Our Faculty

Martin Woods has a wealth of experience as a detective who once investigated financial crimes, including global frauds and money laundering. Upon leaving the police service he embarked upon a career as a senior financial crime compliance officer, working for and with a wide variety of firms all over the world. He has provided training to regulators, central banks, law enforcement agencies and regulated firms and has been called upon to provide expertise as well as guidance. He has been highly commended by regulators and is passionate about empowering people to fight financial crime.

He advocates we are all here to Make A Difference and he is always on the look out for those who may want to join his MAD – Make A Difference revolution. He prides himself as an enemy of the money launderer, the fraudster and the terrorist, who uses training to equip, inspire and motivate others.

Justin has been working in regulatory roles for most of his career. He has worked for financial companies such as Macquarie, JPMorgan, Bank of America and UBS. Justin also worked for a US regulator, FINRA, where he helped create Examiner University. After his corporate career concluded, Justin worked for GRC Solutions as Head of North American Operations and then started his own firm, tweezzle, which is virtual training company that specializes in regulatory compliance. It combines learning and entertainment. In addition, Justin works as a strategic advisor for start-ups.

Justin Muscolino is an experienced compliance training professional with over 20 years of creating and developing Compliance training programs, managing regulatory projects, liaising with regulators, and identifying gaps/opportunities for improvements in risk mitigation.
 

Karen has been in the Financial Services Industry since 1987 and has worked with providers, intermediaries, compliance consultants, lawyers and regulators.

Karen has specialised in regulatory compliance for the last 26 years. Having worked as a Group Compliance Director for a large corporate entity for over 10 years, she has ‘lived’ the role of Compliance Specialist in-house. But, since 2008 she has been a Consultant to the Industry, working with over 60 businesses, everything from sole trader to SME to large Corporates. She has supported businesses who are new to the industry, businesses who are experienced but just want some specialised support, and, businesses in crisis. She has worked for the FCA supporting as a S166 specialist assessing businesses going through enforcement. She has also sat on FCA working parties.

Karen’s knowledge of financial services and of regulation is extensive and wide-ranging. She understands the importance of a commercial approach to regulation, fully appreciating that the business also needs to function well aside of its obligations to legislation. Her specialist experience ensures that advice and guidance given, work in parallel with the business and make sense operationally with the ethos of the individual firm. Her belief that compliance is simply “best business practice”, works well, streamlines compliance and helps to dispel the myth that compliance is complex.

Karen has extensive experience in business governance, strategic planning, training, facilitation and multi-site business management. She also has a wealth of experience in Compliance regime gap analysis, improvement recommendations and implementation, Instigating a risk analysis programme with audit and monitoring routines. She can support and guide in all areas of Compliance, Financial Crime and Bribery, Training and Competence, Data Protection, Regulatory liaison; (pre and post) inspections, Regulatory Authorisation and VOP requests. She is also a credible and professional speaker.

Karen has also worked as an examiner for the International Compliance Association, concentrating her time on their Governance, Risk and Compliance Diplomas.

Karen holds the;

• Diploma in Compliance (Programme of assessment for Experienced Practitioners)
• Advanced Financial Planning Certificate G10 (Taxation and Trusts)
• Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP)
• Advanced Financial Planning Certificate H15 (Supervision and Sales Management)
• Full Financial Planning Certificate (FPC)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Training Management (Thames Valley University)
• Her award-winning Consultancy has been bestowed with many accolades over the years.

Himashini has over 20 years’ experience providing tax advisory and compliance services to financial institutions. Based on her experiences and commitment to specialisation, she recognises the problems faced by financial services clients and the solutions that would benefit them. Having a deep specialisation and expertise, she also understands the risks, opportunities to standardise and utilise subject matter experts as and when required. This provides a differentiated value added service to clients that are timely and commercially astute. Himashini has also has extensive expertise in working with global regulatory forums such as OECD on regulatory compliance such as Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), Common Reporting Standards (CRS) and hosting webinars to educate global clients using regulatory discussion forums with HMRC (UK) and the ATO (Australia) to create supportive platform for global clients given the complex nature of the global regulations ./span>
 

Adding value

Himashini is passionate about the financial services industry and adds value by streamlining compliance processes. Working closely with internal audit functions and being a practicing solicitor (NSW) Himashini understands the importance of governance and risk. As such, Himashini has extensive experience in tax risk management, drafting tax policy documentation, tax internal audit, tax process improvement, ATO governance review and tax transparency. This invariably enables her to provide value added services to clients, especially at Board level./span>
 

Marie-Josée Samneh is a Lebanese legal, compliance & anti-money laundering officer with a focus on banking and financial matters.
She has extensive experience in the Lebanese banking and financial industry. In her 10 year career, Marie-Josée worked as the head of compliance in, respectively, a Lebanese financial institution (MENA Invest SAL), and a leading Lebanese subsidiary of a Swiss private bank (Arab Bank Switzerland Lebanon SAL (ABSL), where she established the compliance department (AML and legal) from the ground up.
In fact, Marie-Josée prepared all policies and procedures of the compliance department and oversaw the implementation of various strategic, operational and regulatory processes. In her experience, Marie-Josée also worked as the head of legal and compliance in the Association of Banks in Lebanon which is a professional association established by Lebanese banks. During her time at the Association of Banks in Lebanon, she contributed to the preparation of various banking legislation (FATCA, CRS, etc.,) and coordinated their discussions with the various stakeholders (Government, Banks as well as banking and AML regulators).
Today she is the primary contact with Lebanese regulators at ABSL, she handles all the Bank's strategic development plans and all legal/regulatory interactions between ABSL and its Swiss parent company.

Marie-Josée is also the Secretary of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee, the Risk Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Anti Money Laundering Committee at Arab ABSL.

She holds a Law Degree, a Master’s in Banking and Finance from Sagesse University in Beirut, a Master’s in Management from the Ecole Superieure des Affaire Beirut, and an Executive Education, “Program for Leadership Development” from Harvard Business School. She is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. Marie-Josée speaks and writes with full proficiency, Arabic, English, French and Spanish.

Compliance professional, FinTech & RegTech enthusiast. Driving sustainable business success & operational excellence by adopting innovative, risk-based & value-based approach, and with ethical & social responsibility in mind.

Areas of interest/specialization:
• Banking, FinTech, RegTech, Digital payments, Virtual banking
• Blockchain, DeFi, NFT, Crypto
• Regulatory compliance/affairs management
• AML and Financial crime risk management
• Information/cyber security risk management
• Operational risk management
• Enterprise risk management

Experienced risk and compliance manager. Multi-faceted with UHNW client sales and advisory as well as in-depth international compliance and regulatory hands-on experience.
 

Proven skills in implementing and training on regulatory requirements and formulating practical compliance procedures and relevant documents. A passion and a flair for education in the financial services arena, Conscious Capitalism and Conscious Leadership
 

Alexandra Russell is the Chief Risk Officer of Sasol, a chemicals and energy company that safely and sustainably sources, produces and markets a range of high-quality products on a global scale.
 

She is a dynamic results-driven admitted attorney with a proven track record of performance delivery in over 20 years of experience. From project managing regulatory projects to stakeholder management, her expertise also covers strategic thought leadership and governance, risk and compliance (GRC) management with a particular focus on sustainability.
 

She holds a Sustainability Management Certificate from Cambridge University and completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Management, Business Studies at the Berlin ESMT. Alexandra was awarded an Africa Sustainability Leadership Award in 2016 in recognition of her contribution to sustainability thought leadership.
 

Her team has just been recognised by IRMSA for its innovative approach to making risk management a dynamic part of the company's strategic thinking.
 

Daisy is an Anti-Money Laundering Specialist with over 15 years work experience. She is a highly effective team leader with proficiency in Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Sanctions, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Card Fraud, Know Your Customer Principles (KYC), including developing training programmes and implementing compliance solutions.

Daisy currently works with DIB Bank Kenya Limited which is a subsidiary of Dubai Islamic Bank – UAE. Prior to this, she has held various leadership positions at Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), Equity Bank and Barclays Bank of Kenya. She holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Eastern Africa, Baraton.
Daisy has been successful in creating and updating relevant AML/CFT and KYC programs and implementation of FATCA compliance. She has also worked closely with subsidiaries in the East African region in her work experience and has a good understanding of the regulatory environment within the region. She is also a Data Protection Officer, and oversees adherence to data protection laws and regulations.

She is the Deputy Chairperson of the Kenya Banker’s Association Compliance Subcommittee and a member of International Compliance Association (ICA). She conducts professional training, while sharing knowledge and experience within the industry.

Dr. Noémi També is an independent consultant on Money Laundering prevention, Counter Terrorism Financing and Counter Proliferation Finance. She also conducts research in the field, and has developed a framework within which to consider financial crime issues away from traditional industry papers that tend to be more anecdotal and typological. She is also an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, RUSI.

Her professional experience spans across PSPs, RegTechs, think tanks, government and private and retail banking. She has a wide international experience spanning the UK, Luxembourg, Estonia, and Mexico, with a particular focus on Financial Intelligence Units and private banking. She has managed high-profile investigations focused on Anti-Money Laundering, and delivered projects for compliance control environment, processes improvements, remediation, and reputational risks management. Prior to that, Noémi was an environmental economist.

Her research interests are in Crypto, Risk Management, Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing, Sanctions and Proliferation Finance.

Noémi earned a Ph.D. in Systems Thinking from the Hull University Business School. Her research focused on the Risk-Based Approach, the deconstruction of ML risk, and Organisations’ de-risking strategies. She has an MSc. in Economics from the University College London and her BSc. in Economics and Politics from the University of Bath.

I use data for financial crime compliance, fraud prevention, and risk management.

Gregory Dellas is the Chief Compliance and Innovation Officer at ECOMMBX. Previously, at the Bank of Cyprus, Gregory served as Director Wealth & Markets and spearheaded the AML Risk Management team within International Banking Services, responsible for high-risk clients and transactions and for providing guidance and specialized training to management and staff. Before that he was Group MLRO for Cyprus Popular Bank, and held a number of other senior management positions.
 

Gregory is the founder and Chair of the ACAMS Cyprus Chapter, since 2015. He holds several international professional certifications including CGSS, CAMS (Advanced) - Risk and CAMS (Advanced) – Audit. He is a certified CAMS instructor and GCI accredited trainer, a Fellow of ICA (FICA) and a long-standing member of the AMLP Forum and IGCA. He also holds an MBA from Lancaster University in the UK and a BSC (Hons) Industrial economics from the University of Warwick.
 

long-term experience in banking and generally the financial services industry either as an employee or as an independent advisor, gaining a thorough understanding of the banking and financial services regulations and procedures AML and payments.
 

14-year experience in retail banking.
 

AML and compliance in an Electronic Money Institution (also served as an executive director).
 

Head of Compliance in an EU-regulated Investment Firm (currently).
 

More than 20 years´ experience in FINANCIAL SERVICES equips me with a blend of cross functional skills in COMPLIANCE, RISK, LEGAL and TECHNOLOGY. I use these skills to help organizations adapt to new challenges and deliver competitive advantage.

My strong ability to interpret legislation and assess its operational impact, combined with my IT and people management experience, allows me to add significant value in REGULATORY TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS.

♦ REGULATORY COMPLIANCE CONSULTANT and TRAINER ♦ I harness my deep understanding of compliance regulations and experience in various organizations to offer advisory services and training that help practitioners critically evaluate and build effective compliance programs. I am interested in compliance because it can be a powerful facilitator of DOING BUSINESS BETTER through strengthening INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY. It also exposes me to the inter connectedness of business operations and a multitude of stakeholders, offering me endless learning opportunities.

♦ MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT and PMO ♦ Part of a consulting organisation´s management team, prepared and presented client proposals, budgets and led teams of specialized consultants. Led projects from conception to production, implementing new operating models, workflow automation and strategy tools. Some notable projects: • Led a project in a tier 1 investment bank establishing a governance & control framework for outsourced functions. • Part of an innovative customer due diligence/ KYC managed service & utility project. • Led a project to embed an AML compliance culture across a tier 1 bank. • Participated in projects covering trade & transactions reporting, operational resilience, IT risk, data governance & the IBOR transition. Held various roles in Software Testing & as Project and Vendor Support Manager in a large-scale technology program team which implemented the IT infrastructure for a new digital bank.

♦ SENIOR MANAGER within Banks ♦ Occupied various hands-on roles in retail & corporate risk. Led multi-disciplinary teams locally & remotely. Reported to CEO level across matrix reporting lines.

QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor of Law • Bachelor of Commerce (economics and law majors) • Postgraduate in Governance, Risk and Compliance • Certified auditor (ISO Compliance Management Systems & Anti-Bribery Management Systems) • Disintermediation in the banking sector (Gordon Institute of Business Science).

Fellow member of the ICA (International Compliance Association) and AML working group lead at ASCOM (Asociación Española de Compliance).

With extensive and wide-ranging experience in compliance across the financial services industry, Nicola has worked as an industry consultant since 2013. Prior to that her experience was in-house on both the buy and sell sides, globally and locally, and working for one of the largest consultancy firms in the UK.

Throughout her career, Nicola has been a key provider of technical advice and guidance to senior management, non-executive directors and to wider business audiences. She has significant experience contributing to, and coordinating responses from businesses to industry bodies and regulators, with the aim of communicating clearly concerns and queries. Nicola is also able to advise on the structure of compliance departments, both standalone and within wider risk teams, including accountability, communication channels, relationship building and reporting lines.

Nicola has a proven track record of creating and delivering training packages to a wide variety of audiences. This experience ranges from general training about financial services, providing a broad overview of the relevant regulatory environments and extends to very specialised and targeted training, often delivered to meet specific regulatory requirements and to fill knowledge gaps.

Nicola holds a postgraduate diploma in financial services law, has an MBA and is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments

Director, Group Compliance, Financial Crime and ConductDirector, Group Compliance, Financial Crime and Conduct Standard Chartered Bank
 

Professional Compliance Director with seasoned experiences in global banks. Exceptional judgement, engagement, and risk management towards compliance framework. Known for displaying high business acumen, integrity, and ownership while always exceeding expectations independently or as part of a team. Outstanding communication skill with fluency in English and Korean. A strategic thinker, a thoughtful leader and a highly motivated individual with proven track records.
 

Faisal is a Director, Compliance and Regtech Director, Compliance and Regtech at Paradyne Fintech – a leading provider of expert-led services to European fintech and banks. Their services include go-to-market strategies, platform development and integration, and regulatory compliance training.

Faisal’s work assists fintech and banks in developing and implementing Compliance, Due Diligence and Payments Product Programs, and within Regtech, focussing on SME and Strategy. He is an experienced writer, trainer and speaker enthusiastic about making a difference in compliance.

Holger is a passionate Senior Financial Crime Professional working on a wide range of projects and has a unique blend of international knowledge, expertise and experience together with a good reputation in the national and international Anti-Financial Crime field. He is a recognized SME for Financial Crime giving a wide range of trainings and acts as a speaker on conferences and symposiums both national and international.
 

Holger worked in various Anti-Financial Crime and Compliance roles, starting as an analyst and worked his way up to a global responsibility at one of Germany’s biggest banks before changing career into the consulting field.
 

Ms. Sarah Tariq is a Specialist Advisor for AFC & Compliance at Deutsche Bank, Pakistan where she has headed the Transaction Screening & Embargoes team as well. She has a rich experience of 13+ years in Banking and Financial Services Industry in Financial Crime Risk, CDD Advisory and Regulatory Compliance with British, German as well as big local banks in Pakistan. Sarah is enthusiastic to fighting financial crime and has been instrumental in establishment and implementation of compliance governance structures, transaction monitoring systems as well as policies within the banks. She is keen in keeping abreast with the dynamic regulatory environments including the Crypto and Data Analytics space. Sarah started her career with Relationship Management but moved into compliance later. She holds an MBA and is a certified AML Specialist from Institute of Bankers’ Pakistan. Sarah is one of the first Pakistani to have participated in ACAMS as a speaker on topics related to Compliance and AML.

Martin has undertaken financial crime prevention roles for the last 23 years, and is a well-known and established figure in the financial crime prevention sector. Martin is regarded as a highly competent consultant/adviser as well as an outstanding trainer, and a true expert in the field of financial crime prevention.

Over the last 23 years Martin has been engaged on numerous projects, both global and domestic for major financial services firms, involving the delivery of staff training in all aspects of financial crime prevention, including (but not limited to) fraud and money laundering prevention, as well as policy authoring, reviews, audits and pre and post regulatory visit reviews and monitoring.

Martin has also spent time working as an Economic Crime Consultant to two UK Police Forces, and, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, worked as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board of Prisons.

Previous Roles Include

• Group MLRO with responsibility for financial crime compliance in 34 countries around the world,
• Co-authoring the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group Guidance Notes,
• During 2014 to 2016, delivery of AML/Sanctions training to staff of a major high street bank in compliance with the US Deferred Prosecution Agreement. This included acting as Master Trainer and training the bank’s MLRO’s, Investigation Officers and Advisory Officers, and being one of three trainers globally selected to train to the US Regulator/Monitor,
• Training various other organisations, both domestic and international, including UK branched offices of Indian, Italian and Chinese banks.

Martin has also acted as lead investigator in countless internal and external investigations, involving mortgage fraud, application fraud, identity fraud and money laundering.

Other areas of speciality include data protection, anti-bribery and corruption, market abuse, senior management responsibility, conduct risk and vulnerable customer management

Ayotola Jagun is Chief Compliance Officer and Company Secretary of Oando PLC.
 

An experienced lawyer with over 29 years of experience at the Nigerian Bar and a specialist in Corporate Law, Compliance, Corporate Governance and Risk Management, Ayotola has spent most of her legal career working across various jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, Bermuda, Canada and Nigeria managing cross border corporate transactions, acquisitions and restructurings across several jurisdictions.
 

Ayotola started her career with Chief Rotimi Williams Chambers. Prior to joining Oando, she also worked as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Capital G Limited, a financial services Group based in Bermuda. She has worked with other notable companies including Akzo Nobel Plc, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Sara Lee UK Holdings in the United Kingdom as well as Citigroup in Bermuda where she held the role of Senior Corporate, Risk & Control Manager. Ayotola was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 and in 2004, obtained an M.Sc. in Corporate & Ethics from the University of London. She is a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Ayotola has also gained several certifications in the field of Ethics and Compliance including being a Certified Anti-money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Certified Ethics Officer (The Ethics Institute SA).
 

Ayotola has a passion for anti-corruption compliance and corporate governance. She was co-chair of the 10th Principle Working Group of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), New York and is a current Board member of the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria. She is a member of the Institute of Directors (Nigeria) Committee on Independent Directors, Chairs the Corporate Governance and Compliance Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law and is a member of Council and Head of the External Relations Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum. She also heads the Equality in Law focal group of the Nigerian Economic Summit Groups’ Community of Practice on Gender. Ayotola serves as a Board Member of several Companies and Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria.
 

Ayotola speaks and lectures regularly on Anti-corruption, Corporate Governance and Compliance at local and international conferences and Institutions.
 

By working with Cyprus as well as international financial institutions, investment managers, corporations and their advisers across a range of industry sectors including funds and investment management, energy and natural resources, technology, and infrastructure, I have come to develop thorough knowledge of all types of corporate structures and can work with clients to provide appropriate support relating to applying advanced theoretical and practical legal knowledge to systematic, analytical processes in the development of Cyprus Business law framework, including include Private involvement in the oil and gas industry, corporate and commercial law, tax practice, corporate practice as well as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and Public Private Partnership law.

At the same time. i have tended to grow academically and become a law and management lecturer in a number of highly esteemed academic institutions in Cyprus, and writing a number of academic journal articles on Public Private Partnerships in the island. Soon i will be receiving my Ph.D in the law of oil and gas in Cyprus from the university of Maastricht. In my research i partly focus on the taxation aspects of the hydrocarbons industry.

Experienced in Banking, Governance, Compliance, Technology, Regulatory and Consultancy. Worked 20 consecutive years for Standard Chartered Bank in Operational Risk Management, Fintech, Regtech and Cyber Security and Resilience. Expertise relates to Cryptocurrency, Anti Financial Crime, Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Finance of Terrorism. Leveraged the Compliance of international and local Banks.

Certified from ACAMS, Grant Thornton and University of London. International conferences speaker and facilitator. Currently provides consultancies and coaching with GRMCT in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

A global Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Sanctions expert having a unique experience with the United Nations and the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (an associate member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
 

A FATF and ESAAMLG Certified Assessor. Proven track record of working with the Government of Mauritius and other stakeholders in the implementation of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (AML/CFT) and sanctions requirements that meet the FATF Standards.
 

Adept at multi-tasking, leading group discussions and AML/CFT and sanctions-related projects, including AML/CFT legislative reforms. Team player with strong communication and organization skills. Ability to work in high-stress environments and ensuring task completion.
 

Azra Khan is an accredited FATCA CRS trainer with the Global Compliance Institute, with over a decade of experience in international tax compliance, regulatory reporting, and risk management. She has served as a FATCA CRS Subject Matter Expert and trainer, delivering internal training programs, advising on complex client classifications, and supporting global compliance teams in aligning with regulatory obligations under both FATCA and CRS.

She has also led end-to-end FATCA and CRS registration and reporting processes, working closely with tax authorities to resolve compliance queries and ensure timely, accurate reporting. Her work has included data validation, due diligence reviews, remediation activities, and ongoing stakeholder engagement.

Azra has collaborated extensively with both internal and external audit teams, with a strong focus on strengthening risk controls and governance structures. Her expertise spans drafting and maintaining tax policy documentation, tax risk management, supporting regulatory governance reviews, and leading initiatives that enhance tax transparency and streamline tax processes within financial institutions.

Currently working as a Business Analyst with a specialisation in Foreign Tax, Azra brings a unique blend of regulatory knowledge, analytical skill, and transformation experience—making her a valuable contributor to strategic compliance and governance initiatives across the financial services sector.

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)- IIA -Florida-USA & Chartered Accountant.
 

Hold Master of Business Administration Degree ( MBA ) Edinburgh Business School- Heriot Watt University - Edinburgh , UK.
 

Certified Anti -Money Lundering Specialist ( AMLS ) GCI- Australia.
 

More than 18 years of academic education and professional experience in Accounting/Auditing &Training fields at governmental bodies and International organizations in Qatar , Middle East and GCC.
 

Accredited Trainer , speaker in accounting/Auditing and ( CIA) & ( AMLS ) Instructor for many Universities, governmental bodies , Syndicates and associations.
 

At the intersection of financial regulation and innovation, my work as a Strategic Advisor at Xpertsystems.Ai and an Accredited Trainer at GCI harnesses my expertise in FATCA, CRS, and regulatory compliance. With my hands-on experience overseeing FATCA/CRS classifications and implementing operational processes, I've cultivated a knack for navigating complex compliance landscapes and fostering ethical financial practices.

Collaboration has been key in my role at DWS Group, where I developed strong relationships with internal stakeholders, contributing to the creation of robust control frameworks. My commitment to excellence is reflected in the successful establishment of governance strategies for Illiquid Operations and the proactive engagement with tax operations to ensure compliance. These endeavors underscore my dedication to upholding the highest standards of financial compliance and integrity.

Talal Shoukat has 15 years of experience in many fields such as Banking Operations, Compliance, financial crime, Sanctions, AML/CFT System Implementation and Training. He is a Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist CAMS-ACAMS, a Certified Compliance Manager CCM -GCI, Certified Train the Trainer from ILLAF UK, Associate Charter Banker from Charter Banker Institute the UK and Banking Diploma IBP. He holds multiple other financial crime related certifications. He has provided many training sessions in financial institutions & academies in the field of financial crime risk assessment, customer due diligence, trade due diligence, risk-based approach. He has in addition to the above deep knowledge in compliance system implementation. He is an Accredited Trainer from Global Compliance Institute and provides GCI Certifications training in Qatar and around the Globe.
 

Nadine Ghosn Eid is a Compliance Professional based in Beirut with 26 years of banking experience, including 16 years of experience in the Payments and Cards Industry, as well as in AML, financial crime, regulatory compliance, and data protection.
 

In addition to a Master’s Degree in Money and Banking and Certification in Anti-Money Laundering, Securities, Financial Derivatives, Banking Ethics, FSA Regulations, and Data Protection, Nadine has an extended financial experience in the Middle Eastern, African, American, and European markets.
 

More recently, this experience has included working since May 2019 as Senior Manager, then as Director - Head of Compliance at areeba (a Leading Regional Financial Technology company specialized in the payment cards and electronic services, and in offering issuing and acquiring services to banks, other financial institutions, merchants and retailers).
 

Prior to areeba, Nadine worked with CSCBank sal (a regional leader in the card and electronic payment processing industry) for 14 years, of which the last three years have been also as Head of Compliance.
 

Over her career, Nadine’s accomplishments have included:

• Reporting to and advising the Organization’s Executive Management in the mitigation of legal, financial and operational risks.

• Advising the business on compliance-related matters including card services regulatory requirements in Lebanon, the Middle East, and the EU.

• Drafting, amending and recommending amendments of current and new policies and procedures in accordance with market regulatory changes and Best Banking Practices, with Data protection standards.

• Ensuring Compliance with various card schemes mainly with regards to card issuance, PCI Compliance, BIN Sponsorship, prepaid, retail, and corporate cards programs.

• Monitoring compliance control policies, processes and procedures, and ensuring their prompt implementation across all levels of the organization and the Group.

• Cooperating with the Audit Teams (internal and external) responsible for ensuring compliance with established internal control procedures relevant to the institution’s activities.

• Conducting a review of high-risk customers, investigating suspicious operations and submitting Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) to the Board Committee for Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering / Countering Financing of Terrorism (referred to as AML/CFT Compliance Committee), as well as to the Special Investigation Commission.

• Overseeing an effective compliance training program, as well as developing, and ensuring the implementation of the institution’s code of conduct and the Best Banking / Financial Practices.

• Acting as the Data Protection Officer of the Organization.

Nadine is fluent in English, French and Arabic, and is no stranger to EU and US legislation, having worked for multiple banks that do business in European and American markets.
 

Esther is an experienced and dedicated Senior Risk and Compliance Manager with 10years of success in ensuring regulatory compliance through the acquisition and implementation of primary, secondary and topical legislation. I hold advanced skills in stockbrokerage, asset management, enterprise risk management and Compliance.

I hold a bachelor of business administration degree major Management from the university of Eastern Africa Baraton. I hold a leadership certificate from the university of Stellenbosch and a Regulations and Market Practice certificate from Chartered Institute for Securities Investment.
My skills include but not limited to training, presentation skills, multi-cultural experience and compliance.

Iam passionate about financial crime compliance.

I have over 5 years of work experience in risk, compliance and anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing (AML/CFT). I work with customer-facing and back-office cross-departmental teams spanning customer on-boarding and KYC, sanctions screening, politically exposed persons' screening, transaction monitoring, compliance risk assessments, addressing consent requests from regulators, managing correspondent banking compliance as well as regulatory and senior management reporting.

I have worked in various industries including FinTech, Banking, Advisory, Automotive, and Government. I have solid experience in finance operations including account receivables, payables, asset verification and cash management.

I hold a bachelors degree in Business Management (Finance and Banking), currently pursuing an MBA in Strategic Management.
Besides my day to day roles, I have been involved in the development of the AML guide for Accountants in Kenya (ICPAK – 2020), Financial Crime Compliance Train the Trainer (ToT) member with a tier 1 bank in Kenya with operations across East Africa (2019), and User Acceptance Testing and Post Implementation Review of an AML/CFT system for a tier 1 bank in Kenya (2019/20).

When not fighting financial crime, I enjoy travel and reading.

Natalie has been with FATCA right from day one, with over 10 years of experience in both industry and professional services. She has implemented, managed, changed and overseen a plethora of AEOI projects over the years. After spending 8 years with online stockbroker Interactive Investor where she was responsible for all regulatory operations, she moved to the consultancy world where she is now the Head of Tax Platform at Hartford Consulting and works with a range of financial institutions on FATCA/CRS advisory, technology, and reporting.

Mohammad is a professional with 12 years of experience in AML/ CFT in the private and public sectors. Currently working in the MENAFATF in the Mutual Evaluation department, an expert in evaluating how well countries and the private sector implement FATF Standards. he has participated in many AML conferences as an AML/CFT/Compliance speaker in the MENA region. Mohammad is the founder of AML SHIELD, which provide AML/CFT Audits, Consultancy, and Training services to Financial Institutions (FIs), Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions (DNFBPs), and Virtual Assets Services Providers (VASPs).

Amel Soussi has 25 years of experience in many fields such as banking operations, compliance, financial crime and sanctions in an international Bank. She is a Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist CAMS-ACAMS, a Certified Know You Customer Specialist KYCs -GCI and a major in economic & social management Master from Tunisian Economic University. She has provided many training sessions to local and foreign institutions & academies in the field of financial crime risk assessment, customer due diligence, trade due diligence, risk-based approach. She has in addition deep knowledge in compliance system implementation.

A results-driven professional with a successful record spanning over a decade in both the private and public sectors. A demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and oversee innovative corporate governance, compliance and ethics programs & strategies. Direct experience working in DPA Monitorships and managing complex third party relationships. Consistent and proven expertise in building consensus and driving cooperative relationships with business leaders, Executive Board Management and external stakeholders.

A member of the team in charge of preparing and issuing the AML/CFT Policy of the Central Bank of Jordan.
•A member of the team in charge of preparing and issuing the AML/CFT instructions to Central Bank of Jordan which were according to “Methodology for assessing compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems”.
•Contributing in preparing the AML/CFT instructions and the related circulars issued by Central Bank of Jordan to the banks operating in Jordan.
•Contributing in drafting the Compliance instructions of the Central Bank of Jordan, which were according to international standards and best practices.
•Contributing in preparing the Central Bank of Jordan’s risk based approach supervisory manual for AML/CFT (Off-Site and On-Site Supervisory Manual).
•Contributing in preparing the AML/CFT RISK MATRIX to the banking sectors in Jordan through collaborating with the IMF experts.
•Identifying, assessing, and understanding the inherent risks, which face the banks arising from (Customer, Geographic Zones, Product and Services, Delivery of Channels) and suggesting the necessary mitigation techniques in order to reduce the aforementioned risks (Risk Mitigations).
•Creating the AML/CFT risk profiles for each bank, while escalating the suitable recommendations to our executive management regarding the high risk levels (Institutional Risk Assessment).
•Analyzing the data (Statistical Data Forms) which is received from the banks to identify the sectorial risk in the banking sector, thereafter circulating them to the banks. (Sectorial Risk Assessment).
•Participating in the National Risk Assessment (NRA) -in a partnership with the AML/CFT Unit in Jordan- to fill in the perceptions and expectations’ questionnaires regarding money laundering and terrorism financing.
•Participating in the Kingdom responses to the questions / Notes, which was received from the MENAFAT assessors regarding the FATF recommendation from the Methodology for assessing compliance with the FATF Recommendations and the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems aiding in the preparation of the mutual evaluation (ME).
•Participating in preparing the AML/CFT Guidance Corporation with Counter terrorist office / US Dept.
•Participating in the On-Site Inspection team to examine the compliance of the banks’ policies and procedures with the Central Bank of Jordan AML/CFT instructions, and to examine the level of effectiveness of their environment (Banking Sector).
•Reviewing periodically the banks' compliance and AML/CFT policies and procedures.
•Analyzing periodically the AML/CFT reports made by the banks' external or internal auditors to assess to what extent the banks’ compliance with the CBJ regulations and the FATF/GAFI standards.
•Circulating the UN’s resolutions to the banks in Jordan in a timely manner.
•Receiving any issues from the banks regarding (fraud, Asset Misappropriation, insider dealing, etc.) and evaluating the internal controls in the banks, and taking the necessary actions (Enforcement Actions) when needed.

Josiane is a seasoned Compliance and AML professional with over 20 years of experience in the Banking and Finance industry. She has extensive consulting and training experience in the GCC and MENA. She successfully assisted major financial organizations (banks, insurances, exchanges), governments, FIUs and corporates in meeting regulatory requirements as well as fostering the development of GRC skills within our customers workforce.

She has a pragmatic perception and insights of the struggles and challenges faced by Boards as well as Compliance and AML professionals when dealing with both regulatory pressures & new regulations. Over the last 15 years she developed a specialization in the regulatory and business environment in the Gulf Region and works on a weekly basis with multiple market-leading institutions as well as certain ministries and governmental entities. She is fluent in Arabic, English & French

Shawki is a former banker with 20+ years of experience spanning multiple areas like cross-border payments and investigations, trade finance, customer onboarding and KYC operations, correspondent banking, and last but not least AML/CFT & sanctions. In his compliance function, Shawki assumed the role of Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and head of sanctions division for 10 years within Lebanese banking sector.

In parallel, Shawki is a university lecturer, speaker, and trainer at: Global Compliance Institute (GCI), Union of Arab Banks (UAB), École supérieure des affaires (ESA), ACAMS, Romanian Banking Institute (RBI-Bucharest), OECD/Paris, Governance Dynamics (UAE), Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF-UAE), Pronumeris-Mauritius, and other institutions tasked with countering money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, & proliferation finance.

Moreover, he is adjunct trainer at PwC’s academy Middle East in Dubai & has been contracted as subject matter expert with other big 4 consultancy firms in London and KSA to render AFC services in different aspects.

On the certification level, Shawki is certified from Global Compliance Institute (GCI) as Anti-Money Laundering Specialist-AMLS. He also holds other certifications from Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) - London, & ACAMS (CAMS/CGSS), and is an active faculty member delivering CAMS & CGSS exam-based certifications. On the academic level, he holds a Master’s degree from American University of Beirut (AUB) in Public Administration.

As a seasoned trainer, Shawki has designed and delivered a diverse array of training programs across Europe, Africa, MENA, & GCC addressing: sanctions, fraud, AML/CFT, 3rd party risks, proliferation finance, TBML, ABC-Anti-Bribery & Corruption, anti-fraud, and other GRC themes. Often times, these trainings are aligned to regulatory requirements like those mandated by SAMA, QCB, CBUAE, and other regional supervisory bodies.

Moreover, many of his trainings within the GCC, MENA and East Africa region aim at building and strengthening capacities of FIUs and reporting entities to counter illicit financial flows and mitigate financial crime risks. On the consultancy level, Shawki conducts compliance and quality assurance audits for financial institutions helping them identify financial crime threats, enhance internal control environment, and meet regulatory requirements. Finally, Shawki has authored couple of articles published by KYC360 addressing SAR filing & TBML.

Highly motivated individual with extensive experience in the Financial Crime Compliance field, specialising in Sanctions Regulations. I have more than 12 years of Sanctions experience across multiple banks which means that I have explored multiple systems and frameworks.
I have the ability to implement control frameworks, replace and fine tune screening systems, enhance policies and processes while delivering industry-leading leaderships skills.
I am passionate about what I do and I am focused on delivering excellent results. I have the ability to explore the latest technological advancements and integrate that with the banks control framework in order to deliver the most cost effective, yet robust compliance frameworks. This includes automation, AI etc.
I am member of the CGSS examination Task Force responsible for developing the CGSS course in collaboration with ACAMS, thereby displaying the high levels of Sanctions knowledge

Ahmad Tarteer is a very well-rounded and qualified ‎Compliance and AML expert and accredited trainer and speaker in Compliance and Anti-‎Financial Crimes. He is also a leader and influencer in the compliance and AML community, and a well-known ‎expert in many related subjects, especially International Sanction, FATCA, and CRS, in ‎addition he is expert in AML intelligence and Business Logic Units since he implemented ‎AML solutions and AML System scenarios.

A professional with 14 years of experience in the financial sector. Holding Masters in Finance & Investment, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Financial Crimes Specialist (CFCS), Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB), Certified Compliance Specialist (CCOS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS), Certified Compliance Manager (CCM), and Certified Microsoft Data Scientist.

Experience in handling regulatory compliance, money laundering and financial crimes projects in different countries for financial institutions. Providing a training and consultation in compliance and risk management area. Hardworking, organized, and dedicated person with excellent analytical and problem solving skills. Having a unique combination of strong business and technical knowledge.

Oladele Ismail O. is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Banker, Certified Risk and Compliance Management Professional (USA), Certified Cyber (Governance, Risk and Compliance) Management professional (USA) and a member of both ACAMS and ACFE. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan and two Postgraduate Advanced Professional Certificate in Strategic Audit; Applied Business and Corporate Law from Metropolitan School of Business and Management (UK).
 

My banking career started with Skye Bank Plc as a Resident Compliance Officer and rose to the position of Regional Compliance Officer within two years covering all branches in Oyo and Ogun States. I have also headed the Internal Audit, Compliance and Control Department of Baines Credit where he led the strategic business process re-engineering and digital transformation team of the Bank. I further moved to SIFAX Group as the Group Compliance Manager having oversight compliance and risk functions across the six major subsidiaries in Nigeria (Maritime, Aviation, finance, logistics, Haulage and hospitality) and three international subsidiaries (USA, Ghana and Sierra Leone)..
 

A compliance specialist with over 15 years experience in financial services. I have certification and training in KYC, AML and Sanctions..
 

I have trained institutions in Nigeria and spoken on various platforms such as the Compliance Institute of Nigeria..
 

Mark Oluwasijibomi Akinpitansoye CAMS/CFE . I am a compliance professional with 10 years of experience. I have extensive knowledge in subjects a round financial crime and data privacy.
 

Nader Timani is a highly experienced financial crime compliance expert and certified trainer with over nine years of experience. Currently part of the Risk Assurance team at a prestigious Big 4 firm, he excels in ensuring compliance with national and international regulatory frameworks. Nader began his career at a financial institution in Beirut, Lebanon, where he implemented risk assessment processes and ensured regulatory compliance.

He holds numerous certifications, including Enterprise Risk Management (COSO), Certified GRC Auditor (GRCA), Certified GRC Professional (GRCP), Certified Risk Management Specialist in Global Sanctions (CRMS-GS), Advanced Certified AML Specialist in Risk Management (CAMS-RM), Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS), Certified Compliance Manager (CCM), and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS). These certifications underscore his expertise and commitment to excellence in the field.

Nader has developed and led training sessions on compliance and risk management, using real-world scenarios to enhance learning. He has authored comprehensive training manuals, improving training quality and consistency. Fluent in Arabic and English, Nader's strong analytical and interpersonal skills help him effectively communicate complex compliance issues and support strategic decision-making. His dedication to compliance improvement and the mixture of practical experience and academic knowledge makes him an asset in financial crime compliance and training.

Corporate compliance professional with a combination of in-house and consultancy experience, advising state-owned enterprises and multinational organizations. Exposure to Executive Aviation, Airlines, Defense/Aerospace, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Energy, Law firms, and Compliance Solution providers industries.
 

Leverage legal & compliance acumen to fuel success. Research and analyze international rules & regulations with proactive alertness and vigilance and devise high-impact strategies to mitigate regulatory, social, and geo-political risks. Demonstrate influential client relations, and consensus-building to achieve positive results.
 

Engaging speaker and training leader who enjoys a natural ability to work with others, influence C-level decision making, and promote positive company cultures. Training skills include tailoring and delivering compliance presentations that excite and inform
 

Ability to develop broad networks, leverage internal resources and effectively navigate complex multi-cultural corporate environments with respect for diversity and sensitivity.
 

I am a Chartered Accountant and am the Founder and CEO of HLB Mauritius, a conglomerate business group based in Mauritius, which specialises in Finance, Management and Development.
 

I also hold an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and I reckon more than 25 years in Full-time Practice as an Accountant, Auditor, Tax specialist, Business Advisor and Trainer.
 

I am the Head of Faculty of HLB Business School in Mauritius and I am also the World Leader for 'Not For Profit sector' for HLB Global, a worldwide Network of Accounting Firm and Business Advisors present in more than 160 countries and to which HLB Mauritius is affiliated.I have been teaching AML/CFT to different business sectors over the last five years.
 

With more than 10 years of professional experience in the Compliance field, today I occupy the post of Managing Director with HLB Risk Compliance Consultancy Ltd and I am the lead AML/CFT auditor of the entity.
 

I am also the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) of the HLB (Mauritius) Group. Besides having a solid legal and compliance background I possess considerable knowledge and expertise in corporate secretarial services, business consultancy and restructuring, insolvency practices, expatriate services and the offshore sector.
 

Lana Al-Barishi is an executive compliance bank group Manager with an experience of around 21 years in the banking sector, 15 years of which in the compliance Field. have a B.A degree in business administration from the University of Jordan, she leads and manages five major functions in compliance: AML and CFT, Regulatory compliance, Fraud prevention and detection, FATCA, and Customers complaint.

Lana believes that compliance Function is one of the most challenging professions; due to the dynamic changes, yet if you succeed in this field, it will be remarkable in your career. Lana’s secret recipe to success is to be always up to date.

In addition to her wide experience in the mentioned field, she is CCM certified and GCI-accredited trainer and also holds many international professional certificates.

Because Lana has a passion for her speciality, she likes to pass her experience to others. Mentioned that she is a certified trainer and holds TOT certificate. Lana gave many trainings program for different levels of audience, starting from Amateur and up until the board of directors.

She is very energetic with a sense of humour, making the training classes hyper and interesting.

VP Compliance, risk and technology lead of training and governance, well-being lead, culture and people engagement
 

Highly skilled and successful in Policy, Training, Risk & Compliance, Data Risk and Business Integration and Mental well-being coaching.
 

I have 19 years in Compliance and 11 years in design, storyboarding and development, coaching and facilitation, execution, operational sustainability and scalability, culture and people engagement including mental well-being.
 

Key experience lies in designing frameworks, governance, process and best practice, driving and executing on successful business and people strategies, regulatory and audit driven projects, employee conduct, policy breaches and global training initiatives to keep the bank safe. Population scope spans globally including end-users, new joiners, business integration and career progression.
 

I possess a wide range of transferable knowledge, skills and experience and a strong understanding with respect to risk management, employee compliance, culture and inclusion.
 

I have also successfully integrated my mental well-being coaching, speaking and writing background into the working environment as a value-add towards risk management, decision making, accountability, resilience, culture, productivity, and talent attraction and retention.
 

I am inclusive and collaborative, proactive and solution-driven, innovative and forward-thinking, transparent, display accountability in end-to-end process ownership and unafraid to challenge existing practices. I am execution-focused and resilient to change.
 

People enjoy working with me because of my positive, enthusiastic, energetic and inspirational personality but also because I get things done.
 

I possess a natural ability to lead and coach colleagues and stakeholders to success by enabling them to optimise efficiency, productivity, performance and sustainability by understanding their needs and deliverables through design thinking techniques, making me a trusted partner and advisor.
 

My earlier background includes Financial Crime on-boarding of private companies, Hedge Funds and institutional clients.
 

Sanjay Prabhu is a highly accomplished Compliance Trainer and Consultant with over 18 years of experience in banking operations, 5+ years in consulting and audit, and 9+ years in training and capacity building in Dubai, UAE. A Certified Compliance Manager from GCI, Australia, CFCS professional and Certified Training Professional (CTP) from FAA, Kuala Lumpur, he specializes in AML/CFT, KYC/CDD, targeted financial sanctions, FATCA/CRS, GDPR, anti-fraud risk management, regulatory compliance and SME in RegTech Reporting.

Sanjay has extensive expertise in managing complex compliance frameworks for banks, exchange houses, and DNFBPs, including real estate, DPMS (Gold, Diamond, and Jewellery), and company service providers. He is skilled in enhancing transaction monitoring systems, conducting UATs, and implementing robust controls in alignment with UAE regulations, EOCN laws, UN and OFAC sanctions, and FATF standards.

His qualifications include C.A.I.I.B (Treasury & Risk Management), MBA in Finance, and a Master of Commerce. He has served as a faculty member at The London Institute of Banking and Finance (MENA & Asia), a Corporate Trainer and Consultant at Crowe Academy, Dubai, and a Trainer and Lecturer at EIF Dubai, a subsidiary of the Central Bank of UAE. Sanjay has delivered over 2,500+ training sessions, coaching 35,000+ professionals globally, bringing strategic insights and practical expertise to compliance training and consulting.

Compliance learning specialist with core focus on GRC, Financial Crime, Consumer Fairness, and RegTech.
 

Experience across multiple challenging and high-risk geographies working with tier 1 financial institutions and MNC’s to build and deliver strategic and tactical learning experiences to drive organisational culture and reduce risk.
 

Able to plan, co-ordinate and prioritise work loads effectively, working comfortably as an individual, part of a group, or supervising other team members.
 

Premier parcours professionnel effectué intégralement dans le secteur bancaire, notamment dans des Banques à taille humaine, tant en France qu’en Principauté de Monaco.
 

Formateur/Consultant depuis mars 2016, Denis IOZIA est spécialisé dans les activités de Risk management et dans la conception et l’animation de formation, dans les domaines du contrôle interne et de la conformité, incluant, notamment, la lutte contre le blanchiment de capitaux et le financement du terrorisme ainsi que la détection et la prévention de la fraude en entreprise.
 

Il est également spécialisé dans l’évaluation de l’environnement de contrôle des Etablissements bancaires, et dans la conduite de missions relevant de la conformité/LCB/FT, ou du contrôle permanent ainsi que dans les projets d’organisation et de rédaction de procédures et de conduite du changement.
 

Il a animé et conçu, dans le cadre de la certification professionnelle diplômante en Principauté de Monaco, des sessions de formation pour des employés/cadres des Banques et Société de gestion. Depuis novembre 2016, il intervient pour le compte d’Organismes de formation, en animant et concevant des formations dans les domaines de l’audit, du contrôle interne, de la conformité, des risques et de la technique bancaire. Les actions de formation en Intra, ont été dispensées principalement pour des banques, des compagnies d’assurances ainsi que pour des grandes entreprises.
 

Concomitamment, depuis janvier 2018, il occupe le poste de Secrétaire général de l’Association Monégasque des Activités Financières.
 

Professeur de l’Enseignement Supérieur/span>
 

Expert – Agence Nationale d’Evaluation et d’Assurance Qualité de l’Enseignement/span>
 

Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique/span>
 

Responsable de l’équipe de recherche – Action sur la Criminalité Financière et Intelligence Artificielle (A.C.F.I.A.)/span>
 

Responsable du Master Spécialisé « Détection et Prévention de la Criminalité Financière Organisée »/span>
 

Consultant – Formateur Africaverify Expert Lutte contre le Blanchiment des Capitaux et Financement du Terrorisme/span>
 

Certification CAMS (spécialiste certifié Lutte Anti-Blanchiment d’argent) en cours de préparation/span>
 

With over 15 years of professional experience in Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, and Capacity Building Consulting, Farah is a seasoned expert in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). Holding certifications as a GRC Professional, Compliance Manager, and Trainer, they specialize in conducting training workshops covering GRC, AML/CFT, and ORM-RCSA. Currently engaged in capacity building initiatives at the Institute of Banking Studies-CBOJ and Association of Banks in Jordan, as well as delivering international training across MENA region . Her portfolio includes spearheading financial and cybercrime awareness programs in collaboration with CBJo.

Farah previously served as MLRO for multiple Investment Banking firms accredited by Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority and certified by CB as Compliance Manager for leading banks in the UAE.

Worked as an assistant auditor at Yıldız Holding between 1994-1995, as an auditor, credits and operations control manager and AML/CFT Sanction compliance officer at Türk Ekonomi Bankası between 1995-2012.
 

I am currently working as AML/CFT & Sanction compliance department manager at Denizbank A.Ş. At the same time, I am the head of the Banks Association of Turkey AML/CFT Working Group. I was among the advisory members (advisory group) of FATF's risk-based approach working group.
 

I also attend FATF meetings from time to time as the Turkish sector representative. I provide training on trade-based money laundering and management of sanctions risks in the regular training calendar of the Banks Association.
 

I also took part as a speaker at the seminars in Turkey.
 

Gurcan is a P.h.D holder in Financial Economics, worked as a Director for Ernst & Young’s Advisory department and the supervision group of the Banking Regulation Authority of Turkey.
 

He worked for the Basel Committee to design within the framework new global financial architecture and attended numerous meetings of the Global Public Policy Committee, IASB and FSB to enhance the contribution of corporate governance to financial stability. His main focus for the last five years is on fintech regulation, especially blockchain.
 

I have 15 years of experience in Governance, Risk management, and Compliance with the Big 4 and leading audit and advisory firms in the UK, Qatar, and UAE. I have established an anti-money laundering compliance program for many banks and financial institutions. I have given training to many exchange companies in anti-money laundering, governance, compliance, and risk management.

Anteneh Maru is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) with more than 12 years of experience in the fields of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) & Illicit Financial Flow (IFF) as consultant, training developer & facilitator and senior compliance officer in Africa. Through the years, he acquired rich experiences in key AML/CFT/IFF tasks including national money laundering (ML) & terrorist financing (TF) risk assessment, risk based supervision, designing & implementing AML programs, capacity building and providing advisory support to financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses & Professions, AML/CFT supervisors, financial intelligence units and other AML/CFT stakeholders.

Anteneh has contributed in projects that enhanced the capacity of AML regimes including acting as Steering Committee Chairperson & Team Leader of National Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Risk assessment and Team Leader of Banking Sector ML & TF vulnerability assessment projects.

Anteneh also engaged as AML expert/speaker, consultant, training developer and facilitator in various AML/CFT/IFF projects undertaken by local, regional and international organizations including central bank training institutions, Bankers associations, Global Center on Cooperative Security, United Nations office on Drug & Crime, European Union AML/THB project & Tana Copenhagen AML/IFF project. Through the years, He provided AML/CFT trainings to hundreds of individual both from the public and private sectors.

Anteneh strongly believes that much effort needs to be exerted to enhance the capacity of AML regimes across the world. A strong AML regime highly benefit countries especially developing nations in their effort to combat various financial crimes as AML/CFT framework provides countries to establish effective platform for private & public sector partnership. As a result, Anteneh promotes the understanding and effective implementation of the AML/CFT/IFF frameworks by engaging with both the public & private sector, writing articles and speaking in conferences.

Chief Executive Officer at Institute of Professional Excellence

Dr Hany Elbardan has a PhD in accounting (Brunel University), MSc and BSc (Hons) in accounting (Alexandria University). He is a Principal Academic in Accounting and Finance in the Bournemouth University Business School. Hany worked for various institutions in the UK, Kuwait, Malaysia and Egypt since 1998. In addition to his university work, he acted as a consultant at GHEM consultants, UK and offered professional training in collaboration with major professional bodies.

He is professionally recognized as Certified Compliance Manager ( Global Compliance Institute), a senior fellow to the Higher Education Academy in the UK, Certified Business and Management Educator (Chartered Associations of Business Schools), Subject Matter Expert Trainer at The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Associate Financial Accountant Fellow (Institute of Financial Accountants). His research interests include accounting, accounting information systems, ERP systems, internal and external auditing, internal control, risk management, CSR, managerial accounting and Corporate Governance. He has published his research in refereed international journals such as Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of business ethics, Information Systems Management, Journal of Enterprise Information Management and Journal of applied accounting research. More about his publications could be found on his Google Scholar Profile.

Geert DELRUE graduated from the Catholic University of Leuven on August 29, 1982 where he obtained his master’s degree in criminology. As a Belgian law enforcement officer, with thirty five years of experience, he is attached to the economic financial crime department, where he handles investigations about money laundering, financing of terrorism, cybercrime, tax fraud

During his career he published several police manuals, for special types of financial investigations in Dutch, French and English, such as: ‘Vademecum for investigations related to financial and economic offences’, Criminal bankruptcy, Tax fraud, Forgery, Fraudulent organization of insolvency, Theft of inheritance goods, Swindle and abuse of confidence

In 2014 he wrote a book about fighting Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (in Dutch – 3rd edition and in French – 2nd edition, 650 pages).

In 2018 he rewrote his first book (2002) about financial investigations in Dutch: ‘Financieel rechercheren’ and in French “Rechercher en matière financière”.

Last publications are about Criminal Bankruptcy in Dutch and French (release 2019-2020).

He is also a regular guest speaker at different international conferences (Amsterdam, London, Paris, Casablanca, … and in Kosovo, Serbia,bout organized financial crime, especially about Anti Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism. He also teaches at different Belgian universities (ULG, ULB and UCL) and foreign universities (Cergy-Pontoise-Paris, Nice Antipolis - Nice, University Hassan II – Casablanca-Morocco, Viadrina University – Germany, University of Mykolo Rumerio – Vilnius-Lithuania, Strasbourg University (CEFAC), …).

Further on he does trainings about financial and economic crime investigations, Money laundering and Financing of Terrorism for the European Commission (TAIEX), the European Council (COE) and the United Nations (IOM).

Experienced Regulatory Compliance Manager, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Financial Crime Specialist, Certified Forensic Investigator, Certified Compliance Manager and Chartered Accountant. Adegbenga is an experienced compliance professional with over thirteen years’ experience, gathered over two continents and four countries.

His professional career started with Zenith Bank Nigeria as a Compliance Officer/Internal Auditor. He rose to become Regional Audit/Compliance Manager and was seconded to Zenith Bank Sierra Leone as the pioneer Chief Compliance/Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer. He was the pioneer Chairman of the Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Sierra Leone. Adegbenga moved to North America in year 2013 and has worked with three of the first four Tier-1 Commercial Banks and a Mortgage Bank in Canada, in different roles as Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Manager, AML Consultant, AML Policy and Governance Consultant and Regulatory Compliance Specialist. He has also worked as Anti Money Laundering Senior Specialist with PwC Canada. He has facilitated AML/Regulatory Compliance/Fraud and Policy training programs in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Gambia and Canada.

Adegbenga has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; Master of Science (MSc) in Forensic Accounting and Investigation; and a Postgraduate Certificate in Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting from Seneca College, Ontario, Canada. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate (PhD) Degree in Strategic Management, with Specialization in Corporate Security Risk Management. He also has a Certificate in Risk Management from York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In addition to his academic training, Adegbenga is also a Chartered Accountant (CA) in Nigeria and Sierra Leone (ACA); Chartered Tax Professional (ACTI); Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS); Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS); Certified AML Fintech Compliance Associate (CAFCA); Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE); Certified Forensic Investigator - Canada (CFI); Chartered Loss Prevention Specialist (ChLPS); Certified Physical Protection Professional (CPP); and Certified Compliance Manager (CCM).

Adegbenga facilitates, consults and lectures regularly on Regulatory Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud & Compliance Policy Awareness, Transactions Monitoring, Know-Your-Customer, EDD & Sanctions; AML Audit & Governance; AML Remediation and AML Project Management. He is a Certified Online Trainer, GCI Accredited Trainer and also Certified Trainer with CPD-UK.

Alain Maalouf is a highly skilled professional with 18 years of continuous experience in the Banking and Financial sector, specializing in Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Regulations. He holds two Bachelor's degrees, one in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from the Lebanese Canadian University and another in Banking Management from Saint Joseph University. Alain also holds a Master’s Degree in Advanced Banking Management from Saint Joseph University.

In addition to his academic qualifications, Alain is an Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (AMLS) certified by GCI, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), and has completed extensive trainings in AML/CFT, Banking Ethics, Securities and Financial Regulations. He currently serves as the Head of Compliance Division, Head of AML Department, Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), and Data Protection Officer (DPO) at BSL Bank-Beirut. Alain also facilitates AML/CFT and Compliance trainings for bank staff. His expertise has played a key role in shaping and strengthening the bank's robust AML and Compliance Program and framework, ensuring adherence to Compliance International Standards and Regulatory Requirements.

A seasoned regulatory compliance and financial crime professional with extensive years of relevant experience within the financial services industry, having held various leading roles at global banks and Fintech companies.

Leonardo Correa is Head of Compliance and AML at Taptap Send in the Middle East. He has been working in Compliance, AML/CFT, Fraud Prevention, Risk Management, and Audit for over 10 years in the financial sector. Leonardo specializes in building, enhancing, and scaling Compliance and AML Programs for financial institutions and fintechs, spanning diverse segments and products, including consumer, SMEs, credit cards, lending, investments, remittance, and money services.

He holds postgraduate degrees in Project Management and People Management from Insper and bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Accounting from Mackenzie University, along with executive education from The University of Chicago.

Leo believes Compliance is a strategic asset, serving as a powerful driver for sustainable growth and helping businesses scale through a risk-based approach with a forward-thinking mindset.

Aziza is currently Senior Compliance Manager, Overseeing the Compliance and Sanctions function in Group Audi entities (Lebanon, Switzerland, France, Turkey, Qatar, and KSA) and Head of Compliance in both Lebanon Invest sal and Solifac sal (Group Audi fully owned Lebanese financial institutions)

She also provides consultancy & advisory services assisting central banks and banks in compliance training, building compliance programs, managing relationships with international financial institutions and regulators.

She has extensive expertise in setting and implementing compliance programs, fighting Financial Crimes, (AML, CFT, Tax Evasion, Global Economic Sanctions, Bribery & Corruption, Fraud, etc.) on-boarding, KYC, enterprise wide risk assessment, enhanced due diligence, financial institutions & correspondent banking, training, groups oversight, drafting policies & procedures, investigation, reporting to regulators and to boards, regulatory compliance, interacting with auditors & consultants, governance and general compliance matters with internal and external, local & international counterparts.

Driven by Excellence in Compliance, Training, and Innovation

I hold CPA designations and am a certified FATCA & CRS specialist by GCI, with a strong educational foundation in regulatory compliance, accounting, and financial management. My passion lies in creating robust governance frameworks and simplifying complex regulatory requirements to ensure business success.

My career journey spans multinational banks, KPMG, and RegTech-focused roles, where I’ve developed deep expertise in regulatory compliance and customer tax transparency (CRS & FATCA). I have successfully managed end-to-end project cycles, including governance structure setup, policy implementation, quality control testing, and regulatory reporting. I have designed and delivered impactful training programs that align teams with compliance standards. My certification as a FATCA & CRS specialist by GCI has enhanced my knowledge in this domain, allowing me to stay current with regulatory changes and share expert insights with organisations.

With my proven ability to solve problems, build relationships, and engage stakeholders effectively, I’ve made meaningful contributions to compliance operations across diverse and highly regulated industries.

Looking ahead, my career goals centre on driving innovation in regulatory compliance and training, particularly within financial institutions and RegTech. I aim to leverage technology to streamline compliance processes while empowering organisations through engaging training programs. I am also dedicated to enhancing my expertise in AML/KYC and tax transparency frameworks to remain at the forefront of the evolving compliance landscape.

Santosh has been in Banking Industry for 12 years exclusively dealing with Compliance and Onboarding for UHNW clients. He currently heads the On Boarding - Middle East division for one of the Asian Banks.

Santosh specializes in AML investigations, risk management, and regulatory compliance, with a proven track record of successfully remediating numerous accounts and supporting senior management in maintaining up-to-date compliance policies.

Santosh works with technical and business teams to manage AML and sanctions risks, conduct periodic client profile reviews, address identified gaps, and adjust risk ratings for heightened monitoring. Santosh has vast experience in remediation projects at top tier European and Asian Banks.

Santosh previously managed a role of Quality Assurance/ Trainer in Financial Crime Compliance and had also trained 130+ investigators for Transaction Monitoring.

Santosh holds the;

Anti Money Laundering Specialist (AMLS) certificate from Global Compliance Institute

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering

Certificate in AML-KYC Compliance from V Skills (A Govt. of India and Govt. of NCT Delhi Co. Initiative)

Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

Certificate in Six Sigma from International Six Sigma Institute.

Mohannad Hammad holds a Bachelor's degree in Financial and Banking Sciences from Amman Al-Ahliyya University and has over 15 years of experience working with Islamic banks in Jordan and Iraq.

He is a certified expert in compliance, anti-money laundering (AML), and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) and is a member of the Association of Banking Experts. Mohannad holds the Certified Compliance Manager (CCM) designation from the Global Compliance Institute (GCI) in Australia, as well as the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) certification from ACAMS in the United States. He has also earned the Training of Trainers (TOT) certification from Jo Academy in Jordan.

He has provided extensive training to financial institutions across the Middle East and North Africa. His expertise has been sought by central banks and financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Iraq, the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia, the Central Bank of Libya, the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences in Egypt, the Bank of Khartoum in Sudan, and Saba African Bank in Djibouti. His ability to deliver high-impact training has positioned him as a trusted authority in compliance, financial crime prevention, and regulatory frameworks.

Ilhami is a passionate Compliance professional with a solid legal background.

He holds the Combating Financial Crime Level 3 Award from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) as well as the Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (AMLS) certificate from the Global Compliance Institute (GCI)

He is currently the Head of Compliance (also in charge of Governance) at a Fintech company. His progressive career track spanning over 15 years in the banking industry, in consulting (Big 4) and Fintech encompassed different domains of the Compliance function including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Anti-Bribery & Corruption (ABC), as well as Regulatory.

Additionally, Ilhami became a FATCA/CRS subject matter expert after taking in charge on a group level the Global Information Reporting for multiple jurisdictions. He was also appointed as the Data Protection Officer at institutions he served, making him well versed in data protection regulations (namely the GDPR).

The positions he held throughout his career track covered multiple jurisdictions within the EU, the GCC and MENA, including France, Monaco, the UK, Liechtenstein, Cyprus, Romania, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE. His Compliance oversight covered commercial, retail, international and investment banking, as well as insurance and Islamic finance.

He was able to successfully handle both supervisory and project management roles within the institutions he worked for. Ilhami speaks Arabic, French, and English fluently.

He loves preparing and delivering training, engaging with the audience, and sharing knowledge and expertise.

Justin Smith is a seasoned compliance executive with over 20 years of expertise in financial crime risk management, AML/CFT compliance, sanctions, and fraud prevention across global financial institutions. He has successfully led compliance transformations, regulatory engagements, and financial crime investigations in diverse markets, including the UK, UAE, APAC, Australia, and Bermuda.

Holding prestigious qualifications, Justin is a Fellow of the International Compliance Association (FICA), a Certified Cryptocurrency Compliance Professional (CCPC™), and an AML Specialist accredited by the Global Compliance Institute. He also holds a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Crime Compliance and multiple certifications in forensic accounting, fraud examination, and regulatory compliance.

As a trusted advisor, Justin has shaped regulatory frameworks, implemented advanced financial crime surveillance technologies, and managed high-stakes financial crime risk programs. His extensive leadership experience spans financial services, fintech, digital assets, and capital markets regulation, where he has collaborated with key regulators such as ISOCO, MAS, SEC, and FCA.

Recognized for his ability to drive strategic compliance initiatives, optimize operational risk controls, and foster a culture of integrity within organizations, Justin’s deep industry knowledge and innovative approach to compliance continue to make a significant impact in the evolving global regulatory landscape.

Hussam specializes in Consulting & training on Financial Crime Prevention, Compliance & Risk. Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), Fraud Prevention, Anti-Bribery & Corruption, Cyber Security & Cybercrime, Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance issues. Hussam has vast experience in these subjects and has a unique insight into the specific regional issues ( GCC & MENA ) in relation to AML /CFT and Financial Crime.

In addition to training front office, operations and senior management and the Board, Hussam also regularly trains staff in the Compliance and AML/CFT Functions on their roles and responsibilities and assists them in preparing for industry qualifications.

Hussam has an engaging, interactive training style and is an expert at attaining audience participation through the use of relevant case studies and group exercises. He has been delivering training in the MENA-GCC regions since 1997 to Financial & Non-Financial institutions (Banks, Finance Houses, Money changers, Insurance, Securities, real estate, Telecom, Law Firms ), Regulatory & Supervisory Organizations ( Central Banks, Capital Markets Authorities, Insurance Authority ) and Law enforcement agencies ( Police, Customs Agencies, Justice Departments, Criminal Investigation Departments and FIU’s) and Professional Service Providers and is a frequent conference speaker.

Organization received Training are in Bahrain, Canada, U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, Sudan, Kuwait, Syria ,Egypt , Iraq , Jordan, Libya, Qatar, U.S.A and Nigeria.

Mendy Ghaleb is a seasoned AML/CFT and Financial Crime Compliance Expert with two decades of experience in United Arab Emirates and a proven track record in establishing robust AML/CFT framework, applying Risk Based Approach, proficient in conducting sector-wide risk assessments and Risk Analysis to mitigate financial crime risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance in line with Local and International Standards and Regulations.

As a Subject Matter Expertise, Mendy has served in leadership roles starting within consultancy firms at Deloitte and Touche, and Vistra Middle East where she was an Authorized Compliance Officer & MLRO by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), in addition to project roles with HSBC (GB&M), Mashreq Bank and ENBD (Private Banking).

She currently holds a role as an AMLCFT Expert at the Securities and Commodities Authority under the Policies and Risks section. Mendy's commitment also extends beyond her professional duties, with active participation in volunteering and in advisory board roles at TenIntelligence and at the Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI).

She holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of South Wales, and a graduate in Banking and Finance from AUL – Lebanon. She holds Anti Money Laundering Specialist (AMLS) from GCI, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Compliance Officer (CCO), International Diploma in GRC from ICA- University of Manchester, ISO31000 Risk Management Lead Trainer, in addition to Advanced and Certified Crypto Investigator and Crypto Compliance Specialist from TRM Labs.

As an accredited trainer with the Global Compliance Institute (GCI), Mendy holds the Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (AMLS) designation. Her expertise plays a key role in developing and delivering GCI’s training programs, equipping professionals with delivering impactful training sessions in AML/CFT, Compliance, Fraud, and financial crimes in both English and Arabic

Samuel Kiragu is an accountant and regulatory compliance professional with extensive experience in major accounting firms and banks across Kenya, the Cayman Islands, and Canada. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya. Samuel provides FATCA and CRS consulting services to financial institutions in Africa.

Samuel also teaches in a business school in Canada, where he is currently located.

He is also a visiting professor at the University College of the Cayman Islands, where he teaches a course on Hedge Fund Accounting, AML, CRS and FATCA. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool (UK). Samuel is a certified FATCA and CRS Specialist with the GCI, Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS).

Samuel also works as a corporate trainer, having trained law enforcement agents, financial institutions, and accounting professional bodies in both Canada and Eastern Africa.

With over 17 years of experience in Compliance, AML, Operational Risk, and Investment, Norah is a recognised expert in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). She is CCM Certified by the Global Compliance Institute (GCI) and also a GCI Accredited Trainer, delivering compliance training and regulatory awareness programs to professionals across the region.

Approved by regulators for senior roles, including MLRO and Head of Compliance, Norah possesses extensive knowledge of both local and international regulatory frameworks, ensuring adherence to best practices and evolving compliance standards.

She has been instrumental in implementing AML and compliance frameworks, strengthening financial crime prevention measures, and driving key regulatory initiatives. Her expertise spans international compliance standards, including FATF recommendations, AML/CFT best practices, and global sanctions regimes.

Norah has successfully led major projects such as the implementation of advanced AML transaction monitoring systems and the automation of compliance processes. In her current role as Director of Compliance, she oversees regulatory compliance, manages relationships with regulators, and ensures alignment with governance frameworks.

Naif Alqahtany is a seasoned international tax compliance and AEOI specialist with nearly two decades of experience in financial due diligence, tax transparency, and global regulatory compliance. He has worked extensively on FATCA, CRS, and other international exchange of information frameworks, supporting both regulatory authorities and leading financial institutions in achieving full compliance.

Naif is a certified FATCA and CRS Specialist from the Global Compliance Institute (GCI) in Australia. His qualifications and practical experience have positioned him as a trusted expert in cross-border tax reporting and financial governance.

Currently serving as Manager of FATCA & CRS at STC Bank, Naif oversees the bank’s international tax compliance program, ensuring alignment with global standards through effective due diligence, policy development, and accurate reporting.

Previously, he held the position of Exchange of Information Expert at the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority, where he contributed to key initiatives in FATCA, CRS, Country-by-Country Reporting (CbC), and Exchange of Information on Request (EOIR), helping to elevate Saudi Arabia’s standing in international tax cooperation.

Naif has also participated in numerous global forums and compliance conferences, sharing insights on regulatory best practices, KYC processes, and risk-based approaches to tax reporting.

Dr. Malik Abu Afifa is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in banking, regulatory compliance, and anti-financial crime. He currently serves as Head of Anti-Financial Crimes at Al-Mashreq Al-Arabi Islamic Bank in Baghdad, Iraq, where he plays a pivotal role in developing and overseeing AML/CFT frameworks, internal controls, and compliance systems in alignment with both regional and international regulatory standards.

Dr. Abu Afifa holds a Ph.D. in Accounting (Management Accounting and Control) from the University of Science, Malaysia, along with several professional certifications, including Certified Compliance Manager (CCM) and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

Throughout his career, he has held senior roles in banking and academia across Jordan, Iraq, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. His areas of expertise include anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT), compliance frameworks, banking operations, and the design of integrated compliance systems. He is frequently engaged as a consultant and executive trainer, supporting institutions in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and enhancing their internal control environments.

With a rare combination of hands-on leadership, regulatory acumen, and academic depth, Dr. Abu Afifa remains a trusted advisor and thought leader in the financial compliance sector.

Oways Muti is an executive Compliance and Risk Management leader with more than 15 years of experience across Jordan and the GCC, spanning the financial sector and global consulting. He currently serves as Director of Compliance & Risk at Alawneh Exchange Company, where he leads AML/CFT, sanctions, governance, and operational risk functions in alignment with regulatory and international standards. Previously, he worked as an Expert AML Consultant at PwC Middle East, advising banks, payment service providers, digital banks, and government entities across Qatar, Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia on financial crime prevention and large-scale compliance transformation projects.

As an Accredited Trainer with the Global Compliance Institute (GCI), Oways holds the prestigious Certified Compliance Manager (CCM) certifcation in addition to several internationally recognised certifications, including CAMS, GRCP, ICEP, and TTT. These credentials have further strengthened his expertise in compliance leadership, regulatory frameworks, AML/CFT controls, sanctions compliance, and financial crime risk management.

Oways specialises in attracting and managing international and U.S. correspondent banking relationships, as well as establishing and enhancing compliance, AML/CFT, and sanctions frameworks in line with global best practices. He is also an active regional trainer and speaker, delivering professional programs and workshops in compliance, AML/CFT, sanctions, governance, and financial crime prevention across the MENA region.