The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed Fabian Shaanika as its new CEO, tasking him with driving growth and industry advocacy starting May 2026.
Staff Reporter THE Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed experienced geologist and investment banking professional Fabian Shaanika as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 May 2026, marking a leadership transition aimed at strengthening advocacy and supporting the country’s mining sector growth.. Shaanika succeeds long-serving CEO Veston Malango, who has retired after two decades at the helm and will remain in a transitional role until the end of 2026 to ensure a smooth handover..
Shaanika brings nearly 20 years of experience spanning the full mining value chain, including exploration, project development, financing and production.. He is a registered professional geologist and has also built extensive expertise in investment banking, with a focus on mining and broader natural resources, including petroleum and renewable energy.. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of Kelp Blue, where he oversaw the scaling of Namibian operations to full commercial production.. Prior to that, he
held senior roles at Rand Merchant Bank Namibia as Mining and Resources Sector Lead, and at Standard Bank Namibia as Head of Business Banking.. His earlier career includes technical and strategic positions at Namdeb, Debmarine Namibia, and Vedanta’s Skorpion Zinc Mine.. Shaanika holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and has completed executive education programmes at Imperial College Business School and London Business School.. The Chamber’s Executive Committee said
it is confident that Shaanika’s combination of technical expertise, financial acumen and leadership experience will strengthen the institution’s role in advancing the competitiveness and sustainable development of Namibia’s mining industry.. Outgoing CEO Malango is credited with 20 years of service that helped transform the Chamber into a key industry voice and strengthened cooperation between the mining sector and government.. The Chamber expressed its appreciation for his contribution and leadership over the past two decades.. Photo:
Chamber of Mines of Namibia