Description

I'm a fractional COO and independent consultant with 15+ years across regulated gaming and financial services, most recently as VP Customer Operations and MLRO for a gaming company in Gibraltar. I'm now based in Dubai, working with businesses across the UAE and internationally.

I specialise in three areas: operations and process improvement (including LEAN Six Sigma), compliance and AML (ICA-qualified MLRO), and HR and people advisory (CIPD Level 5). I work with scaling businesses, regulated operators, and leadership teams who need senior-level expertise without the overhead of a full-time hire.

I pride myself on getting to the root of your problem so that what I deliver for you, stands the test of time.

Not to slow things down — to make sure what gets decided is actually worth doing. That means looking at what's really happening, who's carrying what, where the friction lives, and what's causing it. Sometimes the answer is a new system. Sometimes it's a conversation that nobody's had yet.

Across operations, compliance, and people — the presenting problem is rarely the real one. And the fix rarely requires what everyone assumes.

Industry field of expertise

Languages

English
Native or bilingual

Workplace preferences

Can work on-site

Dubai City (up to 50km)

Ashleigh Jones Consultant FZCO
Founder & Principal Consultant
CONSULTING AND AUDITS
December 2025 - Today (8 months)
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Fractional and interim consultancy delivering senior operational and compliance leadership to businesses navigating change, growth, or leadership gaps — with speed to impact and no ramp-up cost. ▸ Stepped into interim leadership during executive transitions, maintaining operational continuity and team performance across regulated environments ▸ Delivered AML/KYC framework reviews and compliance gap assessments, preparing clients for regulatory audits across UAE and international frameworks ▸ Advised on organisational design and team restructuring, enabling clients to scale or stabilise headcount efficiently without losing operational output ▸ Managed complex employee relations cases and provided HR advisory to leadership teams, drawing on CIPD Level 5 qualification and frontline people management experience ▸ Led LEAN-led process reviews identifying efficiency gains and waste reduction opportunities, applying Six Sigma Black Belt methodology to operational workflows ▸ Active client base across Dubai and remote engagements; operating under Ashleigh Jones Consultant FZCO with full UAE residency and GCC availability ▸ Supporting Gaming Operators enter into new jurisdictions
Lean management HR Director Compliance Strategic planning Project Management
Lottoland
VP Customer Operations & MLRO
January 2023 - August 2025 (2 years and 7 months)
Lottoland, Brookvale, NSW, Australia
Executive leadership of 100+ global staff across Customer Services, VIP/HVC, AML, Risk, KYC, Safer Gambling, and Continuous Improvement. MLRO across multi-regulated environments. ▸ Reported to COO; accountable for OKR performance, strategic operations, and cross-functional alignment ▸ Budget accountability with a 10% YoY cost reduction target — achieved via LEAN methodologies and supplier rationalisation ▸ Led AI implementation projects including in-house chatbots, process automations, and QA tooling to reduce waste and headcount reliance
▸ Primary point of contact for regulatory audits; held full MLRO responsibilities across UKGC, MGA, and GGC frameworks ▸ Drove scalable digital workflow adoption and continuous improvement programmes across all teams
Lottoland
Senior Leadership Roles
January 2018 - January 2022 (4 years)
Gibraltar
▸ Head of Customer Operations — led Safer Gambling, AML, and Flex teams, spearheaded Continuous Improvement ▸ Head of Implementation — oversaw project delivery across Risk, Payments, and Customer Services ▸ Compliance & Project Manager — regulatory change delivery and new market launches (regulated and grey markets) ▸ Responsible Regulatory Officer — SG audits, player trend monitoring, regulatory gap closure