SANTO DOMINGO. – Dominican lawyer and current senior manager of Regulation at the Association of Multiple Banks of the Dominican Republic (ABA), Lidia Ureña, became the first woman to preside over the Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (COPLAFT), a specialized body of the Latin American Federation of Banks (FELABAN).
“Being the first woman to lead COPLAFT is not only an honor, but also a unique opportunity to promote significant change in the regional fight against these scourges,” said Ureña, who has been part of the ABA’s Legal Department since 2020.
Lidia Ureña. (External source).
In a press release provided by the ABA, Ureña explained that current challenges in the area demand a multifaceted and highly specialized response, and therefore his administration will prioritize the proper understanding and dissemination of these challenges. "Adapting to technological evolution is one of these challenges, where authorities and obligated entities must constantly update their knowledge of the latest technologies and criminal trends," he stated.
The financial regulation specialist considered that innovation and disruptive technology are important allies in the adoption of advanced solutions, including artificial intelligence and data analysis, to improve the detection and prevention of illicit activities.
He considered that the regulation and supervision of virtual assets and cryptocurrencies, whose cross-border nature facilitates illicit activities, is another aspect that he will take into account in his proposals for the next two years in the position.
Likewise, he expressed his intention to strengthen and deepen relations between the countries of the region, promoting the exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices, in line with the commitment of the Banking Association to strengthen the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
In that vein, and as part of the actions he leads, he announced that he will bring to the country the next Latin American Congress on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (COPLAFT) which will be held in Santo Domingo, from October 3 to 4 of this year.
Professional career
Lidia Ureña is a lawyer, with a master's degree in legal strategy and a specialization in risk management for the prevention of money laundering, endorsed by the Association of Certified Risk Management Specialists of Mexico.
She worked at the Central Securities Depository (CEVALDOM), as head of Legal Services, and at the Superintendency of the Securities Market she was responsible for the due diligence and investigation processes of the participants in the securities market.
Currently, she is the Senior Manager of Regulation at the Association of Multiple Banks of the Dominican Republic (ABA) and Secretary of the Association's Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering (COPLA).
