Speakers

H.E. Monica GEINGOS

First Lady, Republic of Namibia

Monica Geingos is a qualified lawyer. Before assuming the First Lady role, she was a co-shareholder
and Managing Director of Namibia’s largest private equity fund. She served on the Boards of large
public and private sector companies as either Chairperson or Deputy Chair and played a meaningful
role in private sector development, including the rollout of Namibia’s first digitally enabled
Commercial Bank, of which she was a founding shareholder and founding Chairperson. Monica was
awarded National Honours (Most Distinguished Order of Namibia), by Former President Pohamba, for
her “outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development of Namibia.” She was inducted into
the Business Hall of Fame. She received numerous merit awards, such as the “Namibian Business
Personality of the Year,” awarded as the “Most Innovative Entrepreneur,” and ranked by an
international publication as one of “Africa’s top 100 Economic Leaders.”

Due to her extensive corporate experience, she was an influential member of high-level policy advisory
Boards such as the Public Office Bearer’s Commission (Vice-Chair), the President’s Economic Advisory
Council, the governing Party’s Think Tank, and the National Council of the Namibia Chamber of
Commerce and Industry. She also served on Boards such as the Association of Unlisted Investment
Managers (Chair), the National Squash Association (President), and the industry-nominated Steering
Committee for the Namibian Financial Sector Charter.

Mrs Geingos’ work as First Lady was recognised through her recent election as President of the
Organisation of African First Ladies. She is a UNAIDS Special Advocate for Adolescent Girls and Young
Women and was awarded the Berlin-based “World Without Aids Award.” She is also the recipient of
“Concordia Leadership Award” for global leadership, the Global Leadership of Women Award from
Howard University, the “Change the World Award from the Professional Speakers Association,” and a
leadership awardee of the Pan African Women’s Organisation. In addition, Mrs Geingos is recognised
as one of the “100 Most Reputable Africans,” one of the “100 Most Influential African Women.”

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