Meet Our Former Visiting Fellows:Securities

What was your experience like at GLOPAC?
It was a memorable and enriching experience of interacting with securities market professionals from multiple Asian countries, including from Japan. It was quite valuable for me to learn about the market operations, regulatory frameworks, challenges and prospects of Japanese capital market and also capital markets represented by other visiting fellows in the program attended with me.

What is the most important thing you learned?
Followings were my three most important leanings:
ⅰ. Every market is different in terms of their needs, legal framework and behavioral aspects of market participants. Therefore, the same set of regulatory principles and rules cannot be best suited to capital markets of different countries.
For example, the corporate governance and risk management standards depend a lot on the culture of compliance by the participants in the market.
ⅱ. Within the same country, different segments of the market also have to be looked into differently.
For instance, equity market rules have to be different from the institutional investors dominated corporate bond market.
ⅲ. Regulators should be open to engage with experts from the market and government to have better knowledge about the dynamic capital market vs. government policy.

How are you applying what you learned?
Application of the learnings is a continuous process, and I am able to customize and contextualize my views while thinking about an issue confronting a particular segment of Indian capital market. Practices in Japanese capital market become an obvious reference point while framing my views.

What would you like to tell people who are considering applying?
Being a part of GLOPAC fellowship program is a lifetime opportunity.
Apart from the quick exposures to the multiple markets represented by various other co-fellows in the program, it also provides a valuable exposure to the Japanese people and their culture. There are so many things to learn from them.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I feel fortunate to have been associated with the AFPAC, now renamed as GLOPAC. During my stay there, I made some very good friends. I would definitely like to be associated with the various affairs of GLOPAC where I can make any form of contribution.

What was your experience like at GLOPAC?
I had a very insightful and eye-opening experience at GLOPAC. It was an invaluable international experience which promoted and ensured learning on both cross-border and international regulatory issues, and developments which impact local and global securities markets. It was a great opportunity for networking and building good relationships with different professionals from a variety of backgrounds. I was able to gain experience that has helped me to become a better professional. The program was a unique opportunity to learn about the different working practices, organizational structures, and culture of the Japanese finance sector from both the GLOPAC organizers and presenters, and of other countries from the other fellows countries in attendance.

What is the most important thing you learned?
Whilst I learned much about securities markets, including supervision, regulation, and enforcement, the key highlight of the program was learning about the importance of strengthening and enhancing international cooperation and collaboration between regulatory authorities. Cooperation, collaboration, and coordination in regulatory efforts by regional and global organizations to combat market abuse, money laundering, and both proliferation and terrorist financing among other financial crimes is a critical aspect of the global securities market and financial services industries.
The GLOPAC experience has given me a deeper understanding of different financial markets, the financial services industry, and the various developments and initiatives promoted by different countries in order to better regulate and ensure market stability and integrity and to protect regulated entities and investors.

How are you applying what you learned?
Japan and South Africa are member jurisdictions of the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO), which plays an important role in setting standards for securities regulations, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which works to prevent the misuse of virtual assets for money laundering and terrorist financing.
The insights that I gained at GLOPAC covered a broad spectrum of knowledge and have helped to expand my understanding of various aspects of the securities markets and regulation of the financial services industry as well as contributing to my professional development.
I have applied what I learned from lectures and interactions in the program and have shared my experiences with colleagues in relation to international practices, commercial awareness, understanding of securities markets and regulation of different financial instruments. This has contributed towards better supervision and enforcement of regulations by: (a) ensuring a deeper understanding regarding the supervision of exchanges, securities issuers and authorized users; (b) improving understanding of risks; (c) creating considerations for strengthening the legal framework (i.e. crypto currencies); (d) increasing and sustaining the knowledge of securities markets, crypto-assets regulation, market abuse, and money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF) trends and techniques; and (e) determining how to best implement risk-based AML/CFT/CPF measures.

What would you like to tell people who are considering applying?
This is a great opportunity to improve your career growth and to connect with professionals of different experiences, skill, and backgrounds. In addition, GLOPAC provides an opportunity to improve your language and your interpersonal and communication skills, as well as giving you the prospect of trying something new in a foreign country and different working environment. The program will give you new skills and experience in order to better interact with others and build working relationships.
GLOPAC was a unique way to meet people in other areas of the securities market industry and the different stakeholders within the securities markets and financial services industry.
The GLOPAC fellowship contributes to gaining a broader knowledge of developments within the securities industry and financial services relevant to regulatory organizations. The program will broaden your training experience in the securities markets and financial services industry, including general regulatory and compliance environment.
Applicants will be presented with an opportunity to develop good business relationships on a cross-jurisdictional level, and have the opportunity to share information, enhance interpersonal skills, and expand their knowledge base.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think overall GLOPAC is an amazing training and learning program for professionals working for regulatory bodies in emerging countries and economies. It fosters cooperation and collaboration between international countries on matters of mutual interest. If you apply what you have learned effectively, it can contribute immeasurably to career growth and development. Exposure to an international working environment and culture can provide advantages and opportunities to work in your own jurisdiction.
GLOPAC was well organized despite the interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; the program was able to continue effectively and efficiently on line.
The friendly and professional officials of the International Affairs Office: Financial Services Agency coordinated an unforgettable international experience.