Tanya Retter is the Chief Executive of the Chartered Banker Institute. Joining the Institute in 2023, Tanya has played a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Institute’s current strategic vision. Tanya now leads the Institute’s efforts to raise professional standards across the banking sector, ensuring that education, ethics, and lifelong learning remain at the heart of a responsible and future-ready profession.
With over two decades of experience in financial services, Tanya brings deep expertise in leadership development, digital transformation, and customer and employee experience – skills developed during her time in senior roles at NatWest and RBS. She is instrumental in driving the Institute’s global education strategy, overseeing the design and delivery of qualifications and professional development programmes that support the evolving needs of banks, regulators, and individuals.
Tanya represents the Institute on the Chartered Body Alliance, which she represents on the Financial Services Skills Commission (FSSC), where she is contributing to the national policy discussions on skills. Tanya also chairs sector roundtables, championing innovation and inclusion in banking and is a prominent voice in the sector through her podcasts, seminars, and keynote speaking engagements.
A certified SAFe 5 Agilist and Executive Coach, Tanya is committed to embedding agile thinking and ethical leadership across the profession.
Chris is an experienced commercial director with a demonstrated history of working in private, public and third sectors. Chris is a Chartered Management Account (ACMA, GGMA) as well as being PRINCE2 qualified with 20 years’ experience. Chris leads the professional development team at the institute drawing on his experience of working with the Financial, Professional Sector, Universities as well as his International Relations skills.
He is passionate about building long term collaborations and partnerships. Prior to joining the institute Chris held senior commercial roles across several membership and international relations organisations and has been fortunate enough to work in China, India as well as the UK through his career.
He believes in data driven decision making and has used his foundations as an accountant to bring about transformative change, breaking down barriers and bringing in new technologies to deliver efficiencies wherever possible.
Matt Rawlings is an experienced leader in membership and engagement, currently serving as Director of Education and Membership Engagement, with over 30 years of experience in the banking sector. His career spans delivering high-impact transformation programmes and developing a deep understanding of customer relationships, value delivery, and organisational growth, expertise he now brings to the membership environment.
With a strong focus on education and professional development, Matthew leads the strategic design and delivery of programmes that support lifelong learning across the banking profession. He is passionate about ensuring education remains relevant, accessible, and aligned to evolving industry needs, helping individuals build capability, confidence, and ethical practice throughout their careers.
Specialising in creating data-informed strategies that drive retention, engagement, and long-term value. He has a particular interest in the full membership lifecycle, from acquisition and onboarding through to engagement and reactivation, and in aligning organisational purpose with member needs.
Known for combining strategic thinking with practical delivery, Matthew helps organisations turn insight into action. At this conference, he brings a fresh perspective on how education, engagement, and community can come together to build sustainable, member-focused organisations