Safeguarding Australia's Financial Future โ Unleashing the Power of Collaboration against Financial Threats!
September 09 - 10, 2025 | Swissรดtel Sydney, Australia
Main Conference Day One: Tuesday 9 September 2025
๏ปฟ
8:15 am - 8:45 am
Registration and Morning Coffee
8:50 am - 9:00 am
Chair's Welcome Remarks
Andreas Chai -
Director,
Griffith University
9:00 am - 9:30 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: Future-Proofing Financial Institutions: A Leadership Perspective on Evolving Threats
Sharon Thorpe -
Chief Operating Officer, Financial Crime Compliance,
Commonwealth Bank
Brad Markwart - Chief Risk Officer, Beyond Bank Australia
Toby Evans - Head of Economic Crime, AusPayNet
Akhilesh Mehta - Chief Operating Officer, G&C Mutual Bank
- How are financial institutions leveraging data analytics, AI, and other emerging technologies to enhance financial crime detection and prevention in 2025 and beyond?
- What are the key regulatory changes on the horizon (e.g., Tranche 2, sanctions regimes) and how are leaders preparing their organisations for these shifts?
- Beyond traditional partnerships, what innovative collaborative models are being explored to combat increasingly sophisticated financial crime?
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Strategies for Effective Compliance in Offshore Operations
Keeley Jenkinson -
Head of Financial Crime Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting Officer,
Westpac
- Analysing the interplay of Australian and local laws affecting overseas branches and identifying potential compliance gaps.
- Establishing effective two-way communication channels to share knowledge and best practices between headquarters.
- Implementing robust oversight, monitoring, and proactive risk mitigation strategies for international operations.
Keeley Jenkinson
Head of Financial Crime Compliance and Money Laundering Reporting OfficerWestpac
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Streamlining Compliance: Advanced Tools for Enhanced Customer Due Diligence
- Exploring tools that automate key CDD/KYC processes, reducing manual effort and improving speed.
- Discussing solutions that leverage advanced data analytics for more accurate and comprehensive risk profiling.
- Examining technologies that simplify and streamline regulatory reporting, ensuring compliance and minimizing errors.
Reserved for Industry Leading Sponsor Case Study
10:30 am - 11:00 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: AI & Data: The Future of Fraud Detection
Elise Muhlheim -
Head of Financial Crime Control & Fraud,
OFX
Palak Bortha - Associate Director Financial Crime Prevention Specialist, UBS Wealth Management Americas
Murugan Manickam - Former Head of Enterprise Fraud Risk (APAC & Japan), Citi Bank
- What are the current limitations and vulnerabilities of AI and machine learning in detecting increasingly sophisticated fraud? โฏ
- โฏHow can we leverage data to stay ahead of criminal advancements in AI fraud?
- What strategies can be employed to stay ahead of criminals advancing AI tactics? โฏ
- How can we balance the need for effective AI-driven fraud detection using sensitive data with ethical considerations and user privacy?
Palak Bortha
Associate Director Financial Crime Prevention SpecialistUBS Wealth Management Americas
11:00 am - 11:15 am
Speed Networking Session
11:15 am - 11:45 am
Morning Break and Networking
Interactive Group Discussions
Explore strategies and technologies for immediate fraud detection and minimising false positives in today's fast-paced financial environment.
Discuss methods to streamline compliance processes while ensuring a positive and seamless customer onboarding experience.
Collaborate on building flexible and adaptable frameworks to proactively address evolving financial crime threats.
Share best practices for secure and efficient data sharing to improve interdepartmental cooperation in financial crime prevention
Examine techniques for optimizing audit processes, leveraging technology, and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.
Discuss strategies for navigating regulatory changes, anticipating future scrutiny, and maintaining robust compliance programs.
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: Panel Discussion: Bridging Industries to Combat Criminal Advancements
Anthony White -
Fraud & Counterfeit Manager,
Canon
Katie Lourey - Risk and Compliance Head, Gold Bullion Australia
- Adapting marketing strategies to the 2025 ban on gambling ads on public transport, exploring innovative digital and alternative channels.
- Overcoming the challenge of the credit card ban for lotteries, implementing seamless alternative payment solutions for continued customer engagement.
- Managing a unique regulatory position outside AML frameworks, proactively addressing evolving compliance requirements and building robust internal controls.
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Building a Resilient Defense: Capability Development and Emerging Trends in Financial Crime
Sharon Thorpe -
Chief Operating Officer, Financial Crime Compliance,
Commonwealth Bank
- Explore current and emerging financial crime typologies, including AI-driven fraud, cryptocurrency-related crimes, and the exploitation of new technologies, and their impact on organizational resilience.
- Discussing frameworks for building robust financial crime units, including talent acquisition, technology investment, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Highlighting best practices in designing and delivering training that equips professionals with the skills to detect and prevent sophisticated financial crimes.
- Analyzing emerging trends impacting financial crime, such as geopolitical risks and regulatory changes, and strategies for building proactive and adaptive defenses.
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Afternoon Tea and Networking
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
A Case Study from the Bullion Industry: Battling Money Laundering
Katie Lourey -
Risk and Compliance Head,
Gold Bullion Australia
- Identifying key loopholes exploited by money launderers in the bullion trade.
- Analysing criminal methods, including mules and sophisticated scams.
- Navigating regulatory changes and strengthening bank collaboration.
- Building internal capabilities for detection and prevention.
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: From Risk to Reward: Aligning Risk and Compliance with Business Objectives to Secure Leadership Focus
Jeremy Leong -
Chief Risk Officer - Head of Risk and Compliance,
Taishin International Commercial Bank
Rayson Sathurayar - Head of Compliance and Consumer Customer Engagement, Westpac
Porus Govekar - Head of Compliance, Lottoland Australia
- Strategies for effectively communicating the value of risk and compliance, aligning them with business objectives to gain senior leadership support and resource allocation.
- Balancing a customer-first approach with robust risk and compliance frameworks, ensuring a positive customer experience while mitigating potential threats.
- Developing and supporting emerging risk and compliance leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration, and leveraging diverse perspectives to navigate the evolving risk and regulatory landscape.
- Moving beyond reactive measures to anticipate challenges and turn potential threats into opportunities.
Jeremy Leong
Chief Risk Officer - Head of Risk and ComplianceTaishin International Commercial Bank
