Principal AML/CTF Advisor · Sydney, Australia

Indika
Gunawardana

CAMS-Certified AML/CTF Compliance Professional with 15+ years of progressive experience spanning national policy development, statutory MLRO leadership, and independent advisory across Australia and Sri Lanka.

CAMS ICA Dip. AML/CTF ICA Dip. GRC ACMA · CGMA CPA Australia APG Assessor MSc Accounting & Finance

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About

Where Policy Meets Operational Reality.

Indika Gunawardana's career is defined by a rare combination: national-level AML/CTF policy development at one of Asia's leading financial intelligence units, followed by hands-on statutory MLRO responsibilities in a live regulated environment in Australia and New Zealand.

This dual perspective — understanding what regulators expect, and how to operationalise it practically — underpins every engagement through TheAMLConsultant.com. Indika bridges the gap that most compliance professionals occupy on only one side of.

Zero Material Regulatory Breaches

Proven track record as statutory MLRO with zero material regulatory breaches across multi-jurisdictional operations in Australia and New Zealand.

Established Regulator Relationships

Direct engagement experience with AUSTRAC, ASIC, NZ FIU, and international regulators including APG Mutual Evaluation programmes.

From Start-up to Enterprise Scale

Successfully scaled compliance functions from inception to enterprise level — including full AML/CTF framework design, team development, and technology implementation.

Areas of Expertise

AML/CTF Program Design

ML/TF Risk Assessment

AUSTRAC Engagement

MLRO / Statutory Roles

Customer Due Diligence

Regulatory Reporting

Independent Evaluation

Sanctions Compliance

PEP Screening & EDD

Transaction Monitoring

Policy Development

Staff Training

UNSC Sanctions

National Risk Assessment

Tranche 2 Compliance

Financial Crime Investigations

Jurisdictions

🇦🇺 Australia — AUSTRAC, ASIC, AML/CTF Act 2006

🇳🇿 New Zealand — NZ FIU, AML/CFT Act 2009

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka — FIU SL, FTRA, PMLA, CSTFA

Experience

15+ Years of Progressive Expertise.

Apr 2023
— Present

3+ years

Compliance Officer — MLRO

Global Exchange Group (Australia & New Zealand)

Sydney, NSW · Australia

Lead enterprise-wide AML/CTF compliance across multiple jurisdictions, managing everything from risk frameworks and regulatory reporting to team development and board-level stakeholder engagement.

Designed and implemented AML/CTF frameworks across Australia and New Zealand, including gap analysis, policy development and risk assessments

Oversaw end-to-end compliance operations: KYC/CDD, EDD, transaction monitoring, regulatory reporting, and SMR submissions to AUSTRAC and NZ FIU

Provided strategic advisory to senior management on financial crime risk and regulatory developments

Managed independent audits and reviews with external consultants; maintained senior stakeholder and regulator engagement

Zero material regulatory breaches across the tenure

Oct 2010
— Dec 2022

12 years

Senior Assistant Director

Financial Intelligence Unit · Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Colombo · Sri Lanka

Led high-profile financial crime investigations and national-level AML/CTF policy development at Sri Lanka's primary financial intelligence authority over 12 years of progressive responsibility.

Drafted national AML/CTF legislation and regulatory frameworks, including UNSC sanctions implementation

Led supervisory programmes for major financial institutions including banks, insurance companies, and money services businesses

Served as qualified Country Assessor for Asia/Pacific Group (APG) Mutual Evaluation programmes

Represented Sri Lanka at international AML/CTF forums, FATF-style regional body meetings, and bilateral engagements

Designed and delivered training programmes reaching 1,000+ compliance professionals across the financial sector

Led inter-agency teams and drove compliance capability uplift across multiple regulated sectors

Oct 2017
— Dec 2019

2 years

Visiting Lecturer

Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka

Colombo · Sri Lanka

Delivered specialist AML/CTF and financial crime compliance lectures to banking professionals pursuing professional qualifications.

Credentials

Professional Qualifications.

Global Certification

CAMS

Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist — ACAMS. The global gold standard in AML/CTF professional certification.

Professional Designation

ACMA · CGMA

Associate Chartered Management Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant — CIMA.

Member

CPA Australia

Certified Practising Accountant — CPA Australia. Member of Australia's premier accounting professional body.

International Qualifications

ICA Dip. AML/CTF & GRC

International Diploma in AML/CTF
International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance
— International Compliance Association & University of Manchester

APG Programme

Qualified Country Assessor

Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) — qualified assessor for Mutual Evaluation programmes across the region.

Academic

MSc Accounting & Finance

Master of Science in Accounting and Finance — University of Gloucestershire. Also holds a Master of Financial Economics, University of Colombo.

Education

Academic Background.

MSc Accounting and Finance

University of Gloucestershire

2021 – 2022

Master of Financial Economics

University of Colombo

2012 – 2013

International Diploma in AML/CTF
International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance

International Compliance Association & University of Manchester

2015 – 2016

ACMA · CGMA — Management Accountancy

CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)

2005 – 2008

Get in Touch

Let's discuss your compliance needs.

Whether you need independent AML/CTF advisory, an expert MLRO, a fractional compliance officer, or specialist Tranche 2 guidance — get in touch to discuss how Indika can assist your organisation.

+61 434 969 412 · WhatsApp available

Indika@TheAMLConsultant.com

The Ponds, Sydney NSW 2769 · Australia

linkedin.com/in/indygward

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