Future Risk Professional Skills, Talent and Human Advantage

Webinar

The Future Risk Professional Skills, Talent, and Human Advantage

As AI transforms financial services, the skills required of risk professionals are changing. This webinar explores how organisations can build future-ready risk teams by combining technical expertise with critical thinking, communication, and adaptability. The discussion examines the role of AI, continuous learning, and strong risk culture in preparing professionals to navigate an increasingly complex risk landscape.

Jul 30, 2026

Melody Feinberg, Independent Corporate Director & Columbia University Lecturer,

Jeff Prelle, Chief Risk Officer, Broadway Bank

Jill Cetina, Executive Professor of Finance, BTRM North America Director, The Certificate of Bank Treasury Risk Management (BTRM)

Tags: Operational and Non Financial Risk

The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the thought leader as an individual and are not attributed to CeFPro or any other organization

Key Takeaways

AI will augment rather than replace risk professionals.
Future risk leaders need business judgement alongside technical expertise.
Communication, collaboration, and curiosity are becoming core risk skills.
Continuous learning is essential as technology rapidly evolves.
Strong risk cultures encourage original thinking and adaptability.
Human judgement remains central to effective risk management.

As AI, automation, and data-driven decision-making reshape financial services, the role of the risk professional is evolving rapidly. In this webinar, Melody Feinberg is joined by Jill Cetina and Jeff Perrell to discuss the skills, behaviours, and leadership qualities that will define the next generation of risk professionals.

The discussion explores why technical expertise alone is no longer enough, highlighting the growing importance of business judgement, communication, adaptability, and strategic thinking. The panel examines how AI is changing risk roles rather than replacing them, why curiosity and continuous learning are becoming essential career attributes, and how organisations can attract, develop, and retain talent capable of navigating increasingly complex risk environments. The session also considers the future relationship between human expertise and emerging technologies, concluding that successful institutions will combine strong technical capabilities with collaboration, critical thinking, and a culture that empowers innovation.

Melody Feinberg Bio

Melody is a Board member of Security Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and serves on the Audit and Risk; Finance; and Technology and Cybersecurity Committees. She is the principal of Chief Risk Advisors LLC, which provides client solutions to better manage risk, enhance strategy and governance, and optimize operations. She teaches at Columbia University in the Master’s in Enterprise Risk Management Program. Until December 2023, Ms. Feinberg served as Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, a $150+ billion wholesale bank. Ms. Feinberg oversaw the Bank's Enterprise-wide Risk Management practice and served as the Bank's Chief Compliance Officer. She was responsible for all risk functions, including market, credit, collateral, climate, model, operational, technology, including cybersecurity, and compliance. Prior to FHLBNY, Melody held positions of increasing responsibilities in accounting and finance roles at three investment banks, namely, J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM), HSBC, and Goldman Sachs over the course of 18 years. She began her career at Ernst and Young. Melody earned an MBA in Finance from Drexel University, and a BS in Accounting from The College of New Jersey, both Magna Cum Laude. She is a licensed CPA in NY and is certified by PRMIA Market, Liquidity, and Asset Liability Management, and by the RMA/Wharton Advanced Risk Management Program.

Jeff Prelle Bio

Biography coming soon

Jill Cetina Bio

Prior to joining Texas A&M University and BTRM, Jill was the associate managing director for US bank ratings at Moody’s Investors Service in NY. Jill has also been a vice president of supervision at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas with leadership of six teams with responsibility for banking supervision, macro-financial analysis and monitoring financial conditions/monetary policy formulation. Prior to her time at the Dallas Fed, Jill worked at the Federal Reserve Board during the 2008 financial crisis, the OCC, and at the US Treasury Department for a decade as both an international economist and a financial economist in Treasury debt management. Jill’s graduate degree is from Princeton University and she is also a CFA charterholder.

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways