Ep 73 - Geopolitical Risk: Thailand Tensions, Sanctions & Smart Compliance in a Shifting Asia

Episode #73 with Christopher Cottrell, Richard Butler and Haider Mannan 🎧 This episode of Regulatory Ramblings explores how shifting geopolitics is reshaping regulation, investment, and compliance across Asia.In the first segment, veteran Indo-Pacific journalist Christopher Cottrell joins us from Thailand to discuss rising political tensions following the July 1 suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Cottrell reflects on the country’s fragile democratic institutions, the stalled gaming bill, and the implications of border instability with Cambodia. Despite risks, Thailand continues to attract investors, with Cottrell noting that local legal knowledge remains essential to navigating uncertainty.In the second half, Richard Butler (Dow Jones) and Haider Mannan (BigTXN) join to discuss compliance and enforcement risks in the current geopolitical climate. Topics include:Investment screening in high-risk jurisdictionsThe return of “firm but fair” FCPA enforcement under the Trump administrationThe challenge of selective enforcement and its implications for AsiaA recent case involving U.S. sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese firms transferring Iranian oilEvolving technologies in vessel tracking and trade surveillanceThe growing role of data science in sanctions compliance and risk detectionButler and Mannan offer practical insights into how financial institutions are managing these risks. Mannan emphasizes that compliance failures often stem from process gaps, not policy flaws — and argues for continuous, data-driven controls. Butler adds that banks and corporates across Asia are increasingly investing in technology to ensure compliance amid volatility.The episode closes on a note of cautious optimism. While global enforcement trends and geopolitical tensions present new challenges, they also create opportunities for innovation in compliance strategy.Guests – Christopher Cottrell, Journalist and Analyst, Indo-Pacific – Richard Butler, Vice President & APAC Head of Risk & Research, Dow Jones – Haider Mannan, CEO & Founder, BigTXNThe Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. For more details about the authors and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/rrHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Ep #72 with Ritu Bhasin and Jeiz Robles  🎧At a time when DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts are being challenged in parts of the world, our guests in this episode make a compelling case for why inclusion still matters - and how it must adapt to remain relevant. Through two rich, regionally grounded conversations, this episode explores how DEI is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic investment in building workplaces - and societies - where people can truly thrive. Together, the conversations examine: Why DEI work is more than a checkbox - it's a strategic and cultural investment How cultural values in Asia shape a different, often more resilient, approach to inclusion What’s driving the pullback in the U.S. - and how organizations can respond Why belonging is not just a personal goal, but an organizational responsibility In our Spotlight segment, Jeiz Robles, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Community Business in Hong Kong, shares how DEI strategies are developed and implemented across Asia. She discusses why support for inclusion remains strong in the region - despite growing backlash in the West - and how communitarian cultural values like collectivism and harmony play a key role in sustaining long-term DEI commitments. Jeiz also reflects on her own advocacy journey and what it means to build inclusive spaces in workplaces that may appear homogenous on the surface. In our main segment, Ritu Bhasin, a global DEI expert and founder of bhasin consulting inc., offers a North American perspective. Drawing from her personal experiences as a daughter of Sikh immigrants in Canada and a former lawyer turned leadership coach, Ritu dissects the psychological roots of the backlash: fear, loss of privilege, and the scarcity mindset. She calls for a cultural shift - toward belonging, authenticity, and abundance - and explains how inclusion isn’t just a feel-good goal, but essential to innovation, talent retention, and social progress. Her insights are grounded in her bestselling book, We've Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging. The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani.  🔗 For more details about the authors and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/rrHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #71 with Joshua Chu, Melizza Anievas, and Lucas Har 🎧In this episode, we explore the intersecting challenges of financial regulation, geopolitics, and the evolving crypto landscape.The initial Spotlight segment features Lucas Har (Risk & Compliance Product Manager, Dow Jones), joining us from Singapore to discuss the shifting dynamics of trade compliance, export controls, and sanctions—especially amid escalating US-China tensions. Lucas outlines how fragmented global trade networks, enforcement asymmetries, and regulatory blind spots have enabled evasion tactics—citing, for instance, the convoluted journey of Mercedes-Benz limousines into North Korea—as geopolitical pressures increasingly undermine coordinated compliance efforts.  He also shares what legal and compliance professionals need to know about dual-use goods, the role of shell companies, and how firms can improve due diligence to navigate today’s fractured trade environment.The main segment brings in Hong Kong-based fintech lawyer Joshua Chu (Lecturer, HKU Space | Director, China Information Technology Development) and Web3 strategist Melizza Anievas (Co-founder & Executive Director, Women in Web3 Hong Kong) to dissect Hong Kong’s newly passed Stablecoin Ordinance and the broader push for clarity in global crypto regulation. Passed on May 21, 2025 - just one day after the U.S. Senate approved the GENIUS Act - the new law creates a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). It requires issuers to hold high-quality reserves, guarantee par-value redemption, undergo audits, and comply with AML/CFT measures.The ordinance is part of a wider Asian effort to shape trustworthy, rules-based decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized infrastructure, supported by initiatives like Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Sandbox with participants including Standard Chartered and Animoca Brands.The discussion expands to the under-regulated world of meme coins and contrasts their speculative risks with the regulatory burdens facing stablecoin issuers. Joshua and Melizza weigh in on how the U.S. GENIUS and STABLE Acts may reshape the stablecoin market globally - prompting some issuers to consider avoiding U.S. dollar references to sidestep extraterritorial reach.As the conversation turns to innovation and compliance, Joshua argues that regulation mainly offers legal guardrails in a crypto space that has yet to deliver truly transformative products beyond early token models. Melizza reframes the "regulation hampers innovation" trope as a matter of communication strategy, emphasizing that much of the challenge lies in how projects present themselves publicly and to investors in different jurisdictions.The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. For more details about the authors and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/rrHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #70 with Mark Nuttal and Steve Vickers 🎧 In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, two distinguished guests offer rare, experience-based insights into the global forces shaping today’s regulatory, security, and compliance environments.The first segment features Steve Vickers, former head of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau of what was then the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and now CEO of Steve Vickers & Associates. He delivers a stark assessment of the geopolitical risks across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China. Vickers outlines how U.S. retrenchment and China’s expanding assertiveness are contributing to a breakdown in the post-Cold War security framework, raising the risk of proxy conflicts, maritime tensions, and economic realignment.For corporates and financial institutions in hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, he warns of increased insurance costs, disrupted supply chains, and a patchwork of regulations that complicate cross-border operations. Yet, amid these challenges, Vickers emphasizes the need for strategic flexibility and risk preparedness rather than panic—highlighting that uncertainty, while dangerous, also opens space for opportunity.In the second segment, Mark Nuttall, a former London Metropolitan Police detective and now a geopolitical and compliance advisor, reflects on the human-centered lessons from his years in law enforcement and how they apply to today’s world of financial compliance. From bouncing in nightclubs to leading serious criminal investigations and advising financial institutions across Asia, MENA, and Europe, Nuttall’s journey offers a compelling narrative of personal resilience and professional evolution.Drawing from his policing experience, he stresses the value of pragmatism, discretion, and situational awareness—particularly in regulatory roles like suspicious activity reporting and risk assessment. Nuttall critiques the overuse of AI and automation in due diligence, warning that while technology has its place, it cannot replace human judgment in contexts where cultural nuance and real-world experience matter most. He also shares his concerns about overregulation, cautioning that excessive compliance burdens can stifle economies, fuel inequality, and even provoke instability.Together, these two conversations offer a rich, dual perspective: one zoomed out on the geopolitical stage and its implications for economic systems; the other grounded in the day-to-day decisions of compliance professionals navigating complexity and consequence. Whether you're a regulator, risk officer, or just trying to make sense of a fractured world, this episode offers grounded, actionable insights from two veterans who’ve lived the reality of risk.The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. For more details and links, please visit: hkufintech.com/regulatoryramblingsHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #69 with Nigel Morris-Cotterill and Patrick Dransfield 🎧 In this two-part episode of Regulatory Ramblings, host Ajay Shamdasani is joined by two seasoned professionals who examine artificial intelligence from very different, yet deeply complementary angles: cultural, philosophical, and ethical on one hand; legal, compliance, and technical on the other. The result is a wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation about the role of human intelligence in an increasingly automated world—and the dangers of outsourcing critical decisions to machines.In the first segment, Patrick Dransfield—a legal marketing expert, author, and co-founder of the Managing Partners Club—discusses his essay Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace, a title borrowed from a Richard Brautigan poem. Patrick, who holds a master’s degree in Chinese history, politics, and anthropology from SOAS (University of London) and a joint honours degree in English and History of Art from the University of Leeds, invites listeners to consider not only what AI is, but what it means to be human in a time of rapid technological change. Drawing on cultural history, classical Chinese philosophy, and his own professional observations, he contrasts Eastern and Western perspectives on the self, society, and intelligence. He explores the fundamental importance of human skills—such as relationship-building and generosity—in legal practice and business development, and how AI cannot replicate or replace these core human capacities.Patrick argues that while the West often approaches AI with a moral and even quasi-religious fear of transgression—concerned with issues like sentience and ethical boundaries—China’s philosophical traditions tend to frame AI as a pragmatic tool, leading to more open development approaches such as open-source platforms like DeepSeek. He also critiques the prevailing “billable hour” model in law, suggesting that younger professionals will struggle most as automation reshapes entry-level tasks. Ultimately, Patrick makes a strong case for reviving and redefining human intelligence as the foundation upon which any meaningful use of AI must be built.In the second segment, Nigel Morris-Cotterill—a veteran solicitor turned financial crime and compliance expert—discusses his provocative article, Computers Are Mechanized Psychopaths. He explains why this title is not just attention-grabbing, but literally accurate: computers, by their very architecture, lack empathy, nuance, and the capacity for moral reasoning. Yet society is increasingly empowering them to make life-altering decisions—about financial transactions, legal violations, online speech, and more.Nigel warns against the blind trust placed in algorithms, which are often built by developers with limited contextual awareness or cultural sensitivity. He critiques the myth of “machine learning,” arguing that what’s being sold as intelligence is often just a large-scale execution of yes/no decision trees. He shares examples of how poorly applied compliance systems can lead to innocent people being debanked or flagged as suspicious based on flawed logic—without human intervention to correct these mistakes. His call to action is clear: AI should never be allowed to make unreviewed, consequential decisions about people’s lives.Together, these two interviews offer a sobering but insightful view into the current state of AI and its intersection with law, culture, and ethics. While Dransfield emphasizes the need to understand ourselves before we build better machines, Morris-Cotterrill reminds us that those machines—no matter how sophisticated—must always remain subordinate to human judgment.HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #68 with Chad Olsen and Mark Nuttal 🎧 In a world where politics and regulation intersect, compliance and legal professionals can no longer afford to ignore geopolitical risk. From the fallout of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the global regulatory landscape has been reshaped by conflict, sanctions, inflation, and cross-border disruption.In this episode, host Ajay Shamdasani speaks with two experts who explain why understanding geostrategy is now a core part of legal and compliance work—not a nice-to-have, but a must-have.Chad Olsen (Head of Forensic Services, KPMG China) discusses how regulatory expectations are shaped by political agendas, especially in the areas of sanctions, AML, and financial crime. Drawing on his dual background in finance and political science, Chad explains: - Why legal and compliance teams need geopolitical awareness - How FATF, U.S. DPAs, and other instruments are inherently political - Why understanding “why” a regulation exists is as important as “what” it requires -  Whether firms should hire IR or political risk specialists—or build internal capability -  How professionals can upskill themselves by staying informed and asking deeper questionsMark Nuttall (Executive Advisor, Dubai) builds on this by offering a strategic risk perspective shaped by 25+ years in law enforcement, global advisory, and geopolitical intelligence. Mark shares: -  How global events impact compliance obligations and institutional risk -  Why FATF grey listing has real consequences for regulatory pressure and market perception -  The compliance officer’s role in navigating shifting norms, sanctions, and cross-border uncertainty -  The importance of total situational awareness for anyone responsible for governance or risk -  Why proactive scenario planning is more effective than reactive policy-followingThe central question: In an era of rapid change, what must compliance and legal professionals do to stay relevant—and keep their organizations resilient?Whether you’re in a law firm, bank, fintech, or multinational, this episode shows how geopolitics has become embedded in compliance. Understanding international developments isn’t a soft skill; it’s a core strategic competency.Topics covered:– Geostrategy and regulatory design– Sanctions, FATF, and political enforcement– Interdisciplinary compliance: law meets global affairs– Upskilling for geopolitical fluency– Strategic foresight in legal and compliance functionsDisclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of Ajay Shamdasani, Chad Olsen, and Mark Nuttal.The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. For more details and links, please visit: www.hkufintech.com/regulatoryramblingsHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #67 with Nigel Morris-Cotterill, Oonagh van den Berg and Malcolm NanceIn this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, the panel tackles the Trump administration’s controversial move to suspend enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)—a key anti-money laundering (AML) initiative passed under the Biden administration. The decision, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department in early March, stated that it would halt all penalties and fines associated with beneficial ownership information reporting under current regulatory deadlines. Crucially, it also confirmed that no penalties would apply even after forthcoming rule changes take effect—effectively dismantling the mechanism meant to expose the real owners of shell companies.The net result: the U.S. government will no longer require shell companies to disclose their beneficial owners, allowing wealthy individuals and corporations to hide their profits from public scrutiny. The CTA, passed in 2021, had required companies to submit ownership data to FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) as a means to tackle tax evasion and corporate cronyism. The rule's enforcement had already been frozen by a federal court order. Reacting to the Treasury’s announcement, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, calling the CTA “an absolute disaster for Small Businesses Nationwide” and celebrating the suspension of what he described as “the economic menace” of beneficial ownership reporting.This episode’s Spotlight segment features returning guest Nigel Morris-Cotterill, a renowned expert in counter-money laundering and financial crime compliance. He breaks down why the term “beneficial ownership” is a legal misnomer in corporate law and argues that the CTA was always set up to fail—especially in a country like the U.S. that has historically resisted full FATF compliance. Nigel discusses how this rollback affects compliance expectations in Asia-Pacific financial hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, stressing that legal and compliance professionals in the region must remain vigilant. He also cautions that the rollback creates tension between U.S. and local AML standards, while selective extraterritorial enforcement by the U.S. is all but guaranteed.Joining the discussion, Malcolm Nance and Oonagh Van den Berg weigh in on the global implications of the move. They explore whether this rollback represents a temporary pause for regulatory review or a tectonic shift in the U.S.’s approach to corporate accountability, transparency, and AML enforcement. Oonagh underscores that while the CTA imposed real burdens on SMEs, the abandonment of enforcement could signal a broader retreat from anti-corruption efforts—especially as the Trump administration also moves to suspend the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and disband units focused on fighting kleptocracy.Together, the panel explores pressing questions: Will deregulation lead to more illicit finance? Is this the start of a new multipolar world order where financial crime enforcement becomes political and transactional? They touch on how trade-based money laundering, sanctions evasion, and the exploitation of legacy systems like hawala continue to pose massive risks to financial systems.The conversation ends with a consensus that blanket deregulation is not the answer. Instead, they call for smarter, more risk-based, tech-enabled regulation that moves beyond box-ticking and uses modern tools—like AI and data analytics—to target the real threats. It’s a sobering yet thought-provoking discussion on what may be the beginning of a global recalibration in financial crime compliance.HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #66 with Henri Arslanian (Nine Blocks Capital Management) and Andrew Fei (King & Wood Mallesons)This episode opens with Andrew Fei discussing recent US crypto regulatory developments. Then, Henri Arslanian, a leading voice in global crypto circles, shares his insights on the Trump administration’s decision to establish a cryptocurrency strategic reserve made up of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano. “This really may start paving the way for other countries to look at potentially acquiring Bitcoin as part of their strategic… their own basket of reserves,” he said, referring to the ripple effect the U.S. reserve move could have on global sovereign crypto adoption. In the Spotlight segment, Andrew discusses with Regulatory Ramblings host, Ajay Shamdasani, the implications of recent US regulatory developments for Asia, the Mideast, the rest of the world such as the GENIUS Act and the recent White House Crypto Summit in Washington, DC. Henri then shares his thoughts on the Trump administration’s decision to create a reserve composed of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano. While acknowledging it is a significant step forward for crypto, he said the move is not without criticism because it begs the question why certain virtual assets were chosen for the reserve and not others. Reflecting on the 2024 US Presidential Election, Henri stressed that concerns over which party would be friendlier to the industry was partly why the recent US presential election swung in Donald Trump’s favor because for many single-issue voters, the future of digital currencies was their paramount concern. In that sense, it could be said that 2024 was the election that the crypto bros bought.   Henri also shares his thoughts on what it means for the rest of the world if the US creates its own crypto reserve, stating the entry of institutional and sovereign players hints at a more distributed global adoption trend.  While the idea of a strategic reserve for critical assets or commodities is not new, it is curious as to why President Trump did so now when he was vehemently against crypto during his first term (2017-21). The popular press has suggested that Silicon Valley power players such as Peter Theil, Marc Andreessen and Elon Musk helped Trump change his mind and brought him around to the cause. As Henri himself wrote in a recent piece on LinkedIn: “We should expect criticism—rightly so—regarding how the included coins were selected for this reserve. Bitcoin makes complete sense. One could also argue for ETH and perhaps SOL. However, the inclusion of XRP and ADA will likely be questioned.”  Additionally, Solana and Ethereum are two platforms used by many American firms including important companies like Visa and Blackrock.  As Henri noted in his recent article, the presidential action prohibited the purchase of additional crypto without a specific executive or legislative action. Simply put: “the U.S. is not going to buy new Bitcoin but rather keep the 200,000 BTC it already holds mainly via the seizure of Silk Road assets and the recovery of the Bitfinex hack.” Moreover, mainland China purportedly holds around 190,000 Bitcoin, primarily acquired through its 2019 seizure from the PlusToken ponzi scheme, and the UK allegedly owns 60,000 seized Bitcoin. For more about our guests, please visit: www.hkufintech.com/regulatoryramblingsHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

Episode #65 with Tom Fox & Malcolm Nance, plus Philip Rohlik This episode is devoted to discussing the recent executive order signed by US President Donald J. Trump instructing the Department of Justice to halt enforcement of the decades old, much-dreaded Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) pending a one-year review. In our initial “Regulatory Ramblings Spotlight” segment, we speak with Philip Rohlik, an American attorney in mainland China with the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to get a sense of what the president’s decision means for Hong Kong and the broader Asia-Pacific. Following that, we have a lengthier chat on the global implications of President’s Trump’s move with Tom Fox, a veteran compliance and anti-corruption lawyer, noted FCPA specialist and podcaster, as well as Malcolm Nance, a former US naval intelligence officer, counterterrorism specialist and author. About the guests. Philip Rohlik is a counsel in the Shanghai office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He is a member of the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense and International Dispute Resolution Groups whose practice focuses on international investigations, securities law and dispute resolution. He is recognized by “The Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China” (2024-2025) for his anti-corruption and compliance practice and has been described as “very thorough and hands on," and "excellent investigation lawyer". Based in Asia since 2011, Philip leads the firm’s dispute resolution team in Shanghai. He joined Debevoise in 2000, having received his J.D. magna cum laude from the New York University School of Law that same year. He received a B.A. summa cum laude with honors from St. Louis University in 1997. Tom Fox is based in West Texas and a prominent member of the compliance community and one of the most well-known legal practitioners when it comes to the FCPA. Over the past 15 years, he has been a general counsel and chief compliance officer. He is now an independent consultant, assisting companies with anti-corruption, anti-bribery compliance, and international transaction issues. He is also the author of the award-winning FCPA Compliance and Ethics Blog and the international best-selling book “Lessons Learned on Compliance and Ethics.” His podcasts have won numerous w3, Davey, Communicator, and Webby awards for podcasting excellence. Tom is the author of the seminal text “The Compliance Handbook,” now in its 5th edition published by LexisNexis. In addition to his blog and podcast, he is a columnist for “Corporate Compliance Insights” and a contributing editor to the “FCPA Blog.” He is a well-known and frequent speaker on compliance and ethics issues, social media use, and corporate leadership. In the interests of full disclosure, Tom is founder of the Compliance Podcast Network which also carries this program. Malcolm Nance is based in upstate New York. He was a 20-year veteran of the US Navy where he was an intelligence officer and cryptographer, and a Russian and Arab language specialist. In his capacity as a master chief, he was responsible for discipline all throughout the ranks. He is best known for his appearances on MSNBC where he warned about Russian interference in the run up to the 2016 and 2020 US Presidential elections. Malcolm is also a best-selling author – with his books “The Plot to Hack America,” “The Plot to Destroy Democracy,” “The Plot to Betray America” and most recently “They Want to Kill Americans” – all of which are well worth reading. Given the radical actions of the second Trump administration, his two most recent books seem eerily prescient. HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.

With guests Dr. Inna Amesheva (ESG Book) and Janet Ledger (Commuity Business)In time for International Women’s Day on March 8th, Dr. Inna Amesheva and Janet Ledger explore the evolving role of ESG in regulation and inclusion. Dr. Amesheva, Head of ESG Regulatory Solutions at ESG Book, examines Europe’s push to simplify ESG rules, while Janet Ledger, CEO of Community Business, highlights how ESG drives diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) despite growing political backlash.As companies navigate complex ESG regulations and rising calls for transparency, this episode examines the balance between reducing compliance burdens and maintaining sustainability standards.The Omnibus Proposal: Simplifying ESG or Scaling Back Standards?Dr. Inna Amesheva deep dives into the EU Omnibus Proposal, an initiative aiming to streamline ESG compliance by consolidating frameworks like the EU Taxonomy and CSRD. The proposal could reduce corporate reporting burdens by 33%, but critics argue it may weaken sustainability standards.What’s driving this shift? Political and economic factors, including macroeconomic pressures and the impact of recent U.S. elections, are influencing the European Commission’s stance on ESG.The discussion also touches on making some ESG metrics voluntary—a move that could ease compliance but raise transparency concerns. Additionally, changes to the Green Asset Ratio (GAR) could allow banks to use estimation models for non-European companies, potentially improving global ESG alignment but also sparking debate over data reliability and consistency.ESG as a Driver for DEIShifting to ESG’s role in workplace inclusion, Janet Ledger shares her journey from working-class Australia to leadership in Hong Kong, emphasizing the strong link between ESG and DEI.She explains how the social and governance pillars of ESG—covering workforce diversity, human rights, and board transparency—directly support DEI objectives. Companies that integrate both ESG and DEI tend to see stronger reputations, better talent retention, and competitive advantages.Examples like mandated pay equity reporting in Australia and board diversity requirements illustrate how ESG frameworks can drive meaningful change. However, Janet warns against box-ticking approaches, stressing that genuine commitment and measurable action are key.Navigating Backlash and Staying the CourseWith ESG and DEI facing increasing political scrutiny, some critics dismiss them as “woke capitalism.” Despite this, younger employees and investors prioritize ESG-driven companies, seeing them as essential for long-term success.Janet underscores the need for fact-based, rational communication to counter misinformation. She encourages businesses to stay the course, emphasizing that ethical business practices benefit all—driving performance, innovation, and societal progress.The Regulatory Ramblings podcast is brought to you by The University of Hong Kong's Reg/Tech Lab (Building Better Financial Systems), HKU-SCF FinTech Academy, Asia Global Institute, and HKU-edX Professional Certificate in FinTech, with support from HKU Law. The program is led by Douglas Arner and hosted by Ajay Shamdasani. For more details and links, please visit: www.hkufintech.com/regulatoryramblingsHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.