Move the Needle on Illicit Finance Roundtable
Last fall I co-hosted a roundtable in Washington, DC with Porta Strategies called Move the Needle on Illicit Finance, sponsored by Orca AI. It was energizing to gather such a thoughtful group of industry leaders committed to combating illicit finance — and equally encouraging to hear concrete ideas for how we increase effectiveness moving forward.
The event sponsor, Orca AI, truly a needle mover — is a diligence platform that transforms investigations by connecting analysts to primary source data from more than 22,000 government, regulatory, and other filings. Tools like this remind us that innovation, when applied thoughtfully, can materially strengthen investigative outcomes.
This was our second year hosting a roundtable, and I continue to believe this format is one of the most productive ways to convene. A smaller, trust-based environment fosters real dialogue and partnership. It allows participants not only to share expertise, but to listen — to diverse viewpoints, to emerging concerns, and even to what is not being said outright.
The goal of the conversation was simple but ambitious: move beyond headlines and rhetoric to grapple with harder structural questions about effectiveness.
What Does Success Actually Look Like?
Public discussion around anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-illicit finance efforts often centers on enforcement actions, penalties, or new regulatory frameworks. But those metrics prompt a deeper question:
Are we measuring activity — or impact?
If the objective is to reduce criminal harm, disrupt networks, deter state actors, or strengthen institutional resilience, how do we know when progress is being made?
The discussion highlighted a persistent challenge: while compliance activity is extensive, outcome-based measurement remains uneven. Enforcement actions signal accountability, but they do not always translate cleanly into systemic disruption.
Ultimately, the conversation reinforced something fundamental: progress against illicit finance will not come from volume alone. It will come from clarity of purpose, disciplined strategy, and sustained collaboration across sectors.
Why This Format Matters
Roundtables create something different than panels or conferences. They foster connection, dialogue, and partnership among participants. In complex problem spaces like illicit finance, no single sector has the full picture. Listening — seriously and deliberately — is part of moving the needle.
In Closing
Convenings like this are not endpoints; they are part of a longer arc — one focused on strengthening systems, sharpening measurement, and aligning strategy with outcomes that endure. We are operating at a modern confluence, where financial innovation, technological acceleration, and geopolitical instability meet. Navigating that convergence requires more than conversation — it requires analytical rigor, strategic clarity, coordinated action, and measurable progress that builds resilience over time.