Azahara González Navarro works in Patria’s Compliance team, which helps to adhere to regulations and combat corruption. Ensuring responsibility is a fascinating field of work.

For Patria, responsible operations and strict compliance with regulations are the foundation of business. Azahara works in Patria’s Compliance team, which helps to promote good governance and compliance with laws and regulations.
– The importance of responsibility issues is emphasized even further as Patria grows in international markets, Azahara points out.

At Patria, integrity is an essential part of everything we do, and our operations are governed without exception by strict ethical standards. In addition to Patria’s own requirements, the company and all its subsidiaries and affiliates must adhere to anti bribery laws in every country where we operate, as well as to relevant international regulations.
– Business activities are subject to a strict zero tolerance policy on bribery and improper payments, Azahara stresses.

Responsibility is part of every Patria employee’s work

The work of Patria’s three-member Compliance team is diverse. Azahara is responsible, among other things, for internal controls related to compliance. In data protection matters, she monitors the implementation of data protection.

She also helps her colleague analyze the responsibility of Patria’s potential future partners to help minimize legal, reputational, and compliance risks.
The work sometimes resembles that of a detective, as investigating companies’ owners and affiliations is not always easy. However, the backgrounds and risks of every company are thoroughly reviewed before starting cooperation.

Patria’s Compliance team helps maintain integrity, transparency, and responsible operations across the company.

Compliance also manages Patria’s Whistleblower notification channel, through which employees and stakeholders can report suspected misconduct or actions contrary to ethical guidelines.

Preventing misconduct is emphasized in responsibility work. The Compliance team, among other things, advises employees on issues related to potential conflicts of interest and the prevention of corruption. Patria also organizes training and audits on compliance.

According to Azahara’s experience, Patria employees take compliance seriously.
– Patria is a transparent company where responsible operations are truly important to the employees. They also constantly want to improve their operations. That’s why cooperation within the company is easy.

The importance of responsibility issues is emphasized even further as Patria grows in international markets.

A Spaniard fell in love with Finnish nature and libraries

Azahara first worked in Patria’s Pilot Training unit and then moved to the Compliance team in Tampere.
Trained as a lawyer in Spain, Azahara especially values Finnish nature and silence. One of her favourite hobbies is spending time in the forest with her dog.

Azahara has also become fond of her local library. She is amazed by Finnish libraries, which offer a wide selection of books in Spanish for avid readers.
– I also do sewing. I make accessories for my dog with a sewing machine, but maybe I’ll start making clothes for my family as well.

Azahara is studying Finnish, but she gets along well at work and in her free time by using English. She has already adapted to the daily rhythm in Finland, which differs from Spain.
– In Spain, siesta is from two to four in the afternoon, and at that time people go home to eat with their family or friends. In Finland, lunch is eaten quickly and much earlier at the workplace. At first, it felt exotic, but not anymore, Azahara laughs.

Text: Matti Remes

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