Ishara Saldin is a risk management executive with responsibilities for the institutional international portfolio spanning fourteen countries, including the UK, US, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. With a career spanning all three lines of defence, Ishara brings a comprehensive and balanced view of credit risk, non-financial risk, and assurance across complex, cross-border environments, including the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC).
She is responsible for the end-to-end oversight of institutional credit risk, ensuring portfolio quality, control integrity, and alignment with enterprise risk appetite across multiple regulatory jurisdictions. Drawing on extensive experience across frontline lending and underwriting, risk oversight, and independent assurance functions, Ishara leads the development and execution of proactive risk strategies, early warning frameworks, and targeted reviews to drive robust risk outcomes and protect the organization's balance sheet. In addition to credit oversight, Ishara has led multiple enterprise-wide non-financial risk (NFR) engagements - designing and executing risk frameworks that address operational risk, conduct, compliance, and emerging threats.
Known for instilling a strong risk culture and fostering collaboration across geographies and business lines, Ishara builds and leads high-performing global teams that deliver disciplined, data-driven credit decisions while supporting sustainable business growth.
With a strong track record of strategic leadership and a deep understanding of institutional markets, Ishara is a trusted risk partner to senior stakeholders and a key contributor to effective, forward-looking risk governance in a rapidly evolving environment.
In managing a billion dollar client portfolio , Ishara has demonstrated both commercial acumen and a deep commitment to service quality and long-term client relationships while growing the portfolio and breadth of partnerships. Whether consulting with private enterprises and listed companies on funding requirements and governance enhancements or supporting public institutions through regulatory audits and assurance reviews, Ishara prioritizes integrity, strategic alignment, and measurable value.
In addition to executive leadership roles, she serves as a non-executive board director in the public sector, where Ishara provides goverenance expertise and strategic insight. She plays a key role in integrating Environmental, Social , and Governance (ESG) principles into risk and business strategies, fostering transparency, accountability, and long-term value creation.
Ishara also serves as a member of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Infrastructure, Sustainability & Innovation Committee at Westernport Water Corporation.
As part of the Audit & Risk Committee, she provides oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, audit processes, and enterprise risk - ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, ministerial guidelines, and the statement of obligations. She supports strong public sector accountability and a risk-aware culture across the organization.
In the Infrastructure, Sustainability & Innovation Committee, she plays a key role in overseeing the planning and delivery of critical infrastructure, capital expenditure programs, and long-term asset management. This includes ensuring alignment with sutainability goals, climate resilience, innovation priorities, and prudent investment decisions that deliver enduring public value.
Ishara brings a strategic and outcomes-focused approach to board and committee responsibilities, helping guide responsible decision-making and effective governance across complex operational and public policy environments. She is dedicated to helping organizations anticipate challenges, manage risks effectively, and seize opportunities in an increasingly complex and dynamic global landscape.
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