The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has appointed Zenobia Barry as Acting Director, effective 1 October 2026, following the reassignment of current Director Dr Bryan Eiseb to head the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Eiseb is due to take over as ACC Director-General on 1 October after his appointment by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Barry currently serves as the FIC’s General Manager responsible for Legal, Policy and Enforcement and brings 31 years of professional experience to the acting role.
Her appointment comes as the FIC continues efforts to strengthen Namibia’s framework for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
Barry has played a key role in Namibia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing reforms and led the technical coordination of the country’s remediation process following its placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
She is also a trained FATF and Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) assessor.
“Ms Barry assumes the role at a momentous time for the FIC, as the Centre continues to strengthen its institutional capacity, stakeholder collaboration and regulatory effectiveness, while supporting Namibia’s broader framework for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing,” the FIC said.
FIC Board Chairperson Adv. Charmaine van der Westhuizen said the board and the Centre had full confidence in Barry’s leadership.
Barry holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts in Law from the University of the Western Cape. She is also admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court of Namibia.
