I was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. Accompanying my mother to community banks gave me an early appreciation for the trust placed in financial institutions. This sparked my interest in financial services and eventually led me to audit. I was drawn to how it connects financial reporting with risk, governance and behaviour. Moving into compliance and fraud risk felt like a natural progression, as these areas require technical understanding, judgment, scepticism and a forward-looking view.
I have worked across Pakistan, Dubai and London, which has given me a global perspective. I also lead a globally dispersed team, strengthening my understanding of diverse cultures, regulatory environments and business practices. Today, my focus is on using audit to go beyond traditional assurance by leveraging analytics, understanding behavioural risks, and helping organisations strengthen governance and maintain trust.
Everything is increasingly becoming a fraud problem first, with compliance elements built around it. Fraud is evolving rapidly, especially through AI, which enables convincing scams, removes traditional red flags and challenges controls such as identity verification and biometrics. At the same time, compliance frameworks must adapt faster to regulatory change, differing jurisdictional expectations and greater scrutiny of AI, data usage and customer protection. The biggest differentiator will be people: teams need to keep building skills in AI, data, regulation and judgment.
The most important mindset is the ability to unlearn, learn and relearn
Technology is moving audit from periodic, manual reviews to more continuous, data-driven and forward-looking approaches. AI and analytics can identify signals faster, support planning and streamline activities such as data aggregation, mapping and reporting. The audit model is shifting from point-in-time reviews to continuous auditing, where risks are monitored and assessed more dynamically.
The most important mindset is the ability to unlearn, learn and relearn. Accountants moving into this space need agility, curiosity and confidence to challenge. The value is no longer only in executing checks; it is in using data, technology and insight to improve outcomes and help the business address risks in real time. My advice would be to stay curious, embrace change and do not be afraid of unconventional paths.
Beyond audit, family and community give me energy. I prioritise being with my son, whether it’s attending his performances, school events or simply spending quality time with him. His achievements are incredibly rewarding for me and help me stay grounded. Also, I have spent more than 26 years with Girl Guides and Scouts and have been honoured with the Girl Guides Asia Pacific Award. Working with young girls and helping them build confidence and leadership skills has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
