Latest news with #Manthel
AU Financial Review
09-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Real estate sector braces for revamp to block $60b dirty money flow
'By integrating these measures into everyday business practice, real estate professionals can elevate both their reputational standing and their day-to-day operational security by protecting their businesses from misuse by criminals.' AUSTRAC chief executive officer Brendan Thomas says the extended measures will assist industry and AUSTRAC to better identify and mitigate the significant risks of money laundering and terrorism financing, 'by expanding the regime to regulate high-risk services in new sectors and improve the level of financial intelligence collection.' For AUSTRAC who oversee the measures, the tranche 2 extension improves the effectiveness of the AML/CTF regime by making it simpler and clearer for businesses to comply with their obligations and support them to better prevent and detect financial crime. They also modernise the regime to reflect changing business structures, technologies and illicit financing methodologies. 'The measures in the bill will assist industry and AUSTRAC to better identify and mitigate the significant risks of money laundering and terrorism financing, by expanding the regime to regulate high‐risk services in new sectors and improve the level of financial intelligence collection,' Thomas says. The risk is ever-growing with the amount of money being laundered generated from illegal activities causing up to $60.1 billion in harm to the Australian community, through crimes such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, scams, child exploitation and human trafficking. For Manthel the real estate industry's future hinges on its own swift action and regulatory reform is not an abstract exercise - it imposes tangible costs on those who delay transformation. 'Failure to adapt may lead to sanctions, reputational damage, and a loss of competitive edge,' Manthel says. The good news is the sector doesn't have to go it alone with a company such as AMLHUB liaising directly with AUSTRAC and helping raise awareness of AML compliance with the nation's 46,000 real estate firms. Furthermore, AMLHUB possess deep industry expertise having worked in anti-money laundering compliance for well over a decade. More pertinently, they are real estate specialists who have worked with close to 10,000 real estate agents in the space creating bespoke end-to-end compliance solutions for every client. Manthel says early compliance is less a regulatory burden and more a strategic imperative as the nation's property market, long exposed to the vulnerabilities of high-value transactions and opaque intermediaries, now faces a regime designed to root out illicit flows of money. For real estate professionals, this means developing tighter compliance protocols by investing in systems that enable every agent to manage their AML obligations. Put simply, compliance means being able to ensure property listings get to market more quickly without disruption. While the reforms recalibrate the system in a manner that deters criminal elements, they also offer an opportunity to lead with transparency - and secure Australia's ongoing reputation as a safe place to invest. The message from AUSTRAC and compliance experts alike is clear - the clock is ticking, and early action is not just smart, it's essential.
NZ Herald
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Sarjeant happenings: Nicki Manthel strengthens art donor community
'Arts philanthropists like to have the opportunity to make a difference and also to feel they belong to something greater than themselves, to feel deeply connected to the gallery,' Manthel said. 'Now I've come to the Sarjeant Gallery where there's this wonderful, generous community of givers who gave to restore and strengthen the heritage building and build the extension; Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa. 'So now I'm trying to build and expand on that sense of community amongst them.' An endowment fund has been created from private donations and is managed by Te Whare O Rehua Sarjeant Gallery Trust whose primary focus until now has been raising funds for the redevelopment project. With the completion of the redevelopment, the trust is turning its attention to supporting the work that goes on inside the building, and creating a legacy for future generations. 'The Sarjeant Gallery Endowment Fund works hard to support the core work of the gallery, building the collection and ensuring its conservation,' Manthel said. 'The fund would also support an international or touring exhibition, that could mean saying 'yes' to a bold curatorial decision. 'Those are the things that bring audiences from around New Zealand and overseas to Whanganui and to the gallery. 'It is also part of a strategy to encourage people to return to the gallery.' The gallery refreshes exhibitions every three months or so. The new wing, Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa, considerably extends the exhibition space. Manthel said the interest, involvement and financial support from Whanganui businesses was crucial for the gallery opening and also demonstrated the community's buy-in. As part of her job raising sponsorship, Manthel is seeking a new sponsor for the currently named Pattillo Whanganui Arts Review. Pattillo has generously provided five years of sponsorship to New Zealand's longest-running open-call, regional art exhibition and competition. 'It means that artists are supported and the review also has a really high profile. There are hundreds of entries and massive visitation.' The major sponsor generously provides the substantial first prize. This year a new prize, the People's Choice Award, will be added. Manthel also organises events so that donors and supporters of the gallery feel engaged and informed. She has recently organised a trip for a group of the Sarjeant's supporters to visit the Aotearoa Art Fair, some private collections and artist studios in Auckland. She provides opportunities for supporters to learn about the behind-the-scenes complexities of maintaining and growing an art collection of national importance, to meet curators and artists, preview exhibitions, be an exhibition partner or align their business brand with the Sarjeant Gallery. Equipped with this knowledge, donors and supporters can advocate for the gallery both nationally and internationally. 'This means that people are out there in the community talking about the gallery, promoting it, backing it as well as contributing financially,' she said. Manthel said people's wellbeing and enrichment of community life underpin her work and that of the gallery. 'That's terribly important and usually an unquantifiable thing, except that 74,000 visitors have had their lives enriched in the last five months by coming to the Sarjeant.'
