One Economy appoints new executive director

The One Economy Foundation has appointed Laura Tjombonde as its new executive director, effective 1 January 2027. Tjombonde will succeed Pauline Kahupi, whose tenure ends on 31 December. One Economy founder and executive chairperson Monica Geingos, in a statement issued on Wednesday, says Tjombonde brings more than 12 years of executive leadership experience across Namibia’s public sector, with a background in organisational transformation, governance and stakeholder engagement. She served as chief executive for the Namibia Institute of Pathology, executive of business registration services at the Business and Intellectual Property Authority and chief of corporate affairs at the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

“Throughout her career, Tjombonde has led organisational transformation, strengthened governance and built productive partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders,” she says. She says Tjombonde began her career as a professional nurse before moving into senior leadership positions. Her qualifications include a diploma in nursing, a bachelor of law, a master’s in law and business and a postgraduate diploma in company direction. She is also a certified executive coach. “I join the foundation with a bold mission: to serve and empower Namibia’s young people to lead, transform and build a future of limitless possibility,” Tjombonde says. The board praises Kahupi for leading the organisation through a demanding period of change and a shifting funding environment. During her tenure, it says the foundation strengthened its programmes, modernised core systems and built greater operational resilience. Kahupi says: “I move forward with pride, knowing we have laid a strong foundation from which the foundation can continue to rise…