Natalie McManus-Barnett

Natalie is the founder of Innovate Compliance, an NED, a published writer and professional speaker on compliance risk management, with twenty years’ experience in senior leadership and technical compliance roles. Natalie holds degrees in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Law, and Applied Accounting. She is a chartered accountant and fellow of the ACCA and ICA.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

I have dedicated the last three years to promoting compliance as a risk-based philosophy and enabler of commercial sustainability, putting these ideals into practice with global clients. I have published cheat-sheets, digital playbooks, peer reviewed essays and co-authored a compliance leadership book with CRO superstar, Jennifer Geary.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Publication of How to be a Chief Compliance Officer, a 83,000 word book on compliance leadership and the Compliance 365 Model (May 2026)
2. Delivery of an integrated, decentralised corporate compliance programme for an international aviation client that reflected the organisation’s entrepreneurial structure whilst formalising core compliance governance elements (November 2025)
3. Founder of a boutique compliance and risk thought leadership consultancy, shortlisted for the ICA’s Compliance Consultancy of the Year 2026 (incorporated March 2024)

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

Whilst on maternity leave, I left my compliance leadership role at a global bank and established my own company. I wanted to speak freely on how to enhance compliance practices, and knew I would be unable to do so unless I set out on my own.

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

My husband and I toured Europe on our motorbikes before we got married, riding from London to Florence via Paris, Nice, Monte Carlo and Pisa.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

Empathy. If you can’t put yourself in the shoes of the person you want to listen to you, you’ll never speak their language. You can only persuade a mind that’s open – and empathy is the key to unlocking it.