Keith William Bulfin

The man inside the investigation.

From international finance to undercover financial operations, and the methods investigators use today.

My StoryMexicoUndercoverBook and mediaSpeakingGFIA Investigation Lab

Portrait of Keith William Bulfin — Keith William Bulfin

My Story

International finance to financial intelligence

Finance, Mexico, investigations, policy and teaching. Each chapter shaped how Keith understands the operation behind the money.

Keith began in international banking and finance, with roles in Australia, the United Kingdom and South Africa, and later with JWB–Jersey Investments in Washington DC, including executive leadership.

He then worked undercover on an authorised assignment involving a US Government agency in Mexico. From 2001 to 2018 he led teams on money-laundering, terrorist-financing and organised-crime investigations alongside the DEA, the FBI, US Homeland Security and European and Middle Eastern ministries of the interior.

Since then he has advised China's Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission on anti-money laundering policy, led anti-trafficking work as Executive Director of the Monitor's Foundation, and founded the Global Financial Intelligence Academy.

Education
Economics, business and law
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Politics (1982). Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (1983). Master of Business Law (2022). Doctoral research into money laundering in the Australian financial system, funded by the Australian Government.
Early career
International finance
Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Washington DC.
Mexico
Undercover financial operations
An authorised assignment involving a US Government agency.
2001 to 2018
International investigations
Team leader with the DEA, FBI, US Homeland Security and European and Middle Eastern ministries of the interior.
2019 to 2020
Global Compliance Consulting
Anti-money laundering policy with China's Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and trade and maritime dispute resolution in Shanghai.
2021 to 2022
Monitor's Foundation
As Executive Director, protecting people from trafficking and forced labour, including a safe house in Essex for Ukrainian girls.
Today
GFIA and Cyphavault
Founder of the Global Financial Intelligence Academy and the GFIA Investigation Lab. Director of Cyphavault, a cyber security company.

Keith Bulfin at an international meeting — International meeting.

Mexico

The operational experience

The part of the story people ask about first. Told briefly here, because the wider career matters as much.

Keith Bulfin drinking coffee at a cafe in Mexico City, a historical photograph — Mexico City

Prison

Where Keith gained the trust of two Mexican individuals.

Recruitment

That trust led to an authorised undercover assignment involving a US Government agency.

Financial operations

Undercover financial operations in Mexico.

Historical photograph of a meeting around a table with plans — Historical photograph.

Historical photograph of a gathering — Historical photograph.

Personal accounts, original documents and published reporting are kept separate on this site. Names in historical photographs are withheld.

The book

Undercover

Undercover: A Novel of a Life. The national bestseller drawn from Keith's years inside international money-laundering operations, published by Bantam Australia, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Keith is also executive producer of The Banker, a television project based on the book.

First published 2010
Bookstore displays
Launches
Signings
Readers' events

Penguin author page

Keith Bulfin at a book signing — Book signing.

Keith Bulfin signing books for readers — Signing for readers.

A reader with the book Undercover — A reader with *Undercover*.

Keith Bulfin with a reader — Readers' event.

A reader holding the book Undercover — A reader with *Undercover*.

Television, podcasts and radio

Media archive

Interviews and features for journalists, conference organisers, banks and investors.

Podcast

True Spies

Keith's undercover story, featured by Spyscape (26 October 2021).

Read and listen

Television

60 Minutes

An interview about Keith's undercover role in Mexico.

Podcast

SpyCast

Interview with Keith Bulfin.

Podcast

Gangland Wire

With host Gary Jenkins, a retired Kansas City police intelligence detective.

Podcast

Australian True Crime

Interview with Keith Bulfin.

Television

International interviews

Television interviews in Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Book

Undercover

Published by Bantam Australia, Penguin Random House.

Penguin author page

Speaking

Conferences and education

Keith speaks to professional audiences about how financial crime is organised, and how investigators can see it sooner.

ISACA

University lectures

Financial-crime workshops

Law enforcement and professional audiences

Keith Bulfin speaking at a conference — Conference presentation.

An audience at a talk by Keith Bulfin — Public talk.

An audience at a professional workshop — Professional workshop.

Indo-Pacific Robotics, Autonomy, AI and Cyber Conference: speaker page

Photographic archive

International engagements

Meetings and professional networks across several regions. Names are withheld.

Film