AFB Masterclass: What Happens to Teams and Leadership When AI Becomes Part of Everyday Work?

Most organisations are asking what AI can do and how to control its risks. Far less attention is given to what happens to the people using it: judgement, expertise, trust, responsibility, and identity. This masterclass goes beyond simple governance to examine the human consequences of AI adoption.

AFB, in partnership with Willow Ethos, invites members to this new masterclass designed for senior leaders and practitioners with responsibility for culture, conduct, AI governance, and people outcomes.

View the full course brochure here.

Why attend?

Drawing on Willow Ethos’ work in psychological safety, speak-up culture, accountability and future skills, this half-day masterclass offers AFB members a human-centered perspective, distinct from, and complementary to, governance-focused course. It is designed to provoke discussion and provide a perspective built on pan-industry experience that shows where financial services sit in the context of AI adoption.

Particular attention will be given to the context of foreign banks operating in the UK, including the challenges of embedding effective AI-related culture and accountability across international teams.

By using case studies and real examples, participants will have a safe space to test how they would handle the same dilemmas their peers are facing and hear how AFB member banks draw their own lines.

This session will cover the following areas:

• How to map where AI is already shaping thinking, writing, analysis and decisions
• Judgement and dependence – a scenario-based exploration of when assistance becomes reliance
• Learning and capability – what happens to expertise and leadership pipelines as AI absorbs junior work
• Trust and team norms – disclosure, ownership and verification of AI-assisted work
• Responsibility and challenge – who feels accountable, and who feels able to disagree
• The manager’s role – a practical framework for leading AI-enabled teams
• Human readiness check – participants assess judgement, capability, trust, responsibility and leadership

Who should attend?

• Senior Managers and Directors
• Non-Executive Directors (INEDs) and Board members
• HR and People leaders
• Compliance, Risk, and Audit professionals
• Culture, Conduct, and AI Governance leads
• Individuals accountable for shaping, assessing, or influencing organisational culture within UK-regulated entities

Course instructors

Paul Bennett – Founding Partner, Willow Ethos
Paul is a Founding Partner of Willow Ethos, a consultancy specialising in organisational culture, leadership, and behavioural change. With over 20 years’ experience across financial services and large corporates, Paul has led senior teams and worked closely with executive and board-level stakeholders to deliver sustainable cultural and performance change. His background in HR and people leadership, combined with his work in behavioural science and organisational psychology, enables him to support organisations in translating cultural intent into day-to-day behaviours. Paul is a qualified executive coach, accredited by the Association for Coaching, and a regular contributor to contemporary thinking on business culture.

Matthew Bennett – Founding Partner, Willow Ethos
Matthew is a Founding Partner of Willow Ethos, a consultancy specialising in organisational culture, leadership, and behavioural change. With more than 20 years’ experience in learning, development and leadership, including 11 years in senior leadership roles, Matthew has worked with executive and senior teams to support meaningful and sustainable organisational change. His background in learning and leadership development, combined with his understanding of how people grow, adapt and change their thinking, enables him to help organisations turn cultural ambition into practical action. Matthew holds an MSc in Learning and Teaching from the University of Oxford and an MBA, and is a qualified executive coach accredited by the Association for Coaching.

Given the limited spaces and expected interest, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Logistics

Venue:       In-person at a central London venue

Date:          Thursday 12 November 2026

Time:          09:00 – 12:00 (Registration and light breakfast from 08:30)

Fee:            £410 + VAT

Places:       Maximum of 25 participants

If you have any questions, please contact Ilza Javed at ilza.javed@foreignbanks.org.uk