Who are the people behind the presentations?
This year’s Annual Fraud Conference is being held at Oxford’s Town Hall. During the event there will be live presentations, breakout sessions & case studies brought to you by industry leading experts.
But who are they?
Headline & Keynote Speakers
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BBC/Channel 5 Presenter
Alexis Conran, TV Presenter, Times Radio Presenter and Actor (LAMDA trained) is best known as the man who identifies, uncovers and helps us to protect our businesses and ourselves against scams. As writer and presenter of the highly acclaimed BBC TV show, The Real Hustle, he is in the rare position of being able to advise and educate even the most-foolhardy on issues surrounding security and risk (in the real and virtual world), and identify the human behaviour, communication skills and confidence tricks that the world’s top scammers rely on to achieve their unscrupulous aims.
An expert in social engineering, Alexis shares insights into information security and how people are psychologically manipulated into performing actions or divulging confidential information. Alexis hosts his own weekend radio show on Times Radio involving consumer, politics and culture. He spent 10 months hosting his own daytime show on Channel 5.
As a charismatic and engaging keynote and after-dinner speaker, Alexis employs his knowledge of the dark and deceptive world of hustling, pickpockets and con-artists to speak candidly on the risks and security threats constantly faced by businesses, and to deliver important messages on the shrewdest ways to protect against the ever-increasing number of scams. His recent clients include Google, IBM, the RSA Security Conference, Experian, RBS, Halifax, Aviva, Facebook, Porsche, VISA, The Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police Fraud in Action Unit.
Alexis currently hosts his own weekly show, on Times Radio. He has been part of several Channel 5 programs all focused around how to keep people safe from scams and sharp practices.
He also contributes to ITV’s This Morning and BBC Radio 4 and 5Live, and was crowned champion of Celebrity MasterChef 2016.
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Renowned Criminologist & Linguist, Kingston University London
Dr Elisabeth Carter is a criminologist and forensic linguist who conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of language and the law. She examines how interactional, ethical and social drivers are manipulated by fraudsters, and the intricate balancing act between power and persuasion, credibility and vulnerability, publishing award-winning, impactful research papers, articles and books. Elisabeth regularly features on national TV, radio series and print media, and has won many industry awards for her impact in tackling economic crime. She uses her research to support law enforcement campaigns and drive police operations, deliver practical strategies to disrupt the power of fraudulent communications across the public, private and third sector, and safeguard people in positions of vulnerability. Elisabeth is currently Associate Professor of Criminology at Kingston University, London. You can hear her dissect a different fraud every week on BBC Radio 4, in the new series Scam Secrets every Thursday at 12, and catch up on BBC Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m002h2gt.
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Head of Risk, Threat & Prevention at Public Sector Fraud Authority
Chris has worked continuously in public sector counter-fraud roles since 2001, beginning in local authorities before transferring to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2015. While at DWP, he led counter-fraud and compliance operations for East Anglia and subsequently took on a special project to collaborate with the Cabinet Office in designing the new Government Counter Fraud Profession.
In 2019, he moved to the Fraud, Error, Debt, and Grants Function within the Cabinet Office, which became the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) in 2022. During this period, he led the further development of the Profession before designing the Risk, Threat, and Prevention functions of the PSFA, where he now focuses on understanding and helping to manage cross-government fraud risk.
Alongside his work at PSFA, Chris serves as an independent member of a local authority Audit and Corporate Governance Committee. He is currently in the research phase of his doctorate at the University of Portsmouth.
Breakout Session Speakers
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Andy Lane
Barrister,
Cornerstone Barristers
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Michael Brown
Partner
Penningtons Manches Cooper
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Nicola Evans
Tenancy Fraud Manager
L&Q
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Andy Hyatt
Shared Service Head of Fraud,
The RBKC, Westminster City Council, & the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
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Ruhi Sethi-Smith
Barrister
Forum Chambers
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Charlie Shillito
Senior Associate
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
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Arun Chauhan
Founder & Director
Tenet
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Emma Waters
Senior Trading Standards Officer & Accredited Financial Investigator
Westminster City Council
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Victoria Williams
Housing Specialist
LB of Islington
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Dawn Burford
Investigation Officer,
Oxford Investigation Service
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Andy is a Social Housing and Public Law barrister at Cornerstone Barristers. Prior to coming to the Bar, he worked for the Oxfordshire Money Advice Project and spent 4 years as a councillor on Oxford City Council, including time as chair of the Housing Committee. He is the author of 'Cornerstone on Social Housing Fraud', the 3rd edition of which will be published by Bloomsbury Professional in 2025 and has appeared in many of the leading housing cases during his 25 years at the Bar.
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Andy Hyatt is a well-known figure in the counter-fraud community, serving as the Shared Service Head of Fraud for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. At the helm of the Corporate Anti-Fraud Service, Andy leads the charge in preventing, detecting, and deterring fraud across three of London's most prominent local authorities.
With an impressive 30-year career in the fraud arena, Andy is a respected authority in the field. He sits on the board of the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) and plays a pivotal role in the London Borough Fraud Investigators Group (LBFIG), where he previously served as Chair. His dedication to protecting public funds was nationally recognised in 2023 by the Fighting Fraud and Corruption Locally Board.
Beyond his impactful work in local government, Andy's expertise has been sought by major broadcasters, including BBC's Panorama, Inside Out, and ITN News, where he has provided in-depth analysis on high-profile fraud cases. His insights and experience make him a sought-after speaker at conferences and events.
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Dawn has been with us since August 2019, and has joined from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) where she was as an investigator. Dawn transferred to DWP from a Local Authority as part of the Single Fraud Service Project in 2015.
She has been working as an investigator within Local Authorities and the DWP (and its previous incarnations) since 1992, the majority of that time focusing on benefit fraud.
Dawn has a particular interest in Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act investigations and Procurement Fraud.
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Michael is a partner in Penningtons Manches Cooper's commercial disputes team and co-heads the firm's Financial Services Sector group. He led the Consumers’ Association (Which?) intervention in Philipp v Barclays Bank UK Plc [2023], in which the Supreme Court considered the application of the Quincecare duty (being the duty of banks to carry out reasonable care and skill when executing a customer's instructions) in relation to Authorised Push Payment fraud. Michael advises clients on a wide variety of financial services and complex commercial disputes many of which involve civil fraud claims, as well as on regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.
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Charlie is based in Pennningtons Manches Cooper's Oxford office. He specialises in civil fraud, particularly payment fraud claims. Charlie was a key part of the team that represented the Consumers' Association (t/a Which?), as an intervening party, in the Supreme Court Authorised Push Payment fraud case of Philipp v Barclays Bank UK Plc [2023]. He has also recently acted for an international bank facing significant payment fraud claims from a large number of customers. Charlie is a legal commentator on APP fraud and has featured in Saga Magazine and legal journals and resources including MLex and LexisNexis.
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Ruhi Sethi-Smith is a barrister at Forum Chambers. Ruhi has a busy commercial and chancery practice which includes banking and financial services litigation, fraud and insolvency litigation. Ruhi recently appeared in the appeal in Santander v CCP [2025] EWHC 667 (KB) which focused on which banks owed customers a duty to retrieve funds which have been paid as a result of fraud. Ruhi regularly acts for companies and individuals in relation to a wide variety of fraud claims. Ruhi has contributed a number of articles on APP fraud for the Journal of International Banking and Finance Law as well as editing chapters of the Encyclopedia of Banking Law.
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An accomplished counter fraud investigator and manager, with over two decades of experience dealing with tenancy fraud for Local Authorities and Housing Associations, Nicola currently works for L&Q as their Tenancy Fraud Manager. She has been a member of the Tenancy Fraud Forum Executive Committee since November 2018 and is the current Chair of the G15 Fraud Group.
Nicola is a real advocate of raising fraud awareness and considers it a privilege to be able to support the social housing sector in combating fraud in all its guises, through her current role and membership of the TFF board.
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Arun is a lawyer specialising in complex disputes, investigations and compliance regulatory issues arising from fraud and financial crime. In 2016 he founded disruptive law firm Tenet which covers the spectrum of preventative action in the form of training, ethics, governance and policy advice, to advice on investigations and disputes dealing with recovery of loss from complex fraud.
He has spent over 15 years advising housing associations on preventing and responding to fraud and contributes to publications and conferences for the National Housing Federation. Tenet run an annual housing sector fraud conference producing annual best practice guidance on combatting fraud in the sector including on money laundering impacting the sector.
Tenet is an award winning firm has been recognised for its innovation in legal services and has won Boutique Law Firm of the Year at The Legal Business Awards and an award linked to pro bono work at the TECAs for the development of the UK’s first pro-bono fraud advice clinic in association with a Russell Group university.
An experienced solicitor for over 20 years, Arun is a Trustee Director for the Fraud Advisory Panel having been a board member for over 9 years. He is a member of the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association and a fellow of the International Compliance Association.
He is a regular speaker and trainer on fraud issues as well as an expert for the BBC providing advice on fraud risks, featuring on programs such as Panorama, Watchdog and Rip Off Britain for over 9 years, commentating in the news for LBC radio, BBC News and BBC Breakfast, Sky News, Radio 4’s Moneybox and in publications such as The Times and The Telegraph.
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Emma began her career in Local Government in 2016 as an Assistant Trading Standards Officer at Islington Council. Over the next two years, she trained for and obtained her Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards in 2018.
During her time at Islington (2016–2024), Emma undertook investigations and prosecutions for the Trading Standards team, focusing on product safety, scams, and fair trading law. She also worked collaboratively on enforcement activities relating to illicit and underage goods, lettings, and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
In 2022, alongside her Trading Standards work, Emma began training with the National Crime Agency to become an Accredited Financial Investigator. Now fully qualified, she conducts money laundering investigations and confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 across various council departments.
In 2024, Emma joined Westminster Council, continuing in the same role.
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Vicky has worked in Tenancy Fraud for almost 20 years, initially as an Investigator and now as Housing Investigations Team Leader for the well-established tenancy fraud team at Islington Council. During this time she has managed complex investigations into all types of tenancy fraud including subletting, not principal home, and fraudulent housing and succession applications as well as providing valuable guidance on policies and procedures within the organisation. She has brought prosecutions for both subletting and fraudulent housing applications, and recovered funds via compensation orders, Unlawful Profit Orders and under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Sponsor Session Speakers
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Mark has worked closely with public sector fraud professionals for over 22 years now. Delivering training, consultancy, and support on all of the systems provided by INTEC for Business. He has now worked with over 120 different local authorities around the country and supported projects ranging from simple advice and guidance, to detailed data matching projects aimed at returning cashable savings to INTEC’s extensive customer base. Building on his industry knowledge Mark has recently qualified as a fraud investigator/manager after undertaking a Diploma course with ITS Training.
Working first hand with onboarding new customers as well as continually supporting INTEC’s existing customer base has given Mark and the team at INTEC an extensive knowledge on the challenges that face investigators today. When asked why this event is so important Mark replied “This is a key event for INTEC to attend every year, its great event to catch up with our customers and meet a range of potential new ones. Me, Steve, Theo and the Customer Care team at INTEC pride ourselves on delivering a service and solutions that meet the challenges investigators face on a daily basis, and networking events like this are a vital tool in that process.
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Intelligencia Training are the UK’s largest provider of award winning Intelligence Analysis and Counter Fraud Investigator Apprenticeship programmes. Working across numerous Government agencies, public sector departments, the law enforcement community, banking & insurance sectors delivering high quality training for those operating across the counter fraud and intelligence communities. Widely utilised to standardise and professionalise cross sector working their programmes align with Government industry professional standards including the Government Counter Fraud Profession. You can read more about Intelligencia Training at
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Ralph Cockburn is a seasoned National Investigations Manager with over 30 years of experience in the field. Based in the United Kingdom, he has an impressive background in counter-fraud, investigative leadership, and operational management.
His journey includes key roles such as National Field Investigations Manager at AXA Insurance and Senior Counter Fraud Trainer at Intelligencia Training Limited. Ralph has honed his skills through various positions, from being a Police Officer with Strathclyde Police to working as a Private Investigator.
Ralph's commitment to professional development is evident in his qualifications, including a Master of Science in Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption from the University of Portsmouth. He holds a Level 5 Diploma in Operational Leadership with Distinction and is a certified Counter Fraud Specialist.
As a dedicated professional, Ralph values continuous learning and is equipped with skills such as complex investigation, leadership, integrity, resilience, and tenacity. He is a member of the Fraud Advisory Panel, West Midlands Fraud Forum, and Chartered Management Institute.