ACAMS Baltics Conference

Matis Mäeker is the head of the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and a member of the MONEYVAL Bureau. Mäeker has been the evaluator and reviewer of many mutual evaluation reports conducted by MONEYVAL. He is also a member of the Estonian delegation to MONEYVAL and a member of the Heads of FIU of the Egmont Group. He has also been an alternative member of the European Banking Authority’s AML Standing Committee on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing (AMLSC). 

Mäeker has extensive knowledge of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter -terrorist financing (CTF) from both angels—the preventative and the criminal side. He is the author of the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority’s AML/CTF public guideline and internal guidelines, the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority’s risk-based approach model, as well as t and he co-author of ed the book The AML Compliance Book: 150 Golden Rules.

Laura Aus is the Deputy Head of Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit. Main focus areas are international sanctions, countering terrorist finance and supervision. Former Head of International Financial Sanctions and Counter Terrorist Financing Department and the Lawyer of Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Department of Finantsinspektsioon – the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority. With a background in law and economics, she has worked in both, public and private sector. In addition, she has experiences in conducting AML/CFT national supervisory activities, developing sanctions compliance framework for financial institutions and in developing sanctions guidelines. She has been also an assessor for MONEYVAL (FATF) – the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism.

Kieran Beer is chief analyst and director of editorial content with responsibility for ACAMS moneylaundering.com, ACAMS Today and content for many ACAMS conferences and other programs. Prior to joining ACAMS in 2006, he was executive editor of Bloomberg Wealth Manager, an award winning investment and financial planning magazine, and he also served as a staff writer for Bloomberg Markets Magazine.

Kieran has been a financial journalist for more than 30 years, beginning his career at Institutional Investor. He subsequently served as editor-in-chief of The Bond Buyer, founding editor of Thomson Municipal Market Monitor, and editor at the American Banker.

Kieran speaks regularly at industry conferences, has appeared on CNBC and Sky News, and has been heard on WBBR and NPR. He writes a column on anti-financial crime issues and is the host of “Financial Crime Matters,” a podcast series, as well ACAMS videocasts on YouTube.

Vitālijs is the sanctions officer and expert in SEB Bank Latvia, heading the Sanctions compliance unit. Has worked in the Banking industry since 2007, including Nordea, Luminor and SEB, with over 10 years in Anti-Financial crime & sanctions area.

Vitālijs is ACAMS Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS).

Sam Cousins is a Senior Associate at ACAMS, where his work includes supporting public-private partnerships and strengthening ACAMS thought leadership pillar through the development of content on sanctions and risk, particularly the Sanctions Masterclass program and Global Monthly Update. Sam's work also focuses on countering ransomware financing, which includes enhancing industry awareness of the anti-financial crime risks associated with ransomware attacks and supporting the mitigation of those risks through policies, training and public-private dialogue.

Prior to ACAMS, Sam worked on the Sanctions Policy team at UK Finance - the trade association for the UK banking sector.

Koos Couvée has been ACAMS moneylaundering.com’s European reporter since October 2017 and is responsible for covering the development of laws, regulations and compliance procedures designed to clamp down on illicit finance in the United Kingdom and European Union. Prior to joining ACAMS, Koos worked as a news journalist at various regional and national newspapers based in London.

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Law practitioner for almost 30 years. Coordinates the state policies in the fields of auditing, bookkeeping, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing, and gambling. Has been working in government sector for over 12 years, but as well in private sector for 18 years.

Alexandre Pinot is a FinTech and anti-financial crime expert with over 15 years of experience in financial services. He has held senior risk, leadership, and compliance roles within both large corporates and smaller FinTechs and advised multiple financial institutions on licensing, operations, and risk management.

As Co-founder of AMLYZE, he leads innovation and strategy, helping financial institutions navigate evolving regulatory and operational challenges. He also co-chairs the ACAMS Baltics Chapter, supporting industry collaboration and education.

2018-2021, EE FIU, Lawyer

2021-2024 , Swedbank AS, AML/CFT Lawyer

2024 – active, Swedbank AS, Head of KYC DDD Department

Uldis Upenieks brings over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, including 20 years in the banking industry. He has held prominent leadership roles, most notably serving as Chief Compliance Officer at Citadele Bank, one of the largest banks in the Baltics.

As the co-chair of the ACAMS Baltic Chapter, Uldis is deeply involved in shaping Latvia’s regulatory framework for AML (Anti-Money Laundering), CTF (Counter-Terrorism Financing), and CPF (Counter-Proliferation Financing). His efforts extend to promoting best practices in the financial sector across these critical areas.

Before his tenure at Citadele Bank, Uldis served as Chairman of the Board at IPAS CBL Asset Management. Earlier in his career, he was a Board Member and Head of Internal Audit for the PrivatBank Group. From 2002 to 2009, he led the Client Oversight Function at Citadele, and from 2009 to 2011, he was Vice President and Deputy Director of the Risk and Compliance Sector.

Uldis holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Riga Technical University. Additionally, he has studied at the Riga Graduate School of Law and completed the prestigious Corporate Governance course at INSEAD.