Monica Geingos is a qualified lawyer with extensive corporate experience. Before assuming the First Lady role in 2015, she was a co-shareholder and Managing Director of Namibia's largest private equity fund for over a decade served on the Boards of large public and private sector companies as either Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson.
Mrs. Geingos was a long-standing member of high-level policy advisory Boards, i.e., the President's Economic Advisory Council, the governing Party's Think Tank, and the National Council of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the mandate to advise on national policy formulation and implementation.
As First Lady, Monica has combined her high-level expertise with President Geingob's war on poverty and inequality. Through the One Economy Foundation (ONE), she has initiated numerous programs that focus on sustainably lifting vulnerable populations out of poverty traps. She is currently overseeing the institutionalisation of the #BeFree Movement key learnings into Project #BeFree - a one-stop youth centre of excellence that intends to provide a continuum of holistic services to meaningfully close service delivery gaps experienced by young people
In recognition of her work for Young Women and Adolescents Girls and leadership in the global agenda to ending AIDS by 2030, Mrs. Geingos was awarded the 'World Without AIDS Award' from the German AIDS Foundation.
MRS MONICA GEINGOS
EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON
Kauna Ndilula is a Development Finance Specialist with a keen interest in the development of financial ecosystems that support the growth of SMEs. In this regard, Kauna has pioneered and developed financial and non-financial interventions that are now the cornerstone of her business and has positively influence policies in Namibia. As the Founder and Managing Director of Business Financial Solutions, an investment management firm in Namibia, Kauna has established a reputable local boutique firm that continue to innovate SME lending over
the past 12 years.
Her demonstrable leadership skills in the social and investment space have impacted sustainable economic development across industries and structures in Namibia. She has served on various board such as Namdeb Holdings, NSX and Nampower. She Chairs the Sanlam Namibia Holdings Board and a Commissioner on the National Planning Commission.
Socially Kauna serves as a Patron of an orphanage and vulnerable children program in Tsumeb (ToV) and as a Director on the First Lady's Foundation, the One Economy Foundation.
Kauna holds a Masters of Development Finance (Massachusetts) and an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch.
MRS KAUNAPAUA NDILULA
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Unable to complete his high school due to financial circumstances, Festus applied for the Compulsory Military Training at the South West Africa Territorial Force. Upon completion, he worked as a security guard at a Parastatal and, after nine years, was made redundant. His determination and eagerness to succeed led him to offer his security services to a local supermarket in Windhoek to guard cars and direct shoppers to available parking spots.
Festus has an incisive and curious mind and is a testament to the many intelligent and talented Namibians who were unable to access the necessary academic foundation to harness their potential. Festus provides meaningful and insightful contributions to the Board and strives to educate people about the opportunities available to people from marginalised communities, and hopes to help transform the mindsets of Namibians by encouraging help-seeking behaviour.
MR FESTUS MUKUNGU
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Edmund Khoaseb is an enthusiastic social entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and a communication specialist. Edmund is currently the National Coordinator: Communications and Partnerships at the Namibia Red Cross Society. He was previously employed by the Ministry of Land Reform as well as the Windhoek City Police Service.
Edmund graduated from the Namibia University of Science and Technology with Honours in Journalism and Media Studies and a Bachelor of Journalism and Communication Technology. He is currently pursuing a Master of Leadership and Change Management from the same university.
Edmund has spent over 13 years in law enforcement, while he has more than five decades of working experience in Public Relations and Communications. He served on the Executive Committee of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa, Namibia Chapter (PRISA Namibia), and is currently a board member of One Economy Foundation.
Finally, Edmund is married to Edna Khoases and the father of three boys and a beautiful daughter.
MR EDMUND KHOASEB
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Veronica Theron is a Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence Specialist with extensive clinical work experience with children, survivors, and perpetrators of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), victim empowerment, vulnerable witnesses, shelters, trauma, and crisis counselling and social pathologies. Veronica serves on several Professional Councils and has vast experience in capacity building of interdisciplinary teams. She developed an integrated child protection training manual and toolkit for professionals and community-based groups. Her innovation and dedication has contributed to the establishment of safe homes in 11 regions of Namibia.
DR VERONICA ROSE THERON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GENDER & CHILD PROTECTION SPECIALIST
Beatha Iileka is a 21-year-old Bachelor of Accounting student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. She is an Ambassador of the #BeFree Movement and Orange Babies Namibia.
Beatha has lived her entire life in an informal settlement and uses her experience to channel the change she wants to see in her community.
As a result, she founded the United Youth Charity Association, a Section 21 company that focuses on creating safe spaces for young people to advocate for young people’s challenges freely. Her passion for community development, work as President of the Charity Association, and contribution to Sexual Reproductive Rights dialogues led her to attend the 3rd Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SARSYC).
Beatha is also a 2019 African Pathfinder Leaders Initiative (APLI) Fellow and is currently a Finance Trainee at APLI. She graduated with a Gold Merit from the 2019 Youth Leadership Development Programme.
MS BEATHA IILEKA
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Macveren Kapukare is an energic and results-driven Software Engineer with experience in IT and programming. He is employed as an Office, CS and CSI Lecturer at the Physically Active Youth (PAY) and is also interning at Green Enterprise Solution. Macveren served as a Robotics Coordinator at FABLAB at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
He is an innovative thinker committed to utilising his IT and programming acumen to find sustainable solutions, streamline processes, and manage organisations. As a result, Macveren developed the EstApp, a real estate application that helps young people find affordable accommodation.
In recognition of his work, the App was nominated as the best digital solution from Namibia at the World Summit Award 2019. He scooped the ninth (9th) place at the World Robotics Competition along with his PAY team. He also won the University programming competition for three consecutive years.
Macveren is passionate about youth development and working with adolescents. He enjoys helping young people develop soft and technical skills to unleash their full potential and be better equipped to effect meaningful change.
MR MACVEREN DONALD KAPUKARE
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Seretta Lombaard is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Alumni Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, with audit experience of 24 years. She has her own accounting business and is currently in the Private Sector. She served on the President's Economic Advisory Committee for President Pohamba from 2013 - 2017.
She is currently a director of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Namibia) Limited and also serves on the Audit Committee.
MRS SERETTA LOMBAARD
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Kaarina is an entrepreneurial enthusiast who spent nearly eight years in the agricultural sector, providing training and advisory services to the Namibian agricultural industry. She is the co-founder of Desert Indulgent Pastries, a 100% women-owned business that has been in operation since 2016. The company began functioning out of a small family kitchen and has managed to become a popular supplier that produces pastries for well-known brands and clients. This sparked the idea of training people on how to bake and run a business, which became extremely popular.
Kaarina hopes to take her passion for all things food and entrepreneurship and intertwine it with the #BeFree Movement.
She is also a Director for Women for Bees, an organisation that aims to promote women and youth through regenerating and initiating apiculture, research, and environmental programmes that will set systems in place and establish structures to ensure sustainability that upholds their objectives even for future generations.
Kaarina holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Namibia.
MS KAARINA IITA
HEAD OF PROGRAMMES
CEO BIO
MS UAJOROKISA AKWENYE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Ileni Hitula is the Communications Officer for One Economy Foundation. He is responsible for key office and management coordination, stakeholder liaison, and strategic communications. Before his appointment, he served as a communications consultant for the Foundation.
MR ILENI HITULA
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Miina Shakela is the Programme Coordinator for the One Nation Fund under the One Economy Foundation's entrepreneurship and enterprise development pillar. Her role includes managing the One Nation Fund file and building the capacity and confidence of micro-entrepreneurs.
Before joining One Economy Foundation, Miina served as a collection Administrator at Old Mutual Namibia and as a loan consultant at Entrepo Finance. She has extensive hands-on experience in lending, collection of funds, account reconciliation and office administration.
She is passionate about enterprise and entrepreneurial development and deeply admires micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and individuals who can create value from nothing.
Miina holds an Advanced Diploma in Management from the Southern Business School as well as a Bachelor of Technology in Economics from Namibia University of Science and Technology (Polytechnic of Namibia/NUST).
MS MIINA SHAKELA
PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
Heidi assumed the role of Administrator for the Foundation. She has extensive administrative, programme, and events management experience at the local and global levels, having held various positions in international organizations abroad.
Before joining the foundation, Heidi worked as a Church Administrator at the River of Life Community Church in Windhoek. She served as an Administrative/Programme Assistant for more than 15 years in both the Global Fund to Fight TB, Malaria, HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Heidi is a member of the Governing Board of the River of Life Community Church and is actively involved in voluntary charity work.
MS HEIDI J M ZIMMER
ADMINISTRATOR
Pefimbo Shipunda is a qualified Social Worker who has dedicated her energy and resources towards the fight against Gender-Based Violence and protecting children's safety.
As the Senior Social Worker for the One Economy Foundation, Pefimbo's responsibilities include crisis intervention, conduct awareness-raising programmes on SGBV in communities, training, and providing psychosocial services to individuals, groups, and families.
She served as a Social Worker at the Gender-Based Violence Protection Unit under the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare. Pefimbo brings a wealth of knowledge in the GBV space and will play a key role in addressing systematic issues related to violence against children and women and responding to survivors' needs when they occur.
Pefimbo holds an Honours degree in Social Work from the University of Namibia and is passionate about social movements to create positive change, especially among the youth.
MS PEFIMBO SHIPUNDA
SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER
Helena spent ten years of her career as a presenter on various radio and television programs. Recognising the need to amplify and spotlight constructive social dialogue, Helena used her experience to establish a first of its kind lifestyle magazine, aimed at creating awareness on gender based violence and other issues affecting young women. The magazine also uses its platform to showcase upcoming young artists and hosts an annual “Simply You Magazine and Lifestyle Awards” to recognise and celebrate local talent and honour individuals who contribute to building a better Namibia Helena is a co-founder of the National Young Women Association and serves as a member of the Southern Africa Youth Forum.
Before joining the One Economy Foundation, Helena served as the Project Coordinator for the Namibia Careers Expo and worked as a consultant for events management and PR services.
Helena is not new to the work of the One Economy Foundation as she assisted our work as a paid intern in the Gender Based Violence and education pillar. Helena now uses her voice, experience and passion to support project implementation and public awareness on the work of the One Economy Foundation. Helena is mindful about ensuring that the Foundation's work remains innovative and impactful by focusing on measures which change lives.
MS HELENA NGAIFIWA
PROJECT OFFICER
Saddam is a young Designer and Architect in Training, who has special interest in projects related to social interaction, education, and community development. As the Programme Manager at the One Economy Foundation, Saddam will ensure the smooth implementation of programmes and institutionalisation of the key learnings from the #BeFree Movement.
In his preceding role, Saddam served as an Architect in Training at Karen Munting Architects and Kamau Architects & Associates. In these roles, he had the privilege of working on landmark projects which facilitated greater access to educational and socio-economic opportunities for remote communities. These projects include the development and construction of Onawa Primary School Phase 2, UNAM Southern Campus, Omaheke Regional Council, Havana Primary school, and numerous NTA Vocational Projects.
He has a keen interest in developing spatial programming to create moments which help with the development of people, spaces and communities. This has grounded his ideals in place, iterating the focus on spatial experience in line with concepts of 'promenade architecturale.'
Saddam holds a Master of Technology in Architectural Technology from the Graduate School of Architecture of the University of Johannesburg, an Honours and Bachelor's Degree in Architectural Technology from the Cape Peninsula University Technology.
For Saddam, One Economy Foundation provides a unique opportunity to develop vibrant, innovative and youth-focused frameworks which provide youth with opportunities to grow and express their talents.
MR SADDAM BIWA
PROGRAMME MANAGER
