My twin sister, who moved to the UK to study ACCA, inspired me to take the qualification. What impressed me most about the course is its breadth – not just traditional accounting, but also law, business strategy, ethics and governance.
My ACCA has been key to my success, as its versatility allowed me to go into regulation and supervision. I spent over eight years working as a financial regulator, focusing on prudential oversight and anti-money laundering. Currently, I am the senior manager for risk and compliance at the Bank of Saint Lucia.
A prolonged conflict in the Gulf could destabilise the demand for tourism
One of the main challenges for Caribbean banks is that they maintain large international investment portfolios in a tourism-dependent regional economy. Another is the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted global markets, driving up oil prices and fuelling cost inflation for goods and services across the islands. While regional banks have not yet faced a severe direct shock, a prolonged conflict in the Gulf could destabilise the demand for tourism, increase operational costs, and potentially stress our investment and loan portfolios.
Sitting on a panel discussion at an industry conference was a defining moment in my career. Public speaking at that level had until then been entirely outside my experience and was nerve-wracking initially. Pushing through that vulnerability turned it into a deeply rewarding experience for me, which I now thoroughly enjoy.
What I enjoy most about my role in risk and compliance is not saying ‘no’ and finding the safest way to say ‘yes’. I love collaborating across different business units within the bank, breaking down what appear to be complex problems into practical, strategic solutions. Serving as a trusted adviser and helping to develop a proactive culture of integrity across the entire bank are also incredibly rewarding.
My favourite quote comes from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He wrote: ‘The impediment to action advances action: what stands in the way becomes the way.’ It encourages me to think that any adversity can be transformed into an opportunity to practise patience, courage and perseverance.
AI will ultimately drive higher profitability
I believe AI will profoundly influence financial business strategies through driving gains in efficiency and productivity. It will support the automation of routine processes, which will allow companies to lower operational expenses, optimise resource allocation and ultimately drive higher profitability.
I would like to see stronger laws against white-collar crime, in particular identity theft and cyberfraud. As financial institutions in the region rapidly digitise, these legal frameworks are still underdeveloped across the Caribbean. Robust legislation is urgently needed to protect both customers and businesses.
If I weren’t in finance, I’d have been an archaeologist. When I was growing up, history was one of my favourite subjects. I have always been fascinated by ancient civilisations and Greek mythology and still enjoy watching documentaries about archaeology.
In my spare time, I am a dedicated health and fitness enthusiast. I take my physical wellbeing very seriously, so you will regularly find me training at the gym or participating in high-energy fitness activities.
