Panagiotis Nikolaou is an accomplished Governance, Risk, and Compliance Lead Auditor and Strategic Advisor with more than fourteen years of experience across the international financial services industry. His career spans senior positions in investment firms and regulatory authorities, including serving as Associate Expert Investigator at the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) through multiple awarded public tenders. A certified vocational trainer (Level 5, HRDA), Panagiotis has delivered specialised training to supervisory authorities, banking institutions, police academies, and investment firms. His training portfolio covers: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF): Risk-based frameworks, applied KYC procedures, and financial crime prevention. Regulatory Compliance: MiFID II/MiFIR obligations, product governance, best execution, investor protection, and complaint handling. Ethics and Conduct: Anti-bribery practices, corruption prevention, and conflict-of-interest management. Emerging Sectors: Crypto-asset regulation, blockchain compliance, and digital asset risk management. Technical Skills: Applied technical analysis, market surveillance, and trading strategy evaluation. Dealing Room Operations and Audits: Extensive hands-on experience as Senior Dealer, Broker, and Head of Portfolio Management, combined with expertise in auditing trading desks, execution mechanisms, and automated trading processes. Financial Technology and RegTech Development: Proven track record in developing compliance-driven technology solutions, risk management tools, and trading-related automations that enhance operational efficiency and governance oversight. Holding two Master’s degrees (MSc in Financial Services and MBA) alongside a wide range of certifications—including GRCA, Certified AMLCO, ISO Lead Auditor, and GDPR Lead Auditor—Panagiotis combines academic rigour with practical expertise. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) with a specialisation in Strategic Management. As co-author of a guide on ESMA’s knowledge and competence assessment, Panagiotis has demonstrated his dedication to financial education and professional development. His unique blend of regulatory insight, market experience, and technological innovation makes him a sought-after trainer and advisor, equipping professionals with the knowledge and tools to meet regulatory expectations, strengthen compliance frameworks, and drive operational excellence in financial markets.