AUT bridges gap between academia and industry
The Auckland Centre for Financial Research at AUT Business School will host a one-day symposium on 31 May 2013 to bring together industry professionals and academia for the first time to discuss research into New Zealand capital markets.
Professor Bart Frijns, Director of the Auckland Centre for Financial Research, said: “In recent years there have been increasing efforts to develop New Zealand’s capital markets including the formation of the Capital Market Development Taskforce, the creation of the Financial Markets Authority, the enactment of a number of legislative changes to securities laws, the introduction of KiwiSaver and the recent proposal for the partial privatisation of State Owned Enterprises.
“The development of vibrant and effective capital markets is of interest to the finance industry, policymakers and academic researchers, yet discussion among the three groups seems to be limited. The aim of the 2013 New Zealand Capital Markets Symposium is to bring all sides closer to engage in discussions that could help decision-makers on a wide range of fronts including assessing legislation, developing financial models and improving advice to investors.”
In a format unique to New Zealand, researchers from AUT, Massey University, University of Auckland and University of Waikato will present new studies into New Zealand’s capital markets, which will then be discussed by an industry participant or policymaker.
Tim Bennett, CEO of the NZX, will give the keynote address. Panel members include Sue Brown, Head of Primary Regulatory Operations of the Financial Markets Authority; Scott St John, Managing Director and CEO of First NZ Capital; and Neil Williams, Chief Investment Advisor and Head of Strategic Tilting of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.
Organisers at AUT Business School are Prof Frijns; Prof Alireza Tourani-Rad, Chair of Finance; Dr Aaron Gilbert, Senior Lecturer, Finance Department; and Annie Zhang, Lecturer, Finance Department.
A copy of the programme containing the day’s events and abstracts of studies to be presented is available (please note some details have changed):
Registrations for the symposium have now closed. If you have any questions please contact bfrijns@aut.ac.nz, agilbert@aut.ac.nz or annie.zhang@aut.ac.nz.
Media are welcome to interview organisers during lunch between 12.30-1.30pm. To request an interview please contact esther.harward@aut.ac.nz or 09 921 9688 / 021 631 309. Please note all other sessions will be closed to media.