Deloitte is hosting its seventh annual Financial Crime Symposium on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, a carefully curated gathering of Australia's foremost financial crime leaders, regulators, and industry experts.
Our half-day symposium will explore how industry is navigating the evolving face of financial crime, with discussion spanning a wide range of contemporary issues shaping the landscape, including AML/CTF reforms, Scams, the evolution of technology-enabled solutions, and the practical realities of intelligence sharing. Attendees will hear from global and local leaders across industry, regulators, and industry bodies, and have the opportunity to connect and share insights with peers.
2026 Financial Crime Symposium
Registrations closed
We are pleased to welcome Brendan Thomas, AUSTRAC CEO, who will deliver a keynote address offering insights into the evolving financial crime landscape and what the ongoing AML/CTF reform means for organisations.
Event details:
In-Person (Sydney)
Date: Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. AEST (followed by networking lunch)
Jo Gorton opens the symposium, setting the scene for the day and reflecting on what the AML/CTF reforms mean for industry, government and the fight against financial crime.
Keynote by AUSTRAC
9:05 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. AEST (25 min)
Brendan Thomas, CEO - AUSTRAC
AUSTRAC’s CEO, Brendan Thomas, will provide insights into AUSTRAC’s risk-based approach and what businesses can expect from AUSTRAC as they adapt to the new regulatory environment.
Perspectives on the post-reforms environment: where to from here?
Dr Rochelle Hurst, National Manager, Education and Industry Engagement - AUSTRAC
Rhett Chesser, Head of Financial Crime Operations - Judo Bank
A practical panel discussion on how Tranche 1 reporting entities have responded to the introduction of the AML/CTF reforms, what lessons are emerging from implementation, and where the regime, industry engagement and operating models should go next.
Information Sharing
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. AEST (30 min)
David Pegley, Managing Director - AFCX
Mark Dickson, Executive Manager, Financial Crime Intelligence - Westpac
Sarah Mack, Director of Economic Crime Team - Home Affairs
A practical discussion on how intelligence sharing can move beyond information exchange to influence decisions, support disruption and improve outcomes, and what conditions are needed to make it a sustainable and effective national capability.
Morning Tea
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. AEST (30 min)
A 30-minute break to recharge over tea and coffee, and to continue the conversation with speakers and fellow delegates before the second half of the program.
Global trends in financial crime reform: a view from the northern hemisphere
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. AEST (20 min)
Chris Bostock, Financial Crime Partner - Deloitte (UK)
Chris leads Deloitte’s Forum for Tackling Illicit Finance and will help set the scene for the day by sharing the major strategic shifts he is seeing in Europe and beyond and across both public and private sectors in the fight against financial crime.
Scams & the convergence of AML & fraud risk
11:20 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. AEST (30 min)
Chris Bostock, Partner Financial Crime - Deloitte (UK)
Stephen Parker-Kempe, General Manager, Risk Transformation and Financial Crime Compliance (AMLCO) - Bank of Queensland
James Roberts, Executive General Manager, Fraud and Scams - Commonwealth Bank of Australia
A panel discussion on how scams are reshaping financial crime risk and accelerating the convergence of fraud, scams and AML. The session will explore prevention and disruption strategies, intelligence-led collaboration, and the operating model changes needed to better protect customers and combat financial crime.
AI in Action
11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. AEST (30 min)
Rajat Saigal, Risk & Regulatory Partner - Deloitte Australia
Anuj Solanki, Head of Enterprise AI and Client Protection - Macquarie
Monica Li, Head of Compliance Australia & New Zealand - Wise
Everyone is talking about AI, but what does it take to move from hype to impact? Join us as we hear from organisations that are applying AI in the real world, sharing their experiences on governance, skills, adoption challenges, and the outcomes they are achieving, along with the lessons they wish they had known earlier.
Closing Remarks
12:20 p.m. – 12:25 p.m. AEST (5 min)
Lisa Dobbin, Partner, Risk, Regulatory & Forensic - Deloitte Australia
Lisa Dobbin closes the symposium, drawing together the key themes from the day and reflecting on where industry and government go next in the fight against financial crime.
Lisa leads Deloitte’s Risk, Regulatory & Forensic practices. She specialises in the provision of financial crime consulting services to clients in the financial services industry. Lisa’s experience includes financial crime transformation programs, regulatory response (including AML/CTF civil penalty proceedings and enforceable undertakings), remediation, regulatory change, technology advisory and independent reviews/inspections. She has supported clients domestically and offshore and has worked with a range of clients across banking, wealth management and insurance. With experience across both the investigative and advisory aspects, Lisa has advised clients on all financial crime themes (AML/CTF, sanctions, anti-bribery and corruption, market misconduct, fraud). Lisa has a background in engineering and delivering major regulatory projects and enhancing operational frameworks at major financial institutions. She was formerly a lawyer specialising in contentious financial crime and regulatory matters.
Ben is Partner in the forensic and financial crime division of Deloitte’s Risk, Regulatory & Forensic practice. He specialises in financial crime compliance advisory and investigations, including fraud, AML/CTF, sanctions, bribery & corruption. Ben is an avid financial crime problem solver, with extensive experience across different industries including. He has led financial crime teams for organisations across Australia and the UK. Since moving from industry to Deloitte as a Manager in 2016, Ben’s key initiatives and engagements have included the development, management & coordination of prevention, detection and response functions in respect of financial crime compliance obligations, financial crime advisory support and performing independent reviews and assurance for clients across various financial crime disciplines
