The Tesari Intelligence & Innovation Council
Defining the Standard for High-Stakes Decision Making
The Tesari Intelligence & Innovation Council is a curated group of distinguished global leaders who provide strategic perspective and insight, strengthening Tesari’s ability to operate with credibility and impact in complex markets.
Chair of the Tesari Intelligence
& Innovation Council:
Amy Barbieri
ex. President & Chief Growth Officer at Vital4 • Board of Fintech Atlanta • Executive Program Director of Fintech for Good • ex. GTM Lead at World Watch Plus
Amy Barbieri is a fintech and artificial intelligence executive dedicated to advancing financial crime prevention and building technologies that make the world a safer place. She operates at the intersection of AI, regulatory intelligence, fraud prevention, and risk analytics, with a career focused on protecting institutions and individuals from financial exploitation.
She is an inventor on a U.S. patent in artificial intelligence, reflecting her commitment to developing scalable, defensible AI solutions that strengthen compliance frameworks and enhance detection capabilities in complex regulatory environments.
She previously served as President and Chief Growth Officer of Vital4, the world’s leading regulatory data provider, where she led global growth across AML, KYC, KYB, and due diligence solutions. She also served on Vital4’s Board, helping guide long-term strategy in the fight against financial crime. Under her leadership, the company expanded its role as a trusted intelligence partner to financial institutions, fintechs, and multinational enterprises navigating sanctions, corruption risk, human trafficking exposure, and other financial crime threats.
Earlier, she was the Go-To-Market leader for World Watch Plus, contributing to its strategic growth and successful acquisition by Dun & Bradstreet. Across both startup and enterprise environments, she has built a reputation for translating complex regulatory and AI capabilities into actionable solutions that protect businesses and communities.
A recognized thought leader in financial crime prevention, she is a sought-after speaker on artificial intelligence, fraud detection, sanctions compliance, and responsible AI governance. She was invited to speak at the Anti-Human Trafficking Summit, where Attorneys General from across the United States convene to collaborate on combating human trafficking — underscoring her commitment to leveraging financial technology as a force multiplier in the fight against exploitation.
She currently serves on the Board of Fintech Atlanta, supporting the growth of the regional fintech ecosystem, and is the Executive Program Director of Fintech for Good — an initiative focused on harnessing financial technology to expand transparency, prevent exploitation, and drive measurable social impact through responsible innovation
Trade Intelligence:
Jeff Rittener
Former Chief Trade Officer at Intel Corporation and Member of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC)
Jeff Rittener served as the Chief Trade Officer and Vice President of the International Trade Group at Intel Corp. Over his distinguished 34-year career, he demonstrated exemplary leadership with global teams and strategically influenced the trade environment to drive business strategy, open new market opportunities, and ensure compliance. He is currently a member of the Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) at the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security and serves on the Advisory Council of the Asia Society of Northern California. Additionally, he provides consultation, advice, and feedback on cross-border trade matters through Rittener Trade Services LLC and his bi-weekly podcast, RittenerReflections.com.
National Security:
Michael S. Fleming
Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army • ex. Director of the International Technology Center – Mediterranean (ITC-MED), U.S. Army DEVCOM • Mentor at NATO DIANA and Advisor at Q-Branch
Currently: Founder & CEO of MNF Global Solutions
Colonel (Ret.) Michael Fleming is a U.S. Army veteran, innovation strategist, and international
technology advisor with over 30 years of experience leading defense innovation, multinational
research partnerships, and dual-use technology development.
Currently serves as the Managing Director of MNF Global Solutions, LLC, providing advice and
consulting to companies seeking to enter the US DoD Markets. As a strategic consultant,
Michael advises U.S. and Israeli defense and dual-use technology companies on go-to-market
strategy, U.S. Department of Defense acquisition pathways, investor positioning, and operational
scaling. His recent work includes supporting technology firms in applied AI, autonomous
systems, tactical communications, ISR, and energy resilience.
Additionally, he acts as an advisor to Q-Branch, a Veteran-Owned, non-profit Dual-Use
Accelerator, assisting start-ups in penetrating the US Defense and civilian Markets. Michael also
works as a mentor with Starburst Aerospace in Tel Aviv, Israel, and as a volunteer mentor with
the NATO DIANA program, helping early-stage and growth-stage defense and aerospace
startups navigate DoD pathways, secure partnerships with U.S. government stakeholders, and
align solutions with emerging operational needs.
He previously served as the Director of the International Technology Center – Mediterranean
(ITC-MED) under the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)
assigned to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he established and led the Army’s
innovation engagement mission across Israel, Turkey, the UAE, and South Africa, building
strategic partnerships across government, industry, and academia.
Michael is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Engineering Management at Missouri University of
Science and Technology (MST), where his research focuses on improving the selection,
evaluation, and scaling of startups within innovation ecosystems—particularly in rural and
distributed environments. He also supports MST in developing new innovation and
entrepreneurship programs, including the Ozark Foundry Innovation Center initiative.
He holds a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Washington and an M.S. in
Engineering Management from MST and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. He is a
Defense Acquisition Certified in Program Management (Level III), Science and Technology
Management (Level III), and Test and Evaluation Management (Level II). He also completed the
Entrepreneurship Center Management Certificate program from the International Business
Innovation Association (InBIA).
Mark Demers
ex. Group Chief at National Counterterrorism Center (ODNI) • ex. Special Advisor at U.S. Department of the Treasury • ex. Supervisory Intelligence Analyst at Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Currently: Founder & CEO of Corvidae Global Consulting
Mr. Demers has nearly 30 years of experience in the US Intelligence and Law Enforcement communities across 4 different agencies: DOJ, FBI, Treasury and ODNI. He spent his career solving the nation's toughest national security challenges in highly dynamic threat environments through building programs and developing analytic and technological solutions.
He is Founder and CEO of Corvidae Global Consulting that provides decision advantage to C-Suite executives by translating decades of investigative rigor and analytic tradecraft into the tactical roadmap for organizations to proactive mitigation and targeted discovery of illicit networks.
International Banking & Compliance:Counter Human Exploitation:
Douglas Gilmer, PhD.
ex. Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, DC • ex. Chief of HRVWCC • ex. Unit Chief of HRVWCU • awarded with National Intelligence Medal by the Director of National Intelligence and William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award
Currently: Resolved Strategies LLC
Doug Gilmer, PhD, is a 35-year veteran of law enforcement, a proud military veteran, and an executive leader in government. He retired from the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations in August of 2024, after 25-years of federal service, where in his last assignment he served as the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, DC. While with HSI, Doug also served as the Unit Chief of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit and as Chief of Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC).
Upon retiring from federal service, Doug chose to continue his work by creating Resolved Strategies LLC – a global justice solutions group (ResolvedStrategies.com). His work serves non-profits, NGOs, corporations, legislators, policy makers,
government agencies, the tech sector, and financial institutions, working in the field of human rights crime. His passion is building effective collaborations, connecting groups
with resources, providing training, and developing solutions to counter human trafficking and other forms of exploitative crime.
Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Master’s degree in Counseling (trauma focused studies) from Luther Rice University, a Master’s degree in
Natural Resources and Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech where he studied the push-pull factors leading to global migration and exploitation, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University where his research and dissertation focused on the outcomes of multidisciplinary collaboration between law enforcement and victim service providers in countering human trafficking.
Doug is a well published author and popular speaker at conferences, universities, and groups nationwide.
In 2015, Doug was awarded a National Intelligence Medal for Intelligence Integration from the Director of National Intelligence. In January of 2025, Doug received the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in helping counter human trafficking globally.
International Banking & Compliance:
Karanai Ravenscroft
Co-founder | Chief Operating Officer Sovereign Bank International
Karanai Ravenscroft is the Co-Founder and COO of Sovereign Bank International, a privately held international banking institution headquartered in the federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Her leadership philosophy favors measurable impact, ensuring every initiative aligns with purpose and fosters environments where innovation thrives and positive change is inevitable. Passionate about building meaningful connections and ventures that make a tangible difference, Karanai prioritizes contributions that leave a lasting imprint on individuals, communities, and industries.
Professional Journey and Resilience:
With over 15 years of experience working in the Caribbean region, Karanai has developed deep expertise in financial services, international banking, and regulatory framework, combining her early career roots in private equity and family offices, focusing on financial and regulation technology, along with machine learning applications, and future-forward initiatives.
She co-founded Sovereign Bank International in 2023, building on her extensive background in financial operations, strategy, and regional development to drive innovative solutions in global finance, wealth management, agile banking services, compliance-driven reg-tech platforms, and machine learning tools for AML/CFT/AP, risk assessment, and enterprise-wide risk insights.
Always seeking the root of real change, she embodies the belief that "scale begins with a single step, a single person, a single decision”; a principle that has enabled her to create lasting value on an international scale through strategic ventures and community-focused initiatives.
As a proud member of the Osage and Cherokee Nations, she is deeply committed to enriching tribal and indigenous communities through active support of economic development and education for First Nations and Developing Nations, harnessing the power of shared knowledge and opportunity to drive equitable progress.
Cyber Investigations:
Paul Wright
ex. Associate Director at Deloitte and KPMG • Principal Consultant at Verizon Business • Technical Director at Intel Security • Senior Advisor at Accuracy.
Currently: Co-founder of The Coalition of Cyber Investigators • Founder of eCrime Intelligence
With more than 40 years in investigations spanning law enforcement, digital forensics, intelligence, and the private sector, Paul Wright brings a rare perspective on how modern investigations must operate in an increasingly complex digital world.
Paul began his career in law enforcement, where he developed deep operational experience investigating serious crime and complex financial offences. He later moved into the private sector, where he has held senior leadership roles, including Associate Director at Deloitte and KPMG, Technical Director at Intel Security, and Co-Founder of the Coalition of Cyber Investigators.
Across these roles, Paul has worked at the forefront of cybercrime, fraud, corruption, and financial investigations, becoming an internationally recognized expert witness trusted in complex cases where digital evidence, open-source intelligence, and investigative methodology must withstand legal scrutiny.
Paul is also a leading advocate for “Human-at-the-Helm” intelligence — the principle that advanced technologies, including agentic AI, should augment investigative judgement rather than replace it, providing investigators with faster access to critical intelligence while preserving the expertise and instincts that drive real investigations.
Brett Redman
COO “OSINT Industries” • ex. UK government • Head of Intelligence • ex. Blackdot Solutions • ex. UK Government
Brett Redman is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) SME with extensive experience supporting investigations into economic crime, sanctions evasion, and organized crime.
He works with Law Enforcement, financial institutions, and public sector organizations to apply OSINT tradecraft in real-world investigative environments, focusing on attribution, data fusion, and analyst led judgement.
Brett is a regular speaker and trainer on OSINT methodology, governance, and the responsible use of technology to enhance investigative outcomes.
Blockchain Intelligence
Richard Sanders
Blockchain Intelligence SME doing high profile crypto investigations in Ukraine
Rich Sanders started crypto investigations in 2016 focusing on supporting law enforcement and the intelligence community in counterterrorism efforts. After this, he launched the first crypto investigations as a service company and ran it until 2023, when he went to volunteer in Ukraine.
Rich is the top contributor for Chainalysis and other blockchain analysis firms data submission vectors. Rich's focus is primarily on intelligence collection, and has served as the lead targeteer for an agency in the intelligence community that provides briefings to Five Eyes member countries and select intelligence community members, such as GUR. Rich's 2025 experience includes, as just some highlights, working on the shadow fleet, Grinex/Meer (where he was the first to identify and label Meer), Hamas, and numerous other high-level cases. Effectively, if it was in the headlines, Rich was probably involved -- and if it wasn't in the headlines, Rich was very likely involved.
Rich's focus on intelligence collection spans the virtual into the physical world, where he allocates a significant portion of his time to doing (and more importantly, teaching) physical collect, such as controlled buys and undercover operations. These methodologies have been critical to the national security of nations such as Poland and Moldova, which have used Rich's intelligence and methodologies to identify Russian hybrid operations in their jurisdictions.
When Rich isn't grinding the nth 12-16 hour day collecting wallets or briefing public sector on critical intelligence, he travels around the world to speak at conferences with the likes of RUSI, Interpol, and OSCE, having had become a sought-after expert for being a purely ideologically and non-financially motivated expert in a very unique and small niche.
Investigative Journalism:
Shereen Sherif
BBC Senior Investigative journalist and broadcast reporter • Co-founder of BBC Arabic forensics unit • Ford Foundation Fellowship Award
Shereen specializes in investigating war crimes and uncovering the intersections between global business and criminal networks. With over 13 years at BBC News, she serves as a Senior Forensics Broadcast Journalist since October 2023 and is a co-founder of the BBC Arabic Forensics Unit.
Her expertise lies in breaking news verification and the strategic deployment of OSINT tools to identify and counter AI-generated disinformation within high-risk, fast-moving environments.
Earlier in her career, Shereen produced multi-platform content across TV, radio, and digital video, and hosted the acclaimed Arabic podcast, Myths (2019–2023). Her leadership roots date back to 2011, when she served as Editor-in-Chief at Be El Arabi Newspaper and Tahrier Ltd.
A Ford Foundation Fellowship recipient, Shereen is a regular contributor to the BBC World Service and a frequent commentator on major platforms regarding Egyptian foreign policy and the Gaza conflict. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Sheffield.
Oleg Khomenok
Member of the Board of Directors at Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) • Chair of the Board of Regional Press Development Institute • Senior Program Manager at Internews • Judged Ukraine's "Pulitzer" and was recognized for coordinating YanukovychLeaks.
Oleg Khomenok is a Chair of the Board of Regional Press Development Institute, expert at the International Fact-Checking Network, member of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics of Ukraine, has over 30 years of experience in investigative journalism, training, and managing investigative reporting projects across Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
He has eight years of experience working as a reporter investigating political campaigns and ethnic minority issues in Crimea. Oleg co-founded and managed SCOOP project in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia from 2003 to 2018. He is also co-founder of two Ukrainian members of GIJN: Crimean Center for Investigative Reporting and Regional Press Development Institute. From 2015 to 2019 he was deeply involved in establishing of n-vestigate, a cross-border network of investigative journalists in Eastern Europe. For the last 17 years Oleg has played key role in organizing annual Ukrainian Investigative Journalism Conference, a major regional event that brings together reporters from Westen media alongside colleagues from Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, and MENA to exchange best practices, share lessons and launch collaborative projects.
As coordinator of the award-winning YanukovychLeaks.org, Oleg worked with a team of Ukrainian reporters who collected tens of thousands of financial documents from the former Ukrainian president, rescuing and publishing them online.
Oleg takes part in judging and preparatory bodies of Global Shining Light Award, European Press Prize, Honor of Profession, Best Ukrainian Investigative Reporting Award and other professional investigative journalism competitions.
Over the past two decades he has conducted more than a hundred training sessions on investigative journalism techniques and strategies for investigative reporters in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and authored several investigative journalism text-books and manuals in Ukrainian, Russian, English and Kazakh languages.
Brian James Monroe
Award-winning investigative journalistex. Vice President of Content and Financial Crime Compliance SME at Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) • ex. Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) • ex. Reporter at Florida Today
Brian is an award-winning investigative journalist, speaker, and thought leader with 25+ years of experience covering global financial crime, regulatory trends and evolving threat actor groups in print and online associations, including ACAMS, moneylaundering.com, ACFCS, Florida Today, the Miami Herald, and others.
Throughout his career, he has excelled at turning complex financial crime issues into compelling, accessible narratives that sharpen awareness and elevate frontline decision-making – helping compliance executives execute and getting boards on board.
He commands deep expertise creating high-impact multimedia content, moderating events, and driving public-private partnerships across compliance, law enforcement and regulatory sectors, training with federal agencies on investigative tips, tricks and best practices.
In short, he professionalized the editorial voice for the two largest associations training to fight financial crime – the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) – while coaching, teaching and guiding sales, marketing and social media on enterprise account strategies.
Anti-Corruption:
Marc Schleifer
Strategic international development and partnerships leader with deep experience advancing democracy, private-sector growth, and anti-corruption efforts across Europe, Eurasia, South Asia, and Afghanistan
Marc Schleifer has over 25 years of experience in the international development and nonprofit sectors, with expertise spanning anti-corruption and business integrity; democracy and good governance; entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and economic growth; policy reform and advocacy; and capacity building for civil society organizations, including business associations, chambers of commerce and think tanks. He has an extensive background in emerging and frontier markets, with a particular focus on Eastern and Central Europe, Eurasia and South Asia. His career has included strategic planning, operations, board and leadership development, program oversight, project management and implementation, team leadership, partnership building, business development, grant and award management, and external representation. He held a variety of roles on the program team and leading business development at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and core institute of the National Endowment for Democracy. Schleifer earned his BA in Russian Language & Literature and the College of Letters at Wesleyan University and his MA in International Relations and International Development at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
OSINT Community:
Milos Katic
OSINT and Investigations SME at BIRN • ex. Digital Forensics Unit at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Milos Katic is a recognized investigator and open-source intelligence expert focused on dismantling organized crime and illicit financial networks.
He previously worked as an investigative journalist in the Digital Forensics Unit at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and at the Vojvodina Research and Analytical Center (VOICE), with a background in financial investigations and OSINT. His work in investigative journalism and financial forensics has earned him recognition, including an award from the U.S. Embassy and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS). He is a member of the expert group of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).
The Tesari Intelligence & Innovation Council
Defining the Standard for High-Stakes Decision Making
The Tesari Intelligence & Innovation Council is a curated group of distinguished global leaders who provide strategic perspective and insight, strengthening Tesari’s ability to operate with credibility and impact in complex markets.
Chair of the Tesari Intelligence
& Innovation Council:
Amy Barbieri
ex. President & Chief Growth Officer at Vital4 • Board of Fintech Atlanta • Executive Program Director of Fintech for Good • ex. GTM Lead at World Watch Plus
Amy Barbieri is a fintech and artificial intelligence executive dedicated to advancing financial crime prevention and building technologies that make the world a safer place. She operates at the intersection of AI, regulatory intelligence, fraud prevention, and risk analytics, with a career focused on protecting institutions and individuals from financial exploitation.
She is an inventor on a U.S. patent in artificial intelligence, reflecting her commitment to developing scalable, defensible AI solutions that strengthen compliance frameworks and enhance detection capabilities in complex regulatory environments.
She previously served as President and Chief Growth Officer of Vital4, the world’s leading regulatory data provider, where she led global growth across AML, KYC, KYB, and due diligence solutions. She also served on Vital4’s Board, helping guide long-term strategy in the fight against financial crime. Under her leadership, the company expanded its role as a trusted intelligence partner to financial institutions, fintechs, and multinational enterprises navigating sanctions, corruption risk, human trafficking exposure, and other financial crime threats.
Earlier, she was the Go-To-Market leader for World Watch Plus, contributing to its strategic growth and successful acquisition by Dun & Bradstreet. Across both startup and enterprise environments, she has built a reputation for translating complex regulatory and AI capabilities into actionable solutions that protect businesses and communities.
A recognized thought leader in financial crime prevention, she is a sought-after speaker on artificial intelligence, fraud detection, sanctions compliance, and responsible AI governance. She was invited to speak at the Anti-Human Trafficking Summit, where Attorneys General from across the United States convene to collaborate on combating human trafficking — underscoring her commitment to leveraging financial technology as a force multiplier in the fight against exploitation.
She currently serves on the Board of Fintech Atlanta, supporting the growth of the regional fintech ecosystem, and is the Executive Program Director of Fintech for Good — an initiative focused on harnessing financial technology to expand transparency, prevent exploitation, and drive measurable social impact through responsible innovation
Trade Intelligence:
Jeff Rittener
Former Chief Trade Officer at Intel Corporation and Member of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC)
Jeff Rittener served as the Chief Trade Officer and Vice President of the International Trade Group at Intel Corp. Over his distinguished 34-year career, he demonstrated exemplary leadership with global teams and strategically influenced the trade environment to drive business strategy, open new market opportunities, and ensure compliance. He is currently a member of the Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) at the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security and serves on the Advisory Council of the Asia Society of Northern California. Additionally, he provides consultation, advice, and feedback on cross-border trade matters through Rittener Trade Services LLC and his bi-weekly podcast, RittenerReflections.com.
National Security:
Michael S. Fleming
Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army • ex. Director of the International Technology Center – Mediterranean (ITC-MED), U.S. Army DEVCOM • Mentor at NATO DIANA and Advisor at Q-Branch
Currently: Founder & CEO of MNF Global Solutions
Colonel (Ret.) Michael Fleming is a U.S. Army veteran, innovation strategist, and international
technology advisor with over 30 years of experience leading defense innovation, multinational
research partnerships, and dual-use technology development.
Currently serves as the Managing Director of MNF Global Solutions, LLC, providing advice and
consulting to companies seeking to enter the US DoD Markets. As a strategic consultant,
Michael advises U.S. and Israeli defense and dual-use technology companies on go-to-market
strategy, U.S. Department of Defense acquisition pathways, investor positioning, and operational
scaling. His recent work includes supporting technology firms in applied AI, autonomous
systems, tactical communications, ISR, and energy resilience.
Additionally, he acts as an advisor to Q-Branch, a Veteran-Owned, non-profit Dual-Use
Accelerator, assisting start-ups in penetrating the US Defense and civilian Markets. Michael also
works as a mentor with Starburst Aerospace in Tel Aviv, Israel, and as a volunteer mentor with
the NATO DIANA program, helping early-stage and growth-stage defense and aerospace
startups navigate DoD pathways, secure partnerships with U.S. government stakeholders, and
align solutions with emerging operational needs.
He previously served as the Director of the International Technology Center – Mediterranean
(ITC-MED) under the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)
assigned to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he established and led the Army’s
innovation engagement mission across Israel, Turkey, the UAE, and South Africa, building
strategic partnerships across government, industry, and academia.
Michael is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Engineering Management at Missouri University of
Science and Technology (MST), where his research focuses on improving the selection,
evaluation, and scaling of startups within innovation ecosystems—particularly in rural and
distributed environments. He also supports MST in developing new innovation and
entrepreneurship programs, including the Ozark Foundry Innovation Center initiative.
He holds a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Washington and an M.S. in
Engineering Management from MST and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. He is a
Defense Acquisition Certified in Program Management (Level III), Science and Technology
Management (Level III), and Test and Evaluation Management (Level II). He also completed the
Entrepreneurship Center Management Certificate program from the International Business
Innovation Association (InBIA).
Mark Demers
ex. Group Chief at National Counterterrorism Center (ODNI) • ex. Special Advisor at U.S. Department of the Treasury • ex. Supervisory Intelligence Analyst at Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Currently: Founder & CEO of Corvidae Global Consulting
Mr. Demers has nearly 30 years of experience in the US Intelligence and Law Enforcement communities across 4 different agencies: DOJ, FBI, Treasury and ODNI. He spent his career solving the nation's toughest national security challenges in highly dynamic threat environments through building programs and developing analytic and technological solutions.
He is Founder and CEO of Corvidae Global Consulting that provides decision advantage to C-Suite executives by translating decades of investigative rigor and analytic tradecraft into the tactical roadmap for organizations to proactive mitigation and targeted discovery of illicit networks.
International Banking & Compliance:Counter Human Exploitation:
Douglas Gilmer, PhD.
ex. Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, DC • ex. Chief of HRVWCC • ex. Unit Chief of HRVWCU • awarded with National Intelligence Medal by the Director of National Intelligence and William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award
Currently: Resolved Strategies LLC
Doug Gilmer, PhD, is a 35-year veteran of law enforcement, a proud military veteran, and an executive leader in government. He retired from the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations in August of 2024, after 25-years of federal service, where in his last assignment he served as the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, DC. While with HSI, Doug also served as the Unit Chief of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit and as Chief of Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC).
Upon retiring from federal service, Doug chose to continue his work by creating Resolved Strategies LLC – a global justice solutions group (ResolvedStrategies.com). His work serves non-profits, NGOs, corporations, legislators, policy makers,
government agencies, the tech sector, and financial institutions, working in the field of human rights crime. His passion is building effective collaborations, connecting groups
with resources, providing training, and developing solutions to counter human trafficking and other forms of exploitative crime.
Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Master’s degree in Counseling (trauma focused studies) from Luther Rice University, a Master’s degree in
Natural Resources and Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech where he studied the push-pull factors leading to global migration and exploitation, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University where his research and dissertation focused on the outcomes of multidisciplinary collaboration between law enforcement and victim service providers in countering human trafficking.
Doug is a well published author and popular speaker at conferences, universities, and groups nationwide.
In 2015, Doug was awarded a National Intelligence Medal for Intelligence Integration from the Director of National Intelligence. In January of 2025, Doug received the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in helping counter human trafficking globally.
International Banking & Compliance:
Karanai Ravenscroft
Co-founder | Chief Operating Officer Sovereign Bank International
Karanai Ravenscroft is the Co-Founder and COO of Sovereign Bank International, a privately held international banking institution headquartered in the federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Her leadership philosophy favors measurable impact, ensuring every initiative aligns with purpose and fosters environments where innovation thrives and positive change is inevitable. Passionate about building meaningful connections and ventures that make a tangible difference, Karanai prioritizes contributions that leave a lasting imprint on individuals, communities, and industries.
Professional Journey and Resilience:
With over 15 years of experience working in the Caribbean region, Karanai has developed deep expertise in financial services, international banking, and regulatory framework, combining her early career roots in private equity and family offices, focusing on financial and regulation technology, along with machine learning applications, and future-forward initiatives.
She co-founded Sovereign Bank International in 2023, building on her extensive background in financial operations, strategy, and regional development to drive innovative solutions in global finance, wealth management, agile banking services, compliance-driven reg-tech platforms, and machine learning tools for AML/CFT/AP, risk assessment, and enterprise-wide risk insights.
Always seeking the root of real change, she embodies the belief that "scale begins with a single step, a single person, a single decision”; a principle that has enabled her to create lasting value on an international scale through strategic ventures and community-focused initiatives.
As a proud member of the Osage and Cherokee Nations, she is deeply committed to enriching tribal and indigenous communities through active support of economic development and education for First Nations and Developing Nations, harnessing the power of shared knowledge and opportunity to drive equitable progress.
Cyber Investigations:
Paul Wright
ex. Associate Director at Deloitte and KPMG • Principal Consultant at Verizon Business • Technical Director at Intel Security • Senior Advisor at Accuracy.
Currently: Co-founder of The Coalition of Cyber Investigators • Founder of eCrime Intelligence
With more than 40 years in investigations spanning law enforcement, digital forensics, intelligence, and the private sector, Paul Wright brings a rare perspective on how modern investigations must operate in an increasingly complex digital world.
Paul began his career in law enforcement, where he developed deep operational experience investigating serious crime and complex financial offences. He later moved into the private sector, where he has held senior leadership roles, including Associate Director at Deloitte and KPMG, Technical Director at Intel Security, and Co-Founder of the Coalition of Cyber Investigators.
Across these roles, Paul has worked at the forefront of cybercrime, fraud, corruption, and financial investigations, becoming an internationally recognized expert witness trusted in complex cases where digital evidence, open-source intelligence, and investigative methodology must withstand legal scrutiny.
Paul is also a leading advocate for “Human-at-the-Helm” intelligence — the principle that advanced technologies, including agentic AI, should augment investigative judgement rather than replace it, providing investigators with faster access to critical intelligence while preserving the expertise and instincts that drive real investigations.
Brett Redman
COO “OSINT Industries” • ex. UK government • Head of Intelligence • ex. Blackdot Solutions • ex. UK Government
Brett Redman is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) SME with extensive experience supporting investigations into economic crime, sanctions evasion, and organized crime.
He works with Law Enforcement, financial institutions, and public sector organizations to apply OSINT tradecraft in real-world investigative environments, focusing on attribution, data fusion, and analyst led judgement.
Brett is a regular speaker and trainer on OSINT methodology, governance, and the responsible use of technology to enhance investigative outcomes.
Blockchain Intelligence
Richard Sanders
Blockchain Intelligence SME doing high profile crypto investigations in Ukraine
Rich Sanders started crypto investigations in 2016 focusing on supporting law enforcement and the intelligence community in counterterrorism efforts. After this, he launched the first crypto investigations as a service company and ran it until 2023, when he went to volunteer in Ukraine.
Rich is the top contributor for Chainalysis and other blockchain analysis firms data submission vectors. Rich's focus is primarily on intelligence collection, and has served as the lead targeteer for an agency in the intelligence community that provides briefings to Five Eyes member countries and select intelligence community members, such as GUR. Rich's 2025 experience includes, as just some highlights, working on the shadow fleet, Grinex/Meer (where he was the first to identify and label Meer), Hamas, and numerous other high-level cases. Effectively, if it was in the headlines, Rich was probably involved -- and if it wasn't in the headlines, Rich was very likely involved.
Rich's focus on intelligence collection spans the virtual into the physical world, where he allocates a significant portion of his time to doing (and more importantly, teaching) physical collect, such as controlled buys and undercover operations. These methodologies have been critical to the national security of nations such as Poland and Moldova, which have used Rich's intelligence and methodologies to identify Russian hybrid operations in their jurisdictions.
When Rich isn't grinding the nth 12-16 hour day collecting wallets or briefing public sector on critical intelligence, he travels around the world to speak at conferences with the likes of RUSI, Interpol, and OSCE, having had become a sought-after expert for being a purely ideologically and non-financially motivated expert in a very unique and small niche.
Investigative Journalism:
Shereen Sherif
BBC Senior Investigative journalist and broadcast reporter • Co-founder of BBC Arabic forensics unit • Ford Foundation Fellowship Award
Shereen specializes in investigating war crimes and uncovering the intersections between global business and criminal networks. With over 13 years at BBC News, she serves as a Senior Forensics Broadcast Journalist since October 2023 and is a co-founder of the BBC Arabic Forensics Unit.
Her expertise lies in breaking news verification and the strategic deployment of OSINT tools to identify and counter AI-generated disinformation within high-risk, fast-moving environments.
Earlier in her career, Shereen produced multi-platform content across TV, radio, and digital video, and hosted the acclaimed Arabic podcast, Myths (2019–2023). Her leadership roots date back to 2011, when she served as Editor-in-Chief at Be El Arabi Newspaper and Tahrier Ltd.
A Ford Foundation Fellowship recipient, Shereen is a regular contributor to the BBC World Service and a frequent commentator on major platforms regarding Egyptian foreign policy and the Gaza conflict. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Sheffield.
Oleg Khomenok
Member of the Board of Directors at Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) • Chair of the Board of Regional Press Development Institute • Senior Program Manager at Internews • Judged Ukraine's "Pulitzer" and was recognized for coordinating YanukovychLeaks.
Oleg Khomenok is a Chair of the Board of Regional Press Development Institute, expert at the International Fact-Checking Network, member of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics of Ukraine, has over 30 years of experience in investigative journalism, training, and managing investigative reporting projects across Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
He has eight years of experience working as a reporter investigating political campaigns and ethnic minority issues in Crimea. Oleg co-founded and managed SCOOP project in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia from 2003 to 2018. He is also co-founder of two Ukrainian members of GIJN: Crimean Center for Investigative Reporting and Regional Press Development Institute. From 2015 to 2019 he was deeply involved in establishing of n-vestigate, a cross-border network of investigative journalists in Eastern Europe. For the last 17 years Oleg has played key role in organizing annual Ukrainian Investigative Journalism Conference, a major regional event that brings together reporters from Westen media alongside colleagues from Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, and MENA to exchange best practices, share lessons and launch collaborative projects.
As coordinator of the award-winning YanukovychLeaks.org, Oleg worked with a team of Ukrainian reporters who collected tens of thousands of financial documents from the former Ukrainian president, rescuing and publishing them online.
Oleg takes part in judging and preparatory bodies of Global Shining Light Award, European Press Prize, Honor of Profession, Best Ukrainian Investigative Reporting Award and other professional investigative journalism competitions.
Over the past two decades he has conducted more than a hundred training sessions on investigative journalism techniques and strategies for investigative reporters in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and authored several investigative journalism text-books and manuals in Ukrainian, Russian, English and Kazakh languages.
Brian James Monroe
Award-winning investigative journalistex. Vice President of Content and Financial Crime Compliance SME at Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) • ex. Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) • ex. Reporter at Florida Today
Brian is an award-winning investigative journalist, speaker, and thought leader with 25+ years of experience covering global financial crime, regulatory trends and evolving threat actor groups in print and online associations, including ACAMS, moneylaundering.com, ACFCS, Florida Today, the Miami Herald, and others.
Throughout his career, he has excelled at turning complex financial crime issues into compelling, accessible narratives that sharpen awareness and elevate frontline decision-making – helping compliance executives execute and getting boards on board.
He commands deep expertise creating high-impact multimedia content, moderating events, and driving public-private partnerships across compliance, law enforcement and regulatory sectors, training with federal agencies on investigative tips, tricks and best practices.
In short, he professionalized the editorial voice for the two largest associations training to fight financial crime – the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) – while coaching, teaching and guiding sales, marketing and social media on enterprise account strategies.
Anti-Corruption:
Marc Schleifer
Strategic international development and partnerships leader with deep experience advancing democracy, private-sector growth, and anti-corruption efforts across Europe, Eurasia, South Asia, and Afghanistan
Marc Schleifer has over 25 years of experience in the international development and nonprofit sectors, with expertise spanning anti-corruption and business integrity; democracy and good governance; entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and economic growth; policy reform and advocacy; and capacity building for civil society organizations, including business associations, chambers of commerce and think tanks. He has an extensive background in emerging and frontier markets, with a particular focus on Eastern and Central Europe, Eurasia and South Asia. His career has included strategic planning, operations, board and leadership development, program oversight, project management and implementation, team leadership, partnership building, business development, grant and award management, and external representation. He held a variety of roles on the program team and leading business development at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and core institute of the National Endowment for Democracy. Schleifer earned his BA in Russian Language & Literature and the College of Letters at Wesleyan University and his MA in International Relations and International Development at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
OSINT Community:
Milos Katic
OSINT and Investigations SME at BIRN • ex. Digital Forensics Unit at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Milos Katic is a recognized investigator and open-source intelligence expert focused on dismantling organized crime and illicit financial networks.
He previously worked as an investigative journalist in the Digital Forensics Unit at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and at the Vojvodina Research and Analytical Center (VOICE), with a background in financial investigations and OSINT. His work in investigative journalism and financial forensics has earned him recognition, including an award from the U.S. Embassy and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS). He is a member of the expert group of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).
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The Tesari Intelligence & Innovation Council
Defining the Standard for High-Stakes Decision Making
The Tesari Intelligence & Innovation Council is a curated group of distinguished global leaders who provide strategic perspective and insight, strengthening Tesari’s ability to operate with credibility and impact in complex markets.
Chair of the Tesari Intelligence
& Innovation Council:
Amy Barbieri
ex. President & Chief Growth Officer at Vital4 • Board of Fintech Atlanta • Executive Program Director of Fintech for Good • ex. GTM Lead at World Watch Plus
Amy Barbieri is a fintech and artificial intelligence executive dedicated to advancing financial crime prevention and building technologies that make the world a safer place. She operates at the intersection of AI, regulatory intelligence, fraud prevention, and risk analytics, with a career focused on protecting institutions and individuals from financial exploitation.
She is an inventor on a U.S. patent in artificial intelligence, reflecting her commitment to developing scalable, defensible AI solutions that strengthen compliance frameworks and enhance detection capabilities in complex regulatory environments.
She previously served as President and Chief Growth Officer of Vital4, the world’s leading regulatory data provider, where she led global growth across AML, KYC, KYB, and due diligence solutions. She also served on Vital4’s Board, helping guide long-term strategy in the fight against financial crime. Under her leadership, the company expanded its role as a trusted intelligence partner to financial institutions, fintechs, and multinational enterprises navigating sanctions, corruption risk, human trafficking exposure, and other financial crime threats.
Earlier, she was the Go-To-Market leader for World Watch Plus, contributing to its strategic growth and successful acquisition by Dun & Bradstreet. Across both startup and enterprise environments, she has built a reputation for translating complex regulatory and AI capabilities into actionable solutions that protect businesses and communities.
A recognized thought leader in financial crime prevention, she is a sought-after speaker on artificial intelligence, fraud detection, sanctions compliance, and responsible AI governance. She was invited to speak at the Anti-Human Trafficking Summit, where Attorneys General from across the United States convene to collaborate on combating human trafficking — underscoring her commitment to leveraging financial technology as a force multiplier in the fight against exploitation.
She currently serves on the Board of Fintech Atlanta, supporting the growth of the regional fintech ecosystem, and is the Executive Program Director of Fintech for Good — an initiative focused on harnessing financial technology to expand transparency, prevent exploitation, and drive measurable social impact through responsible innovation
Trade Intelligence:
Jeff Rittener
Former Chief Trade Officer at Intel Corporation and Member of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC)
Jeff Rittener served as the Chief Trade Officer and Vice President of the International Trade Group at Intel Corp. Over his distinguished 34-year career, he demonstrated exemplary leadership with global teams and strategically influenced the trade environment to drive business strategy, open new market opportunities, and ensure compliance. He is currently a member of the Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC) at the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security and serves on the Advisory Council of the Asia Society of Northern California. Additionally, he provides consultation, advice, and feedback on cross-border trade matters through Rittener Trade Services LLC and his bi-weekly podcast, RittenerReflections.com.
National Security:
Michael S. Fleming
Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army • ex. Director of the International Technology Center – Mediterranean (ITC-MED), U.S. Army DEVCOM • Mentor at NATO DIANA and Advisor at Q-Branch
Currently: Founder & CEO of MNF Global Solutions
Colonel (Ret.) Michael Fleming is a U.S. Army veteran, innovation strategist, and international
technology advisor with over 30 years of experience leading defense innovation, multinational
research partnerships, and dual-use technology development.
Currently serves as the Managing Director of MNF Global Solutions, LLC, providing advice and
consulting to companies seeking to enter the US DoD Markets. As a strategic consultant,
Michael advises U.S. and Israeli defense and dual-use technology companies on go-to-market
strategy, U.S. Department of Defense acquisition pathways, investor positioning, and operational
scaling. His recent work includes supporting technology firms in applied AI, autonomous
systems, tactical communications, ISR, and energy resilience.
Additionally, he acts as an advisor to Q-Branch, a Veteran-Owned, non-profit Dual-Use
Accelerator, assisting start-ups in penetrating the US Defense and civilian Markets. Michael also
works as a mentor with Starburst Aerospace in Tel Aviv, Israel, and as a volunteer mentor with
the NATO DIANA program, helping early-stage and growth-stage defense and aerospace
startups navigate DoD pathways, secure partnerships with U.S. government stakeholders, and
align solutions with emerging operational needs.
He previously served as the Director of the International Technology Center – Mediterranean
(ITC-MED) under the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)
assigned to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he established and led the Army’s
innovation engagement mission across Israel, Turkey, the UAE, and South Africa, building
strategic partnerships across government, industry, and academia.
Michael is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Engineering Management at Missouri University of
Science and Technology (MST), where his research focuses on improving the selection,
evaluation, and scaling of startups within innovation ecosystems—particularly in rural and
distributed environments. He also supports MST in developing new innovation and
entrepreneurship programs, including the Ozark Foundry Innovation Center initiative.
He holds a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Washington and an M.S. in
Engineering Management from MST and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College. He is a
Defense Acquisition Certified in Program Management (Level III), Science and Technology
Management (Level III), and Test and Evaluation Management (Level II). He also completed the
Entrepreneurship Center Management Certificate program from the International Business
Innovation Association (InBIA).
Mark Demers
ex. Group Chief at National Counterterrorism Center (ODNI) • ex. Special Advisor at U.S. Department of the Treasury • ex. Supervisory Intelligence Analyst at Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Currently: Founder & CEO of Corvidae Global Consulting
Mr. Demers has nearly 30 years of experience in the US Intelligence and Law Enforcement communities across 4 different agencies: DOJ, FBI, Treasury and ODNI. He spent his career solving the nation's toughest national security challenges in highly dynamic threat environments through building programs and developing analytic and technological solutions.
He is Founder and CEO of Corvidae Global Consulting that provides decision advantage to C-Suite executives by translating decades of investigative rigor and analytic tradecraft into the tactical roadmap for organizations to proactive mitigation and targeted discovery of illicit networks.
Counter Human Exploitation:
Douglas Gilmer, PhD.
ex. Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, DC • ex. Chief of HRVWCC • ex. Unit Chief of HRVWCU • awarded with National Intelligence Medal by the Director of National Intelligence and William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award
Currently: Resolved Strategies LLC
Doug Gilmer, PhD, is a 35-year veteran of law enforcement, a proud military veteran, and an executive leader in government. He retired from the Department of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Investigations in August of 2024, after 25-years of federal service, where in his last assignment he served as the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, DC. While with HSI, Doug also served as the Unit Chief of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit and as Chief of Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC).
Upon retiring from federal service, Doug chose to continue his work by creating Resolved Strategies LLC – a global justice solutions group (ResolvedStrategies.com). His work serves non-profits, NGOs, corporations, legislators, policy makers,
government agencies, the tech sector, and financial institutions, working in the field of human rights crime. His passion is building effective collaborations, connecting groups
with resources, providing training, and developing solutions to counter human trafficking and other forms of exploitative crime.
Doug holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Master’s degree in Counseling (trauma focused studies) from Luther Rice University, a Master’s degree in
Natural Resources and Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech where he studied the push-pull factors leading to global migration and exploitation, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University where his research and dissertation focused on the outcomes of multidisciplinary collaboration between law enforcement and victim service providers in countering human trafficking.
Doug is a well published author and popular speaker at conferences, universities, and groups nationwide.
In 2015, Doug was awarded a National Intelligence Medal for Intelligence Integration from the Director of National Intelligence. In January of 2025, Doug received the William Wilberforce Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in helping counter human trafficking globally.
International Banking & Compliance:
Karanai Ravenscroft
Co-founder | Chief Operating Officer Sovereign Bank International
Karanai Ravenscroft is the Co-Founder and COO of Sovereign Bank International, a privately held international banking institution headquartered in the federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Her leadership philosophy favors measurable impact, ensuring every initiative aligns with purpose and fosters environments where innovation thrives and positive change is inevitable. Passionate about building meaningful connections and ventures that make a tangible difference, Karanai prioritizes contributions that leave a lasting imprint on individuals, communities, and industries.
Professional Journey and Resilience:
With over 15 years of experience working in the Caribbean region, Karanai has developed deep expertise in financial services, international banking, and regulatory framework, combining her early career roots in private equity and family offices, focusing on financial and regulation technology, along with machine learning applications, and future-forward initiatives.
She co-founded Sovereign Bank International in 2023, building on her extensive background in financial operations, strategy, and regional development to drive innovative solutions in global finance, wealth management, agile banking services, compliance-driven reg-tech platforms, and machine learning tools for AML/CFT/AP, risk assessment, and enterprise-wide risk insights.
Always seeking the root of real change, she embodies the belief that "scale begins with a single step, a single person, a single decision”; a principle that has enabled her to create lasting value on an international scale through strategic ventures and community-focused initiatives.
As a proud member of the Osage and Cherokee Nations, she is deeply committed to enriching tribal and indigenous communities through active support of economic development and education for First Nations and Developing Nations, harnessing the power of shared knowledge and opportunity to drive equitable progress.
Cyber Investigations:
Paul Wright
ex. Associate Director at Deloitte and KPMG • Principal Consultant at Verizon Business • Technical Director at Intel Security • Senior Advisor at Accuracy.
Currently: Co-founder of The Coalition of Cyber Investigators • Founder of eCrime Intelligence
With more than 40 years in investigations spanning law enforcement, digital forensics, intelligence, and the private sector, Paul Wright brings a rare perspective on how modern investigations must operate in an increasingly complex digital world.
Paul began his career in law enforcement, where he developed deep operational experience investigating serious crime and complex financial offences. He later moved into the private sector, where he has held senior leadership roles, including Associate Director at Deloitte and KPMG, Technical Director at Intel Security, and Co-Founder of the Coalition of Cyber Investigators.
Across these roles, Paul has worked at the forefront of cybercrime, fraud, corruption, and financial investigations, becoming an internationally recognized expert witness trusted in complex cases where digital evidence, open-source intelligence, and investigative methodology must withstand legal scrutiny.
Paul is also a leading advocate for “Human-at-the-Helm” intelligence — the principle that advanced technologies, including agentic AI, should augment investigative judgement rather than replace it, providing investigators with faster access to critical intelligence while preserving the expertise and instincts that drive real investigations.
Brett Redman
COO “OSINT Industries”ex. UK government • Head of Intelligence • ex. Blackdot Solutions • ex. UK Government
Brett Redman is an open-source intelligence (OSINT) SME with extensive experience supporting investigations into economic crime, sanctions evasion, and organized crime.
He works with Law Enforcement, financial institutions, and public sector organizations to apply OSINT tradecraft in real-world investigative environments, focusing on attribution, data fusion, and analyst led judgement.
Brett is a regular speaker and trainer on OSINT methodology, governance, and the responsible use of technology to enhance investigative outcomes.
Blockchain Intelligence
Richard Sanders
Blockchain Intelligence SME doing high profile crypto investigations in Ukraine
Rich Sanders started crypto investigations in 2016 focusing on supporting law enforcement and the intelligence community in counterterrorism efforts. After this, he launched the first crypto investigations as a service company and ran it until 2023, when he went to volunteer in Ukraine.
Rich is the top contributor for Chainalysis and other blockchain analysis firms data submission vectors. Rich's focus is primarily on intelligence collection, and has served as the lead targeteer for an agency in the intelligence community that provides briefings to Five Eyes member countries and select intelligence community members, such as GUR. Rich's 2025 experience includes, as just some highlights, working on the shadow fleet, Grinex/Meer (where he was the first to identify and label Meer), Hamas, and numerous other high-level cases. Effectively, if it was in the headlines, Rich was probably involved -- and if it wasn't in the headlines, Rich was very likely involved.
Rich's focus on intelligence collection spans the virtual into the physical world, where he allocates a significant portion of his time to doing (and more importantly, teaching) physical collect, such as controlled buys and undercover operations. These methodologies have been critical to the national security of nations such as Poland and Moldova, which have used Rich's intelligence and methodologies to identify Russian hybrid operations in their jurisdictions.
When Rich isn't grinding the nth 12-16 hour day collecting wallets or briefing public sector on critical intelligence, he travels around the world to speak at conferences with the likes of RUSI, Interpol, and OSCE, having had become a sought-after expert for being a purely ideologically and non-financially motivated expert in a very unique and small niche.
Investigative Journalism:
Shereen Sherif
BBC Senior Investigative journalist and broadcast reporter • Co-founder of BBC Arabic forensics unit • Ford Foundation Fellowship Award
Shereen specializes in investigating war crimes and uncovering the intersections between global business and criminal networks. With over 13 years at BBC News, she serves as a Senior Forensics Broadcast Journalist since October 2023 and is a co-founder of the BBC Arabic Forensics Unit.
Her expertise lies in breaking news verification and the strategic deployment of OSINT tools to identify and counter AI-generated disinformation within high-risk, fast-moving environments.
Earlier in her career, Shereen produced multi-platform content across TV, radio, and digital video, and hosted the acclaimed Arabic podcast, Myths (2019–2023). Her leadership roots date back to 2011, when she served as Editor-in-Chief at Be El Arabi Newspaper and Tahrier Ltd.
A Ford Foundation Fellowship recipient, Shereen is a regular contributor to the BBC World Service and a frequent commentator on major platforms regarding Egyptian foreign policy and the Gaza conflict. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Sheffield.
Oleg Khomenok
Member of the Board of Directors at Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) • Chair of the Board of Regional Press Development Institute • Senior Program Manager at Internews • Judged Ukraine's "Pulitzer" and was recognized for coordinating YanukovychLeaks.
Oleg Khomenok is a Chair of the Board of Regional Press Development Institute, expert at the International Fact-Checking Network, member of the Commission on Journalistic Ethics of Ukraine, has over 30 years of experience in investigative journalism, training, and managing investigative reporting projects across Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
He has eight years of experience working as a reporter investigating political campaigns and ethnic minority issues in Crimea. Oleg co-founded and managed SCOOP project in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia from 2003 to 2018. He is also co-founder of two Ukrainian members of GIJN: Crimean Center for Investigative Reporting and Regional Press Development Institute. From 2015 to 2019 he was deeply involved in establishing of n-vestigate, a cross-border network of investigative journalists in Eastern Europe. For the last 17 years Oleg has played key role in organizing annual Ukrainian Investigative Journalism Conference, a major regional event that brings together reporters from Westen media alongside colleagues from Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, and MENA to exchange best practices, share lessons and launch collaborative projects.
As coordinator of the award-winning YanukovychLeaks.org, Oleg worked with a team of Ukrainian reporters who collected tens of thousands of financial documents from the former Ukrainian president, rescuing and publishing them online.
Oleg takes part in judging and preparatory bodies of Global Shining Light Award, European Press Prize, Honor of Profession, Best Ukrainian Investigative Reporting Award and other professional investigative journalism competitions.
Over the past two decades he has conducted more than a hundred training sessions on investigative journalism techniques and strategies for investigative reporters in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, and authored several investigative journalism text-books and manuals in Ukrainian, Russian, English and Kazakh languages.
Brian James Monroe
Award-winning investigative journalistex. Vice President of Content and Financial Crime Compliance SME at Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) • ex. Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) • ex. Reporter at Florida Today
Brian is an award-winning investigative journalist, speaker, and thought leader with 25+ years of experience covering global financial crime, regulatory trends and evolving threat actor groups in print and online associations, including ACAMS, moneylaundering.com, ACFCS, Florida Today, the Miami Herald, and others.
Throughout his career, he has excelled at turning complex financial crime issues into compelling, accessible narratives that sharpen awareness and elevate frontline decision-making – helping compliance executives execute and getting boards on board.
He commands deep expertise creating high-impact multimedia content, moderating events, and driving public-private partnerships across compliance, law enforcement and regulatory sectors, training with federal agencies on investigative tips, tricks and best practices.
In short, he professionalized the editorial voice for the two largest associations training to fight financial crime – the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) – while coaching, teaching and guiding sales, marketing and social media on enterprise account strategies.
Anti-Corruption:
Marc Schleifer
Strategic international development and partnerships leader with deep experience advancing democracy, private-sector growth, and anti-corruption efforts across Europe, Eurasia, South Asia, and Afghanistan
Marc Schleifer has over 25 years of experience in the international development and nonprofit sectors, with expertise spanning anti-corruption and business integrity; democracy and good governance; entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and economic growth; policy reform and advocacy; and capacity building for civil society organizations, including business associations, chambers of commerce and think tanks. He has an extensive background in emerging and frontier markets, with a particular focus on Eastern and Central Europe, Eurasia and South Asia. His career has included strategic planning, operations, board and leadership development, program oversight, project management and implementation, team leadership, partnership building, business development, grant and award management, and external representation. He held a variety of roles on the program team and leading business development at the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), a nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and core institute of the National Endowment for Democracy. Schleifer earned his BA in Russian Language & Literature and the College of Letters at Wesleyan University and his MA in International Relations and International Development at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
OSINT Community:
Milos Katic
OSINT and Investigations SME at BIRN • ex. Digital Forensics Unit at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Milos Katic is a recognized investigator and open-source intelligence expert focused on dismantling organized crime and illicit financial networks.
He previously worked as an investigative journalist in the Digital Forensics Unit at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and at the Vojvodina Research and Analytical Center (VOICE), with a background in financial investigations and OSINT. His work in investigative journalism and financial forensics has earned him recognition, including an award from the U.S. Embassy and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS). He is a member of the expert group of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).
