Ricardo Andrés Palacio Garcés is a leading compliance professional and legal advisor based in Quito, Ecuador, renowned for his dedication to building a strong culture of ethics and compliance across Latin America. With over 12 years of experience, he has worked extensively in the financial sector, holding senior positions as Compliance Officer, Legal Advisor, Money Laundering Responsible Officer, and Responsible Officer for FATCA, CRS, and sanctions programs. In these roles, he has successfully implemented risk detection systems, delivered regulatory training at all organizational levels, and ensured alignment with international compliance standards. Ricardo’s achievements have earned him both national and international recognition. He was awarded Rising Star of the Year (2021) by Raw Compliance and shortlisted by the International Compliance Association (2022). He has been invited to speak and lecture at world-class compliance and financial law conferences and is widely published, including contributions to FELABAN, where his recommendations on AML, smart contracts, AI, and risk management have been recognized at major financial law and AML forums three times. His academic background includes dual Master’s degrees in Corporate Compliance (URJC & EIS, Spain), a Double Master in Compliance, Fraud & Money Laundering (UCAM & EALDE, Spain – in progress), an MBA, and a Law Degree from Universidad de Las Américas (Ecuador), complemented by multiple diplomas in AML, anti-corruption, and U.S. law specialization. Deeply committed to ethics, transparency, and integrity, Ricardo is also accredited by leading organizations including ECI, FIBA, IOC, and ASCOM. His proactive leadership, analytical rigor, and passion for advancing compliance make him a trusted advisor and influential voice in Latin America’s compliance and governance landscape.