A first-of-its-kind Effectiveness Lab challenges professionals to make, rethink and defend real-world financial crime decisions.
What happens when experienced professionals are given the same client, the same information and the same regulatory framework, but reach completely different decisions?
That was the premise behind Abler Group’s inaugural AML/CFT/CPF Effectiveness Lab, held on 26 August at Les Suites by The Docks, as part of a wider week of practical financial crime learning delivered across financial institutions, Management Companies and regulatory organisations in Mauritius.
Instead of spending the day listening to presentations, participants were placed inside one evolving financial crime case.
As new information emerged, teams had to assess risk, challenge assumptions, decide whether to proceed or escalate, reconsider earlier conclusions and ultimately defend the decisions they had made.
“Traditional AML/CFT training often focuses on what people need to know,” said Shahannah Abdoolakhan, Founder and CEO of Abler Group.
“We wanted to test something different: what happens when people actually have to apply that knowledge when the information is incomplete and the answer is not obvious?”
She added:
“Effectiveness is not simply knowing the regulation. It is being able to explain what you knew, what you questioned, why you acted or did not act and whether that decision can withstand scrutiny.”
Bringing the investigator into the room
The Lab was facilitated by Andrew Tennant, a former UK Police Detective and international financial crime specialist with more than 28 years of experience spanning complex financial investigations, intelligence, asset tracing and recovery, cryptocurrency investigations, asset seizure and international capacity building.
Andrew challenged participants to look beyond procedures and consider how their decisions might later appear through an investigator’s eyes.
“Investigators often have the benefit of hindsight. The person making the original compliance decision does not. That is why the questions asked, the reasoning applied and the decisions documented at the time are so important,” Andrew said.
He added:
“The objective was never to give participants one model answer. It was to make them ask: What doesn’t fit? What are we missing? What needs to be challenged? That mindset is central to both effective investigation and effective compliance.”
Participants respond
The practical format resonated strongly with participants.
Adnan Razzak, Executive Director at Lorax Capital Partners, said:
“The AML/CFT Lab organised by Abler stood out from previous AML/CFT sessions I’ve attended. It was insightful, thought-provoking and genuinely innovative, anchored by a practical case study that made the material come alive.”
He described Andrew’s law-enforcement background as bringing a “refreshing, real-world perspective” and said the format was particularly well suited to C-suite audiences because of its focus on practical application and judgement.
Vik Mewasingh, Head of Compliance Standard Bank Trust Company described the programme as:
“A refreshing and highly effective approach to AML training. The interactive Lab transformed complex compliance concepts into practical, real-world decision-making experiences.”
Nadia Oodally, Head of Compliance at Apex Group, said:
“Highly engaging AML/CFT/CPF training. The quality of discussions and practical examples shared made the session both enriching and directly applicable to the challenges faced by compliance professionals today.”
Beyond the public Lab
The Effectiveness Lab formed part of a broader Abler Training Week, which also included bespoke private programmes across the regulatory, banking and Management Company sectors.
Each in-house programme was adapted to the organisation’s business, people and risk environment, combining technical learning with practical scenarios, participation and real-world decision-making.
“The week reinforced something very clearly,” Shahannah said, “People want to participate in their learning, not simply complete it. Compliance is a serious subject but serious learning does not have to be boring.”
Taking effectiveness beyond the classroom
Abler is now taking the same philosophy into its next generation of AML/CFT/CPF e-learning, including learning solutions for Directors, Senior Executives and wider teams who require greater flexibility.
Rather than relying solely on traditional read-and-complete formats, the new digital offering will incorporate practical scenarios and decision points designed to encourage participants to consider what they would actually do in practice.
“Whether someone is sitting in the Lab or completing learning from a laptop, our philosophy remains the same,” Shahannah concluded. “Knowing the regulations is essential. Knowing what to do when it matters is effectiveness.”
