“I wanted to have more impact in helping my country prevent and combat money laundering.” In her role as an Anti-Money Laundering Analyst at a commercial bank, Hortensia Uupindi felt that something was missing. After reporting suspicious transactions, she could not see what happened next. This curiosity evolved into a career objective: to transition into a role where she could take a more active part in combating financial crime and safeguarding the integrity of the financial system.

With this in mind, she decided to enrol in the postgraduate programme “CAS Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery”, delivered by the Basel Institute on Governance together with the University of Basel.

In this interview, she shares her experience on taking the course, the ways it contributed to her professional growth and how it helped her transition into her current role at the Financial Intelligence Unit of Namibia.

You were working in the compliance department at a commercial bank. What motivated you to take this programme?

Working as an Anti-Money Laundering Analyst really opened my eyes to money laundering and its links to real-world financial crimes. Like many countries, Namibia also faces ongoing challenges with predicate offences such as corruption, fraud and tax evasion.

At the bank, whenever we identified suspicious behaviour, we reported it to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). But we did not get to see what happened after that. At that time, I was familiar with the term “asset recovery”, but I did not understand how the entire value chain worked, with all its processes and challenges.

Joining the FIU had always been one of my career aspirations. I was eager to learn more about asset recovery and strengthen my ability to contribute to my country’s efforts to prevent and combat money laundering. The programme immediately caught my interest, and I knew it was an opportunity I could not miss. A few months ago, I successfully transitioned into my new role as a Compliance Analyst at the Namibian FIU.

What change in perspective did this programme bring to your professional career?

The course helped me understand the whole asset recovery process and the role I am playing in combating financial crime. It also showed me how to come up with solutions to resolve some of the challenges that slow the process down.

That understanding made me appreciate the work I do on a daily basis even more. The aim is to prevent money laundering, but when an offence has already occurred, we want to recover those assets because they are proceeds of crime and make sure they are reinvested for public good.

The Fishrot case in Namibia is a clear example of why asset recovery is so important. The funds that were misappropriated could have been used to support education, infrastructure and social development initiatives that would benefit the wider population. Instead, they enriched only a select few individuals. Recovering these assets would make a significant contribution to Namibia’s economy and development.

The diversity of the cohort was another important highlight of the programme. I came from a banking background, but we had people from FIUs, anti-corruption agencies, asset management units and other areas. We could see how our different roles connect along the asset recovery chain.

All in all, the programme changed my perspective because it gave me a balance between where I was and where I wanted to be.

What was a highlight of the programme for you?

There were many, both in terms of the content and the career opportunities.

I particularly valued learning about international anti-money laundering frameworks and laws governing offences such as corruption and bribery. It enhanced my understanding of how illicit assets are acquired, as well as techniques for identifying and tracing them, before they are frozen, confiscated, recovered and re-used.

Career-wise, the programme expanded my horizons. Before, I didn’t know there were so many career opportunities in the anti-financial crime sector. The lecturers and speakers showed us the diversity in this space.

You were able to join the programme thanks to the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund. What did this support mean to you?

I was fascinated by the programme until I saw the tuition fees. I couldn’t afford to pay for it in full. Then I saw that a scholarship fund was available, so I applied for both the programme and financial support.

Being one of the recipients of partial financial support was a blessing. The course came at the perfect time in my career, equipping me with valuable knowledge and practical skills that have strengthened my professional capabilities.

I would really encourage individual donors and organisations to continue supporting the scholarship fund. Capacity building is important, because it’s only when skilled people are at the forefront of countering financial crime that a real difference can be made to society.

What would you say to other professionals, including those in the private sector, who are unsure whether the programme is worth it?

The programme is worthwhile. It has a structure that you don’t often find: a mix of practical experience and deep knowledge, combining lectures with real-world experience.

It is beneficial for colleagues who already work in this field, but we also had classmates from other fields who are aspiring to enter the sector. It is friendly both for beginners and experienced professionals.

The Basel Institute demonstrated a high level of professionalism throughout the programme. The lecturers were highly knowledgeable and generous in sharing their expertise. They consistently took the time to address our questions and brought in professionals from various sectors to provide additional insights.

This programme truly has equipped us to play our part in the fight against financial crime. For anyone contemplating, it is truly a worthwhile opportunity.

Thank you, Hortensia, for sharing your story and highlighting the impact this postgraduate programme has had on your professional journey.

Learn more

• Discover “Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery”

  Postgraduate programme delivered online in partnership with the University of Basel.

• Contribute to the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund

  Help train the next generation of anti-corruption professionals.

• Discover our offer of short online training courses

  Practitioner-led training focused on real-world financial crime challenges.