Pennell Hart: Women in Compliance

SO: For many people the route into compliance is nonlinear, can you tell us how you entered the profession and what motivated you to pursue this career path?

JN: I guess I am one of those persons who falls into this category.?My path to compliance contained a few twists and turns but my previous roles all contain similar themes – values, justice and ethics.?

I started my professional career working for Government in my home state of Western Australia.?While working at the Attorney General’s office, the Government of the day was pushing legislative reforms related to juvenile justice.?It was during this period that I decided that I needed to see these reforms from the grassroots and joined the Western Australian Police Force.?

I wasn’t out of the police academy for long before I decided that I actually wanted to become a lawyer.?After being accepted back into university, I worked and studied full time to complete my law degree.

I left the police force after nearly 9 years and started my law career with a large commercial firm.?It wasn’t until we moved back to the UAE in 2016 that I decided to change course and take an in-house role.?It was in this role that I became involved with compliance.?My involvement started with compliance investigations and as my interest grew in the discipline I decided to make a ‘sideways’ move into compliance full time.?

SO: How important is it that organizations have a robust ethics & compliance function, especially here in the UAE?

JN: With the world landscape constantly shifting, now more than ever organizations in the UAE need to ensure that they have a robust ethics and compliance program in place.?With UAE companies expanding their business horizons and looking toward global markets, a robust ethics and compliance program is not a must but also an expectation.?

Global counter parties expect their business partners to be able to demonstrate that they have a robust ethics and compliance program and can manage their compliance risks effectively and efficiently.

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SO: What are some of the common misconceptions about compliance, and how do you work to dispel them?

JN: A very common misconception from a business perspective is that compliance is a ‘tick box’ exercise.?Unfortunately a business cannot just ‘go through’ the motions when it comes to their compliance program.

A culture of compliance in any business starts at the top.?C-suite and leaders within any business need to demonstrate that they not only buy into the program but support it in their daily actions. ?It is important at the beginning of any compliance program to debunk the ‘tick box’ notion within the business and to demonstrate the true value a compliance program brings to the business.

SO: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your work in compliance, and what keeps you motivated to continue in this field?

JN: I look at compliance as a business development role and it suits me as I love meeting and speaking with different people.?My role is more than compliance it is about earning respect and trust.

I really enjoy variety in my work.?The company I work for is fast paced, innovative and a forward looking business and no two days are the same.?My job certainly keeps my on my toes and I look forward to seeing what will come across my desk next.

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SO: How do you engage with your workforce to inspire an ethics and compliance culture?

JN: People who work in compliance are meant to be seen and heard in the business.?

Employees have to know who we are in order to have the confidence to report matters.?To build this trust and confidence in us, we must be visible.

I sit in the businesses and my door is always open.?I make a point of speaking to everyone and trying to learn a little bit about them on a personal level.?More often than not it is simple acts that inspire people to follow you (and ultimately the compliance program).

SO: Are there any key areas of compliance that will be at the forefront of your agenda for 2023?

JN: Given the world landscape compliance with international sanctions and export controls is front of mind every day.?

SO: Tell me something about yourself that has nothing to do with compliance…

JN: I am a marathon swimmer.