CCBA Equips 100 Youth and Women in Cold Storage Technical Skills Initiative

Windhoek, Namibia –  Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Namibia has concluded the Cool-Tech Capacity Building Project, an economic inclusion initiative designed to help equip 100 youth and women with technical skills in refrigeration and cooler maintenance. The training took place at the Gateway Conference Centre in Windhoek in June 2026.

The programme was developed in response to the need for skilled refrigeration technicians in Namibia, a gap that can impact the operational efficiency of businesses. By helping to address this need, the initiative aims to support business continuity while broadening access to skills development and employment opportunities.

Through a structured combination of theoretical and practical training, participants gained exposure to industry-relevant skills intended to enhance employability within the fast-moving consumer goods sector and related industries.

The training was implemented in collaboration with the Namibia Training Authority’s Work-Integrated Learning Division, which facilitated the participation of vocational training centre graduates from across the country to support national representation. The programme was delivered by Frigoglass South Africa, bringing specialised technical expertise to the initiative.

The Cool-Tech initiative forms part of CCBA’s broader economic inclusion focus, which aims to expand access to opportunities for youth and women. This includes helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge needed to participate meaningfully in the economy and build more sustainable futures. 

Speaking on the initiative, Ockert Jansen, Director of Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability at CCBA in Namibia, said: “The Cool-Tech Capacity Building Project is one of the ways we are supporting skills development in the communities where we operate. By helping equip youth and women with practical technical skills, we aim to contribute to improved employability while also supporting the broader value chain linked to our business. We believe that when communities thrive, businesses thrive too, and initiatives like this demonstrate how partnerships and skills development can create shared value.”

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Frank O’Donnell

Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, CCBA

Frank leads CCBA’s commercial agenda, with responsibility for accelerating revenue growth, strengthening route to market and customer partnerships and driving execution excellence across markets.

Frank brings extensive international experience from Coca‑Cola HBC, where he held a range of senior commercial and general management roles. Most recently, he served as Region Director, overseeing 13 markets across Europe, where he led high-performing teams and delivered strong business results.

He is recognised for his strong commercial acumen, customer focus and track record in building high-performing teams across diverse markets.

Gerald Lewis

Chief Information Officer, CCBA

Gerald leads CCBA’s digital, data and technology agenda, focusing on enabling business performance through scalable platforms and enhanced digital capabilities.  Gerald brings extensive international experience, most recently as Head of Technology Strategy & Operations at Coca‑Cola HBC. He has also held senior CIO roles at Bacardi across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as transformation roles at GlaxoSmithKline and Mettler Toledo. He is recognised for translating technology strategy into business value and for leading transformation across emerging markets.

Matthew Welz

General Counsel and Company Secretary, CCBA

Matthew joined us from the Clicks Group, a JSE Top-40 company, where he has been the Head of Legal and Company Secretary since 2016. In this role Matthew successfully navigated a highly regulated environment, including overseeing compliance with company laws and the JSE Listings Requirements. As company secretary, he managed governance at Board level as well as being the Chairman’s chief of staff. Prior to this, Matthew was a Legal Manager with Anglo American, a major multinational diversified mining group, which includes three companies listed on the JSE, with extensive operations across Southern Africa.

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