Executive General Manager, Risk & Compliance | APAC
At dnata catering & retail, risk and compliance is not just a governance requirement it is critical to the safe, effective and sustainable operation of a complex, high-volume business. With operations spanning Australia and Southeast Asia and accountability across a broad portfolio of risk, legal and compliance functions, this is a rare opportunity for an experienced executive to step into a role with genuine scope, visibility and impact.
We are seeking a commercially minded and influential Executive General Manager to lead Risk & Compliance across the business, bringing stronger alignment, oversight and maturity to several critical functions while partnering closely with the CEO and executive leadership team.
Role: Executive General Manager, Risk & Compliance
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Australia Brisbane, Gold Coast (Melbourne and Sydney considered)
Team scope: Leadership across Security, Legal, HSE, Food Safety,
Type: Full-time, permanent
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a newly created executive role with direct CEO accountability and a genuine mandate to shape how risk and compliance is led across the organisation.
As EGM Risk & Compliance, you will oversee a broad and business-critical remit spanning enterprise risk, legal, health, safety and environment, food safety, security, compliance and governance. You will bring greater coordination, consistency and executive oversight to functions that are already established, while helping lift capability, embed accountability and ensure the business is positioned to manage risk proactively in a fast-paced operational environment.
This role is less about maintaining process for the sake of process, and more about creating practical, fit-for-purpose frameworks that support decision-making, strengthen culture and improve resilience across the business. You will be a key advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team, with the opportunity to influence how dnata continues to evolve its approach to governance, compliance and operational risk.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Strategy
- Provide strategic leadership across dnata catering & retail’s risk and compliance portfolio, ensuring alignment across enterprise risk, legal, HSE, food safety, security and related functions.
- Drive greater maturity, consistency and accountability across governance, risk and compliance frameworks.
- Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to provide clear, commercially sound advice on key risk and compliance matters.
- Foster a culture of proactive risk management, strong governance and continuous improvement across the organisation.
- Support alignment with global dnata standards and broader group requirements where relevant.
- Lead the enterprise risk management framework, ensuring key business risks are identified, assessed, monitored and mitigated effectively.
- Oversee compliance across a broad range of regulatory and operational obligations, including HSE, food safety, aviation security, privacy and broader governance requirements.
- Maintain and strengthen policy, control and reporting frameworks that support sound decision-making and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee incident, breach and claims governance, ensuring issues are managed effectively and lessons are embedded into the business.
- Support oversight of privacy, data protection and cyber-related governance in partnership with relevant internal stakeholders.
- Lead business continuity and crisis management frameworks, ensuring the business is prepared to respond effectively to disruption.
- Work closely with operational leaders to ensure compliance and risk disciplines are embedded in day-to-day operations, not treated as stand-alone support functions.
- Balance compliance rigour with commercial practicality, ensuring frameworks are robust but fit for purpose.
- Build trusted relationships with internal leaders, regulators and external stakeholders across the business.
- Represent dnata in dealings with relevant regulatory bodies and support the management of regulatory notifications, responses and ongoing engagement.
- Prepare high-quality reporting and insights for the Board and relevant committees.
- Influence and support leaders across the business to take ownership of risk and compliance outcomes.
- Lead, mentor and support teams across multiple specialist disciplines.
- Create alignment across functions, ensuring strong communication, role clarity and shared accountability.
- Build capability over time while supporting high performance, engagement and development across the broader team.
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience across risk, compliance, governance, legal or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience leading broad risk and compliance portfolios in complex, multi-site or operationally intensive environments.
- Strong knowledge of regulatory, governance and compliance frameworks across multiple disciplines.
- Experience working closely with executive teams and boards, with the ability to provide clear, credible and practical advice.
- Highly developed communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of an organisation.
- Strong commercial judgement, analytical capability and problem-solving skills.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in law, business, risk, governance or a related discipline.
- Professional certification in risk, governance or compliance.
- Experience in ESG or broader environmental and sustainability reporting.
- Background in aviation, food manufacturing, logistics, industrial, transport or other complex operational environments.
As part of the Emirates Group, dnata operates at a scale and complexity few organisations can match. This is a business where governance, compliance and risk leadership have real operational consequence and where the right leader will have the opportunity to shape meaningful change.
- A newly created executive role with broad scope and direct CEO exposure.
- The opportunity to influence enterprise risk and compliance maturity across Australia and Southeast Asia.
- A leadership remit that spans multiple critical functions across a large, operationally complex business.
- The chance to step into a business with strong foundations and drive greater alignment, maturity and impact.
- A visible, high-trust position with genuine strategic and operational influence.
- A culture grounded in safety, accountability and continuous improvement.
dnata is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
