People & leadership

Samantha Barrass: Chief Executive B.Com (Econ), BCA. Hons (Econ), MSc (Econ)

Samantha has extensive international regulatory experience, including the Chief Executive role at UK’s Business Banking Resolution Service, a dispute resolution scheme for banks and business customers. Previously she was Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, which oversees the prudential and conduct regulation of Gibraltar’s financial services sector. She has held a number of other senior roles at finance regulators and industry associations, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and the London Investment Banking Association. 

Samantha grew up in Christchurch, and studied Economics at the University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington, before beginning her career as an economist at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Liam Mason: Executive Director – Evaluation, Oversight & General Counsel, Investment Management & Acting Executive Director – Response and Enforcement.

Liam is responsible for a broad range of audit, risk, legal and governance matters along with evaluating the effectiveness of regulatory interventions and activity. He remains the FMA General Counsel. 

Liam is also acting as the Executive Director responsible for overseeing the strategic approach and appropriate response to the actions and behaviour of market participants that pose risk or harm, including the investigation and enforcement of misconduct cases.

Liam has been with the FMA since its inception. He has extensive experience in securities law and corporate governance matters, advising on securities and financial services law and policy, Crown entity governance and legal compliance. 

Liam has previously led frontline teams overseeing the FMA’s compliance frameworks, licensing, knowledge management and intelligence, and fintech functions.  

Daniel Trinder: Executive Director, Strategy & Design

Daniel is responsible for leading the strategy and direction setting for the FMA, ensuring a clear view of the systems, priorities and regulatory design is developed and communicated across a broad range of external stakeholders.

Daniel has extensive experience in developing and delivering strategic direction, capability and planning, implementing policy and legislative changes, while leading successful and diverse teams at a global level.

Previously, Daniel has held leadership roles at HM Treasury in the UK, several global investment banks, a crypto-exchange, as well as an Advisor to the International Monetary Fund.

Daniel holds an MA in Economics from York University, Toronto, and a Ph.D. Economics, from Queen Mary University of London, where also holds an Honorary Professorship.