Mrs. Veronique Herminie is the First Lady of the Republic of Seychelles, following the Presidential Elections held on 11th October 2025, which saw her husband, His Excellency Dr. Patrick Herminie, elected as the President of the Republic of Seychelles. A distinguished professional and accomplished leader in her own right, Mrs. Herminie brings to the role of First Lady a wealth of experience from the private and public sectors, a deep commitment to community service, and a passion for empowering women and youth.
Early Life, Family, and Education
A Seychellois by birth, Mrs. Herminie is a proud wife and mother. She and President Herminie are blessed with two children — a daughter who is a practising medical doctor, and a son who is a civil engineer. Family and faith play a central role in her life, and she has always valued the importance of nurturing strong moral values, discipline, and service to others.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Mrs. Herminie became a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) in 2001. Her professional journey reflects an unwavering dedication to continuous learning, integrity, and excellence — values that have defined her leadership across multiple national institutions and business entities.
Professional Career
With over 35 years of professional experience, including 25 years in management and leadership roles, Mrs. Herminie’s career has spanned both the public and private sectors, where she has made significant contributions to national development.
She most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Smith Naval Services Limited, a leading group of companies in Seychelles, from April 2023 to December 2024. Prior to that, she was appointed as the Commissioner General of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), serving from October 2019 to January 2023, where she led major reforms in revenue administration, compliance systems, and institutional strengthening.
Earlier in her career, Mrs. Herminie served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Islands Development Company (IDC) and its subsidiary, the Green Island Construction Company Limited (GICC), from October 2012 to October 2019, overseeing key infrastructural, construction, and island development projects.
Between 2006 and 2010, she held the post of Principal Secretary in several government departments, a period during which she contributed to national policies and programs in areas such as land management, environmental protection, investment promotion, and infrastructure development.
In addition to her public service, Mrs. Herminie has demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit through VHS Business Consultancy, a firm she founded and managed to provide administrative and tax advisory services to small and medium-sized enterprises across Seychelles.
Her professional expertise covers a broad range of sectors — from taxation, investment, and construction to environment, fisheries, and marine industries — providing her with a holistic understanding of Seychelles’ economic and institutional landscape.
Regional and International Engagement
Mrs. Herminie is a founding member of the African Tax Administration Forum’s Women in Tax Network (AWITN), based in Pretoria, South Africa. Established in 2021, AWITN serves as a regional platform for women professionals in tax-related fields to collaborate, build leadership capacity, and advance gender equality within fiscal policy and governance. Since November 2022, she has served as the Chairperson of the AWITN Board, leading initiatives to mentor and empower women from across the African continent.
Corporate Governance and Board Memberships
Throughout her distinguished career, Mrs. Herminie has served on numerous national boards and institutions, contributing her financial acumen and leadership experience to strengthen governance and transparency. She has held executive or board-level positions with entities such as SEYPEC, Air Seychelles, Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT), Seychelles Savings and Investments Ltd (SSIL), Seychelles Trading Company (STC), and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA).
She also served as Chairperson of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) and the Revenue Tribunal, and most recently, as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of ABSA Bank Seychelles Ltd since October 2023, where she was appointed Chairperson of the Board Audit Committee in March 2024.
Personal Values and Outlook
As First Lady, Mrs. Herminie intends to build on her vast professional and leadership experience to champion causes close to her heart — particularly women’s empowerment, youth mentorship, education, and social equity. Guided by compassion, discipline, and a strong belief in service, she envisions using her platform to inspire positive transformation and create opportunities that uplift Seychellois families and communities.