Deloitte's first female country leader in Namibia
Harrison makes history
Having returned to Deloitte Namibia in 2015, Melanie Harrison was recently announced as the first Deloitte Namibia female country leader. The organisation said this is with effect from 1 June as part of a carefully planned leadership transition.
Accepting the position, Harrison said: “I am honoured to be appointed to this role and excited to be part of yet another first in the history of Deloitte Namibia. I look forward to engaging with our people, our clients and our stakeholders as we set on this new journey together.
"I would also like to thank Ramsay McDonald for the years of dedicated leadership and his love for this firm and this country,” she added.
Harrison joined the firm for the first time in 2005 as a junior IT audit consultant and left in 2010 to join De Beers Marine Namibia as a senior internal auditor and then later became their information security manager. In 2015, Harrison re-joined Deloitte as associate director and was appointed as the risk advisory director in 2017.
Certified
She holds the following certifications: Certified internal auditor (CIA), certified information security manager (CISM), certified information systems auditor (CISA) and certified by the Business Continuity Institute (CBCI). She has also played an instrumental role in growing these professions in country by chairing the local Institute of Internal Auditors, Information Systems Audit and Control Association and The Institute of Risk Management South Africa boards in the past.
Harrison currently leads the risk advisory and human capital service lines in Namibia and supports Deloitte Botswana as IT audit director. Since re-joining the company, she has played a crucial role in raising its advisory profile and growing the advisory and consulting services.
“I am extremely delighted to be handing over the reins to Melanie. Her appointment as country leader is another historic moment for the Namibian firm. She will be the first female country leader and will also continue the rich history of a Namibian being the leader of Deloitte in Namibia. She is passionate and deeply cares about the positive role the firm plays for our clients, society and people,” country managing partner McDonald said.
McDonald will be focusing on his client service role until his anticipated retirement on 31 May 2024.