Fraud examiners spend their careers pursuing facts, uncovering schemes and helping organizations detect and prevent fraud from occurring, but the forces shaping fraud often begin long before an investigation starts. They emerge in government institutions, technology platforms, corporate boardrooms and individual decisions.

At the 37th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference, keynote speakers from around the world will bring those perspectives together, offering you insights into the challenges, innovations and human stories shaping the anti-fraud profession today.

Here’s a preview of the keynote conversations awaiting in Boston and virtually this July.

Monday, July 13

Public Accountability and Transparency

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The conference opens with a keynote from Her Excellency Dato’ Seri Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, Auditor General of Malaysia and recipient of the 2026 Cressey Award for lifetime achievement in the detection and deterrence of fraud.

Throughout her a career spanning more than three decades in public service, Wan Suraya has championed accountability, transparency and good governance. Since becoming Malaysia’s 20th Auditor General in 2023, she has led efforts to modernize public-sector auditing and strengthen oversight of public funds through innovative approaches that improve visibility into government spending and performance.

Her keynote will offer attendees insight into the evolving role of public-sector auditing and the leadership required to build public trust in an increasingly complex environment.

The Whistleblower Perspective

The opening session concludes with a fireside chat featuring Sentinel Award recipient Noelle Webb.

A former pharmaceutical sales representative, Webb blew the whistle on illegal pain medication marketing practices, which were especially egregious during the height of the opioid epidemic. Her actions contributed to one of the largest health care fraud settlements in U.S. history and ultimately reshaped the course of her life.

Today, Webb advocates for stronger whistleblower protections and supports others navigating the challenges that often accompany speaking up. Her conversation will explore courage, resilience and the lasting impact one person can have when they choose to report misconduct.

Truth, Technology and Trust

On Monday afternoon, actor and filmmaker Alex Winter will take the stage to examine how technology is reshaping trust and creating new opportunities for fraud.

Winter’s documentary work has focused on some of the defining issues of the digital age. Through films such as “The Panama Papers,” “Deep Web” and “The YouTube Effect,” he has explored cybercrime, financial secrecy, online influence and the growing power of digital platforms. Winter’s ability to relate issues of fraud and corruption to broader audiences reinforces that the work of fraud examiners everywhere is seen, important and valued.

His keynote will also examine the relationship between technology, accountability and misinformation, offering attendees a different perspective on the challenges ahead in a rapidly evolving world.

Tuesday, July 14

Navigating the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence and deepfake technology is transforming nearly every industry, including fraud examination, and few people have spent more time studying its implications than Dr. Hany Farid.

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A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, digital forensics expert and co-founder of GetReal Security, Dr. Farid is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on deepfakes, synthetic media and digital manipulation. His research has helped governments, media organizations and technology companies better understand how manipulated content is created, distributed and detected.

His keynote will explore the current realities of generative AI, the growing risks posed by deepfakes and agentic AI systems, and the practical steps organizations can take to prepare for emerging threats. You can expect a candid assessment of where the technology stands today and what fraud fighters should be watching next.

Following the Money Across Borders

Investigative journalists Drew Sullivan and Paul Radu have spent decades uncovering corruption, organized crime and financial misconduct around the globe.

As co-founders of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), they helped build one of the world’s most influential investigative journalism networks. Their work has contributed to major international investigations and exposed hidden financial relationships, corruption schemes and criminal networks operating across jurisdictions.

Their keynote will examine how collaboration, investigative persistence and innovative reporting techniques have transformed the fight against corruption. Drawing from years of international investigations, Sullivan and Radu will share lessons on following complex financial trails and uncovering wrongdoing that spans borders.

Wednesday, July 15

Understanding How Fraud Happens

The conference concludes with a fireside chat exploring one of the profession’s most enduring questions: What drives people to become involved in fraud?

In a conversation moderated by ACFE President John Gill, J.D., CFE, which will be his final appearance before retirement, Sean Mueller will discuss his firsthand involvement in a securities fraud scheme, the manipulation and tactics that allowed it to continue and the consequences that followed.

Rather than focusing solely on the crime, the discussion will examine the rationalizations, warning signs and decision-making processes that can contribute to unethical behavior. The session aims to provide a deeper understanding of the human factors behind fraud and the lessons organizations can apply to strengthen accountability and oversight.

Looking Ahead

The 37th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference will bring together perspectives from government, journalism, technology and the anti-fraud profession itself. Whether discussing transparency, whistleblowing, corruption, artificial intelligence or the psychology of fraud, these conversations will challenge you to think differently about the forces shaping fraud risk today and the role they play in addressing it.

Fraud Conference News

The Leaders Taking Center Stage at the 37th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference