AFC in Practice: Examining Singapore's COSMIC and Role of Information Sharing

Caryn is the Regional Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Director – APAC for ACAMS, where she is the lead English speaking SME practitioner on AML and Financial Crime Compliance across the APAC region. Working closely with APAC and international colleagues, Caryn plays a key role in shaping ACAMS priorities, offerings, and activities across the APAC region.

Caryn brings to ACAMS a wealth of AFC global banking experience that spans Standard Chartered, JP Morgan, Clearstream Banking, UBS AG, ABN Amro and Bank of America. Most recently she was the Head of Financial Crime Compliance Controls, Surveillance Excellence with Standard Chartered Bank, where she was responsible for the end to end process, governance, and risk management of the group wide alert disposition process. Caryn’s expertise covers Client Due Diligence, financial crime business advisory, project management, governance, risk management, and the overarching financial crime compliance framework.

She is passionate about combating financial crime and strengthening the financial ecosystem. Her journey began at the Commercial Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force, where she gained invaluable experience working in Singapore Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), conducting AML investigations, and contributing to Singapore's FATF Mutual Evaluation.  Now leading the Singapore AML Transaction Surveillance Unit at DBS, she oversees AML transaction monitoring and investigations, playing a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of the financial system.

Ernest brings nearly two decades of experience in public service and banking, specializing in financial crime regulatory compliance, AML/CFT policymaking, and risk governance. At the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), he dedicated eight years to developing AML/CFT policies and collaborating with global organizations like FATF, G20 and IMF to enhance Singapore’s financial integrity. His central banking experience has equipped him with profound insights into regulatory frameworks designed to safeguard financial systems from illicit activities.

Currently, as Head of Group Policy, Strategy & Governance at OCBC Bank, Ernest aligns regulatory expectations with banking operations, proactively addressing evolving AML risks and fostering a robust compliance culture. Known for his pragmatic problem-solving approach, he believes that compliance is not just about meeting regulations but also about protecting institutions and supporting safe and sustainable business growth. Passionate about mentoring and thought leadership, he enjoys engaging in conversations on the future of AML, AI-driven compliance, and the challenges of cross-border financial crime.