The Women in Finance Asia Awards programme has come a long way since its inaugural luncheon at Four Seasons Hong Kong in 2019. Now in its sixth year, the awards recognise over 25 leading categories across the fields of female achievement in finance, and 2024 is set to be its biggest year yet.
With this year’s awards held at the prestigious Raffles Hotel in Singapore on 16 May, Global Trading is delighted to support WIFAA as we celebrate women across buy-side and sell-side trading desks, institutional investors, wealth managers, securities exchanges, technology providers, corporate finance, venture capital firms, and fintech start-ups.
The WIFAA advisory board plays a pivotal role in identifying and judging the winners of this industry-leading awards programme, and this year we are delighted to welcome a selection of new faces to the table.
SUE LEE – MD, Head of Markets for the Asia South cluster at Citi
Based in Singapore, Sue replaces Andrea Fletcher, COO – head of international business execution, who was recently promoted and has relocated to UK.
Sue is Head of Markets for the Asia South cluster at Citi as of November 2023. Prior to this, she was co-head of Financial Institution Sales and Solutions for Asia Pacific, with a focus on growing private side Markets opportunities across all asset classes with Financial Institutions.
Sue joined Citigroup in 2012 to build up the Strategic Equity Solutions group for Asia Pacific. She grew the Citi SES team and business in Asia Pacific from nil to a Top 3 franchise on the street. In May 2019, she was appointed co-Head of Equity Derivatives Distribution and Multi Asset Group for Citi Equities, Asia Pacific. The team comprised of multiple sales and structuring teams, that originate, structure and distribute Equity Derivatives and Hybrid products for Asian clients, including private side Strategic Equity Solutions for hedging, financing and accumulation of strategic shareholdings.
Apart from building teams and new businesses, her expertise is in risk assessment and management; especially in originating and structuring customised equity financing transactions and multi asset solutions.
Her passion outside her business requirements are Diversity and Inclusion and developing female talent. Prior to joining Citi, she was at Credit Suisse, Lehman Brothers and JP Morgan, originating structured equity transactions in Asia Pacific.
KITTY LI – Head of Asia Pacific Agency Electronic Trading, UBS
Based in Hong Kong, Kitty is a past award winner. Before she relocated back to Hong Kong, she was Head of Client Trading and Execution for UBS Securities, based in Shanghai.
Kitty has over 18 years of experience in both APAC and global equities markets, with expertise in electronic trading and equities trading in Hong Kong and A-share market. Kitty has held positions in both buy-side and sell-side across regions globally and gained deep understanding of the equities-trading structure and regulation in the global markets. She was previously Deputy Head of Trading at SAFE investment company in Hong Kong, where she was responsible for global equities trading.
Prior to this she was with UBS Hong Kong for 6 years. She joined UBS as a quant analyst in 2007, and later moved into electronic trading where she was responsible for electronic sales trading for Asia-ex Japan markets. Before joining UBS, Kitty worked at Deutsche Bank in New York.
MEL COOPER – Associate Director, Macquarie Futures
A past award winner based in Sydney, Mel has over 25 years’ experience trading financial markets across equities and futures markets. At Macquarie, she is responsible for the sales and implementation of the electronic futures trading and clearing businesses. Mel commenced her career with Macquarie Futures trading on the open outcry SFE trading floor. Prior to joining Macquarie, she was Director of Electronic Equities Trading at Credit Suisse where she was instrumental in building the #1 ranked electronic trading desk in the Australian equity market. Her career also spanned time at the ASX where she helped increase equity market share through the successful promotion of ASX’s trading capabilities across APAC with buy-side and sell-side participants.
Beyond her career, Mel is deeply passionate about driving progress for women in financial markets. As the former Chair of the Credit Suisse Women’s Network and a dedicated member of diversity, equity and inclusion committees across each company she has worked with, she actively champions gender diversity and equality in the workplace.
KRISTINA MARTINEZ –Managing Director, People – APAC, Citadel
Kristina has been with Citadel for over two decades, joining in Chicago before spending a two-year stint in London as Head of International Human Resources. She was promoted to Chief People Officer for Citadel Securities in 2018 and subsequently in 2019 moved to Hong Kong in her new role as Managing Director, People for Citadel in APAC.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with a diverse team of global colleagues from across different industries – from bulge bracket firms to smaller prop shops and tech start-ups, it is a great mix of talent and experience. I learn something new every day – whether from someone I hired straight from their undergraduate studies who now runs a global business, to industry experts who chose to pivot and build businesses at Citadel. It is incredibly rewarding to have access to such an ambitious set of colleagues, and ensures I am constantly learning and experimenting with new ideas and ways of working,” she said.
RAMA PILLAI – MD and Global Head of Sales at SGX
Rama has been in the industry for over 30 years and is keen to support the initiative in the capacity of male ally.
As Global Head of Sales for the Singapore Exchange (SGX Group), he oversees the marketing and sales of the full suite of SGX Group’s products and services to its members and clients. Together with his team, he manages the exchange’s business relationships with its broking members and key institutional clients. He works closely with the business units to grow SGX Group’s derivatives, commodities and securities’ business lines. He also represents SGX Group at several international forums and industry associations and is currently a Board Member of FIA Asia.
Rama has been with SGX Group for over 33 years, during which time his responsibilities have included marketing, business development and product development efforts for the exchange’s derivatives and securities business.
Returning board members- Azila Abdul Aziz, CEO/ Executive Director & Head of Listed Derivatives at Kenanga Futures
- Puja Bharwani, Senior Trader at Fidelity International
- Belinda Boa, Head of Active Investments for APAC and CIO of Emerging Market, BlackRock
- Carrie Cheung, MD, Principle Partners
- Nasrine Ghozali, Chief Risk Officer & Member of the Strategies Group, Oasis
- Joel Hurewitz, MD, Head of Sales & Global Head of Broker Dealer Strategy and Product Development for Instinet (male ally)
- Vivian Peng, Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
- Emma Quinn, President, CBOE Australia
- Kevin Rideout, MD, Global Client Development, HKEX (male ally)
- Malavika Shanker, Head of India Equities, Morgan Stanley
