Natalie Fahie-Smith Named Permanent Secretary
The Government of the Virgin Islands has appointed Natalie Fahie-Smith as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development & Digital Transformation. Fahie-Smith will oversee administrative functions, advise the Minister, and lead initiatives including public service transformation, digital innovation and efforts to strengthen the Territory’s financial services sector.
The Government of the Virgin Islands has appointed Mrs. Natalie Fahie-Smith as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development & Digital Transformation, the Governor’s Group announced in an official statement. Fahie-Smith will be responsible for executing the Ministry’s strategic direction by developing, planning, implementing and reporting on policies, initiatives and projects.
Her remit includes supporting Public Service Transformation and overseeing administrative operations across the Ministry and its departments — such as budgeting, procurement, human resources management, health and safety, records, monitoring and evaluation, data management and disaster readiness.
The Permanent Secretary will also provide senior policy advice to the Minister and play a central role in advancing the Ministry’s priorities in economic development, financial services regulation and digital transformation. For residents of the Virgin Islands, those priorities translate into work to safeguard the integrity of the financial services sector, promote innovation that can improve government services, and strengthen economic resilience in the face of local and global challenges.
Fahie-Smith brings extensive public service experience to the post. Her previous roles include Deputy Secretary within the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Acting Permanent Secretary in that Ministry, Executive Private Secretary to the Governor, and appointments across the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Finance and the Chief Minister’s Office (now the Premier’s Office).
She has also completed policy analysis attachments with the New Zealand Government. Her academic qualifications include a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Applications from the University of the Virgin Islands, where she also completed an Associate of Arts in Business Management.
Fahie-Smith holds an Associate of Arts in Computer Data Processing from the College of the Bahamas. Expressing her commitment to the role, Mrs. Fahie-Smith said she was honoured to serve in the Ministry, noting the critical role it plays in strengthening economic resilience, safeguarding financial sector integrity and advancing innovation.
The Government reiterated its commitment to the advancement of public officers and highlighted the appointment as part of ongoing efforts to build capacity across the public service. Residents can expect the Ministry to continue focusing on regulatory standards for financial services, improvements to digital government services and initiatives designed to enhance the Territory’s preparedness for future challenges.
Primary source: BVI Government