My career began over two decades ago as a young auditor with the firm that is now BDO on the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. However, I wanted more international audit experience, so I moved to the British Virgin Islands where I was introduced to the anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and the world of compliance.
Marriage led me to the Cayman Islands, beginning a new chapter in my life and career. I am currently a chief analyst at the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Whether I’m spearheading AML inspections or training the next generation of regulators, I thoroughly understand the regulatory landscape and I truly believe in its purpose.
The Monetary Authority is at the forefront of financial regulation in the Cayman Islands. In my role, I face several key challenges, including keeping up with evolving global AML standards, assessing the emerging sectors of virtual assets, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and operating efficiently with fixed resources.
My favourite quote comes from Maya Angelou: ‘When you know better, do better’
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I was working in the British Virgin Islands. I was tasked with delivering AML training and drafting compliance manuals for nearly 90% of all designated non-financial businesses and professions. I had the technical background, but this role also required public speaking and translating the AML regulations for diverse audiences.
Moving into a regulatory role was another major leap for me, bringing with it high-level accountability. Both experiences pushed me far beyond accounting and auditing.
My favourite quote comes from Maya Angelou: ‘When you know better, do better.’ I believe that knowledge brings responsibility, and with it the duty to act with integrity, purpose and courage.
If I had law-making powers, I would introduce legislation to govern the ethical development and use of AI in the Cayman Islands. AI is already being used by financial service providers, and there are urgent questions about transparency, accountability and privacy. I would establish a regulatory framework that sets minimum standards for algorithmic fairness, prohibits discriminatory automated decision-making, and mandates human oversight for high-impact AI systems. This law would also promote open communication between the industry and the regulator to ensure the framework remains responsive and practical.
What I enjoy most about my role is engaging directly with a diverse range of financial service providers as part of onsite AML inspections, and seeing firsthand how our work impacts the real world. Each inspection is like a puzzle with different challenges, but I like connecting the dots between policies, procedures and practices. It’s also rewarding to guide financial service providers toward meaningful improvements.
I’ve always been drawn to the structure of rules and systems and the thinking behind them
My biggest achievement is earning my ACCA qualification. It gave me the global credibility, technical expertise and ethical foundations that have underpinned my career, and with a strong background in analytical reasoning and continuous learning it was not difficult to begin a career as a regulator. ACCA has allowed me to successfully shift from audit into regulatory compliance roles across the diverse jurisdictions I have been fortunate enough to call home.
All my life I’ve been asking ‘Why?’. I’ve always been drawn to the structure of rules and systems and the thinking behind them, and enjoyed interpreting legislation and advocating for clarity and fairness in its enforcement. The opportunity to litigate or debate the nuances of financial regulation by standing before a court and arguing the intent, impact or compliance of a rule would have perfectly suited my analytical mindset and passion for integrity.
Outside of work, I enjoy international travel, youth mentoring and building my individuality and confidence through fashion as a creative outlet.
