About the Program

About the TWELVE Program

There are many rewarding career paths in combating Financial Crime. The modern financial crime professional requires a comprehensive skill set consisting of knowledge, experience and soft skills.

In response to this, there are a wealth of courses and certifications available in the marketplace. The challenge for the early years financial crime professional is where to start. Courses and certifications are expensive and many are not worth the paper they are written on.

There is a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry and an appetite to “pay it forward”.

Created by Dr Ian Messenger, a former law enforcement officer and University professor, the TWELVE program aims to connect 12 exceptional early years financial crime professionals (“Associates”) with 12 experienced industry practitioners and thought leaders (“Fellows”).

Over the course of 12 months, Associates go through a structured program of coaching, mentoring, and training where they can leverage the knowledge and experience of the Fellows.

At the end of the program, Associates, in collaboration with their Fellows, produce a report on an approved Financial Crime topic to showcase their new knowledge.

Meet the creator of the TWELVE program, Dr Ian Messenger

Ian Messenger joined the United Kingdom’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in 2008 as an International Operations Officer with responsibility for international and multilateral investigations through Interpol and Europol. Ian was later seconded to the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre where he served as their International Liaison Officer with responsibility for capacity building, international liaison, and private sector engagement.

During his service with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Ian was twice awarded the Executive Director’s Commendation and was awarded the Director General’s Award for Innovation.

Ian obtained his M.A. Honours in Social Policy and Politics and his MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Edinburgh, and his DCrimJ (Doctor of Criminal Justice) from the University of Portsmouth. In 2014 Ian completed the Certificate in Police Leadership (Service Delivery) from Dalhousie University.

In 2016 Ian relocated to Canada where he currently teaches Financial Crime and Policing courses at Seneca College, Wilfrid Laurier University and Dalhousie University.

Ian holds the following Financial Crime certifications:

Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS),
Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS),
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS),
Certified Advanced AML Risk Management Specialist (CAMS-RM)