Anti-corruption and counter-fraud experts from around the world will soon gather in Auckland to discuss the threats of financial crime and corruption.

They will be speaking at the SFO’s Fraud and Corruption Conference ‘Protecting New Zealand’s taonga’ on Thursday 7 March.

Conference speakers include Lyn McDonald, the Director of the UK Cabinet Office's Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants team, and Lisa Osofsky, the Director of the UK Serious Fraud Office.

More than 250 people will attend the event at SkyCity Convention Centre.

Many participants of an Economic Crime Agencies Network (ECAN) meeting in Auckland on 5-6 March will attend and speak at the conference. ECAN members include the UK SFO, US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption and Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.

“The Coalition Government has a particular focus on tackling organised crime,” says the Minister Responsible for the SFO, Stuart Nash.

“Complex financial crime, fraud and corruption causes significant harm in our communities.

“We are working closely with agencies in other countries to prevent transnational crime and look forward to discussions with our international partners about further ways to combat these offences,” says Mr Nash.

Prevention of public sector fraud and corruption will be focused on during the day as the SFO looks to increase its work in this area.

"The SFO is looking at the benefits of being not just the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, which is presently our main job, but also the fence at the top in terms of prevention,” says the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Julie Read.

More information about the conference can be found on the SFO website.

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