From Banking Trainee to Petroleum Regulator: NPRA Boss Reflects on His Journey
Brima M. Baluwa Koroma, Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), has reflected on his career journey from a young management trainee at Standard Chartered Bank to international banking executive and petroleum regulator, highlighting the importance of mentorship, continuous learning and embracing opportunities.
Koroma shared his reflections following his return to Bangkok, Thailand, in 2026 to attend the 80th Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, approximately 24 years after visiting the country as part of Standard Chartered Bank’s international management trainee programme.
His career journey began in 2001 when he joined the bank’s three-year international intake programme, which took him to Malaysia for induction, Thailand for professional development in 2002 and Singapore for graduation in 2003. During the programme, he won the Standard Chartered Bank Africa Award for Creativity in 2002 and gained exposure to senior international banking executives.
He subsequently served as Head of Global Markets at Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone, Director of Fixed Income Sales at Standard Chartered Bank (China) Ltd and Director of Global Corporate Sales at Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. These roles broadened his experience in international finance, market operations and risk management before his transition into petroleum operations and regulatory leadership in Sierra Leone.
At the IMF and World Bank Group meetings in Bangkok, Koroma participated as a senior public-sector leader, engaging with discussions on global economic challenges, governance, energy resilience and sustainable development. He said the experience offered an opportunity to reflect on how the knowledge and skills acquired during his banking career continue to inform his current responsibilities in petroleum regulation, particularly in areas such as market stability, pricing transparency, accountability and risk management.
Koroma credited President Julius Maada Bio’s trust and support as instrumental in facilitating his transition from banking to petroleum operations and, subsequently, regulatory leadership. He also paid tribute to Financial Secretary Mathew C. Dingie, whom he credited with encouraging him to apply for a position at Standard Chartered Bank while they were completing their final examinations at Fourah Bay College. The recommendation came just hours before the application deadline and became a turning point in his career.
He also expressed gratitude to his family, former colleagues and professional associates at Standard Chartered Bank, Safecon Petroleum and the NPRA for their encouragement and contributions to his professional development.
Drawing from his experience, Koroma encouraged young people and professionals to remain curious, invest in personal development and embrace opportunities, even when their career paths differ from their original plans. He stressed that skills acquired in one industry can prove valuable in another and that mentorship and timely encouragement can significantly influence professional growth.
His return to Bangkok, he said, represents an opportunity to appreciate how experiences accumulated over nearly 25 years have shaped his career and prepared him for greater responsibilities. His message to young professionals is to keep learning, remain resilient and recognise that seemingly unrelated experiences can eventually contribute to a meaningful career journey.
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