Monica is a qualified lawyer with extensive experience in the corporate sector. Prior to becoming the 3rd First Lady of the Republic of Namibia, she was a co-shareholder and founding Managing Director of Namibia’s largest private equity fund for over a decade. She also sat on the boards of several major public and private sector companies.
Monica served as First Lady from March 2015 to February 2024. During this period, Monica applied her experMse in economic development and socio-economic policy to the work of the One Economy FoundaMon (ONE), which she founded. A key iniMaMve under ONE is Project #BeFree, a one of its kind adolescent friendly facility that provides a wide range of integrated, youth-friendly health, skills development and educaMon services.
From June 2022 to February 2024, Ms Geingos also served as President of the OrganisaMon of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) where she doubled the fundraising targets, deepened organisaMonal capacity and launched a successful conMnent-wide iniMaMve advocaMng for gender equity.
In recogniMon of her advocacy for young women and adolescent girls, and her leadership in the global response to end AIDS by 2030, Ms Geingos was awarded the World Without AIDS Award, and appointed as a UNAIDS Special Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls. Monica was also appointed by United NaMons Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as one of four new United NaMons SDG Advocates.
Monica currently chairs the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf PresidenMal Center, the Africa REACH Leadership Council and is a co-chair of the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics. In addiMon, she serves on various advisory councils, including WomenLi^ Health InternaMonal, and the Concordia Leadership Council. Monica is also the Chancellor of Kepler College.
