The WFE's Women Leaders 2021 - Paula Redondo Pereira, Head of Regulatory Affairs, The Luxembourg Stock Exchange

By: The WFE Focus Team Mar 2021

Nominee’s name: Paula Redondo Pereira

Member: The Luxembourg Stock Exchange

Nominee’s job title: Head of Regulatory Affairs 

 

1. - Brief description of nominee’s role/job:

Paula is Head of Regulatory Affairs at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE). In this role, she is responsible for the monitoring and analysis of all regulatory developments and advises the Executive Committee on the appropriate response and clear recommendations for its implementation. With her in-depth knowledge of the national and European regulatory landscape, Paula is the reference person for all questions concerning the impact of new regulations, both inside and beyond our company. Regulation represents a major risk for market operators, and at the same time important business opportunities. With her attention to detail coupled with an in-depth understanding of capital markets, Paula excels in considering both risks and opportunities to the benefit of our exchange and the wider exchange network.

Widely recognised for her knowledge and ability to translate complex regulatory language into clear messages while explaining their overall implications to professionals with varied levels of regulatory understanding, Paula has been appointed to numerous working groups both in Luxembourg and at a European level. In 2020, Paula represented the LuxSE in the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, established by the European Commission, and she contributed greatly to the Usability Guide for the EU Green Bond Standard, published in March 2020. She also shares her expertise through her active involvement in the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE), as well as the Luxembourg Capital Markets Association (LuxCMA) and the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association (ABBL). Paula is furthermore a sought-after speaker and regularly represents LuxSE at external events and webinars.

Thanks to Paula’s work and knowledge, LuxSE keeps abreast of regulatory developments and is able to take the necessary steps to remain compliant in a timely manner. Under Paula’s guidance, LuxSE contributes to feeding policymakers by responding to relevant public consultations, highlighting important market perspectives. Paula is furthermore the designated contact person at LuxSE for the Luxembourg Financial Supervisory Authority (CSSF), and maintains a professional relationship and an open communication on behalf of the exchange.

A strong advocate of people and, in particular, women’s rights, Paula is also active in LuxSE’s Gender Committee and leads various initiatives to promote gender balance within and beyond our company.

Paula is a key coordinator of multiple initiatives at the exchange, both business-related and operational. In this role, she works closely with numerous departments. She is known for her exemplary behaviour and rigour, her professional attitude and her limitless commitment. Highly respected and appreciated by her colleagues, Paula behaves as a leader, always sharing her knowledge and experience and making sure everybody is well informed, and by doing so, helping others to learn and grow.


2. - Short bio (career highlights, education, interests/hobbies):

Paula joined the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE) in 2017, where she is currently the Head of Regulatory Affairs.

Before joining the LuxSE, Paula was a Legal Advisor at the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM), and later became Head of Cabinet and Legal Advisor to the Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.

As a lawyer, Paula practiced at the international law firms Uría Menéndez in Lisbon and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York, representing issuers and underwriters in both public and private offerings of equity and debt securities.

Paula received her Law Degree from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, her LL.M. in International Business and Economic Law from Georgetown University and her Master in European Affairs from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, where she was a Guest Professor until 2019.

Music, literature, politics and yoga are Paula’s main interests.


3. - What were your professional highlights and challenges of 2020?:

At the end of 2019, the EU Green Deal was ambitiously presented by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, as Europe’s “new growth strategy”. This was, and – I believe – still is, a major, fundamental and transformational project for Europe, its citizens and businesses, including the financial sector and its players. At the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE), in particular, via our Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), sustainable finance is a key driver of our business and in my role, I’m closely involved in all innovative solutions we are building to our clients and stakeholders.

In the meantime, 2020 arrived and it brought with it the Covid-19 pandemic, along with its economic, financial and social impact. 2020 was definitely one of the most erratic years in our century. 2020 was the year in which we all had to reinvent our professional routines and drivers, our digital skills and be attentive to all business opportunities, without losing the motivation to pursue previous projects and initiatives.

Were we stopped by 2020’s Covid-19 erratic year? Not at all. I’m pleased to say: on the contrary! In a year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, sustainability was kept at the top of the business and political agenda and, we, at the LuxSE, continued to contribute to international sustainable debt markets through multiple innovations of LGX, focusing in particular on education and data. I’m extremely pleased to spread the news that precisely during 2020, the most erratic year ever, LuxSE/LGX with my support was able to launch the LGX Academy, the LGX DataHub and the Solactive LGX Green Bond Impact Index.


4. - What and who inspires/has inspired you to achieve your professional success:

Life, by means of all its different angles and surprisingly idiosyncrasies, inspires me to be curious, alive, motivated, to bring ideas to the table and to put them in place, supporting others and, currently, the LuxSE to be “always in motion”, as our slogan motivationally defined us. In this context, I have been extremely honoured to be inspired by incredible, smart, dedicated and creative people, who help me to grow, to learn, to do better. They all are, on an ongoing basis, a source of inspiration.


5. - What advice do you have for other women who aspire to be in leadership positions:

In my opinion, there is no single receipt! There is no single word, or set of words, that could work as advice. Each woman is a person, in her individuality, and should be treated as such. When speaking with other women, I’m always keen to understand their background, their objectives and ambitions, their motivations and their willingness to move forward.

That being said, and precisely based on what I’ve just said, I believe that the capacity of listening is key for all of us, women and men, to succeed. Attentive and curious listeners are, in general, more prone to better and holistically analyse and discuss a specific topic, ask the right questions at the right time and eventually take better decisions.