GCC Regional Financial Crime Risk Assessment Roundtable

Nadia manages the Themis Insight team, working on threat-based analysis of a variety of topics related to financial crime, including Themis' jurisdictional risk programme. Nadia has a diverse background in international affairs and research. Prior to joining Themis, she completed assignments at the United Nations, FTI Consulting, NATO Parliamentary Assembly and European Commission. Nadia has a dual master’s from the London School of Economics and Sciences Po, Paris, and a Double First Class undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge, all in the sphere of International Relations.

Ibtissem Lassoued has extensive experience advising international and regional GCC clients on a spectrum of complex, multijurisdictional white collar crime issues, including but not limited to anti-corruption matters including the extraterritorial effect of the US FCPA and UK Bribery act, complex fraud, including cyber-crime fraud, Capital Market investigations, extradition and INTERPOL including challenges to INTERPOL Red Notices, and reputational risks attached to such issues, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, global economic sanctions. Ibtissem has been ranked as Band 1 in Chambers Global for Corporate Investigations for 9 consecutive years since the category’s inclusion and is commended for being ‘at the forefront of the market in this arena, ‘as passionate about her area of expertise as she is knowledgeable’ and ‘stunningly good at what she does’.

Bahiyya Kara is an experienced Compliance professional with extensive work experience in leadership roles primarily within the banking sector. At present Miss Kara leads the Financial Crime Compliance Strategy function within Group Financial Crime Compliance at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Prior thereto, Bahiyya held multiple positions at the Standard Bank Group including that of Head of the Group Financial Crime Compliance Officer function, Head: Corporate & Investment Banking Compliance (CIB, South Africa), Head: Global Risk Integration and Head: AML/CFT Compliance for CIB International. In addition to holding a Bachelors of Art degree (majoring in Political Science and International Relations, 2003), Miss Kara also holds a Law Degree (2005), both obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand. Bahiyya is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (2020) and holds the designation of Certified Compliance Professional (2018).

Ian McDonald is currently an Associate Director for Financial Crime Strategy for the Government of Jersey. In this role he acts as the national coordinator for Jersey between financial crime agencies, including States of Jersey Police, Law Officers Department, Financial Intelligence Unit and Viscount’s Department. This work involves the development of policy, legislation and risk assessments relating to national financial crime threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the planning, implementation and evaluation of a national programme aimed at measuring and improving performance of key agencies in the areas of money laundering/terrorist financing investigation and prosecution; financial intelligence collation and dissemination; and criminal asset recovery. Most recently Ian has been part of the Government of Jersey’s preparations for the Mutual Evaluation of Jersey’s AML/CFT/CPF regime by the Council of Europe (MONEYVAL) in respect of the implementation of the FATF standards.

Michael joined Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in August 2016, which was part of the Joint Financial Crimes Unit (JFCU) at that time. In his day-to-day responsibilities, Michael oversees all operational activities of the FIU alongside a civilian supervisor, managing a team of intelligence analysts who receive, analyse, and disseminate intelligence and deputising for the Director of the FIU as required. Initially joining the States of Jersey Police in 2003, Michael is also a Detective Sergeant. During his career within the Police force, Michael has gained valuable experience from front-line policing and more serious and complex crime in his current role within the FIU. Before joining the States of Jersey Police, Michael spent a number of years in the Jersey finance industry. Michael has an ICA International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering and the NTFIU Counter Terrorist Financing course in London in 2016.

Alexandra Will is a Partner at Grant Thornton UAE, leading the firm’s Financial Crime Compliance practice. She is a seasoned financial crime risk management specialist with over 18 years of experience in industry and consulting across the UK, Europe, APAC and MENA. Alexandra commenced her career as M&A lawyer in Germany, before moving to industry, where she held various risk management roles at Deutsche Bank in Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong. She returned to advisory in 2015, and was a Partner at a Big4 firm in MENA before joining Grant Thornton in 2024. She holds a Master of Laws degree and completed her MBA at INSEAD. Alexandra has played a pivotal role in assessing, developing, transforming and remediating Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) programs for a diverse range of Financial Services clients, as well as supporting clients in regulatory interaction.