Ray Ang found her purpose in an unexpected place: the complex world of financial data. As Senior Manager for Data Platforms, Governance and Data Risk at Cuscal, she is driven by the real, everyday impact payments have on people and communities. In this Q&A, our Women in Payments Awards nominee, shares how her team ensures data integrity across every transaction and why engaging diverse stakeholders is the key to success.
I’ve been at Cuscal for a year now. I initially joined as a Senior Manager for Data Governance to build a team focused on uplifting Cuscal’s overall ways of governing our data, in line with the regulatory requirements of being a financial institution.
Most recently, I’ve taken on additional responsibility, leading the team that manages our Data Platforms, Governance, and Data Risk. In this role, I set the direction for how we manage data and its associated risks across the entire lifecycle, ensuring we treat data as a strategic asset. This includes overseeing the development of new data solutions and strengthening data management and governance practices across Cuscal.
The environment at Cuscal is quite different from a large organisation. I previously worked at one of the “Big Four”, where I was very deep into one specific component of a large framework.
At Cuscal, I can focus on breadth rather than depth. I’ve been able to contribute my experience across different knowledge components, ensuring I can manage the whole data lifecycle and contribute widely, while leaving the deep specialisation to the experts on my team. The ability to drive end-to-end strategy here is far more exciting than at a big bank.
Sometimes, working in a corporate data role, it’s difficult to explain to people how you meaningfully contribute to the community’s day-to-day life. My partner works at a hospital and sees that tangible impact every single day. In payments, we also make a difference, but it’s not always immediately visible to everyone.
The reason I moved to payments was that I wanted to find more purpose in my field. Now, I can directly see how I’m helping the Australian community make those essential daily payments at the grocery store or the medical centre.
We are a B2B organisation, serving banks, mutual banks, and fintechs so their customers can have real-time payments and more. My team manages the critical controls between our core systems and the settlement reports we send to our clients for regulatory compliance. If the data is incorrect, our clients cannot comply with financial regulations. Our work is crucial for ensuring transactions are accurate and reliable. That’s how my team helps keep the financial ecosystem running smoothly.
Early in my career, I was in management consultancy. I started as a graduate and was quickly exposed to how different industries operate and how to communicate with diverse stakeholders – from the C-Suite and middle management to the people actually executing the work. That was pivotal because it helped me build the skills needed to connect with, talk to and understand how any organisation operates.
In my data leadership role at Cuscal, I focus on bridging the gap between diverse data needs across the organisation. Everyone has different requirements for data, and it’s critical to understand the key outcomes expected by stakeholders—from data engineers to senior leadership. Whether it’s a request for NPP (New Payments Platform) statistics or RBA compliance, I interpret these needs and translate them into actionable tasks for my team.
This ability to communicate effectively at multiple levels and turn complex requirements into meaningful insights has been fundamental to my career—and it’s what makes data a true strategic asset at Cuscal.
The payments industry is evolving rapidly from cash and cheques, to cards and now to instant payment products, like PayID® and NPP. Customers today expect speed, convenience and security, and that expectation is driving innovation.
The biggest opportunity lies in using data to understand how customers interact with payment products. These insights allow us to design solutions that are faster, smarter and more relevant. For Tier 2 and mutual banks, this is critical to staying competitive and trusted in a market dominated by larger institutions.
Another major shift is the rise of scams and fraud, which makes it essential to build resilient payment infrastructure that can withstand these threats while ensuring secure and seamless delivery of payments. Combining strong governance with innovation will be key to creating safe, reliable and customer-focused solutions.
Consumers should be given more options, empowering them to access payment solutions that suit their lifestyle while maintaining trust and security. The focus must be on innovating and delivering safe, compliant and customer-focused payment products that meet evolving expectations.
This is an area where, unfortunately, we don’t see as many women. My advice to women, or anyone curious about payments and data, is that there is space for you if you are willing to learn.
If you are curious, step into it. Find mentors who can encourage you to look beyond the current workforce, which is still quite male-dominated in this specific field.
Ultimately, you are the only person who can provide yourself with that opportunity. Don’t let yourself be the one who limits your potential.
Cuscal is proud to nominate Ray for a prestigious Women in Payments Award. These awards honour women payments professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and promise. Find out more about the awards.
PayID® is a registered trademark of NPP Australia Limited.
Important Information: Information in this article is current as at 19 November 2025 and is subject to change. This article represents the opinions and views of the personal experiences of the panellists only. This article is provided for general information purposes only and does not have regard to the situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as advice. Before acting on this information, consider its appropriateness to your business. Cuscal Limited ABN 95 087 822 455.
