In this episode, we sit down with Melanie Jorna, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at D2X Group, for an insightful conversation about leadership, risk-taking, and what it really means to build a function from scratch.
After years in traditional financial services, Melanie Jorna made the bold decision to join D2X at an early stage. Rather than inheriting existing structures and processes, she saw an opportunity to build the legal and compliance function from the ground up, shaping the team, vision, and strategy alongside the business.
Coming from a traditional finance background, Melanie shares her experience transitioning into a firm that combines established financial market principles with innovative technology and new asset classes. She also highlights how critical technology infrastructure, algorithms, and systems are in enabling compliance to operate effectively in modern markets.
Melanie also reflects on the importance of the people around you, from mentors and colleagues to leadership teams and boards. Success, she explains, is rarely individual; it’s built through collaboration, trust, and understanding the strengths of the team around you.
We dive into her career journey from studying law and specialising in financial law, to working across investment funds, proprietary trading, and trading venues. Along the way, she shares how continuous learning, networking, and calculated risk-taking helped shape her path.
From trading floors to onboarding brokers and navigating complex regulatory frameworks across regions, Melanie offers a rare end-to-end perspective on the financial ecosystem, including its evolution into digital assets.
A must-listen for anyone interested in legal and compliance leadership, financial market infrastructure, and building high-impact teams in fast-moving industries.
