Meet the Steering Group
Andrew Clarke
Andrew has extensive experience in combating fraud and money laundering. As a police detective, he investigated complex cases involving criminals ranging from professional enablers helping organised crime groups to corrupt politicians. For many years he was Global Lead for financial crime at the International Compliance Association and has worked on projects with the United Nations, World Bank and IMF.
A familiar figure at the Forum conferences, he has been a member for over 15 years, is a Director and recently appointed Chair.
Kara Conlon
Kara been a Director of WFF since 2018, having been an active member for a number of years prior to this. Kara is the Head of Financial Crime and MLRO (SMF17) for Principality Building Society, as well as a Trustee for The Vale Domestic Abuse Service. Kara has over 20 years’ experience working within financial crime including detection, prevention, policy writing and assessing risk.
Her current remit spans across Fraud, AML, Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Facilitation of Tax Evasion and Modern Slavery.
Shirin Rahman,
Deputy Chair – Financial Crime Associate, Legal and General Investment Management and Steering Group Member, WFF
Shirin is a seasoned Financial Crime and Compliance professional. Her expertise lies in Fraud Investigations, AML (Anti- Money Laundering) and Compliance Monitoring within the Mortgage and Asset Management sectors. She is driven by her commitment to ethical finance and champions best practices, bridge gaps and elevate the standards of financial crime prevention. Well networked in the financial crime circle and actively involved in organising events and raising the profile of financial crime in Wales via the Wales Fraud Forum.
Steve Tooby – Head of NHS Counter Fraud Services Wales
Steve has been the Welsh Governments Head of Counter Fraud since 2010.
Prior to this he was head of the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit investigating ‘loan sharks’ across Wales. Steve completed 32 years at South Wales Police, retiring as a Detective Chief Inspector, having headed Cardiff CID, the Fraud & Economic Crime Unit, the Surveillance Team, and the Wales Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART).
Dr Nicholas Ryder – Professor in Financial Crime, Cardiff University
With an international reputation for excellence in policy-oriented research in financial crime, Nic has played advisory roles both nationally and internationally. He is acting as a Special Advisor for the Home Affairs Select Committee for the duration of its investigation into fraud. He created, and edits Routledge’s Law of Financial Crime Series and is the co-editor in chief of the Journal of Economic Criminology. Collectively, he has published 5 monographs, edited books and over 50 articles in internationally recognised journals.
Dr Jonathan Gilbert – Lecturer in Law, University of the West
of England
Jonathan is a former solicitor who subsequently served six years of a twelve-year prison sentence for his facilitating role in a multi-million-pound mortgage and bank fraud. He was released from prison in June 2020. Whilst in prison, Jonathan completed an MSc in Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption Studies, before commencing a PhD at Cardiff University, awarded in June 2023.
Jonathan has presented widely, both at home and internationally, on financial crime, ethical slippage, governance, regulation and compliance. He is founder of IN8consulting.com, a financial crime advisory business.
Chris Roberts –
Founder of Cybata Data Protection and Cyber consultancy
Chris has worked at the forefront of developing and deploying digital technology into our world since 1983! He deeply understands the fabric of our digital world.
He is a member of COPRNET, Cyber Wales and was the Co-Founder of the GDPR Alliance.
Chris runs Cybata, a South Wales based, specialist Data Protection and Cyber consultancy business that helps organisations understand data and cyber risk and deploy appropriate risk reduction measures
Graham Dainty – Head of NHS Counter Fraud Services Wales
Graham worked in the Hong Kong Police for twelve years before he was appointed to lead the newly formed NHS Counter Fraud Service (CFS) Wales when it was set up by the Welsh Government in 2001.
The NHS CFS Wales team investigates complex economic crime cases in NHS Wales and assists a network of Local Counter Fraud Specialists (LCFS) who are employed by health bodies in Wales. They jointly conduct pro-active work to identify potential frauds and raise staff awareness of current and emerging fraud risks. Their cases have been reported in the national media to maximise the deterrent impact of the convictions and over £14 million has been recovered for NHS Wales.
David Hexter – Head
of Cardiff Council
Corporate Fraud Investigation Team
Dave has worked in the public sector for more than 30 years, currently leading Cardiff Council’s Corporate Fraud Investigation Team and providing anti Money Laundering support.
An Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist / Manager with a wealth of experience conducting investigations and delivering investigating officer, and fraud awareness training.
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