Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
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Bianca Semrau

Melbourne,VIC

Summary

Over 19 years of expertise in risk management, business continuity, and regulatory compliance, renowned for pioneering robust frameworks that elevate organisational governance. Demonstrates exceptional leadership in crafting strategic policies and promoting stakeholder relationships to bolster resilience and align with international standards. Committed to driving continuous improvement and innovation in mitigation strategies, ensuring organisations are well-prepared for future challenges.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Head of Risk & Compliance (Global)

Kinetic Group (Contract)
07.2024 - Current
  • Established a risk, compliance, and assurance function in alignment with board directives, embedding enterprise-wide risk governance and oversight capability
  • Conducted a current state maturity review and gap analysis against ISO 31000 and relevant regulatory frameworks to inform the strategic uplift roadmap
  • Developed and implemented an enterprise-wide Risk and Compliance Framework aligned to ISO 31000 and regulatory requirements, embedding risk thinking across business functions
  • Led the development Risk Appetite Statement approved by the Board
  • Integrated enterprise risk reporting into Board and Audit & Risk Committee dashboards
  • Drove organization-wide modern slavery, cyber, and data governance risk reviews, resulting in robust remediation programs and uplifted compliance maturity
  • Led the business continuity and crisis management plans to ensure they meet best practice and industry standards
  • Aligned corporate governance with international standards, fostering maturity
  • Conducted comprehensive regulatory reviews against existing processes, identifying gaps and implementing strategic improvements in risk management and compliance
  • Reviewed and maintained Modern Slavery and Whistleblower processes

Head of Group Risk (and Resilience)

Vicinity Centres
08.2022 - 06.2024
  • Enhanced risk management for 60 assets/properties, boosting resilience and strategic oversight
  • Led crisis management teams, ensuring swift response to critical incidents
  • Developed business continuity plans, improving organisational preparedness
  • Implemented consistent reporting, enhancing executive and board decision-making
  • Developed comprehensive risk profiles and assessment protocols, elevating the risk management framework to align with evolving business needs and regulatory requirements across assets/properties, corporate and group risk profiles
  • Implemented refined reporting mechanisms, ensuring consistent and transparent communication of risk metrics to executive leadership and board members
  • Redefined and embedded a revised Risk Appetite Statement, promoting organisation-wide understanding and efficient application of risk management principles

Executive Manager – Quality, Risk & Compliance

Lifeview
12.2019 - 07.2022
  • Established a new Quality, Risk & Compliance function inline with Board and CEO directives
  • Developed and implemented new Risk Management Framework and supporting policies, endorsed by the Board
  • Designed a three-year risk and compliance strategy and program of work to uplift maturity, capability, and resilience, with measurable milestones and cross-functional ownership
  • Established comprehensive audit program, improving continuous improvement strategies
  • Established and chaired Risk and Compliance Committees, aligning board, audit, and executive oversight with risk appetite and strategy
  • Executed company secretarial duties, supporting organisational integrity
  • Developed and evaluated organisation-wide compliance programs, ensuring systematic adherence to established policies and procedures
  • Implemented robust corporate governance practices, significantly improving risk management and compliance across the organisation

Head of Audit, Risk & Compliance

Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment
08.2018 - 12.2019
  • Built a risk, compliance, and assurance function in response to board directives, embedding robust enterprise-wide governance and oversight structures
  • Led a comprehensive maturity assessment and gap analysis against ISO 31000 and applicable regulatory frameworks, forming the foundation for a targeted strategic uplift program
  • Managed risk processes, enhancing global compliance and operational transparency
  • Built compliance and control monitoring frameworks, enabling visibility of legislative, contractual, and internal obligations across the enterprise
  • Improved control mechanisms, achieving full compliance with regulatory requirements
  • Promoted cross-departmental cooperation to integrate risk management practices, cultivating a culture of proactive compliance across the organisation
  • Led comprehensive risk assessment initiatives, identifying critical vulnerabilities and implementing robust mitigation strategies
  • Pioneered cutting-edge compliance tools, streamlining processes and ensuring seamless adherence to evolving international regulations
  • Transformed audit practices, introducing data-driven methodologies that significantly improved risk detection and mitigation efforts

Group Manager – Risk & Compliance

Smartgroup Financial Services
02.2017 - 08.2018
  • Developed and maintained corporate risk registers, aligning with operational, financial, and strategic objectives
  • Led internal compliance reviews and risk-based audits across operations, IT, and finance, resulting in closure of identified control gaps
  • Oversaw compliance with AFSL obligations, including the development and execution of compliance plans, monitoring programs, and internal controls aligned to licence conditions
  • Managed breach reporting processes, including identification, escalation, and regulatory notifications of significant breaches, ensuring timely ASIC compliance
  • Strengthened conflicts of interest frameworks and maintained comprehensive registers to support ethical conduct and regulatory integrity
  • Delivered due diligence activities for strategic transactions, including licensing and governance risk assessments, supporting executive leadership and board decision-making
  • Co-led merger due diligence with the CEO, ensuring alignment with licensing obligations and enhancing risk and compliance oversight during integration
  • Provided compliance advisory across all business units, improving operational practices, privacy compliance, and regulatory awareness
  • Guided Business Unit Heads on risk and compliance matters, uplifting capability, accountability, and risk-informed decision-making
  • Implemented and embedded a Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) system, improving real-time visibility of risk events, control effectiveness, and regulatory obligations
  • Ensured timely and accurate documentation of compliance breaches, incidents, and remediation activities, supporting a strong compliance culture and audit readiness

Risk and Compliance Advisor - Retail

Tabcorp
08.2016 - 02.2017
  • Supported risk system development for retail; enhanced compliance; facilitated continuity exercises
  • Developed and maintained Risk and Compliance Management System for retail network, enhancing operational efficiency and regulatory adherence
  • Led Business Continuity Exercises across retail sites, strengthening organisational resilience and minimising potential disruptions

Risk, Compliance & Assurance Specialist (Procurement & Supply Chain)

Telstra
02.2014 - 07.2016
  • Developed Telstra's first international procurement and supply chain risk profile, enhancing procurement strategies
  • Implemented assurance framework, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency
  • Led creation of compliance plan, improving regulatory adherence
  • Monitored supply chain risks, reducing potential disruptions
  • Streamlined obligations register, optimising compliance processes
  • Pioneered comprehensive Assurance Framework and Annual Plan, revolutionising procurement strategies and supply chain management practices

Risk Manager - Financial Services

Mercer
06.2011 - 02.2014
  • Enhanced internal controls, reducing risk exposure and boosting efficiency
  • Led risk workshops, promoting proactive management and awareness
  • Conducted risk assessments, implementing strategies for resilience
  • Facilitated cross-functional risk assessment workshops, promoting a culture of risk awareness and proactive mitigation strategies throughout the organisation

Compliance and Risk Officer – Risk & Compliance

Cbus
05.2006 - 10.2010
  • Evaluated business risks, enhancing control measures and compliance strategies
  • Managed and improved automated GRC tool, ensuring system efficiency
  • Collaborated with teams for effective risk monitoring and control assessments
  • Implemented risk assessments, leading to measurable compliance improvements

Education

Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute -

Business Continuity Institute
01.2023

Certificate IV - WHS

01.2023

Certificate IV - Compliance and Risk Management

01.2016

Certification Fundamentals of Risk Controls -

01.2015

Bachelor of Computing -

01.2005

Certificate IV - Network Engineering Management

01.2003

Certificate IV - Programming

01.2001

Skills

  • Risk management
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Compliance programs
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Business continuity certified
  • Strategic planning
  • Crisis management
  • Governance
  • Conflict resolution
  • Stakeholder management
  • Governance frameworks
  • Team building and callobration
  • Auditing
  • Project management
  • Critical thinking
  • Leadership
  • Policy development
  • Data governance
  • Cross-functional collaboration

Affiliations

  • Business Continuity Institute
  • Governance Risk Compliance Institute
  • Risk Management Institute of Australasia

Timeline

Head of Risk & Compliance (Global)

Kinetic Group (Contract)
07.2024 - Current

Head of Group Risk (and Resilience)

Vicinity Centres
08.2022 - 06.2024

Executive Manager – Quality, Risk & Compliance

Lifeview
12.2019 - 07.2022

Head of Audit, Risk & Compliance

Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment
08.2018 - 12.2019

Group Manager – Risk & Compliance

Smartgroup Financial Services
02.2017 - 08.2018

Risk and Compliance Advisor - Retail

Tabcorp
08.2016 - 02.2017

Risk, Compliance & Assurance Specialist (Procurement & Supply Chain)

Telstra
02.2014 - 07.2016

Risk Manager - Financial Services

Mercer
06.2011 - 02.2014

Compliance and Risk Officer – Risk & Compliance

Cbus
05.2006 - 10.2010

Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute -

Business Continuity Institute

Certificate IV - WHS

Certificate IV - Compliance and Risk Management

Certification Fundamentals of Risk Controls -

Bachelor of Computing -

Certificate IV - Network Engineering Management

Certificate IV - Programming

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