Oct 12, 2026 Tyrone Castelanelli
ShareBorders create gaps. Collaboration closes them. That was one of the key takeaways from the 10th International RiskShield Networking Event, where two days of conversations brought one message into focus: fighting financial crime is increasingly about connecting what has traditionally been kept apart.
Where Borders Create Opportunities
Not far from this year's venue in Vaals, where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet, there once existed a tiny territory called Neutral Moresnet. For more than a century, this unusual piece of land operated under its own arrangements between neighboring countries. Different rules and jurisdictions created questionable opportunities, including smuggling.
More than 200 years after its creation, the story feels surprisingly relevant: financial criminals are still remarkably good at exploiting the gaps between systems, jurisdictions, and responsibilities.
It was a fitting thought to accompany our 10th International RiskShield Networking Event, held on September 29–30, 2026, at Kasteel Vaalsbroek under the motto "Beyond Borders: Teaming up against financial crime."
And looking back, our theme could hardly have been more appropriate.
Connecting the dots in financial crime prevention
One message stood out across the program: financial crime is becoming increasingly interconnected, and so must our response.
Fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and social engineering do not exist in separate worlds. Criminals combine methods, exploit technological opportunities and operate across organizations and borders. Yet the information available to those fighting financial crime is often still fragmented.
This challenge shaped many of our discussions, from the growing importance of collaborative intelligence to the convergence of fraud and cybersecurity.
In this regard, network intelligence was a particularly good illustration. Initiatives such as EBA CLEARING's FPAD Service show how looking beyond the visibility of an individual financial institution can add valuable context to fraud detection. And the practical perspectives shared during the event underlined that the greatest value emerges when this broader intelligence is combined with existing expertise and decision-making processes.
AI provided another recurring theme. From supporting compliance analysts to making complex rule sets easier to understand and manage, the opportunities are considerable. But so is the responsibility to keep decisions transparent, explainable, and under human control.
These conversations also connected naturally to the future of RiskShield. Through our product outlook, demonstrations and practical deep dives, we explored how technology can help address these evolving challenges while making everyday work more effective.
Looking across the different topics, the significance of three aspects kept resurfacing: context, collaboration, and transparency.
And all three point towards the same conclusion: better financial crime prevention is not simply about having more data or more sophisticated technology. It is about connecting information, expertise, and perspectives to make better decisions.
Beyond Borders also means bringing people together
But there is another side to our Networking Event that is just as important as the topics on the agenda. Over the years, it has developed something of a class reunion atmosphere. Many participants return regularly, and seeing familiar faces again is always a pleasure. Conversations pick up where they left off, experiences are exchanged, and relationships continue to grow.
At the same time, every edition brings new people into the community. Some are attending for the first time, while others are familiar names from projects, video calls, or previous conversations who we finally get to meet in person.
And that's one of the things that make this event so special: newcomers quickly become part of the greater community.
As one participant put it:
"It's great to see familiar faces and, at the same time, watch the community grow. There's always something new to learn from each other."
That captures the spirit of these two days beautifully.
Of course, the presentations, demos and workshops are important. But often, it is the conversations in between that make a lasting impression. The spontaneous exchange over coffee, the discussions that continue over dinner, or the moment you discover that someone from another organization is facing a challenge remarkably similar to your own.
It is in these moments that professional contacts become personal connections, and where sharing experiences turns into genuine collaboration.
And perhaps that is also why the Networking Event feels different from a traditional conference. It is not simply about listening to experts. It is about being part of a community in which everyone has something valuable to contribute.
The conversation doesn't end in Vaals
After two days of discussions, new insights and familiar encounters, one thing became particularly clear: our motto was about much more than crossing (geographical) borders.
It was about bridging the gaps between information and understanding, between technologies and their users, and between people who share challenges but approach them from different perspectives. And it is equally what makes our Networking Event so valuable.
A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us in Vaals, shared experiences, challenged perspectives thereby contributing to the open and welcoming atmosphere. Special thanks to our external speakers Dr. Anastasia Kotowski, Regis Dwaalster, Eward Driehuis and Matteo Treggia, and to our supporting sponsor ThreatFabric.
We may have left Vaals, but the conversations, ideas and relationships continue.
Because financial crime doesn't stop at borders. Neither should the exchange on how to fight it.
About our Expert
Tyrone Castelanelli
Senior MarComms Manager | Risk & Fraud
Tyrone Castelanelli has been with INFORM since April 2022, and is part of the marketing team at the Risk & Fraud division. Tyrone has specialized in marketing communications, with experience of over 18 years in three tech companies.
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