RiskMasters | Trailblazing Risk Leadership

Julien Haye | Risk Leadership Expert | Author of The Risk Within

Join Julien Haye, Chief Risk Officer and author of The Risk Within—a groundbreaking book on psychological safety and decision-making in risk—, for insights on risk management from leaders, board directors. RiskMasters is the CPD-accredited podcast for risk managers and business leaders navigating strategic risk, enterprise risk and leadership challenges. The show explores how senior executives build strong frameworks and lead with purpose. In collaboration with Risk.net, each episode delivers thought-provoking conversations on leadership, resilience, and governance.

  1. Fraud, Identity, and Risk Management: Building Trust Without Friction with Iremar Brayner

    FEB 21

    Fraud, Identity, and Risk Management: Building Trust Without Friction with Iremar Brayner

    In this episode of RiskMasters, Julien Haye dives into advanced risk management and fraud prevention strategies with Iremar Brayner, focusing on high-growth, high-volume digital platforms. Drawing on over 17 years of experience, Iremar explains why fraud strategy cannot be generic, the critical role of identity as a strategic control, and the importance of embedding risk management practices into product functions rather than treating them as policing layers.   Listeners will gain insights into balancing security with user experience, navigating the practical trade-offs inherent in enterprise risk, and leveraging adaptive, data-driven frameworks to scale trust effectively. The conversation also highlights risk leadership approaches that integrate collaboration across fraud, product, engineering, and legal teams.   Key Themes & Takeaways Fraud is contextual, not universalEffective fraud strategies flex by product design, payment flows, and user behaviour.Identity as a strategic controlIdentity verification shapes trust, conversion, and loss prevention when designed intelligently.Risk as a product capabilityStrong outcomes come from deep collaboration between fraud, product, engineering, and legal.False positives matter as much as fraud lossCustomer friction is a risk in its own right.Scaling trust in marketplacesHigh-volume platforms demand adaptive, data-driven controls rather than static rules.  Discussion Highlights Why one-size-fits-all fraud frameworks fail in practiceDesigning onboarding that protects the business without driving customers awayThe role of biometrics, 2FA, and analytics in modern fraud defenceManaging fraud risk while supporting growth targetsBuilding and leading multicultural fraud teams at scale  Who Should Listen Fraud and financial crime leadersRisk, compliance, and trust & safety professionalsProduct and engineering leaders working on onboarding and paymentsExecutives balancing growth, conversion, and loss prevention  Disclaimer The views shared by Iremar Brayner are his own and do not represent those of G2A or any other organisation.   📌 More about Iremar Brayner Iremar Brayner is a senior fraud, risk, and payments professional with 17 years of experience leading fraud prevention, KYC, transaction monitoring, chargebacks, and AML across fintech, ride-hailing, retail, banking, and digital marketplaces. He is currently Head of Fraud Prevention at G2A.com, where he focuses on combining data-driven insight, operational excellence, and scalable controls to reduce risk while enabling strong customer experiences, following senior roles at PayPal, DiDi, FARFETCH, MetaMap, Zettle, and will bank.   👉 Connect with Iremar on LinkedIn 📝 Related Resources: How to Integrate Fraud Detection and Prevention into Your Enterprise Risk Management FrameworkWhat Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?⁠From Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board Tool⁠⁠Building Psychological Safety in Risk Management⁠  🎓 Download your CPD certificate:  ⁠The CPD Group – Accreditation #xxx

    45 min
  2. Risk Transformation, AI & Cultural Change in Risk Management with Samantha Regan

    JAN 10

    Risk Transformation, AI & Cultural Change in Risk Management with Samantha Regan

    In this CPD-accredited episode of RiskMasters, host Julien Haye is joined by Samantha Regan, Managing Director and formerly Risk Transformation Lead at Accenture. With over 20 years of leadership across financial services, regulatory strategy, and business transformation, Samantha brings a sharp and deeply practical lens to how organisations evolve their risk management and compliance functions. From reimagining control environments to integrating Generative AI and fostering a risk-aware culture, this episode explores how risk can drive performance, not just protect against failure. Samantha shares powerful reflections from both consultancy and industry roles, highlighting the importance of purpose-led leadership, workforce reskilling, and end-to-end transformation planning. You’ll hear actionable ideas for building risk functions that are future-ready, digitally enabled, and culturally grounded as well as insights into the mindset shifts required at board level. “We’re moving away from box-ticking. The opportunity now is to rewire risk and compliance as value drivers, not overheads.” – Samantha Regan If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, review, and share RiskMasters. Your support helps us bring more strategic conversations to the risk and transformation community. In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn: 🔹 What Risk Transformation Really Means: Why success isn’t just about frameworks, but clarity of purpose, culture, and outcome-oriented design.🔹 AI in Risk & Compliance: How Generative AI can lift administrative burdens and unlock human capacity with safeguards to preserve integrity.🔹 Culture as a Catalyst: Why the right mindset, trust, and behavioural expectations are the hardest and most essential parts of transformation.🔹 Building the Future-Ready Risk Function: From skills to operating models, how to shift from reactive compliance to agile, insight-driven decision-making.🔹 Risk Leadership & Talent: Why future leaders must become “risk athletes” blending curiosity, critical thinking, and strategic fluency. 📌 More about Samantha Regan Samantha Regan is Managing Director and Risk Transformation Lead at Accenture, where she advises global financial services clients on regulatory change, AI adoption, and compliance operating models. A former risk leader at Barclays, Samantha brings a practitioner’s lens to cultural change, leadership, and transformation at scale. 👉 Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn 📝 Related Resources: What Would Change if Risk Identification Was Treated as a Strategic Advantage?Risk Tolerance Governance: Turning Boundaries into Strategic AdvantageFrom Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board ToolBuilding Psychological Safety in Risk Management 🎓 Download your CPD certificate:The CPD Group – Accreditation #800155

    46 min
  3. The Evolving Role of Risk Management Leadership with Jeff Simmons

    10/25/2025

    The Evolving Role of Risk Management Leadership with Jeff Simmons

    In this conversation, Julien Haye is joined by Jeff Simmons, Head of Advisory Group and Risk & Compliance Lead at ALBA Partners, and former Chief Risk Officer at MUFG Securities Europe. With over two decades in global banking and regulatory leadership, Jeff shares candid reflections on how risk management must reconnect to purpose, people, and performance. “Good CROs are not good scientists. They’re good risk managers who understand business.” – Jeff Simmons In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn: • How regulatory relationships built on trust can become a strategic asset • Why effective governance depends on proportionate execution and delivery discipline • The cultural shifts needed to close the gap between strategy, appetite, and action • How to educate boards and teams to make confident decisions with imperfect data • Lessons from Brexit, DORA, and regulatory divergence on sustaining resilience ⏱️ Episode Highlights 00:02 – From CRO to advisor: why Jeff redefined his purpose00:14 – Lessons from the financial crisis and the evolution of the risk function00:31 – Building trust and transparency with regulators00:44 – Making governance practical: from plans to delivery00:57 – Culture, tone from the top, and psychological safety01:05 – The future of risk: reconnecting risk and finance 📌 More about Jeff SimmonsJeff Simmons is a senior advisor and risk governance expert with ALBA Partners, specialising in regulatory transformation, culture, and risk-function effectiveness. A former Chief Risk Officer at MUFG Securities Europe, he has led major licensing and Brexit-related programmes and continues to advise firms on building credible governance frameworks. 👉 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-simmons-608254a/ 🎓 Continue your learning: Enrol in the Risk Leadership CPD Masterclass. 📝 Related Resources:• Appetite as a Strategic Capability – Framework linking ambition, capacity, and governance to strengthen decision alignment.• The Hidden Constraint Behind Strategy and Governance – Understanding risk capacity as the foundation of credible board oversight.• Guiding Principles for an Effective Control Environment – Twelve principles for designing ownership-driven, performance-oriented controls.• Building Trust with Regulators – Turning supervisory dialogue into a partnership that improves governance credibility.• Psychological Safety in Risk Management – How leadership tone and escalation culture shape foresight and resilience.• From Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board Tool – Practical steps to embed appetite into strategic execution.• Change Management Risk Assessment Framework – A step-by-step guide for aligning transformation programmes with risk capacity and tolerance. 🎓 Download your CPD certificate:The CPD Group – Accreditation #800148 Episode Credits:Produced by Aevitium LTDEdited by Julien HayeDesign: Julien Haye

    1h 3m
  4. Strategic Risk, ESG & Risk Leadership in Infrastructure with Søren Agergaard Andersen

    08/06/2025

    Strategic Risk, ESG & Risk Leadership in Infrastructure with Søren Agergaard Andersen

    In this CPD-accredited episode of RiskMasters, host Julien Haye is joined by Søren Agergaard Andersen, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. With over two decades in banking, pensions, and asset management, Søren shares his insights on risk management leadership and the integration of ESG in long-term infrastructure investments. The conversation dives into the importance of building a robust risk culture and the role of psychological safety in facilitating effective risk leadership. Discover how embedding risk as a business language enhances decision-making and why ESG has shifted from a compliance checkbox to a vital element of strategic risk management. You'll learn actionable strategies for aligning organisational culture with risk frameworks, ensuring that teams feel safe to express concerns and surface challenges.  Additionally, Søren discusses the potential of AI and data integrity in navigating evolving risk landscapes while maintaining human oversight in decision-making. Tune in to explore how empowered risk leaders can foster resilience and foresight within their organisations, transforming risk management into a pathway for success. “You can build the best framework in the world, but if the culture isn’t there, it won’t matter.” – Søren Agergaard Andersen If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, review, and share RiskMasters. Your support helps bring more forward-thinking conversations to the risk community. In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn: 🔹 Why Risk Must Be a Business Language: How Søren turns risk appetite into a practical tool for executives and boards, embedding it in decision-making, not just policy documents. 🔹 ESG as a Strategic Dimension: Why ESG is no longer a “box” in the taxonomy but a lens shaping every investment, from greenwashing risk to stranded assets and policy volatility. 🔹 Risk Culture & Psychological Safety: How culture and trust determine whether frameworks succeed, and why risk leaders must become business partners rather than gatekeepers. 🔹 AI & Data Integrity in Risk Management: Where Søren sees opportunities for AI in risk reporting, regulation mapping, and scenario planning—while keeping “human judgment in the loop.” 🔹 Leadership for Resilient Teams: Why delegation, curiosity, and broad business understanding are the cornerstones of high-performing risk teams. More about Søren Agergaard Andersen Søren is Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, where he oversees risk, compliance, and ESG across global infrastructure investments. A former CRO at Nordea Asset Management, he has built and transformed risk frameworks across financial services and is a frequent speaker on risk leadership, ESG, and the future of compliance. 📌 Connect with Søren Agergaard Andersen on LinkedIn 🎙 Tune in now to explore how today’s leaders can embed resilience and foresight into every layer of decision-making. Related Articles: Risk Tolerance Governance: Turning Boundaries into Strategic AdvantageFrom Approval to Impact: Repositioning Risk Appetite as a Board ToolBuilding Psychological Safety in Risk Management: A Practical Guide to the Four StagesMastering the Art of Risk Taking: The 7 Core Attributes of Success 🎓 Download your CPD certificate:The CPD Group – Accreditation #800139

    59 min
  5. Risk Leadership in Action: Crisis Culture and Governance Insights

    07/21/2025 · BONUS

    Risk Leadership in Action: Crisis Culture and Governance Insights

    What does real risk leadership look like when the pressure is on? In this debut episode of The Download — the short-form companion to RiskMasters — host Julien Haye dives deep into risk management and crisis leadership with Brenda Boultwood. Join us as we extract three transformative lessons from her vast experience in banking, energy, and governance.   Learn how to build an effective risk management framework that prioritises culture and clarity, shaping resilience long before a crisis hits. From navigating the 2008 financial crisis at Constellation Energy to redefining risk visibility in the C-suite, this episode reveals how strategic risk and governance can be leveraged as key strengths in leadership.   💡 In this episode: Understanding the moral and strategic dimensions of risk leadership in times of crisisBrenda’s “sombrero view” — why risk culture is a vital leadership platform for the futureInsights from Jamie Dimon’s favourite meeting highlighting the essence of lived governanceLessons from Aevitium’s work on how risk management contributes to corporate resilience and fosters conversations in governance  🧭 Reflection prompt: If your organisation faced a near-death experience tomorrow, would risk be viewed as the problem — or the solution to survive?   🎧 Listen to the full episode and more: https://www.aevitium.com/post/brenda-boultwood-on-riskmasters   🎙 On Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/riskmasters/id1709495792?i=1000710473825 🎙 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39kvq1RN8Am7NaPLw1Dbox?si=xj_ktMyGSdm8HYa6rLLzIg   🔔 Subscribe now and stay ahead in the world of risk.

    7 min
  6. Strategic Risk Leadership, Psychological Safety & AI with Brenda Boultwood (CPD-accredited)

    05/29/2025

    Strategic Risk Leadership, Psychological Safety & AI with Brenda Boultwood (CPD-accredited)

    In this episode of RiskMasters, explore strategic risk, psychological safety, and AI’s role with expert Brenda Boultwood. "I don’t think risk management is about compliance anymore. I think it’s about enabling a business and enabling a strategy." – Brenda Boultwood In this CPD-accredited episode of RiskMasters, host Julien Haye welcomes Brenda Boultwood, a seasoned Chief Risk Officer (CRO), economist, board advisor, and tech executive, to explore the evolving nature of risk leadership across industries and geographies. Brenda brings a unique perspective from her work across finance, energy, academia, the IMF, and Silicon Valley. Together, they explore what it takes to build strategic, future-ready risk frameworks that embrace uncertainty, promote psychological safety, and make space for innovation. Brenda reflects on the limitations of traditional models, the risks of ignoring cultural dynamics, and the transformative potential of AI in governance, risk, and compliance. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, follow, and leave a review! Your support helps us bring more thought-provoking conversations to the RiskMasters community. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Brenda Boultwood in this episode are her own and do not reflect the official position of any institution or university with which she is affiliated. In this edition of RiskMasters, you will learn: 🔹 Why Tone at the Top Is a Strategic Risk Lever Brenda explains how leadership behaviour, especially during crises, shapes organizational resilience, cultural trust, and board engagement. 🔹 How to Create Psychological Safety for Better Risk Outcomes Explore real-world examples of how safe, candid conversations improve governance and why fear-based cultures lead to paralysis, not protection. 🔹 AI and the Next Frontier of Risk Management Discover how Brenda’s work in tech startups is shaping the future of risk intelligence, and what risk professionals need to understand about AI's capabilities and limitations. More about Brenda Boultwood: Brenda is a former risk executive and transformation leader with a career spanning global financial institutions, the U.S. Department of Energy, AI tech firms, and the International Monetary Fund. She serves as a board member, governance advisor, and mentor to the next generation of risk leaders. Brenda brings a data-driven, human-centred approach to strategy, cultural change, and innovation in the risk profession. 📌 Connect with Brenda Boultwood on LinkedIn for insights on risk leadership, AI, and strategic governance. 🎙 Tune in now to explore how today’s leaders can embed resilience and foresight into every layer of decision-making. Related Articles:  • From Signals to Systems: Embedding Trust in Risk Governance • Psychological Safety in Risk Management • Leading Through Uncertainty: Decision-Making in a Nonlinear World • The Quiet Risk in Your Risk Function: Leadership Blind Spots 🎓 Download your CPD Certificate: Link: ⁠https://thecpd.group/podcast/ Accreditation number: #800123

    1h 38m

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Join Julien Haye, Chief Risk Officer and author of The Risk Within—a groundbreaking book on psychological safety and decision-making in risk—, for insights on risk management from leaders, board directors. RiskMasters is the CPD-accredited podcast for risk managers and business leaders navigating strategic risk, enterprise risk and leadership challenges. The show explores how senior executives build strong frameworks and lead with purpose. In collaboration with Risk.net, each episode delivers thought-provoking conversations on leadership, resilience, and governance.