ACAMS Draws Major Figures From the Public and Private Sectors to 8th Annual Financial Crime Conference in Amsterdam

- Event features speakers from FATF, Egmont Group, Heads of European FIUs, United Nations and British Bankers' Association

MIAMI, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) has confirmed 45 high level speakers, including prominent government and regulator representatives, to present at the upcoming 8th Annual Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Conference that will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 10-12 June. This year's conference will address current trends and critical issues impacting the European community, changes to the FATF Recommendations, FATCA, and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

Distinguished industry leaders, Hennie Kusters and Raul Vahtra, Heads of the FIUs in the Netherlands and Estonia respectively and Jean-Francois Boulot, Substitute Principal at the FIU in Luxembourg, will open the conference with a critical session discussing the state of AML in Europe, as well as emerging threats and increased regulatory enforcement activity and global trends from the perspective of the FIUs.

John Carlson, Principal Administrator at the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) will lead a session focused on the revamped FATF 40 +9 Recommendations. Carlson will provide a first-hand account of the new Recommendations, a practical interpretation of these changes, and the impact it could have on AML/CTF obligations. Carlson will provide a clearer picture of how the new Recommendations could lead to tightened rules on everything from international global group-wide compliance programmes to tax evasion, terrorist financing, beneficial ownership, PEPs, transparency, and international cooperation, among others.

"There is an overwhelming consensus that the last year has been turbulent for financial crime regulatory obligation. The FATF Recommendation revisions alone have let much of the financial crime compliance community in apprehension. Add to that the uncertainty surrounding recent anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, and you are left with a European compliance community with significant issues to tackle. This year's European conference will feature a speaker faculty line-up with the experience and knowledge to really address these topics and bring a meaningful dialogue to the table," said John Byrne, CAMS, ACAMS executive vice president.

Other prominent figures to speak this year, include Rene Bruehlhart,Vice Chair of the Egmont Group, Dr. Justine Walker, Director of Financial Crime (Sanctions and Bribery) at the British Bankers' Association, Max-Peter Ratzel, former Director of Europol, Wijnand Nuijts, Head of Department, culture, organisation and integrity at the Dutch Central Bank, and Jan Beens, Consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, among others.

"The ACAMS European Conference, supported by a high-profile speaker faculty, provides a reliable platform for comprehensive, practical learning, and valuable networking and experience sharing opportunities," remarked Markus Schulz, Chief Compliance Officer, Global Life and Banking, Group Financial Crime Officer at Zurich Insurance Company, and ACAMS Advisory Board Member. "With an increase in regulations and emerging financial crime schemes, institutions throughout the globe, more than ever, are depending on ACAMS' training programmes to ensure their employees have access to the expert guidance, tools and solutions needed to tackle everyday compliance challenges."

Registration for the 8th Annual AML/CTF Conference is currently open. Information on the conference may be found on www2.acams.org/EU.

About the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists® 
ACAMS is an international membership organization dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and skills of AML professionals from a wide range of industries. It serves 12,500 members in 160 countries with extensive resources designed to develop and sharpen the skills required for superior job performance and career advancement. Its CAMS certification is the most widely recognized AML certification among compliance professionals worldwide. Visit the new ACAMS website at www.ACAMS.org.