Tanya McCartney
Dr. Tanya McCartney is an Assistant professor of Law at The University of The Bahamas and the CEO & President of GEM Management & Advisory Services Ltd. She is a UK trained barrister and chartered banker who served as the CEO and Executive Director at the Bahamas Financial Services Board for eight (8) years until February 2024. Over the past two decades Tanya has distinguished herself as a professional with expertise in law, regulatory and gaming compliance, risk management, banking, and international financial services. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Edinburgh Napier University (Scotland, U.K.) for a programme of work entitled “Perspectives on Leading change: Exploring Change Readiness Strategies used in the Bahamian Financial Services Sector”. The study focuses on creating more agile organisations and the significant role that leadership plays in this process. Tanya completed her Bachelor of Laws degree (Upper Second Class) at the University of Reading (United Kingdom), A Master of Laws degree with Merit from the London School of Economics and Political Science (London, U.K.), an MBA in Leadership from The College of the Bahamas as well as a Chartered Banker MBA from the University of Bangor in Wales (United Kingdom). Dr. McCartney is a graduate of the College of The Bahamas where she obtained an Associates of Arts Degree in History. She is also a Certified Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.
Tanya commenced her legal career in 1997 as Assistant Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General working in civil litigation representing government ministries, agencies, and departments. She has also served in the criminal prosecution division. In 1999 Tanya transitioned to the private sector as legal counsel and compliance officer for a local private bank. Since then, she has served in various senior positions with international financial institutions in The Bahamas. Dr. McCartney previously worked as Assistant General Counsel in the hospitality sector and served as Managing Director of RBC FINCO for six years commencing having joined RBC in 2006 as Regional Manager for Compliance for the Bahamas and the Caribbean with responsibility for The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean countries).
Dr. McCartney has played a critical role in facilitating collaboration between the private sector and policy makers in The Bahamas with respect to global regulatory initiatives impacting the financial services sector. She has organized and led contingents to promote the Bahamas as an international financial center globally. Tanya has been intimately involved in the development of a strategic plan for sustainability of the Bahamian financial services industry.
Dr. McCartney was appointed to the Senate of The Bahamas in 2001 being one of the youngest persons ever appointed to the Upper House where she served for five years. She vied for a seat in parliament in the 2002 general elections. She is a former President and founding member of the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers. She is the co-chairman of the Bahamas Chapter of the global Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists. She currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Bahamas Airport Authority and has served on several government boards over the years including The Public Hospital’s Authority, The Council of The University of The Bahamas and as Chairman of The Police Complaints Inspectorate. Tanya was awarded the Bahamas ICON Award for financial services in 2018 and in 2020 received The Woman of The Year “Highly Commended” Award from UK based International Investment for her work in financial services. She is the author of “Strategies for Success: A Roadmap for the Compliance Professional in Financial Service”. She is a vestry member at St. Barnabas Anglican Church.