Dr. Abraham Telar Nicknora

I am Dr. Abraham Telar Nicknora, a strategic and results-driven professional with a Ph.D. in Financial Intelligence and over 14 years of hands-on experience in financial intelligence, law, public health, policy analysis, and risk management. Throughout my career, I have focused on leading organizations, developing and implementing policies, and fostering collaboration among multiple stakeholders at national and international levels.

I served as the Executive Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of South Sudan, where I led efforts to combat money laundering and counter the financing of terrorism. In this role, I oversaw financial intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination, ensuring that financial institutions adhered to AML/CTF regulations. I also established strong cooperation mechanisms with international organizations, including FATF and ESAAMLG. During my tenure, I strengthened national AML/CTF frameworks, implemented legislative and policy reforms, and developed strategic partnerships that enhanced monitoring, detection, and prevention of financial crimes.

I formerly served as a Policy Analyst for the Government of South Sudan, where I conducted research and analysis on political trends, foreign relations, and policy development. In that role, I provided timely, accurate, and insightful assessments that helped inform national policy decisions and influenced government strategy.

I am deeply committed to supporting children and youth. I founded Children & Youth Empowerment South Sudan to create programs that promote education, health, vocational training, and psychosocial support. Through this work, I have expanded the reach of services to numerous communities, mobilized resources effectively, and built strategies that ensure long-term sustainability. Earlier in my career, I founded and directed the Wellbeing Foundation South Sudan, delivering culturally appropriate mental health services worldwide. I also served as a Senior Service Advisor in the Department of Human Services, Australia, where I worked to enhance service delivery to diverse communities and improve system-level operations.