Team Highlight: Orbital’s COO Richard Lindsay Awarded ICA Fellowship

We’re thrilled to share that Orbital’s COO, Richard Lindsay, has been awarded a Fellowship by the International Compliance Association (ICA), one of the highest honours in the global compliance community.

It’s also a reflection of what Richard represents at Orbital: a deep commitment to regulatory excellence, operational resilience, and building a global payments platform that businesses can trust.

‍

A Fellowship of impact & integrity

The ICA Fellowship is awarded to senior professionals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the compliance field. It recognises those who set standards, lead with integrity, and actively shape the future of responsible finance.

Richard’s leadership at Orbital has been central to building and scaling our platform, overseeing compliance operations across the UK, Gibraltar, Estonia, and Switzerland. His work ensures we continue to meet the highest standards across governance, risk and compliance.

‍

What this means for our community

At Orbital, compliance isn’t a constraint, it’s an enabler. We believe that transparency and good governance are the foundation of modern financial infrastructure.

That belief runs through our entire team, but it is personified in Richard’s work which he leads with both principle and precision.  This milestone is a testament to the kind of organisation we’re building: one that puts trust, transparency, and responsibility at the core of innovation.

‍

Q & A with Richard Lindsay

We sat down with Richard Lindsay to discuss his recent recognition as a Fellow of the ICA.

1. Congratulations on being awarded ICA Fellowship! What does this recognition mean to you professionally?

Thank you, it’s an honour to be recognised by the ICA, an organisation I’ve long respected for its commitment to advancing standards and ethics in compliance. Professionally, it’s a moment to reflect on how far the field has come and how important it is that we continue to raise the bar, especially as compliance evolves alongside innovation.

This Fellowship represents more than a personal achievement. It’s about contributing to a global community that supports continuous learning, mentoring others, and sharing knowledge to drive the industry forward. That sense of collective responsibility is something I value deeply, and something I try to bring to Orbital every day.

2. How does this tie into the work you're leading at Orbital?

At Orbital, we take a compliance-first approach because it’s what enables trust, scale, and long-term growth. From day one, we’ve embedded strong governance into our operating model, building a platform that’s not just innovative but also resilient and audit-ready.

That foundation has allowed us to operate across multiple jurisdictions and meet the highest standards including achieving a SOC 2 Type 2 compliant report and ISO 27001 certification. It also helps to give our customers the confidence to integrate the Orbital platform into their cross-border operations without compromising on compliance or control. In many ways, my contribution to Orbital is a continuation of what the Fellowship stands for: combining rigour with leadership, at a fast-moving space.

3. Why do you think compliance leadership matters in fintech today?

Primarily because the risks are real, and the pace of innovation doesn’t exempt you from responsibility.

In high-growth fintechs, especially those operating in the digital asset space, there’s often a temptation to “build fast and fix later.” Ultimately, if you don’t embed compliance early (culturally and operationally) you’re building on sand. True compliance leadership is about more than policies and procedures, it’s about anticipating complexity, protecting your users, and ensuring your services can adapt to evolving regulation without breaking stride.

The best fintechs aren’t just reacting to regulation, they’re helping to shape it. That’s the level of accountability we strive for at Orbital.

4. What’s one lesson you’ve learned about building resilient operations across borders?

You can’t copy and paste compliance frameworks from one country to another, context matters. Every jurisdiction has its own regulatory nuances, and if you want to operate globally, you need both a deep local understanding and a centralised foundation that can flex without compromising integrity.

The lesson for me has been that resilience isn’t just about redundancy or controls, it’s about clarity. You need clear processes, clear escalation paths, and a culture that supports proactive risk management. When you’re dealing with cross-border flows, trust is everything — and trust is built through transparency, consistency, and strong governance.

5. Orbital often says it's more than just a platform — it’s about the people behind it. What does that mean to you?

Technology is an enabler, but it’s people who define your culture, your standards, and your ability to execute under pressure. At Orbital, we’re fortunate to have a team that not only understands the technical complexity of what we’re building, but also shares a deep commitment to doing things the right way.

Whether we’re onboarding a new partner, addressing a regulatory change, or launching a new product, it’s the people and their judgment, integrity, and care that make the difference. That’s what gives me confidence in where we’re going and why I’m proud to be part of this team.

‍

Disclaimer: The views and information shared here are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. Authors do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the content. Products and services mentioned may not be available in all jurisdictions and are subject to applicable regulations. Orbital does not recommend buying or selling any particular digital assets and makes no representation on the suitability or reliability of any such asset. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.