Debra Au

Head of Legal, Compliance (including Financial Crime and Physical Security) and Secretariat, covering all business lines in DBS HK and China.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

Involved all Risk, Legal, Compliance, Financial Crime areas, and being part of the controversial challenging times in the career and in HK

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Being part of the the Rogue Trader / Bribery Corruption settlement during my career at Societe Generale
2. Being 1 of the key people of the Sanctions DPA, Huawei, FCA Skilled Person settlements during my career at HSBC
3. Being 1 of the key people during the controversial period of 2019 social events of the introduction of the NSL during my career at HSBC

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

Balancing between Reputation risk (media / geo-political) vs. legal risk (local legislation / regulatory)

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Being a legal / compliance / risk person (professionally) vs. an adventurous person (privately).

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

Constantly challenge the status quo to be better.  Never stop being innovative and thinking out of the box.