Webinar:
Business Integrity in Small and Medium Enterprises
Corruption Prevention and Risk Assessment
August 25 2021 | 1:30 – 4:00 PM (GMT+7)
Presented by:
Summary
A 2020 OECD survey of private businesses in Southeast Asia found that a large majority (60%) of respondents were concerned with being directly or indirectly associated with at least one sustainability risk. Among them, corruption was the most frequently cited concern, followed by environmental issues, transparency and governance issues.
As one of the most dynamic regions in the world, Southeast Asia is a key driver of global growth. Nonetheless, the global pandemic has brought unprecedented threats to people, governments and businesses around the world with Southeast Asia suffering from deep economic contraction and disruption in its global value chains.
This webinar provides an opportunity for business integrity stakeholders to share innovations, resources, signs of progress, and future directions related to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the management of corruption risks and third-party due diligence, which are high priorities of the private business sector. The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative will also be launching the Practical Guide to Corruption Risk Assessment for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) to help organisations promote integrity and responsible business conduct.
Speakers
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP
This is Modal Title
Wilson Ang
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP
Wilson Ang is a dispute resolution lawyer based in Singapore. He heads up the Asia regulatory compliance and investigations practice.
Wilson focuses on conducting internal investigations on business ethics and anti-corruption matters, often involving the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act, the Singapore Prevention of Corruption Act, the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act and regional anti-bribery and data privacy laws. He advises on risk management, remediation measures and follow-on disputes. Wilson has extensive experience designing and implementing compliance programs, conducting anti-corruption due diligence reviews and handling complex and sensitive issues involving bribery, fraud, sanctions, money-laundering/terrorist-financing, cyber-security attacks, data breach incidents, competition law, health and safety and financial services regulatory violations in the Asia-Pacific. Wilson’s practice also involves information governance, crisis management and media communications as well as regulatory disclosures. He is a certified auditor for ISO37001: Anti-Bribery Management Systems.
Wilson has significant experience advising leading energy, transport and life sciences companies, major financial/banking institutions, as well as multinational corporations and Asian conglomerates.
He lectures at the US Seton Hall Healthcare Compliance program, and counsels directors and senior management on corporate ethics and personal liability.
He is a frequent speaker and author of various publications on business ethics and anti-corruption and other compliance and investigations-related matters. He worked alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts Working Group, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Bar Association to engage practitioners and law enforcement agencies in anti-corruption and anti-money laundering capacity-building efforts. Wilson was a member of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Task Force on Navigating the Belt and Road Initiative.
Wilson qualified as an Advocate and Solicitor in Singapore, was admitted to the Solicitors’ Roll of England and Wales and qualified as a Solicitor in Hong Kong. He became a Solicitor-Advocate and was awarded higher rights of audience in England and Wales.
Wilson is recognized by Chambers & Partners, Who’s Who Legal and The Legal 500.
CEO
ethiXbase
This is Modal Title
Leas Bachatene
CEO
ethiXbase
Leas Bachatene is a proven business leader with over 15 years of experience, having established and led commercial organisations in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Leas joined Complinet Group in 2004, a leading provider of compliance solutions for the financial services industry. He went on to found their operations in both the Middle East and Asia. Within 4 years of inception these operations contributed to over 15% of the group’s revenue.
Under Leas’ leadership, Complinet became the point of reference for the compliance community in the Middle East and Asia. This was achieved through a variety of strategic projects with regional regulators which helped to improve governance and compliance culture and best practices including the GCC Regulators’ Summit and the Pan-Asian Regulatory Summit.
Complinet was acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2010 to form the cornerstone of their Governance, Risk and Compliance business. Following the acquisition Leas served as Managing Director of Thomson Reuters’ GRC division in Asia Pacific where the business saw double digit growth year-on-year during his five-year tenure. During this period Leas spear headed the acquisition of a major e-learning provider and was key to the successful integration of the GRC businesses with the broader Financial and Risk division.
Prior to joining Complinet Leas led various commercial divisions within the publishing industry for Informa Group and eFinancialnews.com in London.
Leas holds a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering, a High Diploma in Marketing and a Master’s in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
Founder and Executive Director
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, C4 Center
This is Modal Title
Cynthia Gabriel
Founder and Executive Director
Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, C4 Center
Cynthia Gabriel is recognized as a key advocate of human rights and good
governance in Malaysia and on the global platform. Known widely for her fearless anti-corruption & human rights work, she firmly believes in an independent civil society and an empowered citizenry, and has shown unwavering strength and bravado over the years.
With over 20 years of experience in defending human rights and advancing open and accountable governance, Cynthia led crucial civil society anti -corruption initiatives in the face of shrinking civic space, leading to the monumental change in Government last May 2018.
Cynthia was appointed into the 1MDB special committee set up by the
Eminent Council of persons to advise the new government on finding solutions and frame charges on the corrupt persons involved.
She served in the drafting committee to develop a national anti-corruption
plan that was to serve as a 5 year roadmap for the nation’s anti-corruption agenda from 2019-2023.
While she has worked in the private sector and carried out consultancies for the United Nations, she remains a firm believer of an independent civil society,
having served on the international board as Vice President, of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), co -founded the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA) human rights network, led prominent local human rights group SUARAM, and is currently the Vice Chair of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) coalition, comprising about 400 organisations worldwide. Her volume of experience is a glowing testimony to the vast networks she has with global media, think tanks and policy makers globally.
Cynthia has shown remarkable leadership and valour as she led the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center). Cynthia offers consulting services and shares her expertise to help shape the anti-corruption and human rights agenda at all levels.
Business Integrity Advisor
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CEO, IBLF Global
This is Modal Title
Brook Horowitz
Business Integrity Advisor
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CEO, IBLF Global
Brook Horowitz is Business Integrity Advisor to UNDP’s FairBiz project (Promoting a Fair Business Environment in ASEAN). He is also CEO of IBLF Global, a UK-based NGO promoting responsible business practices in emerging and developing markets.
A graduate of Cambridge and Harvard Universities, he was part of the team that led GE’s expansion in Eastern Europe during the nineties, living and working in Moscow and Budapest. In 2004 he joined the International Business Leaders Forum, a Prince of Wales charity devoted to corporate sustainability, where he spearheaded the organisation’s programmes in Russia and China.
In 2014, he co-founded IBLF Global. Since then, Brook has led on business integrity project design and delivery in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South East Asia. Working with development organisations such as the UK Prosperity Fund, DFID, EBRD and UNDP, he has created or contributed to implementing many ground-breaking projects
at the interface of government and business including a Government-Business Integrity Initiative in Vietnam, a public procurement system in Kyrgyz Republic, and a Business Integrity Initiative in the UK providing useful resources for British companies exporting to new markets. Recent initiatives include capacity-building projects for young entrepreneurs, start-ups and women-led enterprises in Southeast Asia under UNDP’s FairBiz project.
From 2013-2015, he played a variety of leadership roles in the B20, a multi-stakeholder dialogue between the companies and governments of the G20 countries. He has written several policy and strategy papers on business integrity for governments and companies and is the author of opinion pieces in the Financial Times, the New York Times, and other media. He is the co-author of three business integrity toolkits, and has lectured and provided training on business integrity for companies and governments around the world.
Secretary-General
National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand
This is Modal Title
Warawit Sukboon
Secretary-General
National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand
Mr. Warawit Sukboon has gained extensive experience in investigating criminal and unusual wealth cases and proceeding with a case to the Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Position of the Supreme Court. He also inspects assets and liabilities of a
person holding political position and state official.
Additionally, Mr. Warawit Sukboon has published academic publications, for instance, “The Law and Economics of Assets Inspection by the NACC”.
Mr. Warawit Sukboon has extensive training experience in public administration and corruption prevention.
Executive Vice President
Thai Institute of Directors;
Project Director, Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption
This is Modal Title
Pana
Ratanabanangkoon
Executive Vice President, Thai Institute of Directors; Project Director, Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption
Pana is currently the Project Director for Thai Private Sector Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC) and Executive Vice President at the Thai Institute of Directors. CAC is one of the world’s largest anti-corruption collective actions. He is also responsible for establishing CAC’s SME certification program and Citizen Feedback projects. Earlier in his career, he worked for Shell in various engineering, commercial, and management roles in Thailand,
Singapore, Europe, and the US. His work experience includes leading engineering, market research, financial analysis, business planning, strategy development, project management, renewable energy, business development activities for Shell Companies of Thailand, Shell Pipeline LLC, Shell Products US, Shell Wind Energy, Shell Hydrogen, Shell Shell Exploration, and Production UK and Shell Eastern Limited.
Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
This is Modal Title
Peter Ritchie
Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
Peter Ritchie is a Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for the ABA Rule of Law Initiative. He has led and supported capacity-building projects focusing on international cooperation against corruption, money laundering, and transnational crime in South-East Asia. Previously he worked in the Australian Attorney-General’s Department
with responsibility for anti-corruption and proceeds of crime. In Melanesia and the Pacific Islands, he was an anti-money laundering adviser supporting the implementation of FATF and UNCAC provisions. Earlier in his career, Peter was a Senior Analyst in the Office of Strategic Crime Assessments.
Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
This is Modal Title
Alma Sedlar
Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
Alma Sedlar is ABA ROLI’s Anti-Corruption Regional Adviser, specialized in prevention of corruption, ethics, compliance and whistleblower protection. Ms. Sedlar is also Chair of Transparency International Slovenia.
She is a certified fraud examiner and holds a PhD in whistleblower protection. Ms Sedlar is a former investigative journalist, Editor and Chief and the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption of the Republic of Slovenia.
Consultant
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
This is Modal Title
Akharakit (Ryan)
Keeratithanachaiyos
Consultant
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
Akharakit (Ryan) Keeratithanachaiyos was Supervisory Investigator/International Affairs Strategy Advisor at Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for over a decade, where he provided policy advice and operational support on matters relating to international law enforcement cooperation, money laundering, and corporate liability.
In his prior role as Anti-Corruption Specialist for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, he provided legislative support and capacity-building assistance to governments and private sector organizations across Southeast Asian countries to ensure stronger regional compliance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, UNCAC, and UNTOC.
Anti-Corruption Analyst
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
This is Modal Title
Paul Whittaker
Anti-Corruption Analyst
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Paul has more than 20 years’ experience in law enforcement and white collar crime including foreign bribery related investigations. In the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) at the OECD Paul is working on country evaluations under the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and the OECD/ADB Anti-Corruption Initiative.
Paul’s previous role was as a senior manager in the Enforcement Division at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Australia’s corporate regulator, including foreign bribery matters. Paul has previously worked at the Australian Attorney-General’s Department, the International Criminal Court in the Hague and at the Serious Fraud Office in the UK.
Mekong Regional Legal Advisor
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
This is Modal Title
Nichanee Wongba
Mekong Regional Legal Advisor
American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
Nichanee Wongba is a Mekong Regional Legal Advisor for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative. She has experience in supporting the activities under the Regional Anti-Corruption Advisor (RACA) Program and Transnational Anti-Money Laundering Assistant Programs (TAMLA) focusing on international cooperation against corruption, money laundering, and transnational crime including wildlife trafficking, illicit trade of natural resources in Southeast Asia.
She formerly worked as a legal specialist for the USAID Wildlife Asia Program and a Senior Consultant – Business and Economic Development at Kenan Foundation Asia. Her background covers program development and implementation, researching legal and governance topics relevant to the ASEAN region. She also has experience in the private sector e.g. financial institute, supply chain management, tax and legal consultancy, and human resources solution advisor.
In this discussion you will:
- Learn how to promote integrity and responsible business conduct in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
- Have a chance to engage with other business integrity stakeholders to share innovations, programs and resources related to SMEs in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the management of corruption risks.
- Join virtual launch of Practical Guide to Corruption Risk Assessment for Small and Medium Enterprise published by the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative.
Agenda
13:30
Welcome
- Mr Peter Ritchie, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
- Ms Nichanee Wongba, Mekong Regional Legal Adviser, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
13:35
Keynote Remarks – SMEs and Responsible Business Conduct
- Mr Brook Horowitz, Business Integrity Advisor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CEO, IBLF Global
- Mr Warawit Sukboon, Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Thailand
- Mr Leas Bachatene, Chief Executive Officer, ethiXbase
14:00
Presentation & Discussion: What do SMEs say about Responsible Business Conduct in Southeast Asia?
- Mr Paul Whittaker, Anti-Corruption Analyst, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
14:20
Presentation & Discussion: Practical Guide to Corruption Risk Assessment for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs)
- Dr Alma Sedlar, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
14:40
Panel Discussion: SMEs and Business Integrity – Signs of Progress and Future Directions
- Mr Wilson Ang, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP
- Mr Pana Ratanabanangkoon, Executive Vice President, Thai Institute of Directors/Collective Action Against Corruption (CAC)
- Ms Cynthia Gabriel, Executive Director, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)
- Mr Akharakit (Ryan) Keeratithanachaiyos, Consultant, the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (Moderator)
15:30
Presentation & Discussion: Supply Chain and Third Party Due Diligence – Services For SMEs
- Mr Leas Bachatene, Chief Executive Officer, ethiXbase
15:50
Concluding Remarks
- Mr Peter Ritchie, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
16:00
Adjourn
Webinar Recording
Simplify fill up the form below to watch the recording.
Date & Time
August 25 2021 | 1:30 – 4:00 PM (GMT+7)
Can’t attend? Don’t worry, register anyway and we’ll send you the recording.
Can’t attend? Don’t worry, register anyway and we’ll send you the recording
