Turning Regulatory Change into a Competitive Advantage

Insights from Dilan Bastin, Head of Compliance at Portofino Technologies

At the recent Global RegTech Summit in London, our Head of Compliance, Dilan Bastin, shared her views on how regulatory change can be turned into a strategic advantage, the challenges of managing compliance across jurisdictions, and the skills future leaders will need.

Q: How can organizations turn regulatory change into a competitive advantage?

Dilan Bastin:

In my experience, when an organisation shifts from a reactive to a proactive approach, it can use regulatory change as an opportunity to get ahead. By anticipating developments, firms can position themselves strategically across jurisdictions and take advantage of what each regulatory environment has to offer.

This gives them an edge over competitors who haven’t yet been able to adapt to innovations in the market.

Q: What’s holding back real progress in regulatory change management?

Dilan Bastin:

First, we need to define “real progress.” Over the past five to ten years, there’s been a lack of synchronisation between the pace of technological evolution and the speed at which regulators adapt.

Take crypto, for example. Since 2016, the technology underpinning crypto has been far ahead of any regulation. Regulators are now becoming more engaged with these underlying technologies and are working to create frameworks that don’t inhibit growth, but rather support it.

That collaboration between innovation and oversight is key to making real progress.

Q: How are global firms managing conflicting rules across jurisdictions?

Dilan Bastin:

One of the most effective strategies I’ve seen is regulatory horizon scanning. Global firms often deal with fragmented rules, and without coordination, different entities end up acting in silos.

The trend now is for compliance teams to develop overarching frameworks that unify governance across the group. This harmonisation is then tailored locally to meet jurisdiction-specific nuances.

Done well, this keeps organisations ahead of the curve and improves efficiency.

Q: What skills and mindsets are most needed for the next generation of RCM leaders?

Dilan Bastin:

First, regulatory literacy — without it, staying ahead is impossible.

Second, digital fluency. Compliance is increasingly tech-driven, with AI tools now being used for regulatory mapping, sourcing, and translation. Leaders must understand these tools to interpret and implement them effectively.

Finally, strategic vision — knowing why you’re entering specific jurisdictions, how they can give you a competitive edge, and how compliance tools fit into the bigger picture.

Q: How do events like the Global RegTech Summit help?

Dilan Bastin:

This is my first Global RegTech Summit, and I’ve really enjoyed the mix of perspectives in the room — from AI innovators to regulators, banks, and financial institutions.

Bringing together experts from different fields, all with compliance at the forefront of the discussion, is exactly how we move the industry forward.

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🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Moving from reactive to proactive compliance unlocks strategic opportunities.
• Regulatory frameworks must keep pace with technology to support innovation.
• Horizon scanning and harmonisation are essential for managing global rules.
• Future leaders need regulatory literacy, digital fluency, and strategic vision.
• Cross-industry collaboration accelerates progress in RegTech.
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📺 Watch the full interview here

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