This is part of our commitment to foster career-development opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals in the anti-financial crime (AFC) space.
To the 30 recipients, we welcome you to a global community of financial crime prevention professionals. We wish you every success and look forward to partnering you on this remarkable journey. To the other applicants, we thank you for your interest and commitment, and wish you all the success in your future endeavours. We hope that our paths will cross again.
CAFCA Scholarship Recipients
Diana Okoro
CAFCA Scholarship Candidate Selection Panel
“It’s a privilege to encounter so many talented young people in the course of reviewing candidates applications who are the future of the fight against financial crime. It’s also really an honor to be able to offer some of the applicants a way to enhance their professional skills with a certification that might be out of their reach but for the scholarship that ACAMS is able to provide in partnership with FINTRAIL.”
Kieran Beer has been a financial journalist for more than 30 years, with a history of creating in-depth financial news and financial intelligence. He is the chief analyst and director of editorial content with responsibility for ACAMS moneylaundering.com, ACAMS Today and content for many ACAMS conferences and programs, including his award-winning podcast series “Financial Crime Matters.” Kieran has appeared on CNN, CNBC and Sky News and is passionate about delivering cutting edge news and dynamic discussions on matters concerning financial crime.
"It was an immense pleasure to be part of the CAFCA Scholarship panel. It was great to see and hear first-hand what an impact this opportunity can have on individuals and the enthusiasm they have for the FinTech sector. I am very confident that some of the successful candidates will be FinTech compliance leaders of the future and I look forward to seeing their journey and career develop."
Robert Evans, co-founder of FINTRAIL is a thought leader in the financial crime risk management and FinTech communities. Robert exploits his knowledge and experiences within developing and high-risk economies, institutional banking and disruptive financial services to help clients design, execute and assure financial crime compliance objectives driven from a business and first line of defence perspective.
“The candidate pool was exceptional and it made for very difficult judging, but I am confident that the candidates we have chosen will use this opportunity to make a difference to their communities, and bring a much-needed diverse pool of talent to the FinTech world."
Perpetua Gitungo (Pesh) is the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and Financial Crime Compliance Oversight Lead at Wise, responsible for the UK and EU markets. Pesh joined Wise in 2017 and comes with a wealth of FinCrime experience gained through the management of financial crime in both small and listed companies (banking, CFD/FX, gambling industries). Pesh is a strong champion for diversity and inclusion in the FinTech industry.
“The applicants showed great passion and excitement for learning about new technologies, in order to better equip themselves in the fight against financial crime.”
Stephen Brent Sargeant, Deputy Manager, AML Investigations, provides consultancy services to industry leading cryptocurrency exchange, Bitfinex. Stephen has experience conducting complex blockchain investigations and actively contributes to working groups and public private partnerships. He shares insights into the intersection of Cryptocurrency and AML in his training programs.
“It's been an honour and privilege to listen to so many talented individuals as part of the CAFCA scholarship judging panel. I look forward to the successful candidates completing CAFCA and making the most of their professional association with ACAMS.”
Shilpa Arora is the Anti-Financial Crime Portfolio Solutions Director for ACAMS where she is responsible for the development of anti-financial crime solutions for ACAMS clients. Shilpa is an industry expert in financial crime prevention and AFC technologies; and represents ACAMS by leading roundtables and proactively engaging with industry practitioners. Shilpa is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce at ACAMS.
FAQs
Eligibility
Selection Process
What happens after I have been selected?
Is the ACAMS membership included in the CAFCA scholarship?
Disclosure for CAFCA scholarship
By applying for the CAFCA Scholarship, the applicant:
(1) grants to ACAMS, the irrevocable right and permission to use any testimonial (written or oral), photographs, video recordings or images, sound recordings or other images of the applicant either submitted with the application or taken by ACAMS:
To use, re‐use, publish, re‐publish, copy, modify, display and create derivative works in whole or in section, individually or in conjunction with other photographs, film, video, or other images, sound recordings or testimonials in any medium or format whatsoever (including without limitation, in and on print publications, the Internet and other digital transmission or delivery methods) and for any purpose whatsoever, including, without limitation in advertising, marketing, publications, electronic distribution, and the Internet and for any other commercial purpose without further consent; and
(a) To use the applicant’s name, image, likeness, voice, other personal characteristics and professional and personal biographical information in connection therewith; and
(b) To copyright the same in the name of ACAMS, or any other name that ACAMS may choose; and
(2) waives any and all rights to such photographs, film, video or other images, sound recordings, or testimonials (written or oral) and assigns all such rights in perpetuity to ACAMS and its affiliates, successors, and assigns.
The applicant acknowledges and agrees that ACAMS has the right to use the any materials, including images, the applicant submits for marketing purposes as determined by ACAMS. ACAMS will not be liable to the applicant for its use of such materials or images.
The applicant understands that there will be no payment or other compensation for the permitted use of any testimonial (written or oral), photographs, film, video, other images or sound recordings received or taken by ACAMS or of the applicant’s name, likeness or personal characteristics.
ACAMS shall be the exclusive owner of all rights, including copyright, in the materials. The applicant forever releases and discharges ACAMS from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of such photographs, film, video or other images, sound recordings, or testimonial (written or oral), including but not limited to any claims for defamation, invasion of privacy, right of publicity, emotional distress or any similar right.
The applicant undertakes and warrants that they do not have a relationship with ACAMS or FINTRAIL, or with anyone employed at either company, and this includes:
(a) Serving as a current employee in any capacity at ACAMS or FINTRAIL; and
(b) Being related to anyone employed at ACAMS or FINTRAIL as either a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child or spouse of a child, brother, sister, or spouse of a brother or sister.
The applicant represents and warrants that any testimonial (written or oral) given is original and does not infringe upon the copyright or proprietary rights of another person or entity.
The applicant further warrants the information they submit will not contain any material which is defamatory, private, confidential, or which is unlawful in any way. Any application found to be in breach of the foregoing statement will be disqualified.