The CAFS Scholarship

Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Director of Compliance Risk 
Beneficial State Bank 

"It was truly an honor to serve on the panel of judges for this very important ACAMS scholarship to help fraud professionals looking for financial assistance to obtain their ACAMS Certified Anti-Fraud Specialist certification.  The pool of candidates was filled with individuals from across the world who are extremely passionate about combating fraud.  Their backgrounds were diverse, and their stories were compelling.

I am grateful to ACAMS for allowing me to be a part of this worthy cause."

Richard H. Harvey, Jr., is an experienced Executive level Compliance leader and a noted expert in developing and implementing risk-based Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering programs.  Richard currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Director of Compliance Risk for Beneficial State Bank.  He also serves as Principal of R Harvey Associates, LLC. 

Richard is a graduate of the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. He served as an Enforcement and Litigation attorney with the Office of Thrift Supervision from 1986 to 1993. During his career, Richard has held key roles in legal and bank compliance. 

In 2017, he served on the Consumer Financial Protection Board Community Bank Advisory Council. In 2019, Richard was recognized for his service to the financial services industry with the ABA’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2024, Richard was recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the most Influential Lawyers in the country.  And, In 2001, Richard testified on behalf of the ABA before the House of Representatives Banking Committee concerning financial institution’s efforts to combat identity theft.

Director, FCSO Surveillance Academy Lead 
Standard Chartered Global Business Services

"Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this CAFS scholarship exercise and being a judge for the same. It gave great insight into the lives of the applicants and the hardships that many go through in life wherein various reasons results in a break in employment. It was my privilege to partner with ACAMS to make a difference in their lives, for the better, to get them back on track.

All the Best to the selected Scholarship Candidates!!"

Certified Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) specialist with 28 + years of banking experience, across FCC Training Academy,  Anti-Money Laundering Investigation and Reporting, Regulatory Compliance Controls, Operations, Mortgage Sales, and Retail Banking, in leadership roles. 

Successfully managed critical Training operations, AML processing/reporting, Retail Banking, Wealth Management Regulatory Compliance Audits/Controls, Sales and Operational roles, with distinction.

Director 
Cifas Learning & Public Sector 

“Fraud remains one of the most urgent challenges facing organisations today, and addressing it requires a steadfast commitment to high-quality, specialist training that inspires those passionate about prevention. 

It was an honour to serve as a judge for this scholarship. The calibre of submissions was outstanding – rich in talent, diversity, and a deep drive to make meaningful change in their communities and countries. I hope this opportunity empowers each of them to thrive in their careers and continue making a lasting impact to the fraud prevention community.”

Rachael was Head of Audit and Counter Fraud in 3 London Boroughs. At the National Fraud Authority, Home Office in 2010 as Head of UK Public Sector Fraud she researched and drafted the first local government counter fraud strategy Fighting Fraud Locally (FFL) and created pilot data hubs using partnerships. In 2013 she joined the MoD as manager of the Fraud Defence Unit. 

In 2014 she created the CIPFA Counter Fraud Centre - creating qualifications and services, drafting the second FFCL Strategy for HMG, she then researched and drafted FFCL2020s whilst at Cifas . Whilst here she created a consortium of data partners leading the team to win the contract for the London Counter Fraud Hub. 

Rachael is a well-known speaker and author on counter fraud and corruption, sitting on a number of industry boards. She is the Independent Person for Standards and Ethics at the LB Tower Hamlets and sits on the Audit Committee for the Police Commissioner for Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Rachael won Stella Walsh Award “Lifetime Achievement in Countering Fraud”, the TECA ‘Lifetime Achievement’ 2023 award, The 2023 FFCL Outstanding Contribution Award and the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award at the Public Sector Award 2024 . Rachael is Director of Public Sector and Learning at Cifas – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service.

Vice President, International Oversight - APAC & Latin America & Canada
American Express 

"The financial crime compliance community is made up of passionate and driven individuals who seek to make a difference. I was honoured to be a member of this judging panel, and was very impressed with the calibre of applicants whose stories and passion shined brightly. Congratulations to the scholarship recipients and I wish every applicant success in the future, in our continued fight against fraud and more broadly, financial crime."

Wendy has 27 years of financial crime (FC) experience & is currently Vice President, International FC Compliance - APAC, Latin America/Canada at American Express. In this role she monitors & provides oversight of each FC program, provides advisory in order to establish safety and soundness for compliant and forward-thinking programs. 

Wendy was also previously the AML/CTF Compliance Officer for American Express in Australia and New Zealand. 

Prior to her current role, Wendy worked at AUSTRAC for 15 years, working across multiple areas including in the Intelligence branch where she worked onsite with law enforcement agencies (LEAs); managed the FIU’s relationship with LEAs and national security partners; led AUSTRAC’s international technical assistance and training program, managing 8 programs that assisted counterpart agencies in 37 countries in the APAC region and Africa; & led the Compliance team responsible for front-line supervision. Wendy was also a member of senior executive and governance committees. 

Wendy has represented the Australian Government at various inter-government forums resulting in a greater understanding of Australia’s approach by stakeholders, and closer ties with overseas partners; & she has fostered key relationships with domestic & international FC partners, resulting in closer collaboration & a greater understanding of common goals.

Founder 
Operation Shamrock 

"The global financial crime industry is ever-evolving. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn about the candidates and their commitment to anti-fraud efforts. The CAFS certification program will help these dedicated professionals build their skills and benefit their organizations and victims of fraud."

Erin West is a globally recognized speaker and educator specializing in transnational organized crime, with a focus on the criminal investigation and prosecution of cryptocurrency-related cases. Recently retired after 26 years as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County, California, Erin spent the last eight years of her career assigned to the REACT High-Tech Task Force, renowned for its arrests and prosecutions of SIM-swappers and successful cryptocurrency recoveries. 

As the founder and leader of the Crypto Coalition, an international network of nearly 2,000 law enforcement agents focused on cryptocurrency investigations, Erin has played a pivotal role in advancing global collaboration in combating digital crimes. Following her retirement, she launched Operation Shamrock, a groundbreaking non-profit organization dedicated to uniting law enforcement, private industry, and cross-border stakeholders in the fight against transnational organized crime originating in Southeast Asia. 

Erin’s leadership, innovation, and passion for justice continue to make her a driving force in the global effort to dismantle criminal enterprises and protect communities worldwide.

Product Delivery Manager
ACAMS 

"I believe in the mission of ACAMS, and it was an honor to read the stories of the candidates who want to take that mission and apply it in their circumstances. The world is a brighter place when I look at the candidates and their passion to fight financial crime."

Sarah Gillis is a Product Delivery Manager at ACAMS. In this role, she oversees the timely execution and launch of ACAMS learning courses. Sarah improves the processes used by training product development and delivery staff. She works to streamline, standardize, and maximize return on investment for customers. Since joining ACAMS in 2018, Sarah's responsibilities have also included hosting virtual classrooms alongside the AFC industry's top experts. 

Sarah took her own career break to focus on raising her family and is especially grateful for the opportunities and support she received when re-entering the workforce. She is excited to be part of the ACAMS scholarship program that supports others in the same effort. 

Sarah holds a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and has her CAMS certification. She is based in the US.