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Monday, 28 September 2026 at 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM UAE Time

EY Offices, ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai International Financial Centre

The UAE Chapter of the ACSS is pleased to host a discussion panel “Syria: Evolving Sanctions Landscape and Prospects for the Private Sector”. Please join us as we present a diverse panel of experts to delve into an engaging conversation
Agenda

  • 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Check-in and Welcome

  • 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Panel Discussion

  • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Networking

Certificates of Attendance for Chapter Events

All ACSS members who attend Chapter Events will be identified and issued a Certificate of Attendance through our system. Certificates can be used to earn ACSS credits, which contribute to recertification and eligibility for ACSS certification.

ACSS CSS/CXS Points | U.S. Corporate Enforcement Trends and Developments: 2.5

Please contact our Helpdesk at sanctionsassociation.org for more information.

Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists

The Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists (ACSS) is the premier global organization dedicated to advancing the professional knowledge and skills of sanctions and export control practitioners. ACSS is committed to offering top-tier training programs, including the Certified Sanctions Specialist (CSS) credential, which serves as the benchmark for professionals in this field. Our mission is to set and uphold standards for the sanctions profession, provide globally recognized qualifications, and build a vibrant, interconnected community of professionals worldwide. ACSS promotes the importance of sanctions compliance by delivering authoritative and respected content, serving the professional interests of our members, and enhancing their career paths. We aim to be the leading voice advocating for sanctions professionals, with a commitment to fostering best practices and safeguarding global trade and financial systems. Sanctions, as defined by leading experts, are the intentional withdrawal or threat of withdrawal of customary trade and financial relations by a government to influence the policies of a target country. This definition reflects the core understanding of economic sanctions and guides the mission of ACSS in shaping effective, compliant practices across industries globally.

 

Ivonne Duarte-Pena

Sanctions Lead

United Nations, Office of the Special Envoy for Syria (in personal capacity)

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Ivonne is the sanctions lead in the UN Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, advising on global and Syria-related sanctions developments and their geopolitical ramifications. Ivonne also advises on the use of sanctions as a leverage tool in political negotiations. She worked in the UNHQ in New York in the Mediation Support Unit of the Department of Political Affairs, mainly focusing on the Middle East, and prior to this she worked in a law firm in London

Jonny Bell

Senior Director

LexisNexis® Risk Solutions

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Jonny Bell holds commercial and strategic responsibility for financial crime and compliance portfolio for LexisNexis® Risk Solutions across EMEA & the UKI.
With more than 10 years of experience working in financial services, technology, compliance risk and strategy consulting, Bell applies his extensive project management expertise and experience towards driving business profitability and maintaining effective organic growth.
Bell began his career at the Boston Consulting Group, working with top global financial institutions focusing on horizontal functions including risk, compliance and technology. Following four years of consulting, he went on to work for London Stock Exchange Group (Refinitiv), where his most recent role was Commercial Head of LSEG’s World-Check One platform.
Bell holds a degree in archaeology and ancient history from the University of Nottingham, where he was also athletic union president. A keen sportsman, Jonny regularly takes part in triathlon events around the world.
Today Bell lives in Dubai with his wife. In his free time, he enjoys playing most sports, reading and travelling.

Lynne Stewart

Standard Chartered Bank

Head of Sanctions Compliance, Africa and Middle East

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Lynne leads Sanctions Compliance for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered Bank. Based in Dubai, she oversees regional sanctions risk management and works with stakeholders across business, risk and compliance functions to address emerging geopolitical risks, regulatory developments, and the practical implementation of sanctions controls across international banking operations.

Natalia Ermakova

GROUP SENIOR MANAGER – COMPLIANCE

Group Compliance

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Natalia Ermakova is a compliance professional with over 10 years of experience across international projects and organizations in the oil & gas, commodities trading sectors, as well as the global logistics industry. She currently serves at DP World, where she supports complex, multi-jurisdictional logistics and supply chain operations by integrating effective controls and strengthening governance frameworks.

Her core expertise includes international sanctions, trade restrictions, and third-party due diligence, with a strong focus on managing risk in global trade and logistics environments.

Gabriel Yuen, CSS, CXS

VP – Ethics & Regulatory Compliance

GAL

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Gabriel is responsible for advising on and implementing the compliance framework at GAL, a leading defense-aerospace company in the Middle East. His scope includes regulatory compliance, legal advisory, and contract management.
A lawyer with an ever-growing interest in trade compliance as well as international trade and transportation, his previous roles include counsel and company secretary at the commodity trading arm of the most valuable oil company in the world at height of the Russo-Ukrainian war, as well as practicing transactional maritime law at the largest law firm in the Middle East, where he advised on ship sale and ownership structures, ship re-flagging, ship mortgage mandates, as well as port concessions and logistics.

Gabriel is a Singapore-qualified lawyer, and is certified by ACSS and ACAMS as a specialist in export controls, sanctions and anti-money laundering. He also holds a Diploma in Ship Financing and Vessel Ownership, and a Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (B2). He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Manchester.

Gabriel is grateful to have called the UAE home since 2017.