Christina Gnad, Global Head of Working Capital at Deutsche Bank took part in a round table of experts that resulted in the white paper, From lenders to leaders: banks in flux – the changing responsibilities of banks in 2025.

Published on 1 December by both the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) and Trade Finance Global (TFG), the paper explains how banks are shaping outcomes in, as the introduction puts it, “an environment where uncertainty is the only constant, where today’s strategic priority might be tomorrow’s liability, where the challenge isn’t predicting the future but building the flexibility to respond to it”.

Chaired by BAFT President and CEO Tod Burwell, the paper draws on the collective insights of six experts; resulting in a 32-page ‘state of trade’ summary where all the input is combined into one collective information resource. Specifically, the paper addresses the now dual role of banks – advising clients through periods of uncertainty while simultaneously implementing their own institutional transformations in response to the same forces.

“The insights shared serve as a practical industry resource”
Tod Burwell, President and CEO of BAFT

The discussion – and the publication – looks at changing commodity flow corridors (such as soybeans), as well as the difficult balance between the opportunity brought by artificial intelligence and the increased risk of trade finance fraud it also introduces. Another core area of discussion was affordable as well as sustainable supply chains.
The contributors are:

• Natasha Condon: Global Head of Trade Sales, GTIC Chair in Principle, J.P.Morgan
• Christina Gnad: Global Head of Working Capital, Deutsche Bank
• Sofia Hammoucha, Global Head of Trade and Working Capital, Standard Chartered
• Michelle Knowles, Managing Executive, Head of Trade and Working Capital Absa Group
• Jaya Vohra, Global Head of Trade and Working Capital and Transaction Banking Account Management, Barclays
• Avanee Gokhale, Global Head of Trade Strategy, Swift

“This white paper reflects a moment of real change for the trade finance industry, capturing how leading banks are being asked to do more than provide capital,” said BAFT’s Tod Burwell. He continued, “By bringing together perspectives from across the global trade finance ecosystem, the insights shared serve as a practical industry resource for banks redefining their role in an increasingly complex and fast-moving environment.”

The full paper can be downloaded here.