The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has appointed Helvi Fillipus and Dr John Steytler as two new members to its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Steytler, a distinguished economist, has been appointed as the first independent member of the MPC for a three-year term, while Fillipus, an economic advisor at the bank, joins the committee as its youngest member.
The central bank stated that the appointments were made according to its mandate to formulate and implement monetary policy to safeguard price stability, in accordance with Section 28 of the Bank of Namibia Act.
“Our mandate to safeguard price stability is vital to maintaining the value of the Namibia Dollar as it circulates in the hands of everyday Namibians. Achieving this sets a strong foundation for all economic actors to collaborate towards sustainable growth, development, and diversification of our economy. The addition of the two MPC members injects new ideas and diverse perspectives into the Committee, propelling the Bank forward. Most importantly, it bolsters our commitment as we rethink and sharpen our policy tools to prepare the central bank to embrace the new economy, which will be driven by transformation in the energy sector, technological advancement, and digital innovation,” commented BoN governor Ebson Uanguta.
Fillipus brings with her a formidable record in central banking, macroeconomic research, financial markets, and public finances. A product of the Bank of Namibia’s highly regarded talent development programme, Fillipus began her career at the central bank, progressing through various roles from researcher in the research department to deputy director: investments and domestic markets in the financial markets department.
More recently, she served as the economic advisor to the Minister of Finance, where she made substantive contributions to fiscal policy development through the preparation of the national budget. Currently, she provides expert analysis on macroeconomic developments to support monetary policy formulation.
Fillipus holds a Bachelor of Economics (First Class) from the University of Namibia and a Master of Commerce in Money and Banking (Distinction) from the University of the Free State.
Steytler is a former senior official of the Bank of Namibia, where he served, among other roles, as chief economist and director of research. He brings more than three decades of national and international experience to the committee.
Steytler’s career includes service as chief executive officer of the development bank of Namibia, economic advisor to the President, and founding statistician general and chief executive officer of the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Internationally, he served as a senior advisor to the executive director of Africa group 1 constituency at the International Monetary Fund, contributing to macroeconomic stability initiatives in countries including The Gambia, Botswana, Zambia, and Sudan. These assignments deepened his understanding of structural economic challenges across the continent and honed his ability to design robust policy solutions.
A respected public intellectual, Steytler brings to the MPC a rare combination of analytical depth, technical expertise, and practical policy experience. He holds a PhD in Economics, among other academic qualifications.
-ebrandt@nepc.com.na