Speaker

Francois van Schalkwyk

Executive Director
Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board

François is an accomplished innovator and corporate development specialist who is a key member of the team shaping Namibia’s green industry and kick-starting the country’s green hydrogen revolution. In 2021 he transitioned to Namibia’s public service from a 20-year career in advisory and financial services, and lately as CEO of Holbrook Advisors, a corporate advisory and mergers and acquisitions firm where he built and led a global, multidisciplinary team. As a prolific deal-maker and transaction shepherd, François has an excellent track record of successfully delivering strategic projects in diverse sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, financial services, SaaS, cloud, Medtech, retail and sustainable industrialization. François is a member of the founding board of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). The NIPDB is a public entity in the Office of the President of the Republic of Namibia with a mandate to promote and facilitate investment and economic development. François is currently the Executive Director: Investment and New Ventures at NIPDB. He is an alum of Imperial College London.