Xenia is a Senior AML & Sanctions Expert at Ant Group. She has 13 years of financial service experience in Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. Prior to Ant, Xenia had worked at a consulting firm and leading global banks in various regional capacities including financial crime compliance and client onboarding.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

I was fortunate to move across the three line of defense from a relationship manager to client onboarding, anti-money laundering compliance officer, advisor and auditor. I conducted risk assessments and benchmarked various AML and sanctions programs at global banks, insurance, securities, asset managers and fintech for financial crime prevention.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Invited by the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers as a guest speaker for its continuing education program. Designed and delivered training for AML risk assessment, sanctions and transaction monitoring for banking practitioners.
2. Pioneered the first leadership development and mentoring programs when my former employer did not have any women at the Partner-level.
3. Sharing my experience, mentoring and providing advice to various young women and men seeking advice for career transitions in my personal capacity.

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

After moving from Japan to Singapore and Hong Kong with a stable bank job, I took the risk of voluntary redundancy instead of moving back to Singapore with my then employer. I stepped out of my comfort zone to transition to consulting, and further ventured into the emerging Techfin industry.

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

I completed a law degree, certified as ACAMS global sanctions specialist and admitted to the International Compliance Association as a Fellow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

A trusted advisor and partner for the business. Passion, intellectual curiosity and professional skepticism. Balancing risk prevention and mitigation with commercial needs and innovation.