08:30 - 09:15
Registrations – Welcome Coffee
09:15 – 09:20
Welcome note by IMH
09:20 – 09:35
Opening remarks by the Chairperson of the Forum

Geopolitics and Compliance Risk

09:35-09:50
Keynote Speech: The major regional and global geopolitical developments and the role of Cyprus as a pillar of stability in a turbulent region
09:50 – 10:20
Panel Discussion: Adapting to a Fragmented World: Compliance Amid Geopolitical Turbulence – the Diplomats’ point of view
  • Trends, policies and tools for the fight against Financial Crime (Money Laundering, Illicit Finance, etc.)
  • The collaborative efforts to strengthen the Republic of Cyprus’s ability to detect, investigate, and prosecute financial crimes
10:20-10:50
Panel Discussion: The Compliance Officer’s Role in Navigating Political Unrest
  • Navigating the complexities of sanctions, trade restrictions, and regional regulatory disparities
  • Identifying early warning signs of geopolitical risks and the impact on the operations of organizations and institutions.
  • Building frameworks to adapt quickly to changing political climates or prevent its effects.

The European Union Perspective: AMLA: The new EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism

The Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) is a decentralised EU agency that will coordinate national authorities to ensure the correct and consistent application of EU rules. The aim of the EU Authority is to transform the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) supervision in the EU and enhance cooperation among financial intelligence units (FIUs).

10:50-11:05
Keynote Speech: The Future of AML/CFT in the EU: Implications of the EU’s AML Authority (AMLA) Function and Agenda
  • How the establishment of AMLA is reshaping the compliance landscape.
  • Centralized oversight and its impact on financial institutions and businesses.
  • How AMLA’s centralized oversight is affecting compliance strategies.
11:05-11:40
Panel Discussion: Practitioners Meet Consultants: Navigating EU Compliance, Global AML Alignment, and High-Risk Jurisdictions
  • Compliance challenges for foreign businesses operating within the EU.
  • Strategies for global alignment with EU AML/CFT requirements including the implications of AMLA.
11:40-12:15
Coffee Break
12:15-12:50
Panel Discussion: Navigating the Sanctions Storm: Cutting-Edge Strategies and Real-World Practices
  • Latest Trends in Sanctions Compliance—Strategies, Policies, Tools, and Techniques
  • Inspiring Case Studies and Best Practices
  • Inside the Creation of Cyprus’s Sanctions Enforcement Unit
  • Practical Steps and Actionable Insights for Effective Sanctions Implementation and Future Preparedness
12:50- 13:20
Panel Discussion: Inside the Regulator’s Mind: Expectations, Insights, and Supervisory Challenge

Strategies, policies, tools and practices in the fight against financial crime in Cyprus: latest trends and developments from the Regulators

13:20-13:30
The contribution of FBI in the fight against Financial Crime

Inside the FBI Files: Investigations, Partnerships, and Tackling Financial Crime in Cyprus

  • Explore how the FBI collaborates closely with Cyprus’s private sector to detect and dismantle financial crime networks.
  • Hear about targeted investigations and high-profile financial crime cases that highlight FBI expertise.
  • Discover insights from recent FBI-led training initiatives aimed at strengthening local capabilities against financial crime.
13:30-13:40
Fireside Chat: Bridging the Gap: MOKAS and the Power of Public-Private Partnerships Against Financial Crime
  • Discover how MOKAS is pioneering public-private partnerships to enhance Cyprus’s defenses against financial crime.
  • Understand the vision behind this innovative collaboration, highlighting strategic goals and mutual benefits for authorities and the private sector.
  • Learn directly from the Head of MOKAS about practical steps, expectations, and successes from recent partnership initiatives.

The New Era of European Union Digital Finance Legislation

 

“Digital Finance” are financial services and instruments that use or are based on new information and communication technologies (ICT). A wide range of segments of the financial system are concerned, from digital payment services to the new market infrastructures of crypto-assets using distributed ledger technologies (DLT). EU Policymakers expect digital finance to benefit the financial system but at the same time poses new risks, especially for financial stability and the protection of citizens. The idea behind the EU regulatory approach, legislative initiatives and policies is that by providing a sound regulatory framework, homogenous throughout the EU, these risks can be monitored and controlled, while also favouring the desired innovation.

13:40-13:55
Digital Operations Resilience Act (DORA)
  • Mastering DORA Compliance
  • Understanding DORA’S core obligations
13:55-14:05
From Volatility to Stability: The Role of MiCA in Crypto
14:05-14:30
Panel Discussion: Codebreakers: Cracking Compliance in the Age of AI and Crypto
  • Shifting from manual checks to real-time intelligence: How AI and blockchain are redefining risk detection and management in compliance.
  • Confronting the next generation of financial crime with smarter, tech-driven monitoring frameworks.
  • From volatility to compliance: How MiCA and the EU’s evolving AML regime are anchoring trust in crypto and decentralized finance.
14:35
End of Forum – Networking Cocktail