The strength of any retirement fund lies not only in how it manages assets, but in how it stewards trust. At Benchmark, that stewardship has been built on sound governance, principled leadership, and the ability to evolve with clarity and care.

It is within this context that we are pleased to share recent changes to the Board of Trustees of the Benchmark Retirement Fund, effective 1 January 2026. These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to strategic renewal and are aligned with principles of transformation, continuity, and regulatory compliance. In particular, the anticipated implementation of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) continues to inform how we shape governance decisions to secure the long-term interests of our members.

As part of this transformation journey, we bid farewell to two deeply respected Trustees, Mr Tilman Friedrich and Mr Marthinuz Fabianus, whose service over many years has been integral to shaping the values and integrity of the Fund. We are grateful for the leadership they brought to the Board and the steady guidance they offered during times of growth and change. We are also pleased to confirm that Mr Fabianus will continue to attend Board and strategic meetings in a non-voting advisory capacity, in full compliance with Fund policies. This arrangement ensures valuable institutional knowledge is retained and transferred responsibly during this period of transition for the Board to benefit from.

We further welcome three new appointments to the Board.

	Mrs Carmen Diehl has been appointed as a Sponsor Trustee. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and currently serves as Senior Manager: Projects and Compliance at RFS Fund Administrators. Mrs Diehl brings eight years’ of experience in internal audit, compliance, risk management, and fund accounting within the retirement fund sector. She also serves as a co-opted member of the Benchmark Retirement Fund FIMA Committee.
	Mr Vincent Shimutwikeni joins the Board as a Sponsor Trustee for a three-year term. Mr Shimutwikeni is Manager: Legal Services at RFS Fund Administrators and holds a B.Juris, LLB (Honours), and a professional certification in Governance, Risk, and Compliance. He also serves as a Director at the Retirement Funds Institute of Namibia (RFIN) and previously served as Head of Legal at the University of Namibia and as a Trustee of the Universities Retirement Fund (UNIREF).
	Mr Henning Tiemann, a longstanding member and now a pensioner of the Fund, has been appointed to represent the pensioner constituency. Mr Tiemann holds a B.Comm (Industrial Psychology) and completed the Executive Management Program at the University of Cape Town. He retired in July 2025 as Executive Manager at Agra Limited after nearly 20 years with the organisation. He previously served as Chairman of the Agra Retirement Fund Management Committee and as an Employer-appointed Trustee of the Agra Retirement Fund.

With these additions, the Board now comprises the following seven Trustees: Ms Afra Schimming-Chase (Chairperson), Ms Sabrina Jacobs, Ms Malverene Theron, Mr Hermann Hentschel, Mr Henning Tiemann, Mr Vincent Shimutwikeni, and Mrs Carmen Diehl.

Transitions of this nature are a healthy part of institutional growth. Our leadership changes form part of a planned evolution that upholds the stability of the Fund while preparing it for the future. We remain assured that the Board we have now holds the collective experience and judgement to guide Benchmark with consistency, transparency, and vision, with each appointment reflecting the Fund’s commitment to being Efficient, Trusted, and Namibian.

Sophia Amoo-Chimunda
Principal Officer
Benchmark Retirement Fund