Dubai, United Arab Emirates
International public policy and government affairs professional with a focus on financial services, banking and DNFPB regulation, AML/CFT, regional integration and trade. Member of the supervisory board of the EU-ASEAN Business Council since 2021, and European Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) Board Member from 2012 - 2019. Skills and experience include: - Public affairs and government relations consultancy - with a focus on financial services and trade policy in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. - AML/CFT - developing an AML programme for the DPMS sector and CAMS certification. - International management - established and led a regional office for Asia including responsibility for the P&L, business development and client servicing. - Thought leadership and market research - project managed thought leadership, B2B and B2C market research programmes. - Media and communications including providing live and pre-recorded broadcast commentary on global economic and political developments for the BBC, Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC, China Central Television, Sky News, Channel NewsAsia, and the Korean Broadcast Service.
Leading WGC activity and advocacy in the Middle East region and Managing Director of the WGC subsidiary in Dubai, WGC Middle East FZCO. I relocated to the UAE from Singapore to establish the WGC's new regional entity, and I'm now developing and leading our regional market development and advocacy work. The role includes engagement with regulators, the official sector, bullion market, and institutional investment community throughout the region. Key projects include work to strengthen AML/CFT practices in the DPMS sector and developing recommendations to strengthen oversight of hand-carried gold. I also act as a WGC spokesperson, which includes live and pre-recorded media appearances, and speaking at bullion, extractives, and investment-focussed conferences.
Managing Director of the WGC subsidiary in Singapore: World Gold Council (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Global head of policy and regional head overseeing the expansion of the World Gold Council's activities in South East Asia, Australia, Japan, and Korea. This included regional market development, policy engagement, government affairs, and investment distribution.
Part of the central banks and public policy team working with the official sector on gold reserves management and the regulatory treatment of gold as a financial instrument. I also led the World Gold Council's islamic finance initiative, including working with the banking, investment, and regulatory community throughout the Middle East, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This culminated in the creation of the AAOIFI Shari'ah Standard on Gold developed in collaboration with the World Gold Council. The Standard facilitates the involvement of participation banks in the global bullion market.
Corporate (elected) Board Member of the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. Chairman of the financial services group from 2012-2014 and treasurer from 2014-2016.
Moved to Singapore in 2010 to establish and lead Cicero's Asia Pacific office. In this role I developed new business opportunities, and led client engagements in South East Asia, India, and the Middle East. Cicero Group is an international consultancy specialising in government relations and public affairs. I specialised in financial services, and clients included major international banks, financial trade bodies, and fund managers. Managing Director of Cicero Consulting Pte Ltd (Singapore) 2010 - 2016 and Executive Director of Cicero Consulting Ltd (UK) 2014 - 2016.
Managed Cicero's financial sector public policy reporting and intelligence team, developed the online business NovaRes, and worked across UK public affairs accounts dealing with financial sector issues. Cicero Group is an international consultancy specialising in government relations and public affairs strategy and execution for clients in the financial and professional services sector.