Export Controls in Practice: Career Path, Reflections, and Practical Insights - Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists

Export Controls in Practice: Career Path, Reflections, and Practical Insights

August 13, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM NYC
Sponsored by:

FREE Webinar

CSS Credits: 1.25

Duration:

75 minutes

Speakers:

  • Jeff Nielsen, Ramboll
  • John Whitworth, MJ Trade Advisory Ltd

Moderator:

Ivy Llena, ACSS

Date:

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Time:

  • 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM NYC
  • 03:00 PM – 04:15 PM London
  • 04:00 PM – 05:15 PM Amsterdam

Description:

Behind every successful export controls program are professionals who navigate complex regulations, manage high-stakes decisions, and balance compliance with business realities. But what does the work really look like, and what does it take to succeed in this field?

In this webinar, Jeff Nielsen and John Whitworth, seasoned export controls professionals, will share their career journeys, the pivotal lessons they wish they had known earlier, and the insights that guide them today. Expect candid stories about day-to-day challenges, practical advice for career growth, and a look at the skills and mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

Whether you are just starting your career, considering a move into export controls, or looking to sharpen your expertise, this informal conversation is expected to offer new insights, inspiration, and stimulating perspectives to help inform your prospective next steps in the field.

By the end of this session, attendees will:

    • Gain insight into the real-world responsibilities, challenges, and day-to-day role of export control professionals.

    • Learn practical strategies and advice for building and advancing a career in export controls and sanctions compliance.

    • Understand the knowledge and skills most critical in today’s compliance environment—and how to begin or continue developing them.

    • Preview how the CXS course integrates real-world experience to prepare participants for career advancement.

     

    Certificate of Attendance:

    All active ACSS members will be able to download the certificate from the Learning Management System (under the achievements tab). 

    Event Registration

    Register for this FREE webinar today! Tell your friends, clients, customers and colleagues about it.

    ACSS webinars conduct audience polls that will give you vital benchmarking data so you can measure your sanctions compliance against others.

    ACSS Members who attend the live session can download their Certificate of Attendance from our member-only platform.

    Speakers

    Jeff Nielsen

    International Sanctions & Export Controls Lawyer
    Ramboll
    Jeff Nielsen is an experienced International Sanctions and Export Controls Lawyer (with over 20 years’ experience ) currently working at Ramboll since January 2023, focusing on US and European Union sanctions, export controls, dual-use regulations, and arms control. Previously, Jeff served as Senior Legal Counsel for Sanctions and Export Controls at A.P. Moller – Maersk and held various legal positions at Maersk Drilling, Maersk Tankers, and Nordea, where expertise included anti-corruption and compliance with sanctions law. Jeff’s legal career began with roles at several law firms following a judicial clerkship at the Superior Court of California.

    John Whitworth

    Principal Consultant
    MJ Trade Advisory Ltd
    John Whitworth is an international trade compliance professional with over 15 years’ experience practising the subject in multinational organisations including General Electric and Jaguar Land Rover. He also previously worked for FTI Consulting in London. Now he has his own consultancy practice, MJ Trade Advisory Ltd advising clients on a wide range of matters related to export controls and sanctions compliance programmes.

    Moderator

    Ivy Llena

    Learning and Development Manager
    ACSS
    Ivy Llena has over 14 years of experience in the learning and development field, providing capacity-building and professional development programs for corporate and social service agencies in the US and the Philippines.
    Before joining ACSS, she was a program director at a non-profit organization in the Philippines, where she co-designed and co-implemented economic empowerment programs and services for survivors of human trafficking and their families. Ivy also served at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, where she led and contributed to inclusive economic growth initiatives.

    Customer Testimonials

    “Very good discussion. It is a difficult topic to bring everyone on board to the same page when it comes to the CACR and I felt the speakers did a good job of establishing a baseline.”

    Melisa Riviere, Ph.D., CSS
    Director, Custom Academic Programs,
    Son Dos Alas

    “The speakers were well informed and you could tell they were subject matter experts.”

    Melissa Kolby, CES
    Senior Global Compliance Analyst, CH Robinson

    “Great info to keep in my tool bag as a financial crimefighter.”

    Gary Campau
    Crowe LLP

    “Content was extremely important and crucial to my role. I felt it was very well put together and delivered thoughtfully and with great clarity.”

    Erin Block Tomitz
    USAA

    “I really appreciated the detail and references
    on the slides, very helpful.”

    Scott Kinney, CAMS
    Compliance Manager Global Sanctions Group, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

    “Great job. Very informative.”

    Brianna Long
    Senior Compliance Analyst Compliance and Risk Investigations and Analysis, Convera

    “I love your concise webinars on real-case analyses—they’re the best way to learn.”

    Maja Milinkov
    Team Leader of Sanctions and Embargo Unit
    OTP Banka

    “This webinar was realy intresting, I enjoyed it. Thank you! Hope this kind of testing you are going to provide on basis.”

    Vira Nelepa
    Senior Sanctions Compliance Specialist
    Raiffeisen Bank (Ukraine)

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