In Focus: Shifts and Opportunities in Syria – Rethinking Risk Calibration

Justine draws on a diverse global career, working across government, regulatory, private sector, and international organisations. As an expert on sanctions, counterterrorism, and financial crime she has held specialist positions within the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, HM Treasury, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Central Asia), the British Bankers’ Association, and UK Finance. In addition, Justine was formerly part of the UK delegation to the Financial Action Task Force, chaired the European Banking Federation’s Sanctions Expert Group, co-chaired the UK Joint Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce’s counterterrorist financing group and served as an International Monetary Fund advisor to Nigeria. She has acted as an independent Syria sanctions-humanitarian expert to the United Nations, and previously served as a national expert on the financing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)/counter proliferation financing matters. 
 
In her role within ACAMS, the world’s leading membership organization with a presence in over 180 jurisdictions, Justine oversees the subject-matter-expert division. A regular contributor to media publications covering financial-crime issues, she has addressed UN expert groupings, given evidence to parliamentary hearings, and authored numerous publications. Justine also holds a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews and an M.Sc. from the University of Edinburgh.

Riad Sabbagh is a seasoned Communications and Business Development specialist with 25+ years of experience across the MENA region and complex conflict zones, particularly the Syrian crisis. His deep understanding of Syria’s geopolitical, economic, and humanitarian landscape has positioned him as a trusted advisor to UN agencies, international NGOs, think tanks, and global institutions.

A strategic consultant and researcher, Riad has contributed to influential advocacy papers, policy studies, and analyses on sanctions, Syria’s private sector, and the political economy of the war. His work over the past 14 years has provided critical insights into the conflict’s evolving dynamics.

Beyond Syria, Riad played a pivotal role in Afghanistan (2020–2023), advising on transitional strategies as the country moved from Western-led governance to Taliban rule.

Currently based in Damascus as of December 2024, he continues to provide expert consultancy services to UN agencies and international organizations operating in the country.

Alex Zerden is the Founder and Principal of Capitol Peak Strategies, a risk advisory firm based in Washington, DC. Capitol Peak Strategies works with leading financial institutions, companies and organizations to navigate emerging technologies, financial regulation, and economic crisis with expertise in AML/CFT and economic sanctions issues.

Alex previously worked across the U.S. government, including at the White House National Economic Council, House of Representatives, Senate, and the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Alex deployed to Afghanistan to lead the Treasury Department office at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as the Financial Attaché. Alex is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security think tank and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University.

Luma Zitani is a banking professional with over 20 years of experience in Anti-Financial Crime (AFC) compliance and Risk Management across wholesale and retail banking. She excels at developing and implementing governance and Risk management frameworks, leading diverse teams through critical remediation and daily operations, and engaging with stakeholders and regulators to deliver sustainable outcomes. A Chevening Scholar and ICA Fellow, Luma holds a Master's in Banking and International Finance and is dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance compliance.