About the ACAMS Awards
Each year, ACAMS honors extraordinary anti-financial crime professionals whose remarkable contributions to the industry have taken steps towards our mission of ending financial crime. Our award recipients embody the spirit of innovation, demonstrating their ability to tackle complex challenges and generate enduring transformations.
We need you to help us shine a spotlight on innovative thinkers, problem solvers, and exceptional industry leaders. Nominations are now open for the four award categories listed below.
Winner Recognition
The 2024 award winners will be announced during The Assembly Las Vegas, which takes place from September 23-25, 2024, as well as on all ACAMS communication channels, including our website, ACAMS Today, and social media platforms.
The ACAMS AFC Professional of the Year winner will be flown to Las Vegas to receive the award in person. See each below for more details.
Judging Panel
Judging of the four 2024 ACAMS Awards will be undertaken by a five-person judging panel. Their average scores will determine the winner of each award.
ACAMS AFC Professional of the Year
The ACAMS AFC Professional of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of an exemplary anti-financial crime professional who has made significant contributions to the industry. The award acknowledges visionary innovators who have displayed exceptional initiative in formulating and executing transformative approaches that enhance the landscape of AFC globally.
Nominees will be evaluated based on their accomplishments, influence, and peer recommendations within the global AFC community. The 2024 AFC Professional of the Year will be flown to The Assembly Las Vegas from September 23-25, 2024, where they will be publicly recognized as the winner of this prestigious award.
- Nomination Guidelines:
- Must be an ACAMS member
- Must demonstrate a passion for the profession and the AML/AFC community
- Must contribute to the advancement of the AML/AFC mission within their organization through collaboration, education, and inclusion
- Must have a proven history of exceptional leadership and track record of developing AML/AFC effectiveness with their peers and community
- Must have provided an innovative solution to a complex issue within the AML/AFC sector within the last 12 months
- Required Nomination Materials:
- Summary of the candidate’s specific achievements, impact, and outcomes
- Testimony on candidate’s professionalism and other qualifications from the nominating person or entity, supplemented by other parties when applicable and/or possible
- Headshot and bio
ACAMS Rising AFC Professional of the Year
The ACAMS Rising AFC Professional of the Year Award recognizes a highly motivated and passionate AFC professional. This award is for professionals who are relatively new to the field, but responsible for helping advance the mission of ending financial crime in a demonstratable way within the last 12 months. Nominees are judged on their accomplishments, contribution to the industry, and leadership. Help us identify these accomplished up-and-coming leaders by submitting a nomination for the ACAMS Rising AFC Professional of the Year Award.
- Nomination Guidelines:
- Must be an ACAMS member
- Must have less than five years of experience in the AFC sector
- Must demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of AFC by writing articles, participating in ACAMS Chapter Events or professional committees, and/or speaking at industry events
- Must demonstrate a commitment to being a positive role model for the profession and peers
- Required Nomination Materials:
- Specific examples of leadership in the AFC field
- Testimony on candidate’s professionalism and other qualifications from the nominating person or entity, supplemented by other parties when applicable and/or possible, such as by members of the regional ACAMS chapter or a similar peer-networking organization, or by a member of the leadership team from the nominee’s institution
- Bio and headshot
ACAMS Today Article of the Year Award
ACAMS Today is the leading publication on all anti-financial crime (AFC)-related topics, dedicated to bringing insightful and high-quality content to empower AFC professionals across the globe with the knowledge and skills to prevent financial crimes.
Continual learning and information sharing on timely and relevant topics are essential components of the fight against financial crime. The ACAMS Today Article of the Year recognizes remarkable writers who have contributed to the ACAMS Today magazine by sharing their expertise, experience, knowledge and insights with the ACAMS readership. Cast your vote on the article that had the greatest influence on your AFC knowledge and career to help us recognize the talented writers that are making a difference in the AFC field.
Nomination Process
All nominations must be submitted electronically to editor@acams.org and should include:
- Title of article
- Author’s name
Award Requirements
A selection of previously nominated articles published between December 2022–November 2023 editions of ACAMS Today magazine are eligible for nomination.
Nominees
- The Nature of Synthetic Identity Fraud
Mavis Bennett - Small Town Politics, Big Time Thefts
Stephanie Painter - Pig Butchering: The ‘Super Scam’
Jonathan Dupont - Elvis and the Fraud Triangle
Paul Camacho - Banking Cannabis in 2022: ‘Weeding Out’ the Right Answers Among Industry Complexity
Donald "DJ" Antonacio - The Fraudulent Candidate Phenomenon
Sanjeev Menon
IRS-CI—Who Are They and What Do They Do?
Thomas M. Fattorusso - Indirect Exports and Transshipment Trade: Guarding Against Unlawful International Trade
Anne Marie Lacourse - Why FIs Should Consider Banking Marijuana Dispensaries
Julius Bosco - Russia’s Hope of Ice Hockey Glory Buried Under Sanctions
Filip Brokes - Trade Finance Risk and Controls
Amy Wotapka and Anne Marie Lacourse - Is It “Groundhog Day” for Digital Assets?
Ari Redbord - The BSA Tractor
Steve Gurdak - Choppy Waters: Negotiating the Complexities of Sanctions Due Diligence in an Uncertain World
Vlada Tkach and Verena Horne - Europe’s Quantum Leap
Stefano Siggia - Revolutionizing AFC Through ChatGPT
Michelle Hodge and Carl Francois - Responding to the Emotional Impact of Fraud
Jonathan Dupont - Remote Work and Information Privacy
Ronald Bohn - Partnerships Are Key in the AFC Combat
Delena D. Spann - AI in KYC for Community Banks
Carl Francois and Greg Pinn - BNPL: A Road Map for AML Compliance Officers
Jonathan Estreich - China-Based Money Laundering Organizations and the BMPE
Jeremy Glicksman - Captagon: A Dangerous Pill to Swallow
Sam Cousins and Luciano Pollichieni - Casinos: Responding to New and Evolving Money Laundering Risks
Carlos Cardoso and Anne Marie Lacourse - The Importance of Collaboration in CSE Investigation
Chris Bagnall, Silvija Krupena, Matthew Richardson and Lary Cameron - Health Care Payments: The Challenges and Risks
Dustin Eaton and Derek McDaniel - What Are the Sunday Scaries?
Sanjeev Menon - Human Trafficking in Times of Conflict
Jonathan Dupont - Financial Information Sharing Partnership in Mexico
Jose Luis Stein and Nick Schumann
ACAMS Chapter of the Year
The ACAMS Chapter of the Year award recognizes the tremendous contributions that the chapter network makes to our organization, community, and industry. This award celebrates one chapter that has showcased exemplary leadership, organized impactful events, fostered meaningful connections, and created an inclusive community. Help us identify which chapter has positively impacted you and your community by nominating a chapter for the 2024 ACAMS Chapter of the Year Award.
- Nomination Guidelines:
- Chapter must have existed for a period of 12 months or more
- Chapter must have a minimum of 5% of their membership certified
- All Chapter Executive Board members must be active and engaged ACAMS members
- Chapter must be in good financial standing
- Chapter has not won the award in the past three years