a Master of Philosophy in Internal Auditing from the University of Pretoria. Mr Filippus is a certified Internal Auditor and a registered member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Mr Filippus has 19 years of professional experience, of which 14 years were spent in the internal audit and risk management field, and five years in finance and administration of a non-governmental organisation. Mr Filippus has a good understanding of governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks, and is currently serving as the Chief Internal Auditor at the University of Namibia.
The Council
In an effort to address the 2022 mutual evaluation findings, various laws, including the FIA, were amended in 2023. The FIA amendments introduced governance and structural reforms, including the establishment of an independent FIC Board. The Council’s previous governance and oversight responsibilities in respect of the FIC were formally transferred to the new Board. This reform reflects a move towards enhanced operational independence for the FIC and the undertaking of a policy advisory role for the Council.
The Council serves as a national multi-agency representative body, which is mandated to harmonise national AML/CFT/CFP strategies and ensure alignment with evolving international legal and regulatory standards, such as those set by the FATF.
The refocused mandate enables the Council to act as a strategic coordinating body, bringing together key public and private sector stakeholders to foster collaboration, information sharing, and consistent implementation of AML/CFT/CFP measures across sectors.
During the review period, the Council convened on 24 April 2024 and on 14 November 2024 to deliberate on national AML/CFT/CPF priorities, emerging risks, and legislative alignment with international obligations.
The most salient resolutions taken by the Council relate to the:
- Implementation of the FATF Action Plan;
- Commencement of the preparatory activities for the National Risk Assessment;
- Memorandum of Understanding on the rules of engagement between the Board and the Council; and
- Recommendations for the appointment of the FIA Appeal Board.
Composition of the Council
The Council comprises senior representatives from a broad range of government agencies, regulatory bodies, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), and private sector associations, reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of the AML/CFT/CPF framework.
The Council’s members include:
- Governor of the Bank of Namibia (Chairperson)
- Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (Deputy Chairperson)
- Director General of the Namibian Central Intelligence Service
- Executive Director of the Ministry of Finance
- Executive Director of the Ministry of Trade and International Relations
- Executive Director of the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations
- Executive Director of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
- Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority
- Chairperson of the Bankers Association of Namibia
- Chairperson of the Public Accountants and Auditors Board
- Chief Executive Officer of the Business Intellectual Property Authority
- Commissioner of the Namibian Revenue Agency
- Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force
- Prosecutor-General of the Republic of Namibia
- Master of the High Court of Namibia
Governance
The FIC is an operationally independent and autonomous national financial intelligence centre, and is responsible for administering the FIA and combating ML/TF/PF activities in collaboration with stakeholders.
Our Structure
The FIC is governed by an independent Board, which was established in terms of the FIA.
Our Management
The Board exercises its oversight function through two essential sub-committees.
About Us
The FIC is the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Government of the Republic of Namibia.