Sonia Baxendale, President & CEO, Global Risk Institute

A fireside chat with former U.S. presidential advisor Susan Rice. GRI President and CEO Sonia Baxendale will engage in an in-depth discussion with Ambassador Rice, one of the most influential thinkers on both U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Ambassador Rice will share her insights on the direction of U.S. policy and the increasing interconnectedness and uncertainty of the geopolitical economy. We will explore the potential impacts to Canadian business and the Canadian economy.

Ambassador Susan Rice, Former U.S. Domestic Policy Advisor, National Security Advisor, and Ambassador to the UN

Moderator: Sonia Baxendale, President & CEO, Global Risk Institute

The role of CROs once consisted of managing a few key financial risks. Today, the risk landscape has changed, and in addition to critical financial risks, CROs must navigate emerging AI risks, climate resilience, financial crime, and rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics that contribute to a challenging risk environment. In the midst of this complexity, a strong risk foundation and risk-literate culture are critical. In this session, leading CROs will share their perspectives on some of the key risks they are facing, and how they are impacting business models and organizational strategies.

Kathryn Fric, Chief Risk Officer, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Jean-Sébastien Grisé, Incoming Chief Risk Officer, National Bank of Canada
Halina von dem Hagen, Chief Risk Officer, Manulife

Moderator: Nez Aquino, Chief Operating Officer, Global Risk Institute

As the digital age accelerates, the intersection of AI and energy consumption is emerging as a critical focal point for financial sector sustainability initiatives. Join us for a discussion featuring Dr. Sasha Luccioni, Research Scientist, who will offer insights on the surging energy demands driven by AI advancements, and the significant challenge they present for businesses as they weigh the environmental repercussions of adopting this technology.

Dr. Sasha Luccioni, AI & Climate Lead, Hugging Face

Moderator: Gerard McDonald, Managing Director, Head of Research, Global Risk Institute

Session 1 – Open Banking: Implications of Expanded Data Sharing

Explore Canada’s progress in establishing a secure and efficient open banking framework. Professor Markos Zachariadis from The University of Manchaster will present his research findings. Abdi Hersi from Wealthsimple, and Elizabeth Fanjoy from CIBC, will provide insights from the financial services sector. Together, they will examine opportunities, threats, and challenges facing financial institutions and consumers, and discuss the essential steps required to better manage risks related to consumer protection, privacy, cybersecurity, and financial stability.

Elizabeth Fanjoy, Vice-President & Associate General Counsel, Personal Banking, CIBC
Abdi Hersi, Director, Payments Strategy and Partner Development, Wealthsimple
Professor Markos Zachariadis, Founding Director, Centre for Financial Technology Studies, The University of Manchester

Moderator: Gerard McDonald, Managing Director, Head of Research, Global Risk Institute

Session 2 – The Role and Risks of Private Credit

The rise of private credit has both some significant benefits and significant risks. It provides an additional source of funding for the borrower, improved maturity matching for the lender, and potentially enhanced financial stability for the system. On the other hand, risks include looser terms for lending due to weaker covenants in most market conditions, absence of firm rules for mark-to-market requirements, and the potential for regulatory arbitrage. Join our panel of practitioners for a robust discussion of this important development in our financial markets.

Christian Hensley, Senior Advisor, Avondale Private Capital
Jérôme Marquis, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Credit, CDPQ Fixed Income
Anthony Peccia, Executive in Residence, Global Risk Institute
John Trivieri, Chief Risk Officer, Meridian Credit Union

Moderator: Audrie Chad, Director, Research, Global Risk Institute

Session 3 – System Health Through the Regulator’s Lens

As financial institutions manage increasingly complex risks, financial regulators see the need to create a resilient financial system to maintain a strong economy. In this panel discussion featuring key regulators at both the federal and provincial levels, you will hear the views of each on the resilience of the jurisdiction they oversee, and learn about the importance of interjurisdictional collaboration in improving the overall strength of the system.

Jacqueline Friedland, Executive Director, Risk Assessment and Intervention Hub, Supervision Sector, OSFI
Blair Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, BCFSA
Jordan Solway, Executive Vice President, Legal and Enforcement, FSRAO

Moderator: Nez Aquino, Chief Operating Officer, Global Risk Institute

The risk landscape for financial institutions continues to evolve, presenting multifaceted risks, both existing and emerging. The speed with which institutions and regulators respond to these risks is becoming increasingly critical to the health of the financial system. In this session, you will hear OSFI Superintendent Peter Routledge’s perspectives on system health, learn more about OSFI’s new regulatory framework, and discover how the regulator approaches emerging risks in establishing new guidelines.

Peter Routledge, Superintendent, OSFI

Moderator: Sonia Baxendale, President & CEO, Global Risk Institute

Protecting Against Cyber Threats While Staying Competitive
Tech and cybersecurity innovator Claudette McGowan will address rapid technological advancements and the need for financial institutions to adapt to stay competitive and secure. She will touch on the rise of AI, quantum computing, and biosensing technologies.

Ramifications of the New Political Economy
Jonathan Hausman from OTPP will talk about the new political economy that is emerging and its ramifications for investors here and abroad. He will discuss more specifically the geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China that is increasingly focused on global innovation power.

Jonathan Hausman, Chief Strategy Officer, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Claudette McGowan, Founder and CEO, Protexxa

Moderator: Vanda Vicars, Executive Consultant, Global Risk Institute

Mark Hughes, Chair, Global Risk Institute