Bio

With over a decade of experience as in-house counsel in the financial services sector, I have built a robust and multifaceted legal career. Eight of those years were spent at the country’s leading private bank, where I developed expertise in two key areas of risk: Collections and Financial Crime Compliance.

For the past two years, I have held a more strategic position as Head of Legal and Compliance at a hedge fund, where I lead complex legal matters across four jurisdictions.

My academic background includes a master’s degree complemented by two specialised Compliance certifications – one local and one international – underscoring my commitment to continuous professional development and global best practices.

Among the most significant milestones of my career was leading a 10-member Transaction Monitoring team within the Financial Crime Compliance division. This work delivered measurable success: I raised key performance indicators to meet and exceed corporate and head office benchmarks, led the business-side implementation of an advanced transaction monitoring platform, and successfully managed external audits and, crucially, regulatory inspections with excellent results.

Equally meaningful were the qualitative outcomes of this experience. I take particular pride in supporting the professional development of my team – many of whom were beginning their careers. More than half have since established themselves in Compliance roles across various organisations, building promising careers shaped in part by the mentorship and collaborative environment we fostered. To this day, I continue to receive messages of appreciation for the guidance I provided during that formative period.

One of the attributes I value most in myself is ambition – a quality that has consistently driven me to seek new challenges and expand my professional horizons. A clear example was my decision to pursue an MBA, a programme that typically lies outside the comfort zone of legal professionals. While I faced academic hurdles – particularly in Finance and Cost Accounting – I was able to contribute significantly in areas where my legal training was an advantage. My ability to deliver compelling presentations and maintain meticulous notes (earning me the nickname “the logbook”) proved especially valuable in group work and exam preparation.

Completing the MBA remains one of the most fulfilling achievements of my career, giving me a strong sense of both personal and professional growth.

From these varied experiences, I firmly believe that legal professionals must not impose limits on themselves. In today’s volatile and unpredictable global landscape, the willingness to transcend traditional boundaries is essential to becoming the most capable and forward-thinking version of ourselves.