Our speaker on Wednesday July 28th was Rotarian Aniska Russell.  Aniska was a Rotaractor in The Rotaract Club of Southeast Nassau Centennial.  She joined Rotaract in 2011 where she held numerous director positions and then she transitioned into Rotary, joining The Rotary Club of Southeast Nassau. Aniska has held positions in Rotary such as the the Rotaract Liaison Director as well as Wellness Director.  She received the club's Rotarian of the year award in 2019 - 2020 and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

After obtaining a Bachelor's degree of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems from the College of The Bahamas, Aniska began a successful career in banking where she received many awards in customer service.  For the past 2 years, Aniska has been employed by the Central Bank of The Bahamas as an Exchange Control Officer in the Exchange Control Department.  Aniska also recently obtained a trustee diploma from the Bahamas Institute of Financial Services.  In her role, she performs multiple tasks such as providing approvals and designations for companies, approving investment status with respect to non-resident purchases of property in the Bahamas, processes conversion and retention of property purchases and sales.

Aniska described exchange controls and highlighted the importance of exchange control.  She stated that exchange controls were rules, policies, and procedures which govern foreign policy transactions between residents of the Bahamas and residents of other countries.  Exchange controls manage the ability to move foreign currency freely.  Ms. Russell also gave a brief history of the Central Bank of The Bahamas and how it was the successor to the Bahamas Monetary Authority and was appointed controller of exchange in 1974 under regulation 35.4 of the exchange control regulations which empowers the controller to delegate or authorize the delegation of its powers, which is what she does in her role.  Exchange tools are used as a tool of the economy.  There are two sides of exchange control and Aniska stated that she works with the capital side.

Aniska also described how the bank interacts with banks, trust companies and other companies in the Bahamas.  She enjoys her job and what she does and is very excited about the future.