The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed Fabian Shaanika as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 May 2026, marking a leadership transition at the helm of one of the country’s most influential industry bodies.
Shaanika replaces Veston Malango, who has retired after two decades leading the Chamber and shaping Namibia’s mining sector through periods of expansion, commodity cycles and policy reform.
The Chamber’s executive committee said Shaanika brings nearly 20 years of experience across the mining value chain, from exploration and project development to financing and production, supported by a strong background in investment banking focused on natural resources.
He most recently served as managing director of Kelp Blue, where he led the scaling of local operations to a commercial level. His earlier roles include serving as mining and resources sector lead at Rand Merchant Bank Namibia and as head of business banking at Standard Bank Namibia.
Shaanika’s technical grounding includes work at Namdeb, Skorpion Zinc Mine and Debmarine Namibia, giving him exposure across both onshore and offshore mining operations.
A registered professional geologist, he holds an MBA from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and has completed executive programmes at Imperial College Business School and London Business School.
The Chamber said his blend of technical expertise, financial acumen and leadership experience positions him to strengthen industry advocacy, deepen member support and advance the competitiveness of Namibia’s mining sector at a time when global demand for critical minerals is rising.
Malango, who has led the Chamber for 20 years, will remain in a transitional role until the end of 2026 to ensure continuity and a structured handover.
During his tenure, the Chamber evolved into a central platform linking industry and government, playing a key role in policy engagement, investment promotion and sector coordination.
The executive committee said Malango’s leadership helped entrench the Chamber as a respected voice in Namibia’s economic landscape, guiding the sector through growth phases and strengthening collaboration with the government.
Shaanika now assumes leadership as Namibia’s mining industry continues to expand beyond its traditional base, with growing activity in uranium, critical minerals and emerging green industries.
The Chamber said it expects the new CEO to build on the foundation established over the past two decades as the sector positions itself for the next phase of growth.
