To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the Basel Institute on Governance and the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators hosted an online discussion on women’s leadership in the fight against corruption and financial crime.

Moderated by Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director of the Basel Institute, the event brought together practitioners, academics and students to reflect on career journeys, challenges and opportunities in this complex and evolving field.

Speakers shared personal experiences of entering and advancing in anti-corruption and financial crime work, highlighting the diverse motivations that drive professionals in this area.

Different paths, a shared commitment

For Verónica Sabella, the link between financial crime and human rights violations was a key motivator in her decision to launch a career in law and to join the Basel Institute’s Certificate of Advanced Studies course in Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery with the University of Basel. She underscored the importance of understanding financial flows to address crimes such as trafficking

Emmanuela OkonkwoAbutu, who will shortly complete the Basel Institute’s CAS programme Mastering Today’s Anti-Corruption Challenges, described how witnessing the impact of corruption in Nigeria shaped her commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and international cooperation. She hopes with her new qualification she will be better able to address the “international networks, legal loopholes and institutional weaknesses” that enable corruption.

Anne-Claude Scheidegger highlighted the role of hands-on, scenario-based training programmes in building investigative and asset recovery skills worldwide. She explained how the Basel Institute works with partner agencies to ensure that women have equal access to training opportunities.

Professor Karen Woody reflected on the importance of professional networks and interdisciplinary collaboration. She emphasised how communities of practitioners and scholars – in particular the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators – help connect different perspectives and sustain long-term professional growth.

Elizabeth Ortega highlighted the importance of investing in people – through training, mentorship and professional support – noting that many women reach leadership positions because someone believed in their potential and helped open opportunities along the way.

The discussion also explored structural barriers women may face in the profession, including persistent gender imbalances in leadership roles and the need to balance career progression with family responsibilities. At the same time, participants noted encouraging trends, including growing numbers of women entering the field and increased efforts to promote gender representation in training and professional development programmes.

Throughout the conversation, speakers emphasised the importance of mentorship, peer learning networks and specialised training in opening career pathways. Particular attention was given to the value of professional communities, which create space for practitioners and experts from different backgrounds and jurisdictions to share knowledge, build connections and support one another’s growth.

A central theme was the importance of targeted support mechanisms – including scholarships and sponsorships – that expand access to high-quality education and professional opportunities. Initiatives such as the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund aim to ensure that talented professionals around the world can develop the skills, confidence and networks needed to lead the global fight against corruption and financial crime.

Key takeaways

1. Countering financial crime is closely linked to protecting human rights. Understanding how illicit financial flows move through systems is essential to tackling crimes such as human trafficking, corruption and organised crime, which have a strong negative impact on the whole of society.
2. Women are increasingly entering the field but leadership gaps remain. While many women work in lower-level compliance and investigative roles, structural and cultural barriers can still slow progress into senior leadership positions.
3. Mentorship and sponsorship help open doors. Speakers stressed the importance of asking for help, building relationships and having others actively support your growth and advancement.
4. Peer learning networks add lasting value, especially across borders. Communities such as the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators connect practitioners, academics and specialists across jurisdictions, enabling knowledge exchange and strengthening careers over time.
5. Education and specialised training accelerate impact. Programmes such as the Basel Institute’s Certificate of Advanced Studies courses on anti-corruption and asset recovery help practitioners deepen technical skills, understand global frameworks and collaborate internationally.
6. Scholarships and targeted support expand access to opportunity. Initiatives such as the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund show how sponsorship and financial support for employees can help talented professionals access high-quality training and increase their impact in the fight against corruption and financial crime.

Help open the door to future leaders

This year’s International Women’s Day theme was “Give to Gain”. The slogan encapsulates many of the points the speakers made about the value of supporting others in their careers.

The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators and its Co-Founders Elizabeth Ortega (ECO Strategic Communications), Stéphane Bonifassi (Bonifassi Avocats) and Lincoln Caylor (Bennett Jones) were the first donors to the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund.

The Basel Institute is grateful for their support and that of subsequent donors.

If this discussion resonated with you, consider helping open the next door for future leaders.

Contributions of any size help expand access to high-quality education and strengthen the global fight against corruption and financial crime.

To support the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund with a donation of any size, please visit our crowdfunding page.