Ariff Ali, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, has announced the appointment of Caroline Pickering as the new Director of the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), starting from January 1, 2025. This important role, which involves leading initiatives to combat money laundering and financial crime, comes on the recommendation of the National Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Pickering, who has been with the FIU since 2006 as the Manager of Policy and Compliance, is set to succeed Razim Buksh, who retired in 2023. The Governor expressed strong confidence in Pickering’s ability to effectively lead the FIU, citing her over 25 years of professional experience and strategic leadership skills. He emphasized the significance of her role in navigating the complexities of Fiji’s evolving digital financial landscape, while also collaborating with various government and private sector partners.
Her appointment is timely, given her extensive experience in developing regulatory frameworks and working closely with financial institutions to implement safeguards against financial crime. In previous roles, she has acted as the Director of the FIU, showcasing her preparedness for this permanent position. Before her tenure at the FIU, Pickering spent over nine years in the Office of the Auditor-General in various capacities.
With an academic background in accounting and economics from the University of the South Pacific, Pickering is also a member of the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants. The Governor congratulated her on this critical appointment and expressed optimism about her contributions toward enhancing the safety and integrity of Fiji’s financial system.
This change in leadership within the FIU signals a commitment to strengthening the country’s financial integrity as it faces a rapidly changing financial environment. The focus on experienced professionals like Pickering could lead to effective strategies for preventing financial crimes in the future.
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