Riundja Ali Kaakunga (Othy) had been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) and served on the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) Board of Directors. Othy also was the Chairperson of the SADC Accreditation Service (SADCAS) Board of Directors. He spearheaded the development of the National Quality Policy (NQP) and its legal basis, Competition Policy and Law and actively participated in the SADC SQAM programme from 1996 to 2015. Othy holds a LLB (Hons); LLM in International Economic Law (I.E.L), Warwick, United Kingdom with Distinction.

Dr Martha Uumati is currently serving as the Managing Director of Erongo Marine Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Oceana Group. She holds a PhD in Marine Biology (University of St Andrews, Scotland), specializing in Hydroacoustics (the application of sound under water), MPhil and Postgraduate Diploma (University of Bergen, Norway), and a BSc. in Natural Resources (University of Namibia). As a Marine Scientist, she made a transition from research and academia to the corporate world, where she is the first female to hold the position of MD in the fishing industry. Her passion in life is to EMPOWER, EQUIP and TRANSFORM lives...to make a positive impact, no matter how small. As a BIPA Board Member she serves on Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC) and Chairs the Strategy, Projects and Procurement Committee (SPPC). Dr Uumati is also serving on Namdeb Holdings (Pty) Ltd. Board and Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd. Board.

PrEng FCIS FCIBM. Director and Member of various Board Committees. Mr Fritz Jacobs has over 20 years’ experience in governance, directorship, corporate strategy, engineering and business administration/leadership; and takes keen interest in strategic decision-making for organizational effectiveness.

Lovisa Indongo-Namandje, a Lawyer by profession, is a General Manager at the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA). She is Responsible for complaints handling, forensic investigations and Anti-Money Laundering compliance in the NAMFISA regulated sector. She has authored and contributed in various publications including Peace Officers Training Manual (2006) and The Independence of the Judiciary in Namibia (2008) just to name a few. Lovisa completed her B. Juris and LLB at the University of Namibia and also holds an MSc from Cardiff University, United Kingdom.

A dynamic young scientist and Intellectual Property (IP) expert, who takes keen interest in convergence between Science, Business and Law, Ms Seno Namwandi, is also one of BIPA’s new board members as she is also the youngest. She is now an employee of the International University of Management (IUM) working in the research department and ensures the IP standing of the university. Seno holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Stellenbosch University) and a Masters in Intellectual Property (Africa University, Zimbabwe).

An alternate director and member of the Human Resources Committee at the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and currently the Manager of Revenue and Credit Control at the Municipality of Walvis Bay. Mr. Ignatius Kelokilwe Thudiyane, has worked at senior management level over more than twenty years in various sectors of the economy. In all these sectors, Ignatius’ experience has mainly been in the field of financial management. Ignatius holds n LLB, B.Com Hons. (Econ), Advanced Diploma in Finance a Treasury (UNISA); B. Com (Econ), Higher Education Diploma (University of the North – Turfloop) and as well as a Diploma in Banking (Institute of Bankers SA).

Ms. Chaze Naliza is an independent consultant, managing her own consultancy, Velocity Consulting and Training cc, where she currently serves several renowned retailers and various other organizations in different industries. Her focus is on HR and retail related services as she oversees all training, talent and organizational development services. Chaze is also a member of various committees. Chaze holds Bachelor of Commerce Honors (Industrial and Organizational Psychology) (UNISA); Bachelor of Commerce (Business Management and Industrial Psychology) (UNAM).

Director and member of the Board Legal and Technical Committee (TLC) as well as the Finance, Risk Management and Audit Committee (FRAC) .As a Chief Executive Officer of the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) and Registrar of Businesses and Intellectual Property Rights, he also initiated the automation of business and trademarks registration system. Tileinge represented Namibia at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assemblies since 2001 to 2012 and actively participated in the discussions of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC), WIPO Development Agenda, and Patent Cooperation Treaty & also represented Namibia at various international conferences and meetings in the area of Intellectual Property Rights, Trade Negotiations, at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Southern African Custom Union (SACU) – US, EU Trade Negations and the African Caribbean Pacific and EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. He has basic expertise on International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The Convention provides a sui generis form of intellectual property protection, which was specifically adapted for the process of plant breeding and developed with the aim of encouraging breeders to develop new varieties of plants. Other areas of his expertise include negotiations on issues of Biotechnology and those of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanism on Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge. He served on the Agronomic Board as advisor and representative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Currently serving on the Public Accountants’ and Auditors Board and NSI. He completed his Masters in Educational Science and his thesis entitled Introduction to Information Communication Technology in the Namibian Educational System at the University of Twente, in the Netherlands, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, Educational and Training Systems Design 1997 -1998.