Brad Brooks-Rubin focuses on the intersection of different types of risks – sanctions, corruption, money laundering, political, human rights – across a range of sectors and geographies and then identifies  tangible, practical, and creative solutions. For more than 20 years, in roles across the private sector, government, and civil society, Brad has proved uniquely skilled at developing and implementing comprehensive and proactive strategies to address complex issues. 

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Brad has a track record of concrete action, from spearheading the innovative G7 initiative to restrict Russian diamonds through supply chain traceability, issuance of numerous sanctions actions and multiple business risk advisories by the U.S. government, unique termination and transition of the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program, and the creation of the Public Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade and innovative “banking roundtables” where compliance analysts could receive critical risk-related information from civil society. Through his unique breadth of experience, Brad understands how companies and other actors can take action to address risks on multiple levels and to respond to varying stakeholder interests and expectations when issues arise.

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Most recently, Brad was a Senior Advisor in the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the U.S. Department of State, where he was responsible for sanctions policy coordination related to sub-Saharan Africa, Burma, the West Bank, and natural resources, principally diamonds, gold, and timber. Brad re-joined State from 6.5 years as Policy Director and then Managing Director at The Sentry, an innovative civil society organization focused on the investigating and disrupting the intersection of conflict and corruption. Brad also served as the Strategic Advisor & North America Engagement Lead at the Responsible Jewellery Council in 2021-2022.

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Prior to The Sentry and RJC, Brad held roles at the Gemological Institute of America (where he focused on a range of projects related to sustainable development, human rights, and compliance), the U.S. Department of State (where he focused on the Kimberley Process and conflict minerals in eastern DRC, as well as a range of sanctions issues), the Department of the Treasury (where he served as an Attorney-Advisor for the Office of Chief Counsel, Foreign Assets Control, and concentrated on sanctions issues, principally related to a range of sub-Saharan African conflicts), as well as two law firms (where he advised clients on economic sanctions, export controls, and a range of business/human rights issues).

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Brad speaks frequently at events on sanctions and natural resources-related policy and compliance conferences and has published extensively in a range of outlets around the world. Brad is an active member of the community in Washington, DC and beyond, serving as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Board Member of both the Wildlife Justice Commission and We Are Family DC, DJ on WOWD-LP, co-creator of the 3albums6oldguys substack, and a youth basketball coach.

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