RMIT Q Group CFA Society Australia Finance Symposium 2024

RMIT Q Group CFA Society Australia Finance Symposium 2024: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Investment and Innovation

The Finance Symposium 2024, organized by RMIT's Finance Department, will tackle the critical issues reshaping the business and investment landscape in today's rapidly evolving environment. With rising interest rates, shifting investor sentiment, and a more cautious approach to risk, the symposium will delve into how these factors are influencing real investment, particularly within the startup sector. Additionally, we will critically examine the current state of sustainable investment, contrasting past ambitions with the realities faced by the sector today.

This event is designed to facilitate a rigorous exchange of ideas between industry leaders and academic experts. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the symposium aims to generate actionable insights that will help businesses and policymakers navigate the complexities of the current economic climate. The full-day event will be held at RMIT's Green Brain on Friday 18 October, offering a platform for informed discussion and strategic thinking.

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Event details

Welcome and Introduction: 9:00am-9:15am

 

Session 1: 9:15am – 10:15am

Panel Discussion: Innovation in an age of change

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion, expertly moderated by Dr. My Nguyen from RMIT's Finance Department. Our distinguished panellists will delve into the current macroeconomic climate and explore how these broader trends are reshaping the investment landscape, with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities for startups and the venture capital industry.

The panel features leading voices from the industry, including Adam Stanley, Partner at Pitcher Partners; Leila Lee, Partner and Head of Distribution at Square Peg; and Connie Ren, founder of United Elever, and Strategic Venture Partner of Imprint Capital Partners. Together, they will offer valuable insights and strategies for navigating this evolving landscape.

 

Break: 10:15am – 10:30am

 

Session 2: 10:30am – 12:30pm

Break Out Session: Academic Perspectives

Join us for an insightful series of presentations showcasing cutting-edge research from RMIT’s Finance Department.

Dr. Tim Kooijmans will explore how banks' reputational concerns may enhance the quality of opaque securities, drawing lessons from the 1760s Dutch banking partnerships that securitized risky West-Indian plantation mortgages.

Dr. Ha Truong will delve into the influence of institutional investors on market dynamics, specifically how common stock ownership among these investors drives market risk and the co-movement of stock returns.

Dr. Di Mo will examine the relationship between inflation and energy price volatility, investigating whether inflation data can be a reliable predictor of fluctuations in energy markets.

Xize Guo, PhD candidate, will also present her latest research findings on the role that machine learning is playing in mutual fund management.

This session offers a unique opportunity to engage with the latest academic insights that are shaping the future of finance.

 

Lunch Break: 12:30pm-1:30pm

 

Session 3: 1:30pm-2:15pm

Keynote Speaker: The effect of monetary policy on investment and innovation: Recent advances in our knowledge.

Join Jonathan Hambur from the Reserve Bank of Australia as he explores the frontiers of knowledge on how monetary policy influences real investment and drives innovation. This keynote presentation will provide valuable insights into the critical role monetary policy plays in shaping economic growth and fostering innovation in today’s complex financial landscape.

 

Break: 2:15pm – 2:30pm

 

Session 4: 2:30pm-3:30pm

Panel Discussion: Sustainable Investing in a Volatile World

Join Thakshi Wijesundara, Senior Director of Institutional Business at Franklin Templeton, as she moderates a thought-provoking discussion on the challenges facing sustainable investment today. Our expert panellists, Naomi Bant, Portfolio Manager & Quantitative Research, and Joshua Rout, Research Analyst/Portfolio Manager, will delve into how rising inflation, interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory uncertainties are testing the sector's ambitious goals. They will explore the strategies and adaptations necessary to continue driving toward a sustainable future, balancing long-term ambitions with the practical realities of a world in flux.

 

Drinks and Networking: 3:30pm-5:00pm

Please join us in networking drinks.

Morning panel session

Portrait of My Nguyen

My Nguyen

Dr. My Nguyen is a Senior Lecturer in Finance and the Deputy Head of the Finance Department at RMIT University. Her research interests encompass banking, corporate finance, and entrepreneurial finance. Dr. Nguyen has published her work in leading domestic and international journals, including the Journal of Corporate Finance, the Journal of Banking and Finance, and the Journal of Business, Finance and Accounting. She has secured competitive academic and industry grants totaling $400,000 and has received multiple best paper awards at prominent international conferences.

Portrait of Adam Stanley

Adam Stanley

Adam is the partner in charge of the Investment Advisory practice at Pitcher Partners Melbourne, overseeing over $4 billion in funds under management. With extensive experience in accounting, tax, superannuation, financial planning, and investments, Adam works with a diverse range of clients, including large family groups and institutional clients. His professional success has been recognized in The Barron’s Top 100 Australian Financial Advisers list, where he has consistently ranked among the top advisors, including #3 in 2019 and 2023. Adam began his career at Pitcher Partners in 1995, moved to Investment Advisory in 2001, and became a partner in 2008. He is also a member of the Investment Committee at Pitcher Partners Melbourne and a Director of the Harold Mitchell Foundation.

Portrait of Leila Lee

Leila Lee

Leila Lee is the Head of Distribution at Square Peg, a role she has held since December 2017. She also serves as an Investment Management Committee Member at Trinity College, University of Melbourne, a position she has held since January 2019. Prior to joining Square Peg, Leila was an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, where she worked from 2009 to 2017. Leila also served as a Board Director at CFA Societies Australia from 2017 to 2020, during which she chaired Member Education for the Melbourne Society and represented Melbourne on the Diversity Committee. She holds a CFA charter and has completed studies at the University of Melbourne.

Portrait of Connie Ren

Connie Ren

Connie Ren is the co-founder and director of the Asian Investor Club, the founder of United Elever, a leading family office, and a Strategic Venture Partner at Imprint Capital Partners. With over a decade of experience spanning finance, education, and real estate in both China and Australia, Connie is a seasoned professional known for her ability to manage relationships with partners and effectively leverage resources across various channels. Her expertise in implementing diverse business strategies has been instrumental in her success. Connie is also a prominent advocate for women in tech on an international scale, passionately supporting and empowering women-led startups in Australia to achieve global success.

Academics

Portrait of Tim Kooijmans

Tim Kooijmans

Dr. Tim Kooijmans is a Lecturer in Finance at RMIT University, specializing in financial intermediation and corporate finance. His research focuses on the interplay between personal characteristics, such as reputation, and external factors like legal risk, often in historical contexts that shed light on these dynamics. Notably, his work on 18th-century Dutch intermediaries reveals how financial innovations, like mortgage-backed securities, were used to fund Caribbean plantations, influencing the importation of enslaved people and plantation conditions—a project supported by an €800,000 grant from the Dutch Research Council. Dr. Kooijmans' research has been presented at prestigious conferences and published in leading journals, including the Journal of Financial Markets and the Journal of Economic History. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Amsterdam and a PhD in Finance from Monash University.

Portrait of Ha Truong

Ha Truong

Dr. Ha Truong is a Lecturer in Finance (ECDF) at RMIT University within the School of Economics, Finance, and Marketing. Her research primarily focuses on empirical corporate finance and sustainable finance, with a particular interest in how large institutional investors, known as common owners, influence firm productivity and stock return co-movement. Dr. Truong has published her work in Energy Economics and brings valuable industry experience from her previous roles in tax and investment banking. She earned her PhD in Finance from Monash University.

Portrait of Di Mo

Di Mo

Dr. Di Mo is a Lecturer in Finance at RMIT University within the School of Economics, Finance, and Marketing. Her research interests encompass volatility estimation and forecasting, commodity futures, alternative investments, empirical asset pricing, and renewable energy. Since joining RMIT in 2018, Dr. Mo has published her work in Energy Economics, Economic Modelling, and Managerial Finance. She holds a PhD in Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honors, during which she was awarded scholarships totaling over $150,000. Dr. Mo also contributes to the academic community as an ad hoc reviewer for Economic Modelling and the International Journal of Finance and Economics.

Portrait of Xize Guo

Xize Guo

Xize Guo is a third-year PhD candidate in Finance at RMIT University, with a multidisciplinary background in economics, finance, machine learning, and earth sciences. She holds a Master of Management (Finance) from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Science from Peking University. With over 10 years of research experience and academic scholarships totaling over $500,000, Xize's current work focuses on Fintech and the fund market. She specializes in applying machine learning techniques to empirical asset pricing, performance evaluation, and forecasting in financial markets, bridging traditional financial analysis with cutting-edge technology. Xize also contributes to various projects as a research assistant at RMIT and is actively seeking opportunities to apply her expertise in both academic and industry settings.

Keynote speaker

Portrait of Jonathan Hambur

Jonathan Hambur

Jonathan Hambur is a Senior Research Manager in the Economic Research Department at the Reserve Bank of Australia, where he leads the Microdata Analysis research stream. Prior to joining the RBA, Jonathan led the microdata analysis team at the Australian Treasury. He is a member of the CEDA Member Advisory Council on Dynamism and a research associate in the ‘Micro-Heterogeneity and Macroeconomic Performance’ program at the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis at ANU. Jonathan holds an MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics. His research focuses on utilizing microdata to gain deeper insights into macroeconomic questions, particularly in the areas of productivity and labor markets.

Afternoon panel session

Portrait of Thakshi Wijesundara

Thakshi Wijesundara

Thakshi Wijesundara is the Senior Director of Institutional Business at Franklin Templeton, where she leads business development efforts across Australia and New Zealand. In her role, Thakshi is responsible for delivering Franklin Templeton’s diverse asset management solutions and insights to institutional investors, helping them achieve their most important financial goals. She joined Franklin Templeton in 2021, bringing extensive experience in business development and client relations from her previous role as Regional Director in the Global Client Business at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where she managed institutional clients. Prior to her career in business development, Thakshi held several analytical and quantitative roles in funds management. She holds a Bachelor of Business Information Systems (Accounting) from Deakin University.

Portrait of Naomi Bant

Naomi Bant, CFA

Naomi Bant is a Portfolio Manager and Quantitative Researcher at Martin Currie Australia (MCA), where she is dedicated to advancing MCA's sustainability frameworks and enhancing alpha generation through quantitative research. Naomi joined MCA's predecessor firm in December 2006 as a Quantitative Associate, and her role has since evolved from a focus on risk control to building sustainability frameworks that deliver financial returns while benefiting society and businesses. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honors in Economics and Finance from the University of Melbourne, is a CFA charter holder, and has passed the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing. An avid hiker, Naomi has trekked through the fjords of Norway, the Himalayas, and the Dolomites, experiences that have deepened her commitment to sustainable investing.

Portrait of Joshua Rout

Joshua Rout, CFA

Joshua Rout is a Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager for Franklin Templeton Fixed Income in Melbourne, Australia. He is responsible for analysing global macroeconomics, exchange rates, and interest rates, particularly focusing on China and emerging Asian markets. Additionally, Joshua manages the Franklin Australian Core Plus Bond Fund. With over 11 years of experience in the financial services industry, he previously served as an Investment Analyst for NAB Asset Management before joining Franklin Templeton in 2014. Joshua holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics from the University of Melbourne and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and CAIA charter holder.

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information