Sudheesh Nambiath

Faisal Ahmed

Faisal Ahmed is the founder and Managing Partner of AKW Consultants. With over 25 years of international experience, he leads the firm’s strategic vision, bringing clarity and precision to advisory when the stakes are high.

A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Faisal built his expertise at KPMG and PwC UK, where he spent 14 years advising global institutions on financial crime compliance, audit, and regulatory strategy. He later joined HSBC as Director and Global Head of Client Due Diligence for AML Compliance, overseeing complex risk programmes across multiple jurisdictions.

Faisal has advised organisations in over 50 countries across multiple industries, including banking, precious metals, real estate, and digital assets. His experience spans end-to-end regulatory frameworks, anti-financial crime systems, responsible sourcing, ESG design, and cross-border restructuring, delivering solutions that combine strategic insight with practical implementation.

He is an accredited auditor with the UAE Ministry of Economy, a reviewer of the UAE Good Delivery program, and a Court Expert in gold sector compliance, recognised by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also been an Expert Trainer at the Institute of Banking Studies in Kuwait, the London Institute of Banking and Finance, the ADGM Academy, and the DMCC Responsible Sourcing Training programme for the precious metals sector, where he delivered over 500 institutional training courses to regulators, investigators, and corporate leaders across the globe.

Mkhululi Ncube

Mkhululi Nkosilamandla Ncube is the Programmes Officer at the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), a specialized agency of the African Union. In this role, he provides strategic operational support and coordination for the implementation of the Africa Mining Vision and its Action Plan, as well as the minerals segment of the Africa Commodity Strategy. 

Muhammad Shafi Poyilan

Muhammad Shafi is the Acting Head of AML Supervision in the AML Unit of the Ministry of Economy, UAE. He is an experienced financial crime compliance professional with more than 15 years of progressive experience in AML/CFT domain in private and public sectors. Muhammad is certified by ACAMS and ICA and currently pursuing his PhD with focus on AML/CFT. Muhammad’s expertise includes implementing AML/CFT and Sanctions Compliance framework in the private sector and executing supervisory engagement plans in DNFBPs sector in the public sector.

Sadi Ahmad

Sadi Ahmad is a leading expert in regulatory compliance, standards implementation, and consulting with over a decade of distinguished experience across different industries. His expertise spans banks, non-banking financial corporations, insurance companies, the gold and precious metals industry, and the real estate sector, providing strategic guidance on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters including AML/CFT, sustainability, responsible sourcing, and supply chain compliance.

Sadi has been pivotal in designing comprehensive compliance frameworks, drafting policies and procedures, and developing risk assessment methodologies tailored to industry-specific needs. He has led the full lifecycle of compliance programs from conception to execution, developed training programs and collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive the successful implementation of compliance measures across organizations. Sadi has spearheaded several sustainability projects, conducting detailed gap and maturity assessments, helping clients to benchmark sustainability practices, define clear goals, and design actionable, forward-thinking strategies. His contributions have been instrumental in producing high-impact sustainability reports aligned with global standards, helping organizations elevate their ESG profiles and achieve sustainability excellence.

Sadi’s extensive work in the precious metals and minerals sector sets him apart as a leader in responsible sourcing. He has played a crucial role in developing and implementing comprehensive responsible sourcing programs that align with leading frameworks such as OECD guidelines, LBMA, RMI, UAEGD, and RJC’s standards. From supply chain mapping and risk assessments to supplier training and capacity building, he has advised clients on various aspects of responsible sourcing helping businesses maintain integrity, transparency, and continuous improvement in their sourcing practices.

Sadi has been an active participant in professional and regulatory forums within the compliance and sustainability communities, including the UAE AML/CFT Partnership Forum’s DNFBP Working Group, and is a Professional Member of the International Compliance Association (ICA). In January 2024, he was nominated by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism to represent the DNFBP sector during engagements with the assessors from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). 

Sadi holds an International Diploma in Anti-Money Laundering from the International Compliance Association (ICA), and have obtained multiple specialist certifications, including Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS) from the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) from the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), and a Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering from the Association of Governance, Risk & Compliance (AGRC). He is also an ICA Certified Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), an Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Certified Compliance Professional in Cryptocurrency Financial Crimes awarded by the Chartered Institute of Professional Certifications. Additionally, he is an Exemplar Global–certified Lead Auditor for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, including regulatory compliance audits.