On October 3, 2019, anti-financial crime professionals attended the launch of the first chapter in Brazil, the São Paulo Chapter. The chapter was launched during a morning event at Federação Brasileira de Bancos (FEBRABAN), an association of Brazilian banks with over 100 professionals from top-tier companies including exporters, banks, insurers, law firms, among others.
Guests were welcomed by members of the chapter board Leonardo Abate, Jose Leonelio de Souza, Rezivalda Oliveira Borges, Sandra Guida, Celia Regina Pizzi and Ana Perdomo. The event began with breakfast, where guests had the opportunity to interact and network with chapter board members, regulators and other professionals. Alberto Afonso, the co-chair of the São Paulo Chapter, presented the chapter to those in attendance and also shared the benefits of being part of this group. Marcio Luz, the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) Brazil manager, presented on the ACAMS and its certifications.
Rodrigo Silva, the secretary of the chapter, moderated the main session of the event, a panel about sanctions and the recent impact on Brazil. Juan Ferreiro Cunha, head of the supervision department of the Central Bank of Brazil, presented the Brazilian journey to comply with the requirements by the Financial Action Task Force and the new law in Brazil about sanctions and its regulatory impact on financial institutions (FIs). Celso Poltronieri, consultant of reputational risk for regulated institutions, provided the internal impact on FIs and the industry of the new sanctions regulation. The panel was led by Silva and participants had a chance to ask questions to the presenters.
Afonso closed the event and then invited the participants to join ACAMS and the chapter. At the end of the event a drawing was held, which awarded a free pass for the upcoming ACAMS symposium in Brazil to the winner.