Working for an organisation like the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) – which comprises Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa – has broadened my view of international relations. I have learned to appreciate different cultures, and this has made me a better human being.
Throughout my career, I have consistently tried to leverage my skills and expertise to drive positive change. At SACU, I have ample opportunity to innovate new analytical ways of public sector reporting while seeking the absolute maximum value for the organisation.
We keep pushing the innovation button and are now exploring how AI technologies could improve efficiencies
As a techno junkie, I have taken on projects to implement new technologies in the various industries I have worked in. At Botswana Open University (BOU), I led the implementation of ERP software, online payments and the harmonisation of university-wide processes, while at SACU I have led, among other things, a project to digitise and automate the organisation’s finance and accounting processes. We keep pushing the innovation button and are exploring how ChatGPT and other AI technologies could improve efficiencies.
My professional career began in external audit for Grant Thornton in Botswana, my home country. From there, I moved to BOU, where I quickly progressed into senior management as the finance manager for regional operations. After 10 years I wanted to try a new challenge, so I joined the SACU Secretariat.
My ACCA qualification has enabled everything that followed and made my voice more audible
If I were a lawmaker I would push for international brands that depend heavily on African resources to set up businesses and actually manufacture their products right here. My ambition would be to see a more industrialised and developed continent that would extract as much value as possible from its raw materials rather than export them. The beautiful and diverse culture can then also be more appreciated on the world stage. This would have the added benefit of opening a new global market in Africa by improved regional integration and increasing intercontinental trade of finished products from Africa – a vision shared by SACU and other international organisations, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The biggest achievement in my career was getting my ACCA qualification. It has enabled everything that followed and made my voice more audible.
If I wasn’t in finance, I would probably be a doctor or involved in IT, maybe in programming. I love IT and am heavily involved in IT projects; during my time at BOU the director of IT enquired if I would be interested in moving from finance and joining his team, a pleasing validation of my IT capabilities.
When I am not at work, I am often to be found on the golf course trying to improve my handicap. I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and children as well; we engage in a lot of family fun activities, which keeps me sane.
