UK Sanctions Implementation and Strategy Taskforce
The Taskforce aims to support the UK in strengthening the effective implementation and enforcement of sanctions and advancing a coherent future sanctions strategy.
The Brexit vote in 2016 set the UK on a path to develop its independent sanctions policies. This presented the opportunity to establish new sanctions regimes aligned with its national security interests and introduce robust legislative frameworks. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 put these frameworks to the test, forcing the UK to rapidly upscale its domestic resourcing and overall response. New legislation was introduced, new agencies established, and existing capabilities expanded with enhanced mandates. The new sanctions landscape has also facilitated closer coordination with international partners, notably with the EU. However, shortcomings in implementation and enforcement capabilities remain.
To address these challenges, the Centre for Finance and Security at RUSI has launched a UK Sanctions Implementation and Strategy Taskforce. Bringing together 50 high-level former officials, academic experts and private sector senior executives, the Taskforce provides much-needed input and injects energy and ideas into the debate on the future course of UK sanctions policy.
Aims and objectives
The Taskforce aims to:
- Bring clarity to the UK’s role in an increasingly complex global sanctions landscape.
- Identify current challenges in the UK’s ability to be effective in its sanctions implementation and explore possible response options.
- Encourage the UK government to provide substance to its future sanctions strategy.
In 2024 the Taskforce will include two meetings, two conference reports, a public event and associated communications, including podcast episodes to disseminate its findings.
Taskforce members*
Olivia Allison
Associate Fellow; Independent Consultant
Iain Armstrong
Global Regulatory Affairs Practice Lead, ComplyAdvantage
Jonathan Burke
Sanctions Compliance, Citibank
Dr Rishika Chauhan
MacArthur funded Post-Doctoral Researcher, Department of War Studies, King’s College London
Spencer Chilvers
Head of Export Control Policy, Rolls-Royce plc
Chloe Cina
RUSI Senior Associate | Partner in the National Security Group, Morrison Foerster
Gem Conn
Sanctions Compliance Industry Expert
Ben Cooper
Chief Compliance Officer, Trafigura Group
Emil Dall
Associate Fellow; Sanctions Lead at FINTRAIL
Dara Fernandez
Sanctions General Counsel at Honeywell
Justyna Gudzowska
Associate Fellow
Mark Handley
Partner at Duane Morris, London Office
Jon Harvey
Partner at Oliver Wyman
Tom Keatinge
Director, CFS
Centre for Finance and Security
Maya Lester KC
Barrister at Brick Court Chambers
Matt Long
Global Head of Financial and Economic Crime Solutions, Financial Services and Government
Michael Lyons
Partner and Head of the EMEA Sanctions Practice, Clifford Chance
Roger Matthews
UK International Trade Practice Lead, Dentons
Ian Mynot
AFC professional
Jacob Nell
Senior Research Fellow at the Kyiv School of Economics
Dr Maria Nizzero
Research Fellow
Centre for Finance and Security
Michael O'Kane
Senior Partner at Peters & Peters
Freya Page
Director of Global Outreach at Kharon
Chris Po-Ba
Kinga Redlowska
Head of CFS Europe
Centre for Finance and Security
Gonzalo Saiz Erausquin
Research Fellow
Centre for Finance and Security
Dr Daniel Salisbury
RUSI Associate Fellow - Expert in nuclear security and open source intelligence
Mike Salthouse
Head of External Affairs at NorthStandard
Charmian Simmons
Financial Crime and Compliance Expert, SymphonyAI
Amanda Strayer
Senior Counsel, Human Rights First
Daniel Tannebaum
Partner at Oliver Wyman
Helen Taylor
Senior Legal Researcher, Spotlight on Corruption
Justine Walker
Head of Global Sanctions and Risk at ACAMS
Kathryn Westmore
Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Finance and Security
Neil Whiley
Sanctions Programme Lead, UK Finance
* This is not an all-inclusive list of taskforce members