February 2020 E-Newsletter
A Message from our Executive Director
Welcome to our February 2020 E-News.
We kicked off the year with two events on Managing Financial Crime Remediation. The HOUSE FULL sign went up in Sydney and the Melbourne event was well attended. It was great to see so many new and existing members in the room at these events.
It will soon be time to renew or join RMA for 2020/2021. Renew or join before 31st March 2020 for the upcoming membership year. As a member of RMA Australia you gain free access to all our events, have the opportunity to network with industry peers, access key resources and CRO contacts and grow and develop your career. Individual memberships for 2020/2021 will remain at current member rate of $60.
I would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and sincerely thank RMA’s longest serving employee, Tracey Lam who will be leaving us soon. Tracey has been a highly efficient, dedicated and loyal RMA team member. Over the past 7 years, she has helped convene hundreds of events and forums and assisted with vital membership and communications processes. I am certain our Melbourne members will miss seeing her at our events and we will miss having her as part of our team. You can learn more about Tracey’s time with RMA Australia below. Please take the time to read through it and wish her the best of luck for the future.
We are also looking forward to sharing our new website with you. The updated website will be a vital hub of event information, industry news and resources that will improve your overall member experience.
Don’t forget to FOLLOW RMA AUSTRALIA on LinkedIn to find out when the new website will launch, how to renew your membership and upcoming events and key industry topics.
Richard Gilbert
Executive Director
*SPOTLIGHT ON**
Teena Rowell, CRO Enterprise Risk, Suncorp Group
What are the 3 – 4 primary tasks of your role, CRO Enterprise Risk, Suncorp Group?
My role includes ownership of our Enterprise Risk Management Framework and our processes relating to risk management at a Group level, including our Board Risk Committee process and content. I provide second line oversight and advice for our corporate functions. My team also provides specialised advice across various risk categories including Strategic Risk, Project Risk and Business Continuity. Lots to do!
How long have your worked in Risk and why did you choose “enterprise” as a pathway along your career journey?
I started working in risk management 10 years ago. At the time I had a Finance role and it expanded to include Risk. After a couple of years, I moved solely into Risk.
I enjoy having an Enterprise Risk role as it gives me a broad view across our organisation, and I get involved in numerous Group-level activities such as Strategy development and Business Planning. I very much enjoy working with a broad range of stakeholders and influencing our approach to risk management. I am also fortunate to work with some of our functions directly at a more granular level and feel I can contribute to their success through good risk management. As a career path, I think an Enterprise Risk role provides a great holistic picture that could lead to a lot of other opportunities in Risk.
In your opinion, what is the largest risk to an enterprise?
In today’s environment, there are so many material risks that require our attention as risk professionals. In my opinion, we need to devote sufficient time to understanding and tracking Strategic Risks, which are those which can impact our organisations’ ability to remain resilient and viable into the future. These include risks associated with meeting our customers’ future needs, new competitors, and societal changes that might impact the relevance of today’s insurance and banking products. With so many “here and now” risks demanding our attention, I think having an eye on longer-term Strategic Risks is important.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing female Risk professionals in our industry?
Our environment is one of complexity and high demands, but also of opportunity, I believe. While not a uniquely female challenge, the high intensity of the environment makes it really important for us to focus on our own resilience, wellbeing, balance and support networks.
What are RMA Australia’s biggest challenges?
We need to keep pace with the ever-changing world of the risk professional, and the diverse set of risks that we are all managing. To remain relevant, we need to continue to uplift our services and make use of technology, which we are getting better at. RMA needs to continue to adapt and expand to be relevant to a greater range of risk professionals.
Upcoming March Events
SYDNEY IInternational Women’s Day I Wed 11 Mar I 4.00pm presentation, followed by Networking Drinks from 5.00 – 6.00pm I Hosted by Westpac. REGISTER
SYDNEY ILeadership Disrupted I Thur 26 Mar I 4.00pm presentation, followed by Networking Drinks from 5.00 – 6.00pm I Hosted by CBA
MELBOURNE I Emerging Cyber Risk & Control Trends I Tues 31 Mar I 4.00pm presentation, followed by Networking Drinks from 5.00 – 6.00pm I Hosted by NAB
NB: Registration for Leadership Disrupted (Thur 26 Mar) and Emerging Cyber Risk & Control Trends (Tues 31 Mar) will open soon on our website.
**FAREWELL TRACEY LAM**
Tracey has been a valued member of the RMA team for just over 7 years. Her role has allowed her to utilise her skills to support the CEO and the Board, work remotely and maintain her place and connections within the Financial Services industry while raising a young family.
During her time at RMA Tracey says she’s seen risk evolve over time. She believes it now has a bigger emphasis on accountability, data, privacy, culture, conduct and competing with fintechs.
Tracey says the people have made RMA a great place to work, where everyone has been supportive and team focused. She says her role has been challenging, but rewarding and she’s grateful for all the opportunities she’s been given during her time.
Thank you for all your hard work Tracey and good luck!
If you or anyone you know is “on the move” or has exciting news to share, please email
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