Valyn Network
A curated network of senior professionals engaged on a project basis.
Ali Aljowder is a senior governance and regulatory advisor with extensive experience across public-sector leadership and regulated financial environments. His work focuses on strengthening institutional governance, enhancing regulatory readiness, and improving the effectiveness of AML/CFT frameworks through practical, experience-driven advisory.
Ali's advisory work centers on governance and oversight frameworks, regulatory alignment, AML/CFT effectiveness, institutional risk management, and strategic advisory for complex and high-risk environments. His approach emphasizes substance over form and effectiveness over documentation.
Ali has held senior leadership and policy roles across security, financial intelligence, anti-corruption, and international regulatory cooperation. His experience includes executive-level advisory, institutional assessments, and engagement with regulatory and supervisory frameworks at both national and international levels.
As Founder and Principal of Valyn Advisory, Ali leads all engagements and oversees advisory quality, methodology, and client interaction. He works closely with Valyn's advisory network to deliver focused, independent, and senior-led advisory mandates.
Bahrain | GCC | International
Mohamed Jasim is a senior compliance and financial crime professional with extensive experience across banking, financial intelligence, and regulated environments. His work focuses on strengthening AML/CFT frameworks, enhancing regulatory compliance effectiveness, and supporting institutions in managing complex financial crime risks through practical and structured approaches.
Mohamed's advisory focus includes AML/CFT program effectiveness, financial crime risk management, regulatory compliance frameworks, suspicious transaction monitoring, and governance alignment. He brings particular depth in translating regulatory requirements into operationally effective controls and processes.
Mohamed has held senior roles across the financial sector and national-level financial intelligence functions. His experience spans leading compliance and MLRO responsibilities within banking environments, as well as contributing to national AML/CFT policy implementation, intelligence analysis, and inter-agency cooperation. He has worked closely with regulators, financial intelligence authorities, and audit functions in high-risk and complex settings.
As a member of the Valyn Advisory Network, Mohamed contributes subject-matter expertise on a project-specific basis, supporting advisory mandates related to AML/CFT effectiveness, regulatory readiness, and financial crime risk management under Valyn's leadership and methodology.
Bahrain | GCC | Cross-Border
Mohamed has participated in regional and international initiatives related to countering financial crime and terrorist financing and has contributed to professional training and knowledge-sharing engagements within the AML/CFT domain.
A highly accomplished compliance and governance leader with over 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. Abdulrahman brings deep expertise in steering Compliance, AML, and Governance strategies across multiple jurisdictions, with a proven track record of establishing and leading compliance functions for financial institutions in Bahrain, KSA, and the UAE.
Compliance & Governance Framework Development, AML/CFT Strategy & Implementation, Financial Crime Prevention, Regulatory Readiness & Supervisory Engagement, and Corporate Governance & Board Committee Support.
Abdulrahman began his career at Ernst & Young before joining the Central Bank of Bahrain, where he served in the Compliance Directorate conducting on-site AML/CFT examinations and financial crime investigations, followed by a role in the Islamic Financial Institutions Supervision Directorate. He subsequently held senior compliance leadership positions at Turkiye Finans Katilim Bankasi, GFH Financial Group, and Bahrain Development Bank, before assuming his current role as Head of Compliance & Governance at the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP) in Riyadh.
As a member of the Valyn Advisory Network, Abdulrahman contributes subject-matter expertise on a project-specific basis, supporting advisory mandates related to compliance, governance, AML/CFT effectiveness, and financial crime prevention under Valyn's leadership and methodology.
Bahrain | Saudi Arabia | UAE
Appointed as External Expert by the Public Prosecutor for one of the largest Financial Crime cases in the region (2013). Youngest Central Bank of Bahrain Approved Head of Compliance (2017). Established several Compliance, Governance & AML functions for financial institutions across Bahrain, UAE & KSA. Holds a Diploma in Compliance, AML and Financial Crime from Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK, and an International Diploma in Compliance from the International Compliance Association & University of Manchester, UK.
A seasoned intelligence and advisory professional with over 25 years of experience spanning financial investigations, business intelligence, public affairs, and institutional advisory. Gregory brings a unique combination of diplomatic, investigative, and strategic consulting expertise, having served in senior roles across European governments, international organizations, and leading global consultancies including Kroll and APCO Worldwide.
Financial Investigations & Asset Tracing, Business Intelligence & Institutional Intelligence, Risk Analysis & Litigation Support, Public Affairs & Strategic Communications, and Dispute Resolution & Asset Recovery.
Gregory began his career in Belgian diplomacy, serving at the Embassy of Belgium in Moscow before becoming Deputy Advisor to the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs. He subsequently served as Spokesperson for the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, conducting human rights missions across 48 countries. He held senior positions including Deputy Director General at the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Egmont Institute) and Chief of Cabinet to the Belgian Minister of Economy. Since 2008, he has served as Senior Consultant at Kroll, specializing in financial investigations and business intelligence. In 2017, he founded Gremat Consulting / Open Eye Intelligence, providing advisory services in intelligence, financial investigations, asset tracing, and risk analysis to private businesses and government institutions.
As a member of the Valyn Advisory Network, Gregory contributes subject-matter expertise on a project-specific basis, supporting advisory mandates related to financial investigations, intelligence, asset tracing, and risk analysis under Valyn's leadership and methodology.
Europe | Russia | Middle East
Ph.D. in Slavonic Studies, Master of Oriental Studies, and Master of History — all from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Fluent in French (Native), English, Dutch, Russian, Greek, and Swedish.
A distinguished corporate governance strategist with over 30 years of leadership experience driving legal, regulatory, and governance excellence across listed entities and large industrial conglomerates. Sankar brings deep expertise in corporate governance, M&A transactions, regulatory compliance, and board advisory, having served in senior governance roles across multiple Tata Steel group companies. He is nationally recognized by ICSI and ICC for governance excellence, board effectiveness, and fostering compliant organizational cultures.
Corporate Governance & Board Advisory, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Corporate Restructuring, Regulatory Compliance (SEBI, Companies Act, LODR), Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Frameworks, and ESG, CSR & Sustainability.
Sankar built his career in corporate governance and legal compliance across several listed companies before joining Tata Metaliks Ltd in 2012 as Chief of Corporate Governance, leading the company to receive multiple ICSI awards for governance excellence (2018, 2020) and ICC corporate governance recognition (2017). He subsequently held senior compliance and governance leadership roles at Tata Steel Long Products Ltd, directing SEBI and corporate compliance during periods of business integration and restructuring, followed by a role at Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (Tata Steel subsidiary) during a critical post-acquisition phase. He currently provides freelance strategic legal, GRC, and board advisory services to corporates.
As a member of the Valyn Advisory Network, Sankar contributes subject-matter expertise on a project-specific basis, supporting advisory mandates related to corporate governance, M&A, regulatory compliance, and GRC frameworks under Valyn's leadership and methodology.
India
Governance Professional of the Year — ICSI (2020). Corporate Governance Award — ICC (2017). Multiple ICSI awards for governance excellence at Tata Metaliks Ltd (2018, 2020). Over 30 years of governance leadership across Tata Steel group companies.
Interested in Joining the Network?
We welcome expressions of interest from senior professionals with relevant expertise in governance, compliance, and regulatory advisory.
Apply to JoinThis profile reflects professional experience and areas of contribution. Network members operate as independent professionals and do not represent Valyn Advisory outside defined project scopes.