Caroline Pickering has been appointed as the new head of the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), making her the first woman to lead the organization dedicated to overseeing efforts against money laundering and financial crime. Her appointment, which takes effect on January 1, 2025, comes after the retirement of Razim Buksh, who had served in the role for 17 years.

Reserve Bank Governor Ariff Ali expressed strong confidence in Pickering’s abilities to steer the FIU into its next growth phase, citing her over 25 years of experience in the financial sector and her strategic leadership skills. “I am confident that Ms. Caroline Pickering is the best person to successfully lead the Fiji FIU into its next growth stage,” Ali stated.

Pickering, who joined the FIU in 2006 as manager of Policy and Compliance, has played a crucial role in shaping Fiji’s regulatory framework aimed at combating financial misconduct. She has extensive experience working with various financial institutions and government agencies to implement safeguards against financial crime, ensuring the integrity of Fiji’s financial systems.

As the FIU, which monitors all financial transactions across 172 institutions—including banks, mobile companies, and legal firms—continues to manage a robust database of over 30 million transactions, Pickering’s leadership is anticipated to further enhance its effectiveness in adapting to the evolving digital financial landscape.

This leadership transition is seen as a significant step towards improving gender representation in leadership roles and reflects Fiji’s commitment to strengthening its financial regulatory frameworks. With Pickering at the helm, there is optimism for proactive initiatives that will bolster the unit’s capacity to tackle emerging financial threats, ensuring a secure economic environment for all citizens.

In summary, Caroline Pickering’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for the Fiji FIU, reinforcing the nation’s dedication to maintaining robust frameworks to combat financial crime and showcasing a hopeful trajectory for the future of financial integrity in Fiji.