Governor – Central Bank of Seychelles

Ms. Caroline Abel was first appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) on 14th March 2012, becoming the first woman in Seychelles to hold the position. She was re-appointed to serve a third six-year term in March 2024. She is also Chairperson of the CBS Board. Ms Abel started her journey with the Central Bank in 1994 as a Senior Bank Clerk. She was promoted to the role of Research Officer in the Research and Statistics Division in 1999, subsequently becoming a Senior Research Officer and Director of Research in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Ms Abel progressed to becoming Head of the Research and Statistics Division in 2006, a position she held until her appointment as Deputy Governor in July 2010. She was appointed First Deputy Governor in December 2011, following an amendment to the CBS Act, which makes provision for two Deputy Governors, a post she held until her appointment as Governor in March 2012. She was re-appointed to serve a second six-year term in March 2018. As Governor, she also represents Seychelles as the Alternate Governor for the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the African Development Bank, as well as Governor for the African Export-Import Bank. She also recently completed a two-year tenure as the Chairperson of the African Financial Inclusion Policy Initiative (AfPI), a position she assumed in June 2022. Ms Abel holds a BA in Economics, with Distinction from the University of Leeds and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Monetary Economics and Finance graduating with Distinction from the University of Glasgow.

Throughout her 28-year career, Ms Abel has received several accolades for her leadership roles and contribution towards the banking and financial sector – awards she has always dedicated to the CBS team and her family in recognition of their support. In July 2015, Ms Abel received the African Female Public Servant of the Year Award by the African Leadership Magazine presented at the 6th African Business Leadership Forum and Awards, during which she was also honoured by US’ Georgia Legislative Black Caucus with a special Commendation Award. In August 2020 she was named Central Bank Governor of the Year by the African Banker Awards Committee and in December of that same year she was one of the recipients of the Africa’s Woman Leaders Awards. In September 2021, she emerged as the runner-up in the Central Bank Governor of the Year category and received the Central Bank Governor of the Year Commendation Award at the 2021 African Business Leadership Awards. In March 2022, she was recognised as being among the Global Women Achievers at the World Women Leadership Congress and Awards and in February 2023 under the same umbrella, she was bestowed with the award of Global Woman Leader. In April 2023, she was among global leaders recognised for their strong and  innovative leadership in the 2023 Edition of the CEO Today Global Awards. The latest recognition bestowed upon Governor Abel is the Medal of Honour, which she received at the first National Awards ceremony in June 2023, where various individuals were recognised for their extraordinary service to Seychelles across different fields. Aside of her role as Governor and other responsibilities associated to the position, Ms Abel is also the Patron of the Red Cross Society of Seychelles since May 2017, a role which she accepted as the fundamental principles of the Red Cross tie in well with her passion for sharing her knowledge and providing a helping hand to those in need.