Judging Panel 2022

Judges

Kylie Ang

Portfolio manager

AIA

Well-established investment professional who leverages on deep knowledge of capital markets to build quality multi asset portfolios and grows AUM through the building of solid client relationships.

Leanne Champness

Head of Liquidity & Non-Traded Market Risk APAC

Credit Suisse

Leanne Champness is the APAC Head of Liquidity and Non-Traded Market Risk at Credit Suisse. She has more than two decades of experience in the banking and financial services industry across Risk Management, Finance and Audit. In her current role, Leanne has the regional oversight and accountability over liquidity and banking book portfolios in terms of monitoring, governance, stress testing and methodologies. Leanne is currently based in Singapore, prior to that she has worked in the UK and China.

Thumbnail
Nirman Chhabra

Portfolio manager

Abiman Asset Management

Nirman is in-charge of financial portfolio management at Abiman Asset Management, a single family office located in Singapore. His responsibilities include asset allocation, security selection and risk management. He invests into single bonds, equities and commodities in a multi-asset context. His work is influenced by factor based investing and systematic approach to asset allocation and risk management. Prior to Abiman, he worked at Taurus Family office, a multi-family office. At Taurus, he advised and managed portfolios for high net-worth families in a multi-asset context. He also successfully managed an Emerging market credit fund which ranked in top 1% globally in terms of performance, among emerging market credit funds. Prior to Taurus, Nirman worked for Citi wealth management, within the fixed income department, advising clients on their fixed income investments. Nirman has graduated from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (Masters in Business) and University of Mumbai (Computer Sc. Engineering).

David Clarke

Executive CRO - Corporate and Institutional

National Australia Bank

Efe Cummings

Global Head of Operational Risk

Nomura

Executive Summary

  • Risk Manager with 15 years global and regional experience in Operational Risk Management, new business risk management and implementing and overseeing strategic and regulatory change initiatives. 
  • Experience in developing, implementing and overseeing global risk management frameworks, including leading several global transformation projects to enhance risk management frameworks, risk culture and governance.
  • Deep understanding of investment banking and wealth management businesses, products and inherent non-financial risks.
  • International experience with work experience US, EMEA and Asia markets and an ability to communicate, operate and influence across countries and cultures.
  • Strong communication skills with senior management, regulators, internal and external stakeholders.  Periodically prepared and deliver reports to Board and Executive level management as well as articulate approach and framework to multiple of regulators.
  • Track-record in establishing and communicating the value proposition and commercial relevance of a strong risk management framework to senior management and as a result drivin improved risk culture, awareness and embedding.                                                                                  

Professional Experience

Nomura Group

Global Head of Operational Risk, 2019 – present

  • Design, implement and oversee the operating effectiveness of the Operational Risk Management Framework in Nomura Group’s global businesses and subsidiaries.
  • Oversee global team of 50 in Japan, Asia, EMEA and Americas.
  • Provide an independent assessment of Operational Risk to Nomura Group Board and senior management, including forward looking view of top and emerging risks.
  • Developed the firm’s strategy and execution of a new Non-Financial Risk Framework.  Oversaw development and implementation of a new Non-Financial Risk Taxonomy, Risk Appetite Framework and roles and responsibilities across 3LOD.
  • Advise and challenge senior management on operational risk exposures in their business and corporate functions.
  • Develop systems, technologies and quantitative methods to improve management of Operational Risk globally.

Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited, Hong Kong

Head of Operational Risk Management, Asia ex-Japan, 2015 – present

  • Oversee and manage the implementation of Nomura’s global Operational Risk Framework in Asia-ex Japan.  .
  • Oversee regional team of 7.
  • Provide senior management with overview of the Operational Risk profile for AEJ. 
  • Face-off to regional regulators such as HK SFC, Singapore MAS, Korea FSS and others.
  • Oversee and participate in internal investigations as member of the Internal Investigation Committee.  Conduct forensic deep-dives and interviews on varied cases such as potential fraud, whistle blowing, client complaints and market abuse.

Head of New Business, Asia ex-Japan, 2018 - 2019

  • Oversaw and managed the implementation of Nomura’s New Business Approval framework in Asia ex-Japan, including new product approval, significant transaction approval and reputational risk committees.
  • Managed team of 6 based in Hong Kong and Singapore.
  • Face-off to heads of business to challenge around key strategic risk and due diligence issues.
  • Managed development of Approved Product List for internal and regulatory use.

Chief Administrative Officer Risk Management, Asia ex-Japan, 2015 – 2019

  • Co-ordination and submission of annual budget and investment plans and monitoring spend against budget throughout the year. 
  • Identification and delivering of cost saving initiatives.
  • Preparation of presentations for AEJ CRO for regional town hall meetings, regulatory interactions and executive management. 
  • Oversaw key change projects including system implementation and remediation of control issues.

Nomura International plc, London, UK

Global New Business Division COO, 2012 – 2014

  • Developed the Group New Business Approval Policy covering Wholesale, Asset Management and Retail Divisions by working with group company executives such as Global CFO, CLO, CRO and business division management.   The policy was approved by the group Board and was the first group wide policy for new business approval for the firm.
  • Developed a new product and complex transaction approval process for the Global Wholesale business by working with business leadership in Global Markets and Investment Banking.  Created procedures, led IT development of a workflow tool and an approved product database and developed global training.  Resulted in a globally consistent approach to new product approval and increased efficiency in approval of cross-border business.

EMEA Head of New Business, 2011 – 2014

  • Implemented new product and transaction approval in the EMEA business, managing a team of 7 (1 ED, 3 VPs, 3 Associates). 
  • Improved efficiency and control around the approval processes by documenting procedures and reducing bureaucracy as measured by improved turn-around times, positive feedback from business lines and reduction in operational risk events or errors as a result of new product launches.
  • Led interaction with and managed regulatory audits conducted by Bank of England (PRA), UK Financial Conduct Authority, Bank of Japan and JFSA.  Successfully provided assurance to regulators of the robustness of new product approval process as measured by limited remediation points during a period when regulators were requesting external audits on all focus areas.
  • Improved oversight of risk and returns of new and complex products by developing product back-testing, whereby revenue generated by products were assessed after one year.  Presented findings to regional Board and business leadership, resulting in certain non-performing businesses lines being discontinued or altered.  As a result, management was provided assurance that business lines were accountable for introducing new products, processes and operational risks to the firm. 

Senior Risk Manager, Operational Risk Management, 2009 – 2011

  • Implemented the Operational Risk Framework in Global Markets and Investment Banking following acquisition of Lehman Brothers EMEA business. Worked with business line COOs and managed operational risk team of 3 individuals to develop the risk and control self-assessments by desk, implement key risk indicators and operational risk event investigation and reporting.  Operational Risk Framework was rolled-out to the businesses lines within 6 months of integration. 
  • Initiated and developed reporting for monthly risk and control meetings by regional business line which reviewed the operational risk profile front to back with representatives from all corporate departments, resulting in improved ownership of operational risk.  Expanded regional meetings to global product lines by working with Global Heads of Trading and corporate departments, coordinating with regional ORM and developing a cross-regional aggregated risk profile.  Meetings were led by head of business, demonstrating ownership of Operational Risk by first line of defense.
  • Created front-to-back trade process maps by aggregating information between IT, Operations, and trading.  Documented key controls and manual processes, which provided senior management with detailed view on infrastructure requirements.

Deloitte & Touche, London, UK

Manager, Financial Services Advisory, 2006 - 2009 

  • Advised clients on implementation of credit, market and operational risk management frameworks; advised clients on implementation of Basel II and CRD requirements.  Clients included leading universal banks, investment banks, asset managers, hedge funds and regulators.  
  • Advised on the integration of the operational risk management function with corporate security and technology risk for a leading European universal bank. Assisted in integrating Sarbanes-Oxley procedures into operational risk functions.  
  • Developed credit risk policies and procedures for a US bank starting a new deposit taking and lending institution in the UK.
  • Project managed implementation of transaction reporting tool for a leading Swiss investment bank.
  • Assisted a European brokerage in developing counterparty, operational and credit risk management around its margin lending business.
  • Developed and implemented the internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP) for more than 10 banks, investment managers, securities brokers and asset managers.
  • Developed a post-merger target operating model and project plan for the integration of global Compliance functions of two leading banking groups.
  • Clients included UBS, Lloyds, ING, Barclays, RBS and various investment managers.

Export-Import Bank of the United States, Washington, DC, USA

International Business Development Office, 2002 - 2004                                                       

  • Conducted marketing and sales activities to increase Ex-Im Bank financing in southeast Europe.  Oversaw an increase in business activity by 90% and 75% in 2002 and 2003, year on year.
  • Arranged and structured and trade finance with banks, private companies, and governments.  Arranged balance sheet loans, letters of credit, secured lending, and project financing.
  • Analyzed financial statements and cash flow projections to determine creditworthiness of counterparties and projects.
Sam Edwards

APAC Head of Collateral

State Street

Sam Edwards is Head of Collateral Management for Asia Pacific at State Street. Based in Hong Kong, Edwards has two decades of experience in securities finance, and liquidity and financial resource management. Currently he leads the delivery of the Collateral+ solution, enabling clients across Asia Pacific in devising a well-executed collateral strategy. Edwards joined State Street from Credit Suisse, where he established secured financing in APAC and established equity financing capabilities in EMEA, during his 12-year tenure with the firm. His most recent role at Credit Suisse was as head of Asia Pacific Central Collateral Desk. Prior to Credit Suisse, Edwards spent eight years at Lehman Brothers on the Equity & Fixed Income Secured Financing Desk.

Rodney Gollo

Leader in risk management, with expertise in emerging and frontier markets

Rodney Gollo specialises in risk management, with expertise in emerging and frontier markets. He has international experience enhancing enterprise risk management frameworks, and currently leads the risk management function for a multinational insurance company.

He has a strong interest on the role sustainability and ESG factors have on businesses, societies and the global economy, and is a contributor to industry publications such Investment & Pensions Europe, AsianInvestor and Investor Relations Magazine. He has served as a judge for the Asia Risk Technology Awards, recognizing innovation and excellence in the financial services industry.

He is a certified European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies (EFFAS) ESG Analyst (CESGA), a CFA ESG, holds a Masters in Management and Regulation of Risk from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a Certificate in Risk Management in Financial Services from the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) and a Bachelors in Economics and Politics from The University of Sheffield.

Thumbnail
Dr. Simon Goo

Head of group risk analytics division

UOB

Simon leads a multi-disciplinary risk analytics team that oversees enterprise-wide risk management models at United Overseas Bank. The team validates a wide range of risks and measurement models. Those models can be used to assess and manage credit, market and balance sheet risks across the bank’s global business.

Prior to joining the bank, Simon held senior corporate positions in technology and finance related companies in areas such as strategic planning, private equity investments and mergers and acquisitions. He has also worked with promising enterprises to assess the potential of their technologies for product commercialization and strategic investment.

Simon holds a PhD in the field of decision control systems from the University of Newcastle- upon-Tyne (UK). He received an IChemE Jubilee prize for his research applying Statistical and Artificial Intelligence Methodologies for on-line fault detection and diagnosis in 1997.

Simon was part of the banks’ Innovation Workgroup member to bring The Finlab to launch and he had been a mentor in The FinLab. He was part of the judging panel in the Global Fintech Hackcelerator. Simon serves as a member in the Product Program Committee and the Alt-Chair person in the Valuation Adjustments working group in the bank.

 

Robert Kliman

Global Head of Regulatory and Markets Risk Technology

ANZ

I am currently the Global Head of Regulatory and Markets Risk Technology within the Institutional Bank at ANZ. In this role I am responsible for all initiative delivery across these areas as well as setting technology strategy according to best practice architecture. I have over 25 years experience of Financial Services IT across London, Sydney and Singapore and look for best of breed vendor or in-house built software solutions to meet business needs. In my spare time I am a Blockchain Evangelist and am a member of a global working group promoting the use of Blockchain technology in Financial Services. I actively participate in various Fintech start-up reviews and look to leverage great new ideas to solve business problems.

Dmytro Kolechko

Chief Risk Officer

VP Bank

Mr. Dmytro Kolechko holds a Master’s degree in International Business Administration from Kiev National University of Economics. He has over 20 years of working experience in banking industry, with over 14 years in senior leading positions in risk management, including Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at Raiffeissen Bank Ukraine, CRO at Alfabank Ukraine, and CRO for Hypo-Alpe-Adria Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2015 he has held the position of Head of Risk Management Division (CRO) at Vietnam Prosperity Bank (VP Bank).

Khang Nie Lee

Head of non-financial risk, Apac

Credit Suisse

Khang Nie Lee is the Head of Non-Financial Risk (NFR) for Asia Pacific (APAC) at Credit Suisse.

She is a trained accountant and is a Fellow at the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (FCA). Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Khang Nie was a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she ran a number of process improvement projects for clients in the financial services sector.

In Credit Suisse, she headed various functions across the CFO Division in APAC, including Investment Banking Finance, South East Asia Legal Entity Finance and SOX program before joining NFR in the CRO Division.”

Steven Low

Chief risk officer

Prince Bank

Steven Low is a Risk Practitioner with Digital experience focusing on Big Data Analytics in Banking covering GRC initiatives and business target operating models for fintechs and digital banking. Currently he is the CRO for Prince Bank Cambodia, formerly serve as the Managing Partner for a Big Data Analytics company, Alpha Zetta Malaysia. He previously served as the Chief Risk Officer and Head Risk Management for a Consumer Bank covering both Retail and Business Banking in Maybank, one of the leading bank in Malaysia. He was also the CRO for Wavemoney Yangon, Affin Bank and Bangkok Bank Malaysia.

 His enterprise wide experience covers all aspect of credit, market and operational risk including fraud management and reputational risk. His experience working on big data analytics and fintech initiatives in ASEAN and Australia Volt Bank has enable him to provide insights and practical executable viable business models in accordance to the business capabilities and ecosystem that it operates in. His design thinking ability has enable sustainable business models to sail through this challenging period where business are able to leverage on risk and compliance for competitive advantage. He also have vast experience in building workflow models such as Business Front End Systems / Loan Origination System and making sure that the data are integrated and being used across all business and support function across the organization.

 Prior to this Steven gained 22+ years experience in audit, credit management (including Corporate Banking) and business in both local and overseas financial institutions including Standard Chartered Bank, Maybank, Wavemoney Yangon, RHB, Affin Bank, Bangkok Bank, An Binh Bank (Vietnam), EON Bank and Orix Leasing. He has traveled extensively to countries like Singapore, Mongolia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Europe to work on various projects and engagement with stakeholders on risk & compliance and big data analytics projects.

Shivkumar Mahadevan

Chief risk officer, corporate, commercial & institutional banking

Standard Chartered Bank

Shiv is currently the Chief Risk Officer, CCIB at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB); with overall risk responsibility for Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking (CCIB) clients across all geographies.

Shiv chair’s SCB's CCIB Risk Committee which oversees all the risks associated with the CCIB business (i.e. both financial and nonfinancial risks) and is also part of the Group Risk Management Team, Remuneration Forum, Underwriting Committee & Investment Committee. He is responsible for risk managing a portfolio of over USD 500 billion spanning across 65 countries, managed via a team of over 500 Risk Officers. Besides exercising direct control responsibility for Credit Risk and Market Risk profile of the Group, he is extensively involved in maintaining alignment with risk appetite by rebalancing risks or controls that may be required in response to internal and external factors.

Prior to this, he was the Regional Chief Risk Officer (RCRO), ASEAN & South Asia, at SCB and responsible for all risk types for the region. Before the RCRO role, Shiv was Senior Regional Credit Officer (SRCO), Asia; providing credit risk oversight for all Corporate, Institutional & Commercial clients across Asia. He has also been the Head of Credit Risk - Specialized Finance, Funds and Traded Products, where he was responsible for providing global credit risk oversight covering all Financial Markets products, Acquisition Finance, Project & Export Finance, Aviation & Shipping Finance and Structured Finance.

Shiv has been in the financial services industry for over 28 years, of which the last 23 years have been with SCB where he has held various senior Risk roles across Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Mumbai – covering multiple geographies around the world. Before joining the financial services industry, Shiv worked for 3 years with Tata Motors, India.

Shiv holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management (PGDM) from Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore.

He is passionate about mentoring and coaching talent. He also occasionally goes in as a guest speaker at the Singapore Management University and was recently a Panellist at the “RiskMinds” Conference. Shiv is a Member of SCB's Global Diversity & Inclusion Council and leads the initiative for the Risk Function. Corporate Treasurer awarded Shiv for the best approval turnaround times for Cash Management Services for the year CY2014. He was also awarded the Leading Risk Practitioner by the Asian Banker in 2015 and was conferred the IBF Fellow in 2016 by the Institute of Banking & Finance, Singapore.

Christophe Mayol

Head, Derivatives

AIA Investment Management

Akkarapol Sa-ngasoongsong

EVP, head of credit risk analytics function

Siam Commercial Bank

Akkarapol Sa-ngasoongsong is Head of Model Risk Management Division at Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Thailand. Prior to joining SCB, Akkarapol worked for Citibank, US where he held multiple roles in Risk function including senior modeling manager for regulatory risk model development (CCAR and Stress testing), and model validation manager in model risk management division. In his current role, Akkarapol is leading model risk management division and responsible for establishing and setting up model governance/model risk management framework for entire model landscape of SCB.
Akkarapol holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University.

Mohit Tandon

Global Head of Technology Operations

Prudential

Transformation leader with proven track record of streamlining business operations & driving change across countries, cultures and organisations. Bring comprehensive domain knowledge and fresh thinking to rapidly evolving fields of digital, operating model design and risk management.

Hands-on experience in executing new target operating model redesign (TOM), creating digital platforms & leading re-engineering programs to improve cycle time, customer acquisition and service capability.

Wide exposure and expertise in Asian regional markets with both broad and deep understanding of this region's complex regulatory, business and cultural operating environments, gained through regional and country roles in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and India.

An effective communicator with successful track record of leading multi-cultural teams covering Operations, Technology, Process Re-engineering, Compliance and Risk Management. 

Chun Maw Tey

Head of group IFRS 9 and Singapore credit risk model validation

Maybank

Dr. Tey is the Head of Group IFRS 9 and Singapore Credit Risk model validation in Maybank. He is also responsible for providing technical guidance on matters including IFRS 9, IRB Credit Risk, ICAAP, model risk and AI/ML.

Prior to joining Maybank in 2017, Dr. Tey was a Director and ASEAN Credit Risk Lead as part of Financial Risk Management (FRM) advisory practice in KPMG Singapore. He has supported the growth of Advisory businesses around Financial Services and Financial Risk Management (FRM) in ASEAN region and, as regional Subject Matter Expert, specifically take on an active leadership role in growing risk-related services.

Dr. Tey held other risk-related and modelling roles in UOB and Bank Negara Malaysia.

Dr. Tey has over 17 years of experience in risk management and modelling across Asia. He holds PhD and Bachelor in Electronic Engineering degrees from the University of Sheffield, UK.

Boon Lee Thor

Chief Risk Officer

OCBC Bank

Boon Lee comes with 23 years of financial services risk management experience, both as a banking risk management practitioner and also as financial risk management consultant within the Asean region. Before joining OCBC as the Country Chief Risk Officer in 2017, he was the Chief Risk Officer for MUFG Bank for more than 4 years where he provided leadership and set directions for the enterprise wide risk matters in the areas of market, credit, operational risks and also business continuity management. Prior to MUFG, Boon Lee also had worked with a large local banking group in Malaysia.

He had experience as a risk management consultant covering scoring, policy and portfolio management, prepared and executed Integrated Risk Management Framework in several banks in Asean region.

 

Boon Lee graduated from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom with a First Class Honours in Management Science. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of Malaysian MENSA Society.   

Sangeeta Venkatesen

Non-Executive Director & Investment Committee Member

Thumbnail
Theo Vosnidis

Head of Investment Risk and Compliance

Cbus Super

Theo provides strategic direction for global risk management programs in the investment management group (IMG) through design, governance of operational risk management strategies and is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the IMG operational risk function across multiple disciplines for Asia-Pacific.

Prior to joining Vanguard in November 2011, Theo's held the role of head of risk at ANZ Private Wealth. Theo has extensive experience within operational risk, regulatory compliance and credit risk across mortgage lending, insurance, asset finance, asset management, margin lending and stockbroking with the ANZ Banking Group.

Theo holds a Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance) degree from Monash University.

Thumbnail
Josephine Woo

Chief risk officer

PRMIA

Josephine has more than 15 years’ experience in risk management with regional exposures and worked in Sydney and Hong Kong prior to relocating to Malaysia. She has rich expertise as both a risk management practitioner and consultant.

Josephine has vast industry knowledge specifically in financial institutions, insurance, asset management, payment systems operators, development financial institutions and government-linked companies. This includes both conventional and Islamic principles businesses. Additionally, her role involved liaising with the local regulators of the regional countries.

Josephine is a current committee member of the global risk professional certification.

Thumbnail
Philip Woo

CRO

Tokio Marine Life Insurance Singapore

Philip Woo is the Chief Risk Officer and oversees corporate governance and risk management in Tokio Marine Life Insurance Singapore (TMLS). He has over 26 years of experience in the financial sector, and began his career at MAS before joining the insurance industry. Over the period, he has played leadership roles in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Business Continuity & Crisis Management, Outsourcing/Vendor Risk Management and Technology Risk Management (TRM). He currently chairs the Governance, Risk and Compliance Committee (GRCC) at TMLS, and oversees the managing of operational, financial and strategic risks in the company. In addition to risk management, Philip has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, financial technology and payment system matters.