Morten Olsen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Economics , University of Copenhagen . His research focuses on labor economics , income inequality , automation , climate change policy , and international trade . He has published extensively on these topics in journals such as the AEJ Macroeconomics , Journal of Economic Growth , and Journal of International Economics . Recent research includes automation's impact on labor markets (2024) and adverse selection in climate policy (2023). His work often intersects technological innovation with economic inequality , examining how horizontal innovation and directed technical change affect income distribution and labor dynamics. Scientific Awards : AEJ Macro Best Paper Award (2023) Contact: morten@morten-olsen.com | Phone: +45 31 19 99 30
Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)Switzerland
Prof. Suzanne Ziegler is a Professor and Director of the Department of Banking, Finance, and Insurance at the ZHAW School of Management and Law, Zurich University of Applied Sciences. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the School. Her research focuses on systemic stability, financial crises, real estate markets, and banking regulation, particularly in the Swiss context. She holds a PhD in Banking & Finance from the University of Zurich (2014) and a Master's in Economics from the University of St. Gallen (1988). Her career includes roles as a Research Assistant at the Swiss National Bank (1989–2002) and leadership in higher education management, including certifications from Swissuniversities and ZHAW. She has authored/co-authored books on Swiss banking, wealth management, and regulatory frameworks, and frequently presents at international conferences on topics like digital banking, AI in financial advising, and inflation risks. Her work bridges academic research, policy analysis, and practical banking challenges. Key educational milestones include a PhD thesis analyzing bank insolvency and depositor protection (2014), and leadership training programs (2008, 2012). Her publications span peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Swiss Real Estate Journal ), books on financial regulation, and policy-oriented articles in outlets like Neue Zürcher Zeitung . Notable projects include regulatory impact assessments for FINMA and analyses of Chinese-Swiss corporate investments. She actively contributes to shaping Switzerland's financial sector through academic leadership and policy engagement. Her research interests emphasize the interplay between financial systems, regulatory frameworks, and macroeconomic stability. Recent work explores digital transformation's impact on banking roles, AI-driven advising, and post-crisis regulatory effectiveness. She is a frequent speaker on topics like inflation risks and the future of currency systems, reflecting her dual focus on theoretical and applied financial challenges.
Dr. Neale O'Connor is an Associate Professor in Forensic and Sustainability Accounting at La Trobe University's Accounting & Data Analytics department. His research focuses on modernization processes in Chinese firms, supply chain management, performance measurement systems, and cross-border business dynamics. He leads the 'China 1000' project, a landmark survey on operational risks in Asian supply chains, and advises multinational corporations such as HTC and Philips. Neale has secured over $350,000 in grants and is a sought-after speaker on Asia-Pacific operational risks and sustainability. Teaching philosophy emphasizes 'Authentic, Transformational Teaching, Active Learning' through real-world case studies and industry collaboration. He pioneered units like Global Supply Chain Management and Fintech, integrating factory audits and trade show experiences into student assessments. His courses cover ESG reporting, management control systems, and international taxation. Editorial roles include Behavioral Research in Accounting and Management Accounting Research. Notable works include the PBEC-KPMG report on global sourcing shifts and a forthcoming study on Scope 3 emissions reporting. His research spans over 30 years, with publications in top journals like Accounting, Organizations and Society and Journal of International Accounting Research . Grants: Over $350,000 in external funding. Projects: 'China 1000' operational risk survey, factory quality audits for multinationals. Consulting: Founder of Ricebox.com, advising on operational improvements. Industry Impact: Developed widely used corporate case studies with 1000+ annual downloads across 40 universities.
Professor John Lachlan Taylor is an Honorary Professor at Queen Mary University of London's School of Law. With over three decades of experience, he specializes in international public and private law, banking, capital markets, trade finance, digital assets, and law reform. He has held senior roles including General Counsel at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), legal positions at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank, and leadership roles in global law firms and financial institutions. Currently, he serves as an independent consultant on international law and policy reform, strategic advisor to a fintech company, and Co-Founder/Director of the Centre for Applied Sustainable Transition Law (CASTL). His professional career spans law firm management (including leading the international strategy of a major English law firm), in-house counsel roles at financial institutions like Banque Paribas and INVESCO UK, and innovative work in developing financing instruments and resolving complex cross-border legal issues. He has extensive experience in mergers, fund formations, and public/private debt/equity deals across continents. Professor Taylor’s research and advisory work focuses on the intersection of law, finance, and sustainable development. He actively engages with policy reforms and digital asset regulation, leveraging his cross-sector expertise to address global legal challenges.
Arif Perdana is an Associate Professor specializing in digital strategy and data science at Monash University. He holds a PhD in Business Information Systems from the University of Queensland (2016) and serves as Director of the Action Lab Indonesia since December 2022. His research focuses on responsible AI, blockchain, machine learning, and digital strategy applications in finance, healthcare, and education sectors. He has secured significant funding from entities like Bank Indonesia and Monash Data Future Institute. Research Interests: - Blockchain for supply chain sustainability - Ethical AI governance - FinTech and RegTech innovations - Digital transformation strategies - Data governance frameworks Awards: - Lybrand Award 2022-2023 Key Projects: - ASEAN Disinformation Index (2024-2025) - Algorithmic Systems Governance in Finance (2023-2024) - Inclusive P2P Lending Models (2023) - Digital Health Governance in Indonesia (2022-2023) Media Contributions: - Over 50 media features discussing AI ethics, cybersecurity, and tech governance - Featured in international outlets like RMIT Vietnam and Swinburne University
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Kit Hickey is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship and a Lecturer at MIT Sloan School of Management. Her academic role focuses on teaching advanced entrepreneurship tools and addressing organizational challenges in startups. She has significant industry experience, including co-founding Ministry of Supply, a tech-driven fashion company that revolutionized professional apparel through 3D printing and sustainable manufacturing. As Chief Retail Officer, she expanded retail operations with 10 stores and pioneered customer-centric manufacturing experiences. Her career also includes founding a nonprofit supporting entrepreneurs in emerging markets, which later merged with BiD Network. Previously, she worked in investment banking, advising early-stage companies on Series A and B funding rounds. At MIT, she teaches courses like Building an Entrepreneurial Venture: Advanced Tools and Techniques and Dilemmas in Founding New Ventures , focusing on practical challenges faced by startup founders. Hickey’s work intersects technology, fashion, and social impact, emphasizing innovation in supply chains, retail experiences, and sustainable practices. Her recent insights include collaborations with AI-driven healthcare startups and analyses of MIT’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Dr. Armin Chitizadeh is a Lecturer at the School of Computer Science, University of Sydney. He holds a Bachelor of Software Engineering (First Class Honours, UNSW 2015) and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (UNSW 2020, supervised by Prof. Michael Thielscher). Previously, he worked at UNSW as a casual academic and Education Focused Associate Lecturer until 2024. His research focuses on AI ethics, generative AI tools, smart agents, and computer science education. He co-founded the Fintech AI Innovation Consortium (FAIC), emphasizing responsible AI development. His teaching portfolio includes Artificial Intelligence, Database Systems, Software Engineering, and Data Science courses. Current projects include industry partnerships and a healthcare initiative at the Royal Hospital for Women, which reduced nurse workload via AI-driven record-keeping automation. He has been featured in media outlets like SBS News, Channel News Asia, and The Sydney Morning Herald for his insights on AI ethics, DeepSeek controversies, and tech policy. Awards: Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) Collaborations span university-industry partnerships, with sponsorships and student project integrations. His work highlights the intersection of AI innovation and societal impact, particularly in education and healthcare.
Dr. Basem Suleiman is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Advanced Computing at the University of Sydney and Deputy Director of the Software Engineering Program at UNSW Sydney. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UNSW (2012) and has over a decade of experience in academia and industry, including roles at SAP, CSIRO’s Data61, and leading universities. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science, UNSW Sydney (2012) Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialization & Management, UNSW Sydney Master of Computing (Software Engineering), Western Sydney University Research Interests: AI-driven Software Services: Federated Learning, Recommender Systems, Human-Machine Interaction Applied AI: GenAI/LLMs, Machine Learning, Deep Learning for FinTech, Healthcare, and Education Cloud Computing: Elasticity, Workload Management, Privacy-Preserving Techniques Key Contributions: Developed AI models for structural health monitoring, personalized learning systems, and anomaly detection Secured research grants and published 80+ papers in venues like ACM Transactions, IEEE Conferences, and IJCAI Supervised 15+ PhD/MPhil students and led industry partnerships with SAP, CSIRO, and global tech firms Awards & Recognition: Runner-up Best Paper Award (2023) Dean’s Commendation for Teaching Excellence Invited Keynote Speaker (2022 ICoSEIT) Engagement: Leads industry collaborations as UNSW’s Industry Capstone Liaison Officer, fostering partnerships for student projects and curriculum innovation.
Prof. Dr. Joachim Schwarz is a Professor for Market Research and Quantitative Methods at the Business Department of the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer. His expertise spans empirical-quantitative methods in business management, with a focus on data analysis, statistical modeling, and market research. Contact: joachim.schwarz@hs-emden-leer.de Research Interests Electromobility in rural areas: Developing energy system models to analyze bidirectional charging impacts on regional self-sufficiency Generative AI applications in statistics education Consumer behavior and market acceptance of autonomous vehicles Unpackaged food product marketing Fintech evolution and Industry 4.0 in financial markets Recent Publications (2014-2022) demonstrate expertise in fintech, market acceptance studies, statistical modeling, and business analytics. His work combines quantitative methods with practical applications in finance, marketing, and energy systems.
Michele De Mari is an Associate Professor in Business Law at the Department of Legal Sciences, University of Verona. His academic work focuses on the intersection of law, technology, and finance, with particular expertise in Fintech applications, corporate governance, and financial regulation. His research interests include: Fintech and its application to finance and investment services Crypto-assets regulation under frameworks like MiCA Sustainable enterprise and ESG principles Corporate governance structures in public limited companies and banks Listing on regulated markets and multilateral trading facilities Alternative dispute resolution in financial sectors Investor protection mechanisms Professor De Mari has led significant research projects including studies on Multilateral Trading Facilities, the Excellence Project on Law, Changes and Technologies, and investigations into corporate governance models. His publications span from 2024 back to the early 2000s, demonstrating sustained scholarly contribution in business law, with recent focus on digital finance regulation and sustainable enterprise models. His work shows a clear trajectory from traditional corporate governance toward innovative areas like crypto-assets regulation and Fintech applications. He serves on multiple academic committees including the Department Council of Legal Studies, Economic Law Department Council, and various scientific committees for specialized courses in banking law, bankruptcy law, and professional development programs. Professor De Mari teaches across multiple programs: Master's degree in Banking and Finance: Banking and Financial Markets Law Bachelor's degree in Business Administration: Basis of Business Law and Corporate Law PhD in European and International Law: specialized courses on crypto-assets His office is located at Polo Santa Marta, Floor 3, room 3.10, with office hours on Tuesdays from 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM (by appointment via email).
Nordakademie University of Applied SciencesGermany
Prof. Jörg Richard is a Professor of Corporate Finance at NORDAKADEMIE, specializing in digital finance, corporate governance, and liquidity management. Previously, he held a professorship in Business Administration at the Berufsakademie Hamburg (BA-H) and served as a researcher under Prof. Joachim Süchting at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. His PhD focused on privatization management and financial markets. Education: PhD in Finance at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (supervised by Prof. Süchting) His research explores digital finance innovations like utility tokens, ESG compliance in mergers and acquisitions, and liquidity strategies during crises. Recent work emphasizes blockchain-based financing mechanisms and governance challenges in tokenized corporate structures. He has authored over 50 publications in journals such as Corporate Finance and ZRFC , and contributed to guides like Handbuch Going Private . Advising and Grants: No formal advisees listed, but contributes to industry partnerships and executive education programs. Active in Swiss and German financial sector think tanks. Labs/Teams: Involved in interdisciplinary teams at NORDAKADEMIE focusing on digital transformation in financial systems.
Prof. Luca Erzegovesi is a Full Professor at the Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento. He holds academic positions in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, specializing in financial systems and risk management. With a 1980 degree from Bocconi University, he has served in academic roles since 1980, advancing from researcher to full professor by 1994. His research focuses on financial risk management, SME financing, and financial engineering. Education: 1980: Degree in Business Economics from Luigi Bocconi University Research Interests: Prof. Erzegovesi explores financial risk management frameworks, corporate finance strategies for SMEs, and innovative fintech solutions. His work integrates quantitative models with practical financial instruments, including interest rate risk management and asset-liability management. Recent projects include SME financing through guarantee consortia and network-based financial solutions. Notable Research Activities: Coordinated EU-funded projects on monetary policy impacts and SME risk management. Developed DIVES software for Monte Carlo simulations in enterprise risk assessment. Authored seminal works on agricultural credit systems and financial engineering principles. Advising & Grants: MIUR-funded project on SME risk management (2001-2002) Provincia Autonoma di Trento project on financial software development (1991-1993) Consulted Banca d'Italia on securities regulation and Mediocredito Trentino on strategic ALM Labs/Teams: Co-founded Larix, a financial software firm developing risk assessment tools. Currently developing network-based solutions for SME finance through interdisciplinary research.
Zenu Sharma is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Department of Finance, Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John's University. He holds a PhD in Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MS in Finance from Punjab University. His research focuses on corporate finance, climate finance, and fintech innovations, with publications in journals like Journal of Corporate Finance , Journal of Banking and Finance , and Ecological Economics . Education: PhD in Finance, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute MS in Finance, Punjab University Research interests emphasize corporate finance dynamics, climate risks in financial systems, and emerging technologies like blockchain and machine learning in finance. His work explores topics such as executive compensation structures, global syndicated lending behavior during crises, and the intersection of environmental policies with financial performance. Teaching responsibilities include courses on fintech, crypto assets, machine learning in finance, and foundational corporate finance principles. He has developed innovative curricula addressing modern financial technologies and market trends. Advising and Grants: Sharma actively engages in academic research collaborations but no specific grant details or advisee names are disclosed in the provided texts. His work frequently addresses interdisciplinary themes such as pandemic-driven financial shifts and sustainability-focused investment strategies. Labs/Teams: No specific laboratory or research team affiliations are mentioned, though his research often involves cross-institutional partnerships reflected in co-authored publications.
Meghan Hennessy Mihal, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Economics at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Principles of Macroeconomics , Money and Banking , and Economics of Sport , while advising students in the School of Business and Economics minor programs. B.A. in Economics and B.S. in Mathematics from Albright College M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Fordham University Her research focuses on integrating cryptocurrencies into traditional economics curricula, analyzing gender discrimination in professional compensation, and studying monetary policy interactions with institutional quality. Recent work includes a 2015 publication on wage disparities among female lawyers and ongoing projects examining MLB salary differentials and blockchain applications in education. Dr. Mihal advises the Business Club and Delta Mu Delta honors society, while serving on committees for Sustainability & Climate Change , General Education Assessment , and as a faculty observer to the Board of Trustees . Her scholarly output spans topics from pedagogical innovation to global economic disparities .
Ric Thomas is a Senior Lecturer in the Finance department at Suffolk University, serving as a faculty advisor and Board member for the Finance and Investing Club. With over 20 years in investment management, he previously held leadership roles at State Street Global Advisors, managing up to $200B in assets. He currently advises the World Bank's Disaster Risk Finance and Asset Allocation groups, chairs the Colorado State University Foundation, and mentors first-generation students through Sapere Aude Consortium. MBA, University of Chicago MA, University of Colorado BA, Colorado State University Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) His research focuses on asset allocation strategies, factor timing, and institutional investment practices. He has contributed to leading journals like the Journal of Portfolio Management and Financial Analysts Journal, earning recognition such as the 2019 Bernstein Fabozzi/Jacobs Levy Award. Ric teaches courses in business finance, multinational finance, and investment analysis. Professional activities include editorial board membership at the Journal of Investing and advisory roles at Valspresso (a Fintech firm). He balances academic teaching with global advisory work, emphasizing practical applications of financial theory in real-world investment challenges.
