Delegate feedback on the 11th Annual AML & Financial Crime Southern Africa Conference

The 11th Annual AML & Financial Crime Southern Africa Conference brought together professionals, regulators, financial institutions, technology providers and industry experts for two days of insightful discussions, practical learning and valuable networking.

Feedback received from delegates, sponsors and speakers was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees praised the conference’s professional organisation, relevant programme, knowledgeable speakers and engaging panel discussions.

Relevant and insightful programme

Delegates appreciated the programme’s focus on current developments affecting the anti-money laundering and financial crime landscape. Regulatory updates, emerging financial crime risks, crypto assets and the strategic use of artificial intelligence in compliance were identified as some of the conference highlights.

The sessions examining the use of AI to combat money laundering and terrorist financing were particularly valuable. Delegates found the discussions thought-provoking, forward-thinking and relevant to the changing responsibilities of compliance professionals.

The crypto-assets sessions also received positive feedback, especially the detailed discussions on virtual currencies and crypto-asset service providers.

Overall, attendees found the topics relevant to the current financial crime environment and appreciated the inclusion of practical use cases, implementation scenarios and industry insights.

Excellent speakers and panel discussions

The quality and diversity of the speakers were consistently highlighted. Delegates valued the combination of regulatory, compliance, technology and financial-services perspectives represented throughout the programme.

The speakers were described as knowledgeable, well prepared and genuinely experienced in their respective subject areas. Attendees appreciated the practical insights and lessons shared during the presentations.

Panel discussions were among the most popular elements of the conference. Delegates enjoyed hearing different perspectives on key AML and financial crime issues and valued the interaction between the panellists.

The audience also appreciated being given opportunities to ask questions and participate in the discussions. The question-and-answer sessions helped make the programme more interactive and engaging.

Professional organisation and networking

The conference was widely praised for being professionally organised and well structured. Delegates complimented the friendly event team, conference venue, catering and overall event experience.

Both returning and first-time attendees shared positive feedback. Regular delegates commented that the conference continues to improve each year, while first-time attendees appreciated the welcoming environment and informative programme.

Networking was another important highlight. Delegates valued the opportunity to reconnect with familiar industry colleagues, meet new professionals in the AML space and engage directly with speakers, sponsors and solution providers.

The cocktail function was also well received and created an additional opportunity for delegates to continue their conversations in a more relaxed setting.

Sponsors reported valuable interactions with key decision-makers and industry professionals. They also felt that the event was well represented by organisations and delegates from across the region.

Constructive feedback and areas for improvement

Although the overall feedback was very positive, delegates also provided constructive recommendations to help improve future conferences.

Time management was the most frequently raised concern. Some sessions ran beyond their allocated times, which caused later presentations to feel rushed and limited the time available for audience questions.

Several delegates suggested reducing the number of sessions or extending the time allocated to speakers, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions. Some attendees felt that the programme contained too much information for two days and would benefit from additional breathing room.

Networking, lunch and exhibition breaks were also considered too short. Delegates would appreciate more time to visit the exhibition area, meet sponsors and connect with fellow attendees without feeling rushed.

Another recurring concern related to the number of sponsor-led and product-focused presentations on the first day. Several delegates felt that too much time was allocated to product promotion and requested a stronger balance between commercial presentations, practical case studies, independent industry content and panel discussions. Day two was generally considered more informative and discussion-driven.

Operational feedback included requests for coffee to be available throughout the day, a wider selection of quality halaal meals and closer monitoring of the cleanliness of utensils, glassware and bathroom facilities. Low water pressure in the bathrooms was also mentioned.

From a technical perspective, some presentation slides were difficult to view because the panellists’ chairs obstructed the bottom section of the screen. Delegates also felt that the welcome video could have been more engaging. These comments highlight the importance of reviewing the stage layout, audience sightlines and audiovisual content before future events.

Attendees also requested that approved presentation slides and conference notes be distributed promptly after the event. Traffic and the early starting time presented challenges for some delegates travelling to the venue.

Building on the feedback

Trade Conferences International sincerely appreciates every delegate, speaker, sponsor and partner who contributed to the success of the conference.

The positive feedback confirms the importance of providing a platform where the AML and financial crime community can exchange knowledge, examine emerging risks and build valuable professional relationships.

The constructive recommendations will be carefully considered when planning the next edition, particularly regarding programme timing, the balance between educational and sponsor content, networking opportunities, catering, venue services, audiovisual arrangements and the distribution of post-conference materials.

We look forward to building on the success of the 11th Annual AML & Financial Crime Southern Africa Conference and delivering an even more engaging and valuable experience next year.