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ACi Investigations Survey

We want your voice at the table. As the Pharmaceutical Life Science and Healthcare industry navigates escalating regulatory scrutiny, complex cross‑border investigations, and rising expectations around data integrity, ACi, Baker McKenzie and FRA are launching a dedicated Challenges to Investigations Survey for this industry— and we need your insight.

By completing this short survey when you register for the London or Zurich Forums, you help shape the conversations that matter most: the real investigative pressures inside this sector, the emerging risks you’re seeing, and the solutions you want discussed. Your input directly influences the forums, the expert panels, and the case studies we build.

Take a moment to share your experience and help us deliver more relevant, practical, and impactful Investigations Forums.

ACi Annual Symposium 2026

Investigations are changing – are we keeping up?

From AI-assisted review and new data sources to whistleblowing, cross-border challenges and evolving professional standards, investigators today are working in a fast-changing and increasingly complex environment.

The 2026 ACi Annual Symposium will bring together experts and practitioners from across the investigations community to discuss what it takes to be an effective investigator today.

Under the theme “The Evolving Investigator: Technology, Standards and Cross-Border Complexity”, we’ll explore some of the key issues shaping modern investigations, including:

  • AI and eDiscovery
  • Data governance and regulatory expectations
  • Cross-border investigations
  • Whistleblowing and speak-up frameworks
  • Investigation standards
  • Practical investigation skills

The day will feature expert panels, a keynote from Mrs Justice Joanna Smith, networking opportunities and the launch of the 2nd Edition ACi Handbook.

Expect fresh insights, practical takeaways, engaging discussion and plenty of opportunities to connect with peers across the corporate investigations community.

 

Tickets

 

 

 

 

 

ACi North America Investigations Forum 2026

The corporate investigations landscape in the United States is undergoing significant change. Shifting enforcement priorities at the DOJ, SEC and OFAC, rising whistleblower incentives, and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into investigative practice are reshaping how organisations detect, respond to and manage misconduct  and the expectations placed on those responsible for doing so.

The inaugural ACi North America Investigations Forum brings together senior investigation professionals for an afternoon of expert-led discussion, practical insights, and peer exchange focused on the challenges investigators face in an increasingly complex and fast-changing environment.

Hosted by Miller & Chevalier in Washington DC, the programme explores what these changes mean in practice, with sessions covering the evolving US enforcement regime, the current state of whistleblowing programmes, AI-driven innovation in investigations, and the complex realities of managing cross-border, multi-jurisdictional cases.

Sessions will feature practitioners from Miller & Chevalier alongside experienced in-house investigators, and will combine panel discussion, presentation and an interactive case study, giving attendees practical tools and perspectives they can apply immediately.

Whether managing allegations of misconduct, responding to regulatory scrutiny, handling whistleblower reports, or navigating multi-jurisdictional investigations, attendees will gain practical insights from experienced practitioners and have the opportunity to share perspectives with peers facing similar challenges across North America and Canada.

The forum concludes with a networking drinks reception, offering delegates the opportunity to connect with peers from across the sector.

For the full agenda click here.

Who should attend?

This forum is designed for professionals working in or alongside corporate investigations functions, including those in the following roles and departments:

  • Head of Investigations / Director of Investigations
  • Chief Compliance Officer and compliance leadership teams
  • Chief Ethics Officer
  • Head of Legal / General Counsel
  • Internal Audit leadership
  • Financial Crime and Fraud teams
  • Ethics and Integrity functions
  • Risk and Governance professionals
  • External counsel advising on investigations, enforcement and compliance matters
  • Discovery and forensic technology specialists

The forum is particularly well suited to professionals operating in heavily regulated industries or those with significant US or cross-border exposure, and is open to both ACi members and non-members.

 

 

Tickets

The Modern Investigator’s Playbook

Digital evidence is now at the centre of almost every investigation but the speed, complexity and diversity of modern technologies mean that traditional methods are no longer enough. The Modern Investigator’s Playbook is a practical, insight‑driven webinar designed to help investigators, compliance teams and legal professionals strengthen their digital‑evidence capability in a rapidly evolving landscape.

This session explores how to identify, preserve and analyse digital evidence in a way that is defensible, methodologically sound and aligned with regulatory expectations. You’ll gain clarity on emerging risks, modern data sources, and the techniques required to ensure your investigative approach stands up to scrutiny whether it’s from the courts, regulators or internal stakeholders.

Drawing on real‑world scenarios and current technology trends, this webinar will equip you with the tools, frameworks and confidence to modernise your investigative practice and future‑proof your approach.

Topics We Will Cover

  • Understanding today’s digital evidence ecosystem Cloud platforms, collaboration tools, mobile data, off‑channel communications and emerging technologies.
  • Defensible identification and scoping How to map data sources, assess risk, and plan an evidence strategy that withstands challenge.
  • Modern collection techniques Practical guidance on preserving digital evidence while maintaining forensic soundness and chain of custody.
  • Metadata integrity and authenticity What investigators must know about timestamps, system logs, and data provenance.
  • Cross‑border and jurisdictional considerations Navigating privacy laws, data‑transfer restrictions and regulatory expectations.
  • Analytical approaches that stand up to scrutiny Techniques for reviewing, correlating and interpreting digital evidence in complex matters.
  • Emerging challenges and future trends AI‑generated content, encrypted environments, ephemeral messaging, and evolving regulatory focus.

 

Register Free

 

Panel

  • Ashu Sharma, Chief Strategy Officer, ACi
  • David Fisk, Managing Director, Salient Discovery

 


When Investigating May Not Be the Right Answer

This thought-provoking session will explore the unintended consequences of rigid investigative policies and processes on effective decision-making. While investigations are designed to ensure fairness, consistency, and accountability, overly complex or inflexible approaches can delay action, obscure professional judgement, and inadvertently cause harm. 

During this webinar, our speakers will discuss: 

  • The unintended harm of rigid investigative processes 
  • The balance between compliance and professional judgement 
  • Proportionality, risk aversion, and the tendency to over-investigate 
  • The impact of investigations on trust, organisational culture, and psychological safety 
  • Practical alternatives that focus on learning, resolution, accountability, and better decisions 

This session is ideal for: 

  • Corporate investigators 
  • HR professionals 
  • Compliance and ethics practitioners 
  • Legal professionals 
  • Risk and governance specialists 
  • Leaders responsible for workplace culture and decision-making 

Rather than asking whether an investigation can be conducted, this webinar challenges us to consider whether it should be conducted, and what better outcomes might be achieved through a more balanced and human-centred approach. 

 

 

 Register Free

 

 

Panel

 

Andrew Cooper is Head of Programmes for Employee Wellbeing in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in NHS Wales and Development Director for the Healthcare People Management Association’s (HPMA) ‘Avoiding Harm’ programme in the UK.  

He holds an honorary research role with the University of Plymouth and is leading a programme of research exploring the impact of the disciplinary process on individuals and organisations. He is also lead editor on ‘Under Investigation: Transforming Disciplinary Practice in the Workplace’, published by Bristol University Press. 

With a background in healthcare improvement and innovation, he has held senior communications roles across the private, public and voluntary sectors and is Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Public Relations for his contribution to healthcare communications. 

 

Simon Scales, Chief Education & Development Officer, ACi

Simon’s extensive international experience in corporate investigations includes significant Employee Misconduct, Fraud, Bribery, Corruption, Antitrust & Competition, AML, Sanctions, Market Abuse and commensurate preventative/remedial measures. His 30 years of expertise in major investigation management, covert and overt intelligence gathering, relationship and stakeholder management, Ethics / Compliance / Integrity related investigations and reviews demonstrate his proven ability to facilitate consensus through negotiation and collaborate with senior management across all geographies.

ACi 2026 UK Pharma Investigations Forum

When innovation meets scrutiny

The Association of Corporate Investigators invites UK pharmaceutical and life sciences professionals to its 2026 UK Pharma Investigations Forum, taking place on Thursday 8th October at Baker McKenzie’s London office. The forum brings together investigators, compliance professionals and industry leaders to examine how regulatory change and artificial intelligence are reshaping investigations in the pharmaceutical sector.

The afternoon opens with welcome addresses from Baker McKenzie and ACi, followed by a keynote setting the scene for the day. A regulatory panel will explore UK and EU developments driving investigation priorities, including the EU AI Act, data protection enforcement in healthcare, the EU Pharmaceutical Reform package, and the UK Crime and Policing Act, with practical takeaways for investigation professionals throughout.

A dedicated session will look at how one pharmaceutical company is applying AI to support its investigations, covering governance, workflow and the challenges of working with AI and data quality. The programme closes with an interactive session for delegates to discuss current challenges facing investigations in the sector, drawing on feedback from a recent industry survey and covering performance measurement and improvement.

The forum runs from 1.30pm, with registration and arrival refreshments, through to networking drinks from 5.30pm, offering delegates the opportunity to connect with peers across the pharmaceutical investigations community.

For the full agenda click here.

Tickets are £99 for internal investigators and £199 for external lawyers and consultants.

Limited places available, early booking advised.

 

Tickets

 

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Sponsored by 

An Introduction to the ACi and our Certified Corporate Investigator Course

In today’s investigations landscape, technical expertise alone is no longer enough. Employers, clients, and organisations are increasingly seeking professionals who can demonstrate recognised competence, credibility, and a commitment to the highest standards.

Join us for an engaging webinar exploring how professional certification is transforming careers and raising standards across the investigations profession. Featuring expert insights from Winfort, specialists in investigative recruitment, alongside the Association of Corporate Investigators, we’ll explore why the Certified Corporate Investigator (CCi) qualification is fast becoming the benchmark for professional excellence.

What You’ll Learn

Why professional certification is becoming an essential differentiator in today’s investigations industry and how the CCi qualification can elevate your credibility, reputation, and career prospects.

How certification creates value for both investigators and organisations, unlocking new career opportunities while strengthening investigative capability, client confidence, and organisational trust.

What leading recruiters are looking for when hiring corporate investigators, and how you can position yourself ahead of the competition.

Whether you’re an experienced investigator looking to gain formal recognition, an aspiring professional seeking to accelerate your career, or an organisation committed to developing world class investigative capability, this webinar will show why certification isn’t just an advantage, it’s the future of the profession.

1pm IST

Register Free

 

Panel

Shalendra Malhotra brings almost three decades of experience across banking risk and financial services talent. He spent more than two decades in banking, including as a Director at Barclays Bank and CapitalOne, where he led teams risk, fraud and compliance across Europe & Emerging Markets. In these roles he was responsible for designing and enforcing credit and fraud risk frameworks at scale — setting policy, building controls, and managing portfolio risk across markets with widely varying fraud typologies and regulatory regimes. Since 2012, he has been Founder and Director of Winfort, a specialist recruitment firm which includes a team focused on risk, compliance, and financial crime talent. This gives him a dual vantage point: he has built and operated the control frameworks that fraud and compliance functions depend on, and he now works with institutions on how they resource those functions. This experience gives him a deep insight into the industry both from an employer and employee perspective. He is based in Gurgaon, India.

 

Navita Srikant has over 30 years of global experience in Public, Pvt Corporations & Development Sector including IFIs in Financial Management, Governance – Anti-Corruption, Forensic Accounting and Investigations and Countering of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Strategies. She was the Lead Forensic Specialist at the World Bank and led Ernst & Young Fraud Investigations & Dispute Services Practice for India. She is a former shortlisted candidate for the UN Security Council’s ISIL, Al-Qaeda, and Taliban Sanctions Monitoring Team. Her recent roles include: Public Financial Management Specialist w Multilateral Institutions; Advisor to Govt. Oversight & Enforcement Agencies in South Asia; International Development Specialist; International Affairs- Nepal and Afghanistan.

 

Shanu Saksena is Head of ACi India. She is an experienced ethics, compliance, governance, and corporate secretarial leader with over 30 years of expertise in driving responsible business practices, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and sustainability initiatives, with a strong background in managing listed companies, regulatory audits, policy compliance, third-party management, and corporate governance across multiple countries and industries.

 

 

 

 

Ashu Sharma

Ash Sharma has over 20 years’ experience in investigations and financial crime risk mitigation. Ash presently manages one of two global investigation hubs for Anglo American Plc, a global mining, minerals and extraction company.  His team conduct corporate ethics and compliance (including regulatory and financial crime) investigations. Ash has worked in the UK and Asia in regional and group roles for a global bank. There, he headed up an internal fraud risk, background vetting and investigation function, before leading and coordinating global significant investigations for the group.  Ash Head of Strategy for ACI. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Financial Crime Specialist, and Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator.

 

 

Cheryl O’Shea is head of ACi APAC. She has over 20 years of experience in investigation and risk management and specializes in fraud and investigations within the IT industry. Her extensive investigation experience extends to conducting investigations involving fraud, corruption, money laundering, financial misconduct, non-compliance, and violation of company policies. She leads a corporate investigation team in a multinational IT company covering Asia Pacific to conduct investigations in challenging situations and work with legal counsel in multi-jurisdictions. Cheryl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the UK and a Master’s degree in Finance from Ireland. She is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

 

 

Register Free

 

 

 

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News

ACi Announces New Heads of Country Leadership Appointments

This picture shows headshots of new International Team
Welcome to our New Gobal Team Members

ACi is delighted to announce that we have significantly boosted our international presence with the appointment of Country leaders across a variety of regions.

We believe that the best talent isn’t found in one city, one country or one continent.  Our new country heads have different  backgrounds and different perspectives – but one mission: building what’s next for the ACi.

New Appointments

Joyce Iwisi, Head of South Africa: Joyce is a Johannesburg-based Partner at HKA with nearly two decades of forensic accounting, compliance, and investigations experience across Africa and EMEA, previously at PwC, EY, and Control Risks, holding an MBA from Coventry University and a Forensics Practitioner certification, and serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director at NMB Bank and Vodacom Tanzania.

Kezia Hardingham, Head of Thailand: Kezia is Head of Investigations at DKSH (Bangkok-based, overseeing investigations across the Swiss-listed firm’s 36-country operations), bringing prior experience from Forensic Risk Alliance and KPMG, including the Airbus investigation, as well as expertise in Chinese-speaking markets and published work on Asia-Pacific cross-border investigations for Global Investigations Review.

Mike Sulek, Head of Canada: a Senior Ethics & Compliance Leader with 18+ years of experience advising executives on regulatory risk, anti-corruption, and corporate governance across multinational organizations, holding the CCEP-I designation, a CSR/ESG certification, co-authoring the ACi Corporate Investigator’s Handbook, and serving as a Board Member of the Montreal Integrity Network.

 

Yamini Pate, Head of UK: corporate investigations leader with over 22 years’ experience across consultancy, forensic accounting, ethics, compliance and global banking. She spent over a decade within audit and forensic investigations at a leading international professional services firm, supporting multinational and cross-industry clients. She later joined a major international financial institution where she most recently served as Director of Investigations for the UK and Europe, leading high-risk, cross-border matters including employee misconduct, fraud and regulatory breaches.

Andrew de Roy: Head of Poland:. Andrew de Roy is the founder of Bearstone, a leading risk consulting firm based in Warsaw, Poland. Since establishing the company in 2007, he has grown it into one of Europe’s pre-eminent firms in the field, with offices in Warsaw, Berlin, and London, and a presence in Belgrade and France. Andrew first moved to Poland as a financial journalist, where he set up the Warsaw office of Mergermarket (Financial Times Group). This role enabled him to build the core networks that now underpin Bearstone’s ability to assist a wide range of clients around the world.

He is also the founder of several influential platforms, including Warsaw Disputes Days – a prominent dispute resolution forum – Asset Recovery CEE, one of the region’s leading conferences on asset recovery and investigations, and 2nd Thursdays, a networking initiative for the corporate intelligence community. Andrew is regularly invited to speak as an expert at international conferences focused on intelligence collection, asset recovery, technological trends in investigations and the CEE region.

These appointments reflect ACi’s commitment to building a globally connected, locally informed investigations community. Our Heads of Country will act as focal points for practitioners, support ACi events and training, and help shape the future of the ACi.

Comments from the ExCo Team

Steve Young, CEO, said: “These appointments represent a significant milestone in ACi’s global growth strategy. Joyce, Kezia, Mike, Yamini, and Andrew are exceptional professionals who embody the values and standards that ACi stands for, and I have every confidence they will make an immediate and lasting impact in their regions. Our Heads of Country are the backbone of our global community, and today we are stronger for having them.”

Jeff Giddings, Head of EMEA, said, “From an EMEA perspective, it is particularly exciting to see our regional footprint expanding with such talented individuals at the helm. These leaders understand the unique regulatory, cultural, and professional landscapes of their jurisdictions, and that local intelligence is invaluable to our members. I look forward to working closely with each of them to drive member engagement, elevate training standards, and strengthen ACi’s presence on the ground across our regions.”

Lindsay Kowalski, Head of US, said, “It is exciting to see ACi continue to expand its global reach with such an impressive and diverse group of leaders. Each of these appointments reflects the strength of our international community and the importance of local insight in driving meaningful impact. From a North America & Canada perspective, Mike’s appointment as Head of Canada is particularly energizing. His deep experience in ethics, compliance, and governance makes him exceptionally well suited to elevate ACi’s presence and influence across the region. Having a strong, connected leader at the helm creates valuable opportunities for greater collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and continued growth in a dynamic market. Congratulations to Mike and all the newly appointed Heads of Country—this is a fantastic step forward for the entire ACi community!”

Cheryl O’Shea, Head of APAC, said, “It is exciting news for ACi as we expand into Southeast Asia, with Kezia bringing strong leadership and a deep understanding of the region’s diverse cultures, the complexities of its regulatory environments, and evolving professional expectations. Combined with ACi’s growing footprint and the established leadership in India and China, this expansion represents a significant opportunity to deliver even greater value to our members. I have every confidence that they will further strengthen ACi’s presence and impact across APAC.

 

ACi Whistleblowing Investigations Forum 2026 

ACi Whistleblowing Investigations Forum 2026: 

Where Good Intentions meet hard questions 

 

Whistleblowing cases are among the most sensitive and high-risk matters organisations face, and the way they are handled is under increasing scrutiny. When concerns are raised, the response can have significant consequences for employees, leadership teams, organisational culture, reputation, regulatory relationships and public trust. 

Against an increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape, organisations are expected to balance strict legal and regulatory requirements with the need to respond fairly, proportionately and effectively. Good intentions and having empathy alone are no longer sufficient to withstand scrutiny. Organisations are expected to continually challenge whether their processes are delivering the right outcomes and have the confidence to ask the difficult questions: What is working well? Where are the risks? And where does change need to happen? 

Kindly hosted by Eversheds Sutherland, the ACi Whistleblowing Forum 2026 has been designed to move beyond theory and provide practical, pragmatic guidance for those responsible for managing whistleblowing concerns and investigations as well as facilitate asking the hard questions. 

Through a seminar-style programme of expert presentations, interactive discussions, real-world case studies, panel sessions and roundtable exercises, delegates will explore every stage of the whistleblowing investigation process, from the initial disclosure through to investigation, decision-making and conclusion. 

Rather than focusing solely on legal principles, the Forum will examine the practical challenges organisations encounter in real cases, encouraging open discussion, shared learning and the opportunity to ask the hard questions about current practice. Delegates will gain valuable insight into what works well, where investigations commonly fall short, and the practical steps that can be taken to strengthen processes and improve outcomes. 

The programme will explore what happens when whistleblowing processes succeed and, importantly, when they fail. 

Key topics include: 

  • Whistleblowing investigation planning and handling 
  • Consequence management and organisational decision-making 
  • Employment Tribunal scrutiny and lessons from litigation 
  • Effective interview techniques and evidence gathering 
  • Recognising and addressing unconscious bias 
  • Crisis communications and reputational risk 
  • Meeting the growing expectations of regulators, stakeholders and society 

To view the full agenda, click here.

Whether you are involved in legal, compliance, investigations, HR, governance, ethics or risk, the ACi Whistleblowing Forum 2026 offers a unique opportunity to learn from leading practitioners, share experiences with peers and develop practical approaches that will strengthen your organisation’s response to whistleblowing. 

Why Attend?  

This forum has been designed to provide practical insights that can be immediately applied within your organisation. By attending, you will:  

  • Learn from leading experts in corporate investigations, employment law, crisis management, and whistleblowing.  
  • Gain a deeper understanding of where whistleblowing investigations commonly fail and how to avoid costly mistakes.  
  • Explore the latest challenges facing employers, investigators, and case owners when handling complex disclosures.  
  • Examine real-life scenarios involving vulnerable whistleblowers, employment tribunal scrutiny, media interest, and reputational crises. 
  • Network with senior professionals Participate in interactive discussions, live polling, and peer-led debates on investigative bias, decision-making, and organisational accountability.  

Who Should Attend?  

The forum is designed for professionals with responsibility for receiving, investigating, overseeing, advising on, or governing whistleblowing concerns, including:  

  • Corporate Investigators  
  • Ethics & Compliance Professionals  
  • Whistleblowing Officers and Speak-Up Programme Managers  
  • Employment Lawyers and Legal Counsel  
  • HR Directors and Employee Relations Specialists  
  • Internal Audit Professionals  
  • Risk and Governance Leaders responsible for whistleblowing and/or are prescribed persons 
  • General Counsel and Company Secretaries  
  • Regulatory and Conduct Specialists who participate or investigate whistleblowing 
  • Fraud, Compliance and Financial Crime Investigators Non-Executive Directors and Board Members with oversight responsibilities of whistleblowing and can have SMF responsibility within the FS sector 
  • ESG, Culture and Integrity Professionals  
  • Crisis Management and Corporate Communications Professionals  

Move beyond theory. Ask the hard questions. Leave with pragmatic strategies you can apply immediately within your organisation. 

Date: 15 October 2026
Venue: Eversheds Sutherland, 1 Wood Street, London
Networking Drinks: 5:10pm – 7:00pm 

 

 

Tickets

 

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Sponsored by

ACi 2026 Swiss Healthcare and Life Sciences Investigations Forum

ACi 2026 Swiss Healthcare and Life Sciences Investigations Forum
When innovation meets scrutiny

Thursday 12 November 2026 | Baker McKenzie, Zurich

The Swiss healthcare and life sciences sector is currently navigating a period of significant change, shaped by evolving regulatory expectations, the growing role of artificial intelligence in investigative practice, and the implications of the EU Pharmaceutical Reform package for the Swiss market. This forum will bring together regulators, in-house practitioners and industry specialists to examine these developments and their practical implications for investigations professionals.

Hosted by Baker McKenzie at its Zurich office, the agenda is ready to view – click here.

Who should attend

This forum is designed for corporate investigators, compliance and ethics professionals, legal counsel, and risk management professionals operating within or alongside the healthcare and life sciences sector, in Switzerland and internationally. It will be of particular relevance to those addressing the integration of AI into investigative practice, navigating Swiss data protection enforcement, or seeking to engage with peers facing comparable regulatory and operational pressures.

Why attend

The forum will offer a focused and substantive programme, combining regulatory insight, practitioner experience and a structured opportunity for peer discussion. The day will conclude with a networking reception, providing a further opportunity for delegates to continue discussions and build connections within the sector.

 

 Tickets

 

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