Dear TIPS Member,
It has been a busy year for the TIPS Network and a challenging year for us all. Thank you, as ever, to the wonderful members of the TIPS Managing Committee who continue to volunteer their time and effort to bring more success to the TIPS Network and to support TI-UK. In response to the pandemic, TIPS activities have transitioned online to enable TIPS to continue to discuss new and emerging anti-corruption topics and to continue promoting TI-UK’s important work. Some 2020 highlights include:
TIPS has grown to more than 370 members across more than a dozen sectors;
Throughout the year, we have hosted 14 TIPS events and promoted 35 affiliate events – including a Fireside Chat with Albert Stieglitz of the DOJ;
TIPS hosted its first careers panel with attendees from France, Sweden and Malaysia. We also hosted an anti-corruption debate at KCL;
TIPS has developed its One Minute Reads initiative and social media presence to help keep TIPS members up to date with key anti-corruption developments.
Thank you, for your support of TI-UK, of TIPS and of the anti-corruption movement! Together, let’s hope in 2021 we can keep on promoting the anti-corruption agenda and use our collective experience for good!
Please see below the TIPS Newsletter for December 2020. We look forward to seeing you (online) soon.
- the TIPS team
1. Upcoming Events (register on our Events page)
TIPS Virtual Talk | 25 January 2021 | 7-8pm BST
What Can We Learn By A Career Journey From Corruption To Compliance?
13 Jan 2021 | 7:30 PM GMT
Smuggling, Fraud and Global Business in Eighteenth-century Britain
26 Jan 2021 | 4-5pm GMT
Organisations: Beyond Victims and Perpetrators | 2nd Winter Economic Crime Symposium 2021
4 Feb 2021 | 10am-4pm GMT
2. Recent Events
TI-UK IACD 2020 Panel Event | Summary
On 9 December, to mark International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), TI-UK hosted a panel event of distinguished speakers to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on health, stability and accountability in different contexts.
The panellists were Dominic Martin (Former British Ambassador to the OECD, VP Government & Regulatory Affairs - Equinor); Major General Gary Deakin (Deputy Chief of Staff – Plans, NATO Joint Forces Command, Naples); Sheila Masinde (Executive Director of Transparency International Kenya); Professor Heather Marquette (Professor in Development Politics, International Development Department, University of Birmingham); and the panel was chaired by Daniel Bruce, Chief Executive TI-UK.
The panellists shared interesting and powerful insights on the impact that COVID-19, has had on normal safeguards, providing new avenues for corruption. The panel concluded on a more positive note, that while the pandemic has exacerbated insufficient progress in key anti-corruption areas, there are still practical steps that can be taken to make a difference.
3. One Minute Reads
New One Minute Reads have been uploaded to the TIPS website. Please do click the link to read more – perfect for your morning/evening WFH coffee break!
4. Items of Interest
TI blogs.
- Corruption and its deadly role in conflict and instability: why we mustn’t give up the fight. See here.
- Promise to Practice to Impact - In times of crisis, monitoring keeps the focus on implementation and enforcement of anti-corruption commitments. See here.
- Corruption, Covid-19 and Inequality: the vital role of companies in preventing this deadly mixture. See here.
Podcasts.
- BBC Sounds: Resisting Corruption - The United Nations has designated 9 December as international anti-corruption day. But is it always possible for businesses to operate without paying bribes? Listen here.
- The Corporate Accountability Podcast - how organisations can maintain a culture of ethics and integrity during COVID-19 and beyond. Listen here.
News items.
- Government urged to be transparent over payments it has negotiated with vaccine companies. See here.
- New York Times - Waste, Negligence and Cronyism: Inside Britain’s Pandemic Spending. See here.
- 33,000 suspicious activity reports filed as Covid fuels fraud. See here.
- Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson arrested in bribery probe. See here.
- Washington targets beneficial owners with the Corporate Transparency Act. See here.
- Supreme Court rejects appeal to overturn 'McMafia' unexplained wealth order. See here.
- Vitol Pays $160 Million to Settle Bribery, Manipulation Charges. See here.
Other items.
- Luxury London homes still used to launder illicit funds, says report. See article here and full report here.
- A House of Commons briefing sets out recent developments and proposals for Corporate Criminal liability reform.
- British Overseas Territories commit to publishing further information on company ownership. See here.
- The World anti-corruption day newsletter sets out an update on UK Government's efforts to combat corruption.
5. Jobs Board
- Deputy Director, Illicit Finance & Economic Crime, HMRC, London. See here.
- Senior Anti-Corruption Specialist, Oxfam, (flexible location). See here
- Investigations and Compliance Senior, Forensics, EY UK, London. See here.