Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation

Unlicensed practice poses significant risks to consumers and presents regulators with the challenge of identifying activity that often occurs outside the regulated system. This conversation with Wendy Moir, CEO of Ontario's Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA), explores how regulators can use complaints, data, partnerships, and risk-based approaches to identify and respond to unlicensed a...

Technology modernization is about more than replacing outdated systems. It requires agencies to examine long-standing processes, engage the people who use those processes every day, and focus on how technology can improve both the employee and customer experience. In this episode, Line Dempsey speaks with Liz Searock of the Oklahoma Department of Labor and Connie Pearson of Tyler Technologies abou...

This episode previews two keynote presentations at the 2026 CLEAR Annual Educational Conference. Host Line Dempsey first speaks with keynote speaker Jay Chaudhary about his concept of "regulatory abundance"—the idea that effective regulation requires continually balancing public protection with access, innovation, affordability, and opportunity. Drawing on his experience in legal aid and behaviora...

The UK's Professional Standards Authority (PSA) has introduced a new single set of standards that will be used to assess both professional regulators and accredited registers, replacing separate frameworks with a unified set of expectations. In this episode, host Line Dempsey speaks with Graham Mockler, Director of Regulation and Accreditation at the PSA, about the rationale behind this significan...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey speaks with Tamara Richter and Carin Plischke about what major regulatory reform looks like in practice. Drawing from their organizations’ experiences with legislative change, multi-profession regulation, governance restructuring, and large-scale organizational transformation, they discuss the realities of implementing...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey speaks with Jennifer Garrett and Richard Woolf about what happens when regulators step outside traditional channels to better understand how the public perceives professional regulation. Drawing on Jennifer’s direct outreach to civic groups and Rich’s national perception data, the conversation reveals a significant awar...

Episode 100 of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation revisits one of the podcast’s most enduring questions: what does it mean to be a good regulator? Bringing together a diverse panel of global regulatory leaders, this milestone episode reflects on how the role has evolved amid rapid technological change, shifting public expectations, and increasing political and social pressures. From the grow...

In this second installment of our awards series, host Line Dempsey continues highlighting CLEAR’s 2025 award recipients and their impact on public protection. Cindy Reinhardt of the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations shares how her team’s investigation into the Return to Nature funeral home uncovered egregious misconduct, led to criminal charges and emergency regulatory action, and p...

During CLEAR’s recent midyear business meetings in Nashville, we conducted our annual environmental scan, asking committee members to share the top trends, challenges, and policy developments they’re seeing across jurisdictions. These environmental scans are consistently cited as one of the most valuable aspects of CLEAR’s committee work, offering early insight into emerging issues and practical a...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey explores the newly released CLEAR Principles for Ethical and Effective AI in Professional Regulation with working group members Paul Byrne, Kelly Parker, and Candice Alder. The discussion examines why CLEAR stepped forward to develop a shared, principle-based framework for artificial intelligence at a time of rapid tech...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey sits down with two of CLEAR’s 2025 award recipients whose work demonstrates the power of innovation and dedication in public protection. Camile Lindsay from the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation shares how the CORE modernization project is transforming licensing across the state—streamlining processes, improv...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey is joined by exam security leaders Wally Dalrymple (ETS), Roddy Meade (Prometric), and Harry Samit (Pearson VUE) to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of licensure exam integrity. The guests discuss how testing organizations are combating cheating through layered security—from 360° room scans and AI-assisted proctor...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey speaks with Stuart Wilkinson, Chief Consumer Officer at Ontario’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), about practical approaches to consumer engagement in regulation. Stuart explains how FSRA amplifies the consumer voice through research and a consumer advisory panel, ensuring that consumer experiences with...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR Conversation, host Line Dempsey continues CLEAR’s Telling Our Story series with board members Mark Steinagel, Jessica Kallipolites, and Shilo Tooze. Together, they reflect on their first encounters with CLEAR, the connections that drew them into committee and board service, and the lasting impact of conference learnings on their regulatory work. The d...

The August episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR Conversation focuses on the upcoming CLEAR Annual Educational Conference, taking place in Chicago, Illinois. Camile Lindsay, Director of the Division of Financial and Professional Regulation in Illinois, shares key findings from the state’s CLIMB Task Force report, which addresses unnecessary licensure barriers—especially for justice-involved indiv...

In this bonus episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey continues the conversation with Ken Anderson, CIO of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, and Christy Williams, General Manager of Tyler Technologies’ Arkansas unit. Building on the previous episode’s discussion of digital transformation, this follow-up explores strategies for interagency collaboration,...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey kicks off a two-part series in partnership with CLEAR’s 2024-25 Premier Partner, Tyler Technologies. Joined by Ken Anderson, CIO of the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, and Christy Williams, General Manager for Tyler’s Arkansas unit, the conversation explores how Arkansas is harnessing technology to streamlin...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey continues CLEAR’s “Telling Our Story” series with a conversation about the power of connection, community, and global engagement. CLEAR board members Kym Ayscough, Jennifer Garrett, and Michael Carpenter reflect on their personal journeys with CLEAR—from first encounters to board service—and the value they’ve gained thr...

How can regulators ensure ethical practice when technologies—and their risks—are constantly evolving? Researchers Dr. Tracey Adams and Dr. Kate Leslie discuss the intersection of professional ethics and technological innovation with host Line Dempsey. From the ambiguities of artificial intelligence to the pressure of rapid implementation, the discussion highlights how regulators are addressing pra...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, Line Dempsey chats with experts in regulatory administration to highlight some of the key skills needed to effectively provide staff support to regulatory boards and councils. Sara Chambers, Lise Betteridge, and Priya Bhatia discuss the difference between the role of the regulator and the role of the professional association, the distinc...

During CLEAR’s recent midyear business meetings, we conducted an environmental scan and asked our committee members about the top trends or issues they’re seeing in professional regulation or in their jurisdictions. Committee members often comment that these environmental scans are the most valuable part of CLEAR’s committee meetings.  In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, w...

In this episode of Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation, host Line Dempsey speaks with Brian Tobias, Director of the Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform, and Katie O'Donnell, Director of Communications and Public Engagement for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. They explore Colorado’s sunrise review process through the case study of funeral service professio...

How do we balance freedom of expression, professional responsibilities, and the role of the regulator? Scott McLeod shares the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta's perspective. With media coverage and recently proposed legislation focused on freedom of expression of regulated professionals, the CPSA sought to clarify the college's intent and the need to strike the right balance of allow...

The 2024 CLEAR Awards were presented in Baltimore during CLEAR's Annual Educational Conference. Our podcast host had the chance to sit down with the recipients and hear about the accomplishments and initiatives they were nominated for. In this part 2 episode, hear from Sharon Oliver, recipient of the Regulatory Excellence Individual Award, and John Pugsley, recipient of the CLEAR Service Award for...

The 2024 CLEAR Awards were presented in Baltimore during CLEAR's Annual Educational Conference. Our podcast host had the chance to sit down with the recipients and hear about the accomplishments and cases they were nominated for. In this part 1 episode, hear from MDR Strategy Group, recipient of the Regulatory Excellence Team Award, and the Investigations Bureau with the New Hampshire Office of Pr...