Modernizing Balance Sheet Risk Management

Video

From Stress Testing to Strategy: Modernizing Balance Sheet Risk Management

This panel at Balance Sheet Management 2025 explores how banks are evolving balance sheet risk management beyond regulatory stress testing toward more integrated, forward-looking decision frameworks. Speakers discuss granularity, model consistency, technology enablement, and the growing role of AI in supporting resilient balance sheet strategy.

Dec 19, 2025

Charles Richard, Vp Co-Owner of QRM, QRM

Saqib Nazir, Head of FTP, Treasury Data & Architecture, TD Bank

Darko Lakota, VP, Interest Rate Risk Management & Pension, RBC

Jeff Dejean, Managing Director, Funds Transfer Pricing, Scotiabank

Tags: ALM, Treasury and Liquidity Risk

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At Balance Sheet Management USA 2025, panelists examined how balance sheet risk management is shifting from a compliance-driven exercise to a strategic capability. Drawing on lessons from stress testing, ALM, liquidity, and capital planning, the discussion highlighted persistent challenges around data granularity, reconciliation across risk types, and siloed modeling frameworks that continue to slow decision-making and increase cost.

The conversation focused on practical solutions now emerging across the industry, including integrated scenario-based balance sheet management, streamlined model lifecycle governance, and smarter use of scalable technology and AI. Panelists emphasized that modernization does not require a single “big bang” transformation, but a clear vision delivered through incremental change, breaking silos, improving transparency, and aligning balance sheet insights more closely with business strategy and regulatory expectations.

Charles Richard Bio

Biography coming soon

Saqib Nazir Bio

Saqib Nazir has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, specializing in various aspects of treasury and balance sheet management. Before joining TD he held roles at Citibank, QRM, and Royal Bank of Canada. A metallurgical engineer by training, he also holds an MBA and a Master’s in Management of Artificial Intelligence. Saqib is a published author currently working on a novel, and lives in Markham with his wife, two daughters, and their puppy.

Darko Lakota Bio

Joining RBC in 2001, Darko has held roles in functional and business segments including Risk Management, Corporate Treasury, and Capital Markets, with initiatives spanning all RBC geographies and segments. In his current role, Darko leads RBC’s interest rate risk management function, including responsibility for Corporate Treasury infrastructure related to IRR, FTP, and retail liquidity. He is also responsible for RBC defined benefit pension plan investment and asset allocation. Darko’s prior roles relate to market risk, loan portfolio management, product development, credit adjudication, credit provisioning, stress testing, and funds transfer pricing with varied responsibilities for structured credit analysis, counterparty credit exposure sizing, capital adequacy assessment, securities portfolios, risk appetite, as well as model and infrastructure development, implementation, and operations. Prior to joining RBC, Darko worked at Deloitte and KPMG, and lectured at University of Waterloo. Darko holds a Bachelor of Mathematics and Masters of Accounting degrees, and is a CFA and a CPA charter-holder.

Jeff Dejean Bio

Jeff Dejean has extensive experience working in change environments to develop best in class Treasury functions. His career has focused on the relationships between ALM, FTP, and Liquidity, and optimizing these areas in the context of balance sheet management. Prior to joining BNS he started up a Treasury group at a Pension Fund and has held ALM roles at other large Canadian Banks.