Gavin Coles and Kylie Oliver on the Australian Sanctions Perspective
Jul 19, 2024
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Gavin Coles, Global Sanctions Officer at OFX, and Kylie Oliver, Senior Manager of Enterprise Sanctions Compliance at ANZ, dive into Australia’s unique sanctions landscape. They explore how indirect risks are evolving as other markets tighten sanctions on Russia. Kylie highlights the growing complexities that Australian organizations face, while Gavin calls for a strategic approach to navigate the intricate risk landscape. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective data management and proactive compliance to avoid vulnerabilities connected to secondary sanctions.
Australia faces unique sanctions challenges due to its limited experience with direct sanctions, necessitating a focus on indirect risk management.
The complex risk landscape in Australia, characterized by its reliance on imports, complicates compliance amid evolving geopolitical tensions and sanctions regulations.
Deep dives
Challenges in Sanctions Compliance
Professionals express significant concerns regarding the rapid changes in sanctions regulations, leading to difficulties in staying compliant. The paramount issue is the increasing complexity and volume of sanction lists, which generates a high number of false alerts and necessitates improved screening methods. Attendees highlighted the ongoing challenge of effectively managing and reducing these false alerts while keeping abreast of global geopolitical changes that influence sanctions. There is a pressing need for organizations to adapt their sanctions programs proactively, as real-time events can alter regulatory landscapes and complicate compliance processes.
Data Management and Technology in Compliance
The integration of advanced technology and efficient data management is a critical focus for organizations grappling with sanctions compliance. Conversations emphasize the challenge of legacy systems that hinder effective data cleansing and risk assessment, prompting the need for modernized solutions. Financial institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of aligning their data strategies with broader risk management efforts, especially concerning customer behavior and transaction monitoring. With evolving sanctions regulations, organizations must prioritize data quality to enhance their compliance capabilities and reduce potential risks.
Geopolitical Risks and Sanctions Response
The differing attitudes towards sanctions compliance regarding Russian sanctions reflect a unique risk landscape in Australia and New Zealand. Following the invasion of Ukraine, Australian entities quickly established strict measures, including market-wide bans on transactions with Russia, thanks to their limited trade ties. However, the region's reliance on imports for energy and food complicates the sanctions dialogue, as neighboring countries balance local needs with international sanctions regulations. This complexity necessitates thorough scenario planning, ensuring that organizations can anticipate and react to the evolving challenges posed by geopolitical tensions.
‘As the other core markets for Russia are closing down and tightening the grip, they’re looking for other mechanisms. And we may be seen as an easier mechanism because we haven’t had the benefit of the learnings of the European and the American banks, where they have been really having to grapple with this on a day-to-day basis. We’re now really having to turn our attention to that indirect risk.’
-Kylie Oliver on sanctions risks in Australia
‘We need to think about customers and markets that we may touch into from Australia. It’s a very different risk landscape - much more complex I’d suggest - than it may be in the Northern Hemisphere around this Russian sanctions issue.’
-Gavin Coles on sanctions risks in Australia
In the latest episode of the Sanctions Space Podcast, Justine is joined by Gavin Coles, Global Sanctions Officer at OFX and Kylie Oliver, Senior Manager Enterprise Sanctions Compliance at ANZ. They discuss how industry in Australia is dealing with a complex global sanctions environment, how sanctions exposure can manifest itself in the region, and vulnerabilities to secondary sanctions risks.
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