Acceptance to Board of Directors - Agenda Item 8
Wednesday 3 September, Swakopmund Namibia
Honourable Chair, distinguished colleagues, members of the AFI family— I am deeply honoured to accept this appointment to the Board of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.
Firstly, thank you to the Bank of Namibia and Governor !Gawaxab for extending such a warm welcome.
I would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the outgoing Chair, Governor Ariff Ali of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, for his leadership and dedication. His steady hand and commitment have greatly strengthened AFI, and he has been an outstanding advocate for both the institution and for the Pacific region.
I also warmly acknowledge the incoming Chair, Ms Soraya Hakuziyaremye. Her leadership will guide AFI into its next chapter, and I look forward to working closely with her and my fellow Board members in shaping our collective agenda.
Equally, I recognise my fellow incoming members. In particular my colleague Ms Dunne of the Bank of Namibia. The strength of female representation on this board is a powerful signal of the inclusive values that define AFI. The AFI journey has already been deeply important for the Bank of Papua New Guinea. Our membership has driven policies that are delivering real change at home.
I step into this role with a strong sense of responsibility. Papua New Guinea, like many developing economies, sees in AFI a unique platform where our voices are not just heard but shape global policy.
As Governor Ali departs, I am committed to ensuring that the Pacific perspective continues to be represented at the very highest level of AFI’s governance.
I accept this nomination representing Papua New Guinea, but I am also committed to championing issues which are important to Papua New Guinea's Pacific friends and neighbours.
I therefore wanted to highlight one priority in particular - Advancing green and sustainable finance. For the countries of the Pacific, our blue-green economy is at the heart of our cultures, our communities, and our economies. Climate change poses an existential threat to our way of life.
Our financial systems must play a central role in addressing the negative impacts of climate change, protecting our cultures and traditions, and building resilience in our economies.
In joining this Board, I carry forward AFI’s guiding values. Transparency, inclusiveness, accountability — and I look forward to working with you all to build on AFI’s legacy of cooperation, innovation, and impact. Together, we will continue to ensure that financial inclusion is not only about widening access, but about delivering fairness, sustainability, and opportunity for all.
Thank you.