[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":266},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-gemma-aiolfi-at-ifctf-conference-2018-23":3,"news-gemma-aiolfi-at-ifctf-conference-2018-23-similar":39,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":261},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":14,"activity":15,"nid":16,"topics":17,"activities":18,"programme":19,"area":19,"websites":20,"language":19,"image":22,"translation_of":19,"countries":33,"tags":34,"authors":35,"images":36,"translations":37,"content":38},9930,"published","2022-05-26T22:57:34.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z","Gemma Aiolfi at IFCTF conference 2018","","Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute of Governance, will be speaking at the [10th International Conference of Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing (IFCTF) 2018](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aif.org.my\u002Fevent_view.aspx?eid=7e4baf00-119d-4bb8-b265-39e74ff893c1). Organised by the Asian Institute of Finance, the conference will take place on 30–31 October 2018 in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. The theme this year is: _The rising voice of compliance – towards greater governance and transparency._\n\nMs. Aiolfi will participate as a panellist in the first plenary session on _Transforming governance in government-related entities: What it means to compliance in the financial services sector_.\n\nThe one-hour session will take place on Tuesday, 30 October at 10.45am. Other panellists include H.E. Vicki Treadell CMG, MVO, British High Commissioner to Malaysia and Dato' Lim Chee Wee, Partner, Dispute Resolution Division, Skrine. The session moderator, P. Gunasegaram is the former editor at The Star, The Edge and Malaysian Business.\n\nOn the afternoon of Tuesday, 30 October, Gemma Aiolfi will also take part in a dialogue on Anti-Corruption Compliance and Collective Action at a separate event organised by the [Malaysian Institute of Management](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmalaysian-compliance-event-and-training-courses).","2018-10-23",[10],"gemma-aiolfi-at-ifctf-conference-2018-23",[10],23,[],[],null,[21],"Main page",{"id":23,"storage":24,"filename_disk":25,"filename_download":26,"title":9,"type":27,"created_on":28,"modified_on":28,"charset":19,"filesize":29,"width":30,"height":31,"duration":19,"embed":19,"description":19,"location":19,"tags":19,"metadata":32,"focal_point_x":19,"focal_point_y":19,"tus_id":19,"tus_data":19,"uploaded_on":28},"d5c374a7-8185-4817-a52a-5172f1dff81f","local","d5c374a7-8185-4817-a52a-5172f1dff81f.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:23:32.000Z",46326,1400,1000,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[40,63,88,113,134,156,190,214,241],{"id":41,"body":42,"status":6,"type":10,"date":43,"slug":44,"title":45,"image":46,"countries":47,"topic":48,"activity":49,"tags":50,"nid":51,"topics":52,"activities":53,"authors":54,"images":55,"websites":56,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":57,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":59,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":8,"content":61,"link":62},9925,"Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute of Governance, presented at the 10th International Conference of Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing ([IFCTF](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aif.org.my\u002Fevent_view.aspx?eid=7e4baf00-119d-4bb8-b265-39e74ff893c1)) in Kuala Lumpur on 30 October 2018. Organised by the Asian Institute of Finance, the conference brought together about 1,000 compliance officers from Malaysian and international financial institutions.\n\nThe conference took place against a growing body of evidence emerging from the worldwide investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been accused of criminal offences in relation to the misuse of funds from the sovereign wealth fund. As the evidence unfolds, allegations of wrongdoing are spreading to numerous politicians and banks worldwide, with the US Department of Justice recently filing [1MDB-related charges against two ex-bankers from Goldman Sachs](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fopinion\u002Farticles\u002F2018-11-02\u002Fgoldman-sachs-left-counting-the-damage-of-1mdb-scandal). So the conference theme this year, “The rising voice of compliance – towards greater governance and transparency”, was highly appropriate.\n\nGemma Aiolfi spoke during the first plenary session, focusing on how to address government-linked companies that have been sharply criticised by the new Malaysian government as having increased corruption risks. There is a lack of transparency around government-linked companies generally, so Ms Aiolfi spoke about what financial institutions should be doing to understand the companies’ structure, ownership, business goals and reasons for transactions.\n\nThe participants also heard from the Governor of the Malaysian Central Bank, Negara Malaysia Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, about the need for strong anti-money laundering controls in their operations. The Governor took the opportunity to announce a new regulation that will come into force in January 2019. This measure will require the reporting of all cash transactions above USD 5,000, half the current threshold. Her announcement was greeted with surprise and a touch of shock by the audience. \n\nIt can only be hoped that Malaysia will now start to mount investigations and cases against banks located in Malaysia that were involved in the 1MDB scandal, rather than leave it to other jurisdictions to play that role. This would certainly help further strengthen Malaysia's reputation as a country tough on financial crime.\n\nTo see the conference highlights and photos, please visit the [Asian Institute of Finance website](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aif.org.my\u002Fevent_view.aspx?eid=7e4baf00-119d-4bb8-b265-39e74ff893c1).","2018-11-07","transforming-governance-in-government-related-entities-ifctf-2018-malaysia-19","Transforming governance in government-related entities: IFCTF 2018, Malaysia","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fff40fb35-bd19-4638-a05b-4fe4a8851de2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[10],[10],[],19,[],[],[],[],[21],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2022-05-26T22:57:31.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ftransforming-governance-in-government-related-entities-ifctf-2018-malaysia-19",{"id":64,"body":65,"status":6,"type":66,"date":67,"slug":68,"title":69,"image":70,"countries":71,"topic":72,"activity":74,"tags":75,"nid":76,"topics":77,"activities":78,"authors":79,"images":80,"websites":81,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":82,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":83,"user_updated":84,"date_updated":85,"content":86,"link":87},9686,"A new case study from our compliance team shows how tailored support for anti-corruption compliance can help innovative small businesses succeed even in challenging markets.\n\nIt describes the Basel Institute's compliance guidance to Vero Power, a small UK company that designs, builds, owns and operates renewable-based energy systems in rural locations in Southern Africa. Vero Power's low-cost systems have the potential to provide countless communities with crucial access to clean, reliable energy for the first time. Yet there are potentially corruption risks involved in some of the business opportunities that the company is considering.\n\nSee the [Vero Power case study](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-09\u002FVero%20compliance%20case%20study.pdf) to understand how the company leadership approached the need to develop a compliance programme and the guidance and support that our compliance advisors were able to offer.\n\nChief Operating Officer Paul Chester commented:\n\n> The training and advice provided by the Basel Institute on Governance has been first class. As a small UK business working in the energy access space on the other side of the world it is imperative that we, and our partners, conduct ourselves in an ethical manner at all times. The support provided by Gemma Aiolfi and team at the Basel Institute has laid the foundations for Vero Power to deliver more projects that have a truly transformational impact for the communities that they serve.\n\nThe guidance was provided with financial support from the UK Business Integrity Initiative. This programme has now come to an end, but the Basel Institute continues to offer tailored guidance and training on anti-corruption compliance, bribery prevention and Collective Action to SMEs.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Read about the Basel Institute's [compliance guidance services for SMEs](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcompliance\u002Fsme-guidance-services) and how to apply.\n*   Search packages on [Basel Open Intelligence](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-open-intelligence), a tool that helps compliance officers with open-source research and due diligence, are half price for SMEs and public\u002Fnon-profit organisations.","News","2020-09-07","how-anti-corruption-compliance-boosts-business-opportunities-for-a-small-renewable-energy-company-1843","How anti-corruption compliance boosts business opportunities for a small renewable energy company","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa707ae7e-7ba3-411f-9234-3ce926748137?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[73],"Private Sector",[10],[],1843,[73],[],[],[],[21],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:18.000Z","dfef11db-1bc6-47e9-a61d-93443995484b","2026-05-08T21:11:04.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-anti-corruption-compliance-boosts-business-opportunities-for-a-small-renewable-energy-company-1843",{"id":89,"body":90,"status":6,"type":91,"date":92,"slug":93,"title":94,"image":95,"countries":96,"topic":97,"activity":99,"tags":100,"nid":101,"topics":102,"activities":103,"authors":104,"images":106,"websites":107,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":108,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":109,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":110,"content":111,"link":112},10452,"Gemma Aiolfi led the Basel Institute’s Compliance and Collective Action work for many years, working closely with our late Managing Director [Gretta Fenner](https:\u002F\u002Fgretta.baselgovernance.org\u002F) as well as our former President Mark Pieth to transform private-sector engagement in the fight against corruption.\n\nAt the [5th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2024) on 24 June 2024, Gemma spoke of Gretta’s passion and efforts over the years to promote and support Collective Action approaches and initiatives. Her speech, which you can [watch here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=I13AJz1v15o&list=PLYRnhpCcnLP9vG5x9LK9p9Z-4SniNYhF_&index=10), preceded the prize-giving ceremony for the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Collective Action Awards, in which one of the Awards has been renamed in memory of Gretta.\n\n> It is a pleasure and privilege for me to announce that the Outstanding Achievement Award is being renamed in honour and recognition of Gretta Fenner’s commitment to Collective Action, over all the years that she led the Institute.\n> \n> In fact, her approach to collaboration, bringing people together, breaking down silos and seeking practical solutions to difficult problems, really started when she first began her professional career at the OECD, when she convened multi-stakeholder meetings in the Asia-Pacific region in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.\n> \n> And so it’s fitting that the Basel Institute’s Private Sector team continues to work with the OECD to support and develop anti-corruption Collective Action in that region. \n> \n> As many of you may know, Collective Action was the initial inspiration for establishing the Basel Institute. Our founder, Professor Mark Pieth, was closely involved in the Wolfsberg Group and the World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative. He had an ambition to help the private sector to prevent corruption as a complementary approach to his work at the OECD to criminalise bribery through laws and regulations. In those days we called these multi-stakeholder efforts “industry standards”.\n> \n> So when Gretta first joined the institute, “Collective Action” as a term for anti-corruption initiatives wasn’t yet part of the terminology. But she embraced the concept because it resonated with her. And she supported the World Economic Forum and Wolfsberg Group initiatives as part of building up the Institute, in those early days.\n> \n> I think it’s fair to say that her belief in the power of collaboration between governments, companies and civil society really informed the way she believed the Institute itself should approach its work. Not only in the Private Sector team, but also in asset recovery, green corruption and the training methodologies as well.\n> \n> Gretta personified all the positive and good elements that we need and talk about in Collective Action: She had the rare gift of being a very good listener, courageous, innovative, diplomatic, mostly optimistic, and she was also a realist.\n> \n> So we had many discussions over the years about how to raise awareness about Collective Action, to mainstream it into a norm and to make it part of the toolkit to address corruption.\n> \n> She recognised that improving private-sector compliance programmes presented an opportunity to suggest Collective Action as a way to reduce corruption risks in challenging markets. She supported and advocated for its inclusion in the OECD Anti-Bribery Recommendation, as well as in other guidance and policy documents, such as in National Anti-Corruption Strategies.\n> \n> Whenever Gretta returned to the office from her international travels and meetings she was always excited to tell us about any glimmer of an opportunity to promote Collective Action in a particular location or with a potential partner.\n> \n> While Gretta emphasised that each sector has its own unique role and responsibility, she also knew that it’s only through joint efforts that we can create sustainable and impactful solutions to combat bribery.\n> \n> She saw the bigger picture, and knew how to bring it all together: Governments must establish robust legal frameworks and enforce anti-bribery laws; businesses should foster cultures of integrity and implement stringent compliance measures; and civil society can hold both public and private sectors accountable, as well as act as facilitators of Collective Action initiatives.\n> \n> For those of you who have attended our Collective Action conferences over the last 10 years, or participated in any of the other many meetings around the world, I’m sure you’ll recall Gretta’s grace, determination and great sense of humour.\n> \n> I do believe she would have been modestly delighted to know that the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action is now being given in her name. Thank you.","Blog","2024-06-25","gemma-aiolfi-tribute-to-gretta-fenner-at-the-5th-international-collective-action-conference-2646","Gemma Aiolfi: Tribute to Gretta Fenner at the 5th International Collective Action Conference","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fe267bdce-c3ce-4503-9ec0-f6c3a5cfeb1c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[98,73],"Collective Action",[10],[],2646,[98,73],[],[105],1112,[],[21,98],[],"2024-06-25T10:01:40.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fgemma-aiolfi-tribute-to-gretta-fenner-at-the-5th-international-collective-action-conference-2646",{"id":114,"body":115,"status":6,"type":66,"date":116,"slug":117,"title":118,"image":119,"countries":120,"topic":121,"activity":122,"tags":123,"nid":124,"topics":125,"activities":126,"authors":127,"images":128,"websites":129,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":130,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":131,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":8,"content":132,"link":133},9991,"Graña y Montero, a Lima based group of engineering and infrastructure service companies operating in five countries in Latin America, announced last week the formation of its new external advisory council in matters of Corporate Governance, Ethics and Compliance. \n\nThe company has appointed three outstanding professionals with expertise in legal strategy, business and international compliance to contribute to the Board's management on corporate governance and strategic business issues, and to support the tasks of the Risk and Compliance Committee.\n\n[Gemma Aiolfi](\u002Fuser\u002F33), Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute, alongside Dr Javier Tovar of Baker McKenzie and Barbara Bruce, Country Manager of the oil and gas company, Geopark will now join externally as a consultant body of the board in matters of corporate governance, ethics and compliance. The three experts are serving in their personal capacities and held their first meeting on 13 October 2017, in Lima.\n\nAccording to Augusto Baertl, Chairman of the [Graña y Montero Group](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.granaymontero.com.pe\u002Fen\u002Fhome), the new external advisory council will play a key role in “providing an external and independent vision on issues related to Corporate Governance, Ethics and Compliance”, thus consolidating a further step in the company’s \"Committed to the Future\" program.\n\n“As part of the strengthening process that the company is going through, we seek to advance towards international standards of the mentioned areas to become an international reference. Today we will move towards this objective hand in hand with the contributions of the External Advisory Council\", stated Baertl in an official announcement on the [company’s website](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.granaymontero.com.pe\u002Fen\u002Fnoticias.aspx?id=60).","2017-10-18","gemma-aiolfi-appointed-member-of-external-advisory-council-to-leading-peruvian-engineering-company-108","Gemma Aiolfi appointed member of external advisory council to leading Peruvian engineering company","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F8d974fb5-3d21-488c-b66c-6aa0455004b2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[73],[10],[],108,[73],[],[],[],[21],[],"2022-05-26T22:58:09.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fgemma-aiolfi-appointed-member-of-external-advisory-council-to-leading-peruvian-engineering-company-108",{"id":135,"body":136,"status":6,"type":66,"date":137,"slug":138,"title":139,"image":140,"countries":141,"topic":142,"activity":143,"tags":144,"nid":145,"topics":146,"activities":147,"authors":148,"images":150,"websites":151,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":152,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":153,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":110,"content":154,"link":155},9696,"Our Head of Compliance and Collective Action Gemma Aiolfi has turned her decades of experience in anti-corruption compliance and corporate governance into a practical guide for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).\n\nPublished this July by Edward Elgar, the book offers step-by-step guidance to small and mid-sized companies and non-profit organizations in managing corruption risks in overseas markets. It covers how and why to build a culture of integrity, develop a risk-based anti-corruption compliance programme, and engage with other industry players in collective action against shared corruption challenges.\n\nThe focus on culture, compliance and collective action helps resource-stretched companies to build a strong foundation for a healthy and flourishing organization, as well as contribute towards raising standards of integrity across their industry.\n\n### Key features\n\n*   Guidance for creating and contributing to collective action\n*   Quick definitions, tips and practical tools such as checklists\n*   A hands-on approach with an emphasis on culture and leadership\n*   Case studies and real-life examples of both corruption risks and the importance of a strong compliance culture\n\n_Anti-Corruption Compliance_ will be an invaluable resource for senior managers of small and mid-sized organizations in minimizing exposure to corruption risks in international markets. It will also prove useful to corporate lawyers and others involved with compliance functions in larger companies, as well as to academics and students of corporate law with an interest in anti-corruption and compliance.\n\nIt is part of Edward Elgar's popular Elgar Compliance Guides series.\n\n### Praise for Anti-Corruption Compliance: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Organizations\n\nMichael Silverman, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and first World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Officer comments that: _\"This book should have a place in the libraries of SMEs and MNEs alike, and worn copies on the desks of compliance personnel and other senior company officers concerned with risk. Well-written and researched, the book should help enlighten and inform its primary audience of SMEs as well as others ranging from experienced compliance professionals at MNEs to regulators and academics. The case studies put real meat on the bones of sometimes obtuse or confusing anti-corruption laws and showcase possible compliance responses and good governance solutions to difficult real-life corruption risks.\"_\n\nPhilip M. Nichols of the University of Pennsylvania in the US calls the book _\"a must-read for people who are serious about understanding and complying with the myriad rules about corruption. The book is concise and direct, but comprehensive – it packs tremendous insight into a digestible format.\"_\n\nMeanwhile, Nicola Bonucci of Paul Hastings LLP in Paris, France, states that _\"Aiolfi’s book addresses policy issues and presents practical solutions in a condensed and user-friendly manner. It is great reading for all practitioners, be they chief compliance officers, in house and external lawyers or CEOs._\n\nIf you're not yet convinced by these testimonials, read it for yourself. For a limited time, you can get 35% off hardcover or paperback versions by purchasing [_Anti-Corruption Compliance_ on the Edward Elgar website](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.e-elgar.com\u002Fshop\u002Fgbp\u002Fanti-corruption-compliance-9781789905311.html). Just use the discount code AIOL35 when checking out.","2020-08-03","gemma-aiolfi-publishes-new-book-on-anti-corruption-compliance-a-guide-for-smes-1833","Gemma Aiolfi publishes new book on Anti-Corruption Compliance: A Guide for SMEs","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Faf1b5855-c1d9-485b-b81b-ea51a8db08f7?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[98,73],[10],[],1833,[98,73],[],[149],1215,[],[21,98],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:26.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fgemma-aiolfi-publishes-new-book-on-anti-corruption-compliance-a-guide-for-smes-1833",{"id":157,"body":158,"status":6,"type":66,"date":159,"slug":160,"title":161,"image":162,"countries":163,"topic":164,"activity":165,"tags":167,"nid":180,"topics":181,"activities":182,"authors":183,"images":184,"websites":185,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":186,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":187,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":8,"content":188,"link":189},9952,"An interview with [Gemma Aiolfi](\u002Fuser\u002F33), Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute, has been published by KMPG. The interview – \"From the top: effective anti-corruption measures and the need for change\" – discusses the challenges facing banks in combating financial crime, including the need for senior management to lead by example. Jump to page 58 of the KMPG magazine, [Clarity on Financial Crime in Banking](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.kpmg\u002Fcontent\u002Fdam\u002Fkpmg\u002Fch\u002Fpdf\u002Fclarity-on-financial-crime-in-banking-2018.pdf), to read it.","2018-06-30","interview-with-gemma-aiolfi-how-banks-can-combat-financial-crime-434","Interview with Gemma Aiolfi: How banks can combat financial crime","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[],[73],[166],"Insights",[168,172,176],{"tags_id":169},{"id":170,"name":171},867,"Financial crime",{"tags_id":173},{"id":174,"name":175},818,"Anti-money laundering",{"tags_id":177},{"id":178,"name":179},830,"Business integrity",434,[73],[166],[],[],[21],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:46.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Finterview-with-gemma-aiolfi-how-banks-can-combat-financial-crime-434",{"id":191,"body":192,"status":6,"type":91,"date":193,"slug":194,"title":195,"image":196,"countries":197,"topic":198,"activity":199,"tags":200,"nid":201,"topics":202,"activities":203,"authors":204,"images":206,"websites":207,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":208,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":209,"user_updated":210,"date_updated":211,"content":212,"link":213},10082,"_The Basel Institute’s head of compliance, corporate governance and collective action talks to Ruth Green of the International Bar Association about anti-corruption programmes, the Panama Papers leaks, and what companies can do to better manage and mitigate risks. This article is posted with the permission of the International Bar Association and can be found in its entirety [here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibanet.org\u002FArticle\u002FDetail.aspx?ArticleUid=d71b88b3-f35a-4ebb-b8a4-fab265433c75)._\n\nRuth Green: What does your current role at the Basel Institute on Governance involve and what legal issues fall under your remit?\n\nGemma Aiolfi: In the corporate compliance and governance function, my work involves advising medium-sized companies as well as multi-nationals based here in Switzerland on managing their compliance risks. This involves listening to the business, asking the right questions to ascertain how it really functions in practice, and hearing the client’s view.\n\nFinding ways to change long-standing practices in a company in so-called ‘grey areas’ relating to anti-corruption compliance means working to find pragmatic solutions and changing attitudes in a sustainable way.\n\nCompanies have to ensure their code of conduct and anti-corruption standards are implemented beyond their corporate headquarters in Europe. I often have to deal with the transformation of how the business has been organised.\n\nRuth Green: And your role also includes collective action – tell us more.\n\nGemma Aiolfi: My work in anti-corruption collective action is complementary to internal compliance programmes. There are still many countries where corruption is a feature of daily life and also affects the conduct of business.\n\nFor example, so-called facilitation payments are widespread in relation to many government services, and the ability of individual companies to solve those issues on their own is extremely difficult. Public procurement is another area where companies often cite bribery by competitors as distorting chances to win the tender, or corrupt practices including solicitation. The actions of a single company to stop such behaviours can be hard.\n\nI believe that engaging in anti-corruption collective action can provide an alternative approach to addressing systemic bribery. Companies that believe they have robust internal programmes may still face issues relating to competitors that don’t have the same standards, or their employees may still be confronted with demands for payments. In such situations, it can be more effective to address the problem together with others – peers from the same sector, other industries, stakeholders such as government and civil society. Collective action offers an additional approach for companies to strengthen their compliance programmes and be proactive in some markets.\n\nRuth Green: You originally trained as a barrister. How has this experience helped you throughout your in-house career, and have you ever considered going back to practising at the bar?\n\n_Read the rest of this interview on the website of the [International Bar Association.](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ibanet.org\u002FArticle\u002FDetail.aspx?ArticleUid=d71b88b3-f35a-4ebb-b8a4-fab265433c75)_","2016-09-05","international-bar-association-qampa-with-gemma-aiolfi-basel-institute-on-governance-259","International Bar Association Q&A with Gemma Aiolfi, Basel Institute on Governance","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F961e28c4-207a-4be0-9e4e-f81b0548f77d?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[98,73],[166],[],259,[98,73],[166],[205],1302,[],[21,98],[],"2022-05-26T22:58:45.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-04-15T22:28:49.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Finternational-bar-association-qampa-with-gemma-aiolfi-basel-institute-on-governance-259",{"id":215,"body":216,"status":6,"type":66,"date":217,"slug":218,"title":219,"image":220,"countries":221,"topic":222,"activity":223,"tags":227,"nid":231,"topics":232,"activities":233,"authors":234,"images":235,"websites":236,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":237,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":238,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":110,"content":239,"link":240},9684,"At a high-level B20 panel on “Enhancing Integrity for Responsible and Inclusive Growth” on 24 August, Gemma Aiolfi, the Basel Institute’s Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action, discussed how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been forced to focus on survival in recent months.\n\nCompanies that do manage to survive the pandemic lockdowns and economic fallout, she said, are likely to be looking for new markets and new customers. They may have to adapt to new ways of doing business. All of these changes bring compliance challenges and possibly increased bribery risks.\n\nAmong her recommendations was a focus on open communication within companies. SMEs usually have an advantage here because they have shorter reporting lines and less complex structures.\n\n### Finding support in Collective Action\n\nCompliance doesn’t need to be overly complex for small companies. If they need help or inspiration, then turning to their larger customers and asking for support – or joining an anti-corruption Collective Action initiative – can improve knowledge on implementing compliance measures. Coming together in Collective Action to raise standards of integrity and support a fair business environment is beneficial to all players.\n\nLarger companies and state-owned enterprises have as much to gain from this collaborative approach to integrity as their smaller suppliers.\n\n>  “Collective Action continues to be recognised by the B20 as an essential tool for companies of all sizes.  In these tough times organisations need cost-efficient, effective and inspiring approaches to find new customers, enter new markets and to do so without sacrificing their integrity. By working together in collaborative approaches, the public and private sectors together with civil society can raise standards, promote integrity, implement business-friendly solutions and ensure fair and ethical business practices. Collective Action works. It just needs coalitions of the willing, some courage and imagination.” – Gemma Aiolfi\n\n### Mitigating public procurement risks\n\nConcerns about corruption risks in public procurement for covid-19 raised questions in particular in relation to protective equipment.\n\nHere again Collective Action can help provide the answer, because keeping public procurement processes transparent and clean is not just the job of governments but all stakeholders.\n\nTools include [Integrity Pacts](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fintegrity-pacts) and the [High Level Reporting Mechanism](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm), a novel clean procurement mechanism supported by the Basel Institute and OECD that responds to the need for transparent and speedy resolutions of corruption allegations.\n\n### About the B20 Saudi Arabia Integrity & Compliance Taskforce\n\nThe panel was convened by the B20 Saudi Integrity & Compliance Taskforce Chair, Mathad Al-Ajmi, and Chair for the Anti-Corruption Working Group of G20, Dr. Nassar Abaalkhail. Professor David Malan moderated the discussion. Joining Gemma Aiolfi on the panel were:\n\n*   Katja Bechtel, Lead, [Partnering Against Corruption Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.weforum.org\u002Fcommunities\u002Fpartnering-against-corruption-initiative) (PACI) at the World Economic Forum\n*   Rauno Hoffmann, Head of Policies, Advisory and Anti-Bribery Program, [Novartis](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.novartis.com\u002F), and Vice-Chair of the Business at [OECD (BIAC) Anti-Corruption Committee](http:\u002F\u002Fbiac.org\u002Fpolicy_groups\u002Fanti-bribery-and-corruption\u002F)\n*   Viviane Schiavi, Deputy Director, Integrity, Anti-corruption and Responsible Business Conduct, [International Chamber of Commerce](https:\u002F\u002Ficcwbo.org\u002Fglobal-issues-trends\u002Fresponsible-business\u002Fcombatting-corruption\u002F)\n\nThrough its Collective Action team, the Basel Institute is [supporting the B20 Saudi Arabia Integrity & Compliance Taskforce](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-continue-b20-engagement-b20-saudi-arabia-integrity-compliance-taskforce) in 2020 as Network Partner.\n\n### Further reading\n\n*   Gemma Aiolfi’s recent book on [_Anti-Corruption Compliance: A Guide for Small and Mid-Sized Organizations_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fgemma-aiolfi-publishes-new-book-anti-corruption-compliance-guide-smes) aims to help SMEs overcome some of the challenges raised during the panel.\n*   Also discussed during the panel, the ICC has recently published official [guidance on Integrity for a resilient response and rebuild after COVID-19](https:\u002F\u002Ficcwbo.org\u002Fpublication\u002Ficc-guidance-integrity-for-a-resilient-response-and-rebuild-after-covid-19\u002F).\n*   The [PACI Tech for Integrity platform](https:\u002F\u002Fwidgets.weforum.org\u002Ftech4integrity\u002F#:~:text=Synergy%20Lab-,A%20New%20Catalyst%20for%20Trust%20and%20Integrity,needed%20to%20make%20tangible%20impact.) explores technology as an enabler of trust and transparency for anti-corruption.\n*   Read more of Gemma Aiolfi’s [insights into integrity and anti-corruption post covid-19](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fhere-today-and-gone-tomorrow-integrity-and-anti-corruption-private-sector-post-covid-19). The April 2020 blog was republished in shorter form on the [FCPA Blog](https:\u002F\u002Ffcpablog.com\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F21\u002Ffive-scenarios-for-compliance-professionals-in-the-post-covid-19-world\u002F).\n*   Learn more about [Collective Action at the Basel Institute on Governance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action).\n*   Visit the [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub), a resource centre on anti-Collective Action initiatives, publications and guides hosted by the Basel Institute since 2013.","2020-09-08","small-businesses-in-survival-mode-ideas-for-enhancing-integrity-at-a-b20-saudi-high-level-panel-1845","Small businesses in survival mode? Ideas for enhancing integrity at a B20 Saudi high-level panel","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F836d0f3d-9e7c-420a-ac54-630972662c17?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[98,73],[224,225,226],"Events","Partnerships","International cooperation",[228],{"tags_id":229},{"id":230,"name":98},909,1845,[98,73],[224,225,226],[],[],[21,98],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:16.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fsmall-businesses-in-survival-mode-ideas-for-enhancing-integrity-at-a-b20-saudi-high-level-panel-1845",{"id":242,"body":243,"status":6,"type":66,"date":244,"slug":245,"title":246,"image":162,"countries":247,"topic":248,"activity":249,"tags":250,"nid":251,"topics":252,"activities":253,"authors":254,"images":255,"websites":256,"area":19,"programme":19,"language":19,"translations":257,"translation_of":19,"user_created":58,"date_created":258,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":8,"content":259,"link":260},9942,"Staff of the Basel Institute will be at the following upcoming events (among others), either presenting or participating. See you there – or contact us in advance if you’d like to meet up.\n\n*   [B20 Argentina summit](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.b20argentina.info\u002FEvent\u002FEventDetail?eventId=25d86a9d-acab-4130-828f-52a5ac140d16&eventId=25d86a9d-acab-4130-828f-52a5ac140d16), Buenos Aires, 4–5 October 2018. The policy recommendations of the B20 Integrity & Compliance Task Force, to which we have contributed, will present their recommendations during the summit.\n*   [2018 International Anti-Corruption Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fiaccseries.org\u002F), Copenhagen, 22–24 October, 2018. Our President Mark Pieth, together with Gemma Aiolfi, will be moderating the High-Level Segment, a closed-door session of ministers and private sector representatives preceding the conference. We will also be hosting an information booth where we will display and distribute our most recent publications.\n*   [International Conference on Financial Crime and Terrorism](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aif.org.my\u002Fevents\u002Fupcoming-events), Kuala Lumpur, 30–31 October, 2018. Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance and Anti-Corruption Collective Action, will be presenting at this annual conference organised by the Asian Institute of Finance.\n*   [Anti-Corruption Collective Action Conference: Evolution to Revolution](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action\u002Fevents\u002F2018-conference), Basel, 14–15 November 2018. Basel Institute experts will be among those presenting at the conference.\n*   International Anti-Corruption Day, Saudi Arabia, 9 December 2018. Gemma Aiolfi will present on Managing Corruption Risks at the invitation of the Saudi National Anti-Corruption Commission.","2018-09-01","basel-institute-at-upcoming-events-and-conferences-436","Basel Institute at upcoming events and conferences",[],[10],[224],[],436,[],[224],[],[],[21],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:42.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-at-upcoming-events-and-conferences-436",{"left":262,"top":262,"width":263,"height":263,"rotate":262,"vFlip":264,"hFlip":264,"body":265},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676420393]