The Global Initiative Network

GI-TOC Staff Member, GIN Member

Cathy Haenlein

Director, Trade and Economic Security, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime

Cathy Haenlein is Director, Trade and Economic Security at the GI-TOC. Her research explores how criminal markets exploit the systems underpinning global commerce – including legal supply chains, infrastructure and financial systems – and examines wider intersections between organised crime, national security and geopolitics.

Cathy has authored over 80 publications and presented insights in global fora such as the UN, G7 and G20. She is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, where she spent 14 years, serving as Director of Organised Crime and Policing Studies. She has produced reports for institutions such as the World Bank and OECD, and is a technical consultant to The Royal Foundation of the Prince & Princess of Wales. Her research has featured in leading media outlets such as The Economist, Guardian and BBC.

Publications

1. Cathy Haenlein (ed), ‘Special Issue: The Changing Face of Organised Crime’, RUSI Journal (Vol. 141, No. 4, June 2026).

2. Cathy Haenlein, ‘Organised Crime and General Aviation in the UK and Benelux’, RUSI Research Paper,  17 September 2026.

3. Cathy Haenlein and Matt Ince, ‘Reframing Organised Crime as a Strategic UK Intelligence Concern’, RUSI Journal (Vol. 141, No. 4, June 2026).

4. Cathy Haenlein, Anton Moiseienko and Elijah Glantz, ‘Targeted Sanctions and Serious and Organised Crime: The Role of Political Will’, SOC ACE, March 2026.

6. Cathy Haenlein, Dr Joana de Deus Pereira, Dr Liam O’Shea and Michael Jones, ‘Crime, Terror and Insecurity in Mozambique’, RUSI Whitehall Report, 16 June 2025.

7. Cathy Haenlein, Dan Marks and Belinda Schäpe, ‘The UK’s Role in Advancing Responsible Transition Minerals Supply Chains’, RUSI Occasional Paper, 29 October 2024.

8.  Cathy Haenlein, ‘Organised Crime and the UK Border: Tackling Criminal Innovation at the Frontline’, RUSI.org, 25 April 2024.

9. Anne-Marie Weeden, Mark Williams, Elijah Glantz and Cathy Haenlein, ‘Using Closed Case Reviews in Financial Investigations of the Illegal Wildlife Trade’, RUSI Whitehall Report, December 2023.

10. Cathy Haenlein and Alexandria Reid, ‘Illegal Wildlife Trade and Illicit Finance in the UK’, RUSI Whitehall Report 1-22, January 2022.

Recent analysis

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