Motivation – the driving force in the fight against financial crime: anti-money laundering experts discuss today’s challenges

Today in Vilnius, more than 500 professionals are attending the conference “Unlocking the Power of Motivation in AML”, organized by the Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering and the Bank of Lithuania. The event explores various perspectives on the fight against money laundering and fraud, as well as future challenges. 

“This conference brings attention to issues that affect our country’s reputation, attractiveness to investors, and the protection of consumer funds. In both money laundering prevention and fraud cases, it is essential to continuously strengthen the cooperation between financial market participants and law enforcement, share information, and work together to educate the public,” says Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, Gediminas Šimkus. 

“In a rapidly changing world, we decided to focus on a force that is invisible but critically important in the fight against money laundering – motivation. Every day, representatives of the public and private sectors demonstrate dedication, responsibility, and direction. They uncover money laundering schemes, sanctions evasion models, manage geopolitical risk guided by values – transparency, trust, and integrity. That’s why it is important to continue encouraging knowledge-sharing and dialogue among experts,” emphasizes Eglė Lukošienė, Head of the Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering, on the relevance of the conference theme. 

Tom Keatinge, Director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI, United Kingdom), will assess the importance of motivation in shaping an effective anti-money laundering (AML) system and organizational culture. Tommas Kaplan (Von Poll Immobilien GmbH) will discuss sectoral vulnerabilities, highlighting the main risks in the real estate market. These topics are especially relevant given the growing dynamics of threats and the need to increase resilience. 

Simonas Krėpšta, a member of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania, will present the future of anti-money laundering, regulatory challenges, and the importance of interinstitutional cooperation on both national and international levels in an interview with AML Intelligence news portal representative Paul O’Donoghue. 

Michal Gromek, Head of the Digital Asset Taskforce at the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime, will present how crypto-assets are being illegally used for military purposes. 

Experts will also analyze how to enhance national and international cooperation in the field of anti-money laundering. A panel moderated by blogger Skirmantas Malinauskas will explore whether institutions and anti-money laundering experts today are sufficiently motivated to fight fraud. Insights will be shared by Dr. Nicola Harding, Head of We Fight Fraud and criminologist, and Arūnas Maskoliūnas, Head of the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, who has been fighting organized crime for more than 25 years. 

In a discussion moderated by Greta Barkauskienė, an expert at the Center of Excellence in Anti-Money Laundering, the conference will also cover personal motivation and high-profile financial fraud cases in Lithuania and abroad. Contributions will come from Šarūnas Černiauskas, Head of the investigative journalism center Siena, and Audrius Valeika, Deputy Director of the Lithuanian Financial Crime Investigation Service. 

The conference will conclude with a presentation by Olga de Truchis, a representative of one of France’s largest banks, Société Générale, on combating financial crimes involving crypto-assets. She emphasizes that an effective response to cryptocurrency threats requires not only technological solutions but also personal leadership, cross-sector cooperation, and consistent institutional engagement.

E. Lukošienė highlights that this conference is not only a space for sharing expert knowledge and experience but also an opportunity to foster collaboration among financial market participants, law enforcement, supervisory authorities, and policymakers. Highly motivated professionals are among the most effective responses to the increasingly complex challenges posed by financial crime.