The Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Fabian Shaanika as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber, effective 1 May 2026.

Mr Shaanika is a highly accomplished Namibian professional with nearly two decades of experience in the mining sector, complemented by significant investment banking experience primarily focused on mining, which also covered the broader natural resources sector, including petroleum and renewable energy. As a registered professional geologist, he has built a well-rounded career spanning the full mining value chain, including exploration, project development, financing, and production.

He has held several senior leadership roles, most recently serving as Managing Director of Kelp Blue, where he was responsible for scaling Namibian operations to full commercial capacity. Prior to this, he served as Mining and Resources Sector Lead at Rand Merchant Bank Namibia, as well as Head of Business Banking at Standard Bank Namibia. His earlier career includes senior technical and strategic roles at Namdeb, Vedanta’s Skorpion Zinc Mine, and Debmarine Namibia.

Mr Shaanika holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and has completed executive education programmes at Imperial College Business School and London Business School.

EXCO is confident that Mr Shaanika’s unique combination of technical expertise, financial acumen, and leadership experience will not only position him well to lead the Chamber, but under his leadership, further elevate the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, strengthen support to its members, and take the organisation to even greater heights in advancing the sustainable growth and competitiveness of Namibia’s mining sector.

The outgoing CEO, Mr Veston Malango, has retired after 20 years of dedicated service to the Chamber and the Namibian mining industry. Mr. Malango will continue to serve in a transitional capacity alongside Mr Shaanika until the end of 2026, ensuring a structured and effective handover of responsibilities.

EXCO extends its sincere appreciation to Mr Malango for his outstanding contribution to the Chamber and the Namibian mining industry in the last 20 years. In particular, Mr Malango deserves special recognition for his unwavering service to the Namibian mining industry, and for the passion, leadership and tireless energy with which he has guided the work of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia. Under his stewardship, the Chamber has grown into a respected and influential institution which has become instrumental in developing the sector and strengthening the partnership between industry and Government.

On behalf of the Chamber Council, EXCO congratulates Mr Shaanika on his appointment and wishes him every success in his new role as he builds on the strong foundation established over the past two decades.

Issued by the Executive Committee of the Chamber of Mines of Namibia