Wendy A De Cruz is the APAC lead for Customer Due Diligence & 3rd Party Risk at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).

Previously an equity trader and in fund management, she has over 20 years of experience partnering financial institutions, regulators and corporations to integrate data, analytics and risk & compliance solutions into their workflow.

An avid participant in shaping enterprise-wide frameworks around fraud, bribery, corruption, AML, sanctions, AI and ESG; Wendy partners with organisations that are committed to transforming Compliance into their Business Advantage.

Her advisory engagements range from the highly regulated financial, technology, natural resources and healthcare industries on their KYC, KYS procedures and controls to guiding small medium enterprises on their early design and adoption of a pragmatic governance program.

A Singaporean Native, Wendy has lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years where she has held senior positions with Bloomberg, Dow Jones and S&P. Wendy also sits on the board of 3 small medium enterprises where she provides compliance oversight.

Proficient in Cantonese, Mandarin and French; Wendy is a regular contributor and participant at thought leadership events aimed at further developing the industry and talent.

Sarah Qiu joined AllBright Law Offices in 2010. She is qualified in China and New York State, and holds law degrees from Columbia University and East China University of Political Science and Law. She also served as a visiting international attorney in the New York office of a leading U.S. dispute resolution firm, where she worked on U.S. export control and cross-border enforcement matters.

Ms. Qiu advises major companies in heavy manufacturing, semiconductors, biomedicine and medical devices, chemicals, energy, consumer electronics, financial leasing, and shipping-related sectors on export controls and sanctions compliance. Her recent matters include assisting a Chinese company in obtaining an OFAC no-action letter, advising on export control enforcement risks, and helping companies build digitalized export control and sanctions compliance systems.

She is active in export control compliance education and has delivered training for government agencies, industry associations, financial institutions, bar associations, and major compliance forums across China.

Ms. Qiu is recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers Greater China Region for International Trade: Export Controls and Economic Sanctions. She has also been named a Shanghai Eastern Talent, a Shanghai Judicial Administration “Rule of Law Pioneer,” an ALB China Yangtze River Delta Rising Lawyer, and a Legal One Top 15 Client-Trusted Lawyer in Regulatory and Compliance. She serves in several professional roles, including with the All China Lawyers Association, Shanghai Bar Association, Shanghai Integrated Circuit Industry Association, and Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.

Grace heads the Financial Services Regulation practice in Drew & Napier LLC. She has extensive experience advising on cross-border and complex regulatory matters, including licensing and conduct of business requirements, regulatory investigations, and regulatory change. A former in-house counsel at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), she regularly interacts with key regulators, is closely involved in regional regulatory reform initiatives and has led discussions with regulators on behalf of the financial services industry. Grace has led regulatory teams in Singapore and Hong Kong at two international law firms, further developing her expertise in navigating complex financial regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions. She also brings a strategic outlook from an in-house perspective having previously been a counsel in the Global Internal Investigations Group at the Hong Kong headquarters of a large leading multinational bank.

 

Grace has been consistently named as one of Singapore’s top 10 FinTech lawyers and is highly ranked in Chambers FinTech and Legal 500. She is particularly recognized for her expertise in emerging technologies, including digital assets, and the strategic integration of AI solutions within financial institutions. Her team provides dedicated regulatory support to banks, asset managers and fintechs on key regulatory areas, including banking and payments regulations, licensing and authorization processes, AML regulatory investigations and sanctions, ESG implementation and audits, outsourcing and data transfer arrangements, and reviews of ISDA agreements and ancillary documents.

Natalie is a financial services regulatory and fintech lawyer with over 20 years' experience. Having practised in four Asia-Pacific jurisdictions and the Cayman Islands, Natalie has a unique understanding of the various regulatory regimes and challenges that apply to financial institutions, fintech clients and virtual asset service providers (VASP) operating in the APAC region and beyond.

Formerly a partner at a leading international law firm in Singapore, Natalie joined Walkers' Hong Kong office in early 2024 as the Asia and MENA head of Walkers' dedicated Regulatory & Risk Advisory practice. Natalie has extensive experience advising on non-contentious and contentious regulatory matters, including in relation to AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions regulations, investigations and enforcement, financial services and VASP licensing and ongoing regulatory compliance, data protection, crisis management (including cyber-related incidents), senior management accountability, corporate governance, internal controls, economic substance, AEOI (CRS and FATCA) requirements and the cross-border and local impact of regulatory change.

Natalie regularly shares her insights on panels at conferences and works closely with industry bodies such as AIMA to drive regulatory reform and developments.

In his current role, Ankur is responsible for the quality of data in Risk Intelligence products World-Check and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD). This includes overall management of the Quality Assurance function and setting internal quality related metrics for both products.

Prior to this, Ankur was responsible for the management of World-Check research teams in Singapore and Penang which collate risk relevant content for APAC. He has also been the Head of APAC’s Specialist Research team responsible for certain specialized content sets within World-Check such as threat finance, organized crime, green crime, and human trafficking.

Ankur holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).