Kaundu appointed as BIPA CEO amid low staff morale

Staff ReporterwindhoekThe board of the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) has appointed Ainna Vilengi Kaundu as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 January 2026, succeeding Vivienne Katjiuongua, whose contract was not renewed by the board last year.A statement says Kaundu’s appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process and comes at a pivotal time for BIPA as it seeks to deepen compliance, boost ease of doing business and strengthen its regulatory role in an evolving economic landscape.Katjiuongua led BIPA for several years and elevated its profile locally and internationally, including appointments to high-level committees of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).However, after her contract expired in late 2024, the board opted not to renew her tenure. Sources at the time said the decision was influenced by strained internal relationships and concerns raised by staff over workplace conditions, though the board did not publicly disclose its reasons.Kaundu’s credentialsKaundu, previously BIPA’s executive for intellectual property services, brings 18 years of management and leadership experience and, according to the board, has played a central role in shaping Namibia’s intellectual property framework — contributing to key legislation including the Industrial Property Act, the BIPA Act and the draft Copyright Bill.She has also held significant regional and international roles, including vice-chairperson of the ARIPO Administrative Council and a leadership position at WIPO. She is a trained lawyer and an admitted legal practitioner.Board chairperson Immanuel Tino !Hanabeb said Kaundu demonstrated strong leadership while acting CEO and is well-placed to steer BIPA toward its mandate of driving creative industries, enterprise development and inclusive economic growth.Institutional challenges aheadKaundu steps into the top job facing a complex set of institutional and sectoral challenges. BIPA continues to grapple with a decline in business registrations and lagging compliance, particularly around beneficial ownership disclosures. In 2025 the authority warned that over 141,000 non-compliant entities risked deregistration for failing to meet disclosure obligations under recent legislative amendments.Stakeholders and analysts have criticised BIPA for outdated, manual operational processes that have previously hindered efficient service delivery and accessibility across the country. Calls for a digital customer portal and systemic improvements persist as business owners seek easier access to registration and compliance services.While BIPA has rolled out compliance enforcement programmes, including extended penalty waiver initiatives to help enterprises regularise their status, there remains tension between enforcement and ensuring that small and medium enterprises are not unduly disadvantaged.Staff morale and internal cohesionKatjiuongua’s departure was accompanied by reports of internal grievances — including allegations of bullying and poor working conditions — that the new leadership will need to address to stabilise institutional culture and performance.

Kaundu appointed as BIPA CEO amid low staff morale

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-23

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Kaundu appointed as BIPA CEO amid low staff morale

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-23

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