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Changing the face of data

Mariselle Stofberg- Herold Kapurua Kazavanga has made a valuable contribution towards reducing the data reserves of the GIPF, from 5% to 2%.
He says he achieved this through sheer determination, support from his colleagues and a unique take on data.
In his role as the Head of the Benefits Administration Unit, Kazavanga’s responsibilities include maintaining and updating the membership database to ensure the accuracy of their data and by providing benefit processing and administration services.
Kazavanga joined the unit in 2013 and in 2015 he played an instrumental role in merging sub-units and digitalising data matching, which improved operational efficiency. “In 2018, I played a pivotal role in improving turnaround times of benefit payments. This was done by being part of the team that developed and managed the business process improvement project plan,” Kazavanga adds.
The GIPF data guru ties the success of his team to the Fund’s values and a close working relationship they maintain.
“What I enjoy about my role is the bond I developed with my team, making my time at work a joyful experience. For me, work pressure always works to my advantage. It helps me prioritize my family and other areas of my life. In the workplace, speed and efficiency increases productivity, while at home my family flourishes on love and communication. Therefore, I always change gears between the pace of work and home. When I am at home, I adopt a slow mindset where I can relax and cherish the time with my family.”
Kazavanga relaxes by playing soccer and reading.
“I am currently pursuing an MBA and I’m continuously working on improving my leadership skills by reading leadership literature. My whole career has been in the pension fund industry and I want to grow towards an executive role in this industry. My ambition is to be a catalyst that will propel Namibia’s pension fund industry to a global level,” Kazavanga concludes.