Regulation Matters: a CLEAR conversation

In this first installment of CLEAR’s 2026 awards series, host Line Dempsey speaks with two award recipients whose work demonstrates how thoughtful regulatory reform can strengthen public protection. Dr. Yousra Alatiq of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties discusses the transformation of healthcare qualification review into a structured, risk-informed governance function—one that has brought greater consistency to decisions across 41 professional titles, supported the review of nearly 50,000 qualifications, and reduced decision timelines from several months to 25–50 working days. The episode also features representatives of Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing and Office of Professional Licensure Review, who explain how the creation of a statewide Massage Establishment Registry is helping address illicit massage businesses and human trafficking by shifting regulatory attention toward establishment owners and those profiting from exploitation, strengthening oversight, and encouraging collaboration among regulators, law enforcement, and other partners. Together, these conversations highlight the value of rethinking regulatory approaches to address complex challenges and improve public protection.

This episode is sponsored by Meazure Learning, CLEAR's 2026-27 Friend level Premier Partner.

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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 activity, while also recognizing the important role of consumer education in preventing harm. The discussion highlights how enforcement and education can work together: enforcement can identify emerging issues and inform public education, while increased consumer awareness can generate valuable intelligence and help identify problems earlier. The conversation also considers the challenges of measuring deterrence, adapting to changing digital information environments, and making license verification easy for the public. Ultimately, the episode offers practical lessons for regulators seeking to strengthen consumer protection by connecting enforcement, education, and proactive oversight.

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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 about Oklahoma's journey from disconnected databases, spreadsheets, paper files, and manual workarounds toward a more modern licensing operation. They discuss the challenges of legacy systems, the importance of employee buy-in and vendor partnership, and why successful modernization means rethinking existing processes rather than simply recreating them in a new system.

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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 behavioral health leadership, Chaudhary discusses the importance of recognizing the trade-offs inherent in every regulatory decision, considering both visible and invisible harms, and designing regulatory systems that are practical while maintaining meaningful safeguards. The episode then features plenary speaker Jillian Morenz, who explores how leaders can navigate high-stakes conversations more effectively. She explains why people often default to silence or confrontation under pressure, shares common communication pitfalls, and emphasizes the role of psychological safety and practical communication skills in building stronger teams and higher-performing organizations. Together, the conversations offer listeners a preview of two conference sessions focused on rethinking regulation and strengthening leadership through better communication.

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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 significant change and what it means for the future of regulatory oversight. They discuss the shift toward outcomes-focused regulation; the growing emphasis on governance, risk management, and organizational culture; and the importance of greater consistency across regulatory systems for strengthening public protection and public confidence. The conversation also explores the practical challenges of implementation, the role of collaboration in addressing regulatory gaps, and the measures that will determine whether the new framework achieves its intended impact.

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