Chapter Leader Profile: Elenore Cox, CFE

Elenore Cox, CFE, has a thirst for knowledge and an equal passion for accountability and the justice system. This led her to join the ACFE and become a CFE in 2016. She eventually joined the Melbourne ACFE Chapter, where she is currently president.

Elenore hiking over the Fjords in Norway

What do you do for a living?

I work in the corporate world whereby fraud and corruption, conflicts of interest, contract compliance and payment assurance are my foci.

Why did you decide to enter the anti-fraud field?

I believe in integrity and doing the right thing all the time, even when no one is watching. I believe the people who make a conscious decision not to act with integrity and choose to commit fraud, or take part in corrupt activities, should be detected, investigated and (where proven and appropriate) prosecuted as a result. It is in the interests of individuals, organizations and the wider population. My passion stemmed from the underlying principle of doing the right thing, and I’m keen to prevent and minimize the risk of fraud and corruption.

How has the CFE benefited your career?

The CFE has provided me as a professional with extensive learning opportunities and acquired knowledge. In addition, being part of a network and a wider global community is extremely beneficial.

Why did you become active with the chapter and the board?

I became active with the Melbourne Chapter because I strongly believe in the ACFE and their values and to be able to contribute to the industry for which I am passionate.

What has been a highlight during your time on the board?

I have really enjoyed working with a diverse and experienced executive committee, all of whom are extremely passionate. The highlight would be our most recent event where we hosted a presentation on the topic of cryptocurrencies, which is a knowledge gap for many in our industry. The topic was extremely popular, so much so that we will be running a half-day workshop on the same topic in a few months.

What are the benefits of serving as a chapter leader?

I feel extremely privileged to be surrounded and supported by professional ACFE members who have a wealth of knowledge and are equally passionate about the fraud industry and what the ACFE stands for.

Elenore skydiving

What goals would you like to help the chapter accomplish?

The goals of our chapter are to continually connect fellow, like-minded members and bring in new, passionate members. We aim to share knowledge, experience and values, whilst aligning with the ACFE head office.

Do you have any advice for other chapter leaders?

Other chapter leaders are no doubt passionate and professional. My suggestion would be to continue to recruit for the same caliber of people, but across varying industries and with broad skillsets that are not just fraud-related. For the chapter to be successful, we as an executive committee aim to share ideas as well as the workload.

What is your personal motto? Does it have any special meaning?

My motto from a fraud and internal audit perspective is, “trust is not a control.” My personal motto is, “if the plan doesn’t work, change the plan but never the goal.”

What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?

I absolutely love traveling and have been fortunate enough to travel throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. I love the U.S. so much so that I created a personal goal to go to all 50 states and Washington, D.C., by the time I was 30 years old. I managed to complete this even though this went into the year I became 31, and I loved every minute!

What are your favorite activities and hobbies outside of work?

Music is my passion. I love listening, playing and singing. I enjoy live music and appreciate all kinds of genres. I also love traveling, playing basketball and spending time with my family and friends.