The fifth Tackling Economic Crime Awards (TECAs) event, sponsored by Altia, took place at Novotel London West on 1 November 2023.
More than three hundred financial crime professionals gathered to celebrate the very best from across the sector with dinner and a presentation event hosted by former Commissioner of the City of London Police, Ian Dyson QPM DL.
TECAs founder Professor Martin Gill commented “This year the competition was particularly tough; with the number of nominations significantly exceeding those received in previous years. The thirty experts who made up the judging panel had no easy task in selecting the finalists and winners.
‘The TECAs event is a true celebration to acknowledge and recognise the fantastic work that is taking place within the industry and all those that were nominated should feel very proud” he further said.
TECAs Award Winners 2023
Outstanding Security Manager/Director
Nick Bell, Detective Superintendent and CEO – National Cyber Resilience Centre
I am tremendously honoured and humbled to receive this esteemed recognition as Outstanding Security Director of the Year in the Tackling Economic Crime Awards. This award stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication and hard work of the entire team. I am deeply grateful for their relentless commitment and exceptional efforts in tackling these critical challenges. The fight against cyber and economic crime requires a collective effort, and this accolade truly belongs to the collaborative spirit, expertise, and resilience of every individual who contributed to this world-first initiative. I am proud to be part of a team that is at the forefront of innovation and strategies in safeguarding against these ever-evolving threats which cause such harm.
Nick Bell, Detective Superintendent and Director, National Cyber Resilience Centre Group
Outstanding Team
Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) – Economic Crime (Operations), HMRC
Outstanding Training Initiative
Branch Follow-Off #Banksafe – Metropolitan Police Service, UK Finance and DCPCU
Outstanding New Product, Software or Technology
Vision – Cifas
Outstanding Investigator
Simon Cordell – City of London Police
Outstanding Partnership – sponsored by Cifas
Tenet and The University of Birmingham
We’re absolutely thrilled to have won the award for Outstanding Partnership. Our mission at Tenet is to run a purpose-driven business, striving to give back where we can – dedicating our time and resources to help those through this partnership and beyond. We also feel passionate about supporting the next generation of lawyers gain a deeper understanding of fraud and financial crime through this initiative.
Education stands at the core of our efforts, especially as fraud remains the most prevalent crime in the UK. We understand that not everyone can afford legal advice and we are dedicated to bridging this gap by sharing our expertise, through our work with The University of Birmingham. While it’s early days, we’re committed to making this partnership a lasting one. Winning the Tackling Economic Crime Award provides us with invaluable support and acknowledgment and will help drive our efforts even further. We still have a long way to go but thank you for being part of our journey!
Paula Crowther, Head of Marketing, Tenet
Outstanding Public Sector / Law Enforcement Initiative
Operation Elaborate led by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
“We are honoured to receive this award that recognises our continuing work to target criminal services online, and shows that utilising innovative techniques can play a huge role in cybercrime, fraud and wider economic crime. It is fantastic to be recognised at such a prestigious event.”
Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit
Outstanding Private / Third Sector Initiative
Hertfordshire Beacon Romance Fraud Peer Support Group (RFPSG) – Catch22
Outstanding Young Professional
Alexander Hansen, Compliance and Relationship Manager – National Hunter
I was truly humbled to be in the presence of so many of the greatest professionals within our sector, for what I can only describe as one of the most amazing experiences of my career. It’s a honour to have won the Outstanding Young Professional award and the immense pride I feel is still sinking in. I’m eternally grateful to the team at National Hunter who have trained and supported me to enable me to do the work I do and encouraged me to continue learning and developing. My thanks also go to Martin, the Judges, especially Phoebe for announcing and presenting the award, the Sponsors and everyone who enable this award to be possible. Education and collaboration are what pushes our industry forward and there’s no better example of this than the TECAs.
Alex Hansen, National Hunter
Outstanding Female Economic Crime Professional
Dr Elisabeth Carter – Kingston University
Outstanding Individual Contribution to Tackling Economic Crime – sponsored by Experian
David Gillies – Essex Police
I am humbled by the award which I did not expect. I could not be doing what I am doing without the help and support of the team, Internal and external partners, especially Essex Police Media Comms team, and Essex Victim Support Services, Romance fraud Peer Support Group, which has helped over 200 victim/survivors on their journey to recovery. This is only part of the big team effort in raising awareness and supporting victims/survivors of fraud.
I am truly blessed by having the best Academic support from multiple Universities, such as the University of Essex, Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Portsmouth, which have enabled me to operationalise some of the top research into helping victims of fraud and guide Essex Police strategy in the way we tackle fraud.
I am in the process of creating the Essex Multi Agency Approach to Fraud (MAAF) and I intend using the award to influence organization leads to come onboard and support the MAAF in improving the collaborative working between all agencies in the way we identify and respond to fraud more effectively, using “one Voice”.
David Gillies, Prevent & Protect Fraud Officer, Essex & Kent Serious Crime Directorate
Outstanding Overseas Initiative
Matt Vega, Director of Fraud Strategy – Novo
I am truly honored to have been invited to join such an outstanding group of industry professionals in the United Kingdom for the TECAs. Their work in the industry over the last year has inspired my team and I in the United States to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in Economic Crime prevention for years to come.
Matt Vega, Novo
Lifetime Achievement
Rachael Tiffen, Director Public Sector and Learning – Cifas
The event organisers would like to thank all those who have helped to make the TECAs event a success including: all the supporting associations and judges; sponsors: altia (headline sponsor); ACFE (drinks reception); Cifas, Experian, International Security Expo, and The Security Event (award categories); and media partners – The Investigator and Security Matters.