Bernice Banda

Strategic business management and Chief of Staff–level professional with 10+ years' experience partnering with C-suite executives in complex, highly regulated environments across FMCG and financial services. Proven track record in driving executive effectiveness, operational efficiency, governance and enterprise-wide alignment. Trusted advisor to senior leadership, recognised for translating executive priorities into structured execution plans, driving cross-functional coordination, and ensuring organisational focus on delivery.

Experienced in supporting executive operating rhythm, governance forums, strategic initiatives, stakeholder engagement and business performance visibility. Highly adaptable, discreet, and execution-focused, with strong business acumen, stakeholder influence and operational discipline. Skilled at balancing strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in fast-paced, high-demand environments.

Executive Support (Chief of Staff–Level Support/Executive Operations Function) to the Country Managing Director - Zambia Sugar (subsidiary of Associated British Foods) - Zambia

(2022-12)

Provide Chief of Staff–level and executive operations support to the Country Managing Director and 12-member executive team by driving executive effectiveness, governance, strategic alignment and operational execution across a large and complex FMCG environment with over 7000 employees.

• End to end coordination, forward planning and delivery of leadership activities including executive forums/townhalls, board meetings, stakeholder engagements, strategic meetings and business updates.
• Own and coordinate executive operating rhythm, ensuring leadership forums, townhalls translate into clear actions, accountability and measurable outcomes.
• Partner closely with the Country MD on strategic, operational, and organisational priorities, acting as a trusted advisor and confidential sounding board.
• Translate executive intent into structured plans, workflows and deliverables across multiple functions and stakeholders.
• Lead delivery governance including action tracking, escalation management, risk visibility and sequencing dependencies across workstreams.
• Drive cross-functional coordination and stakeholder engagement to support execution against strategic business objectives.
• Monitor progress against business priorities, identifying risks, dependencies, performance gaps and escalation points.
• Support operational planning and delivery oversight by maintaining visibility of strategic initiatives and leadership actions.
• Develop high-quality executive briefings, presentations, reports e.g. board reports and communication to ensure alignment of narrative, priorities and business execution.
• Build and maintain strong internal stakeholder relationships to gather business insights on operations, people, performance and emerging risks.
• Support business transformation and organisational alignment initiatives across functions.
• Improve operational efficiency through governance enhancements, process streamlining and optimisation of executive time allocation.
• Maintain strict confidentiality while managing highly sensitive organisational, people, and business matters.

Executive Assistant to Chief Risk Officer & Assistant Assurance Manager - Absa Bank (Formerly Barclays Bank Zambia Plc) - Zambia

(2016-10 - 2022-11)

Coordinated executive governance forums, leadership meetings, and board-related activities, ensuring high-quality outputs and compliance with governance standards. Delivered executive support and business management within a regulated banking environment, supporting governance, risk oversight, strategic execution and operational coordination.

• Engaged cross-functional stakeholders to identify gaps, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Supported strategic planning cycles through preparation of reports, presentations, analysis and leadership materials.
• Managed stakeholder coordination across senior leadership and cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment and communication flow.
• Lead facilitator in business transformation and organisational change initiatives, including the Barclays to Absa transition programme.
• Monitored actions, dependencies, and delivery progress across multiple workstreams within fast-paced environments.
• Contributed to operational efficiency and process improvement initiatives to enhance reporting quality and business effectiveness.
• Maintained confidentiality and discretion while supporting sensitive organisational and executive matters.
• Assisted with risk, governance and control-related activities within a regulated environment.
• Supported governance, risk and assurance activities within a regulated environment, helping identify operational and compliance risks, strengthen controls and improve organisational effectiveness.

KYC PEP Remediation Lead Supervisor - Barclays Bank Zambia Plc - Zambia

(2016-01 - 2016-09)

• Lead supervisor of a team of 20 delivering KYC, AML and PEP remediation activities in line with regulatory and internal requirements.
• Acted as subject matter expert on customer due diligence, sanctions and regulatory compliance.
• Ensured accurate risk profiling, reporting and adherence to policies and procedures.

Merchant Executive-Card Acquiring - Barclays Bank Zambia Plc - Zambia

(2012-08 - 2015-08)

• Built and managed strong merchant and client relationships, acting as the primary point of contact to ensure seamless execution of initiatives.
• Drove portfolio growth of over 40% and turned underperforming accounts into profitable portfolios through strategic engagement.
• Led end-to-end onboarding, integration, and optimization for new merchants, including training, kick-offs, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinated cross-functional teams and conducted quarterly business reviews to maximize client value and strengthen market positioning.
• Provided executive-level support with discretion, managing complex priorities, schedules, and operational challenges.

Enquiries Clerk | Head Teller | Vault Custodian | Retail Support | A/c Branch Coordinator | Personal Banker - Barclays Bank Zambia Plc - Zambia

(2008-04 - 2016-04)

Master of Political Science & International Relations - Political Science & International Relations

Postgraduate Certificate in Risk Management - Risk Management

Bachelor of Arts with Education - English Major – Merit - University of Zambia

Certificate in Diplomatic Practice, Protocol & International Relations - Diplomatic Practice, Protocol & International Relations