Professor Susan Thorp is a Finance academic at the University of Sydney Business School . With a PhD in Economics from UNSW and prior roles at University of Technology Sydney and the Reserve Bank of Australia, she focuses on household finance , retirement planning , and financial market behavior . BEc (Hons) - University of Sydney Dip. Ed. - University of New England PhD - University of New South Wales Her research interests include: Life-cycle financial decision-making Behavioral influences on savings and investments Superannuation policy and market integration Commodity market dynamics Economic impacts of financial literacy Crises-driven market contagion Recent publications analyze retirement decumulation , financial trust , and commodity-equity market correlations . She leads cross-disciplinary teams applying dynamic programming , econometric modeling , and experimental design to financial challenges. Her grants include ARC Linkage Projects and ASIC commissions for improving financial communication and regulatory frameworks . Media outlets frequently cite her expertise on superannuation policy , market volatility , and retirement savings behavior .
Susan Wachter is a Professor of Financial Management and Professor of Real Estate at the University of Pennsylvania's Stuart Weitzman School of Design and Wharton School. She has held academic positions since 1972, including roles as Chair of the Real Estate Department and Co-director of the Penn Institute for Urban Research. Her research focuses on urban economics, housing finance, climate risk, and public policy. She serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Housing Economics and has advised organizations such as the National Research Council and the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. Wachter earned her academic credentials at Bryn Mawr College and held a visiting professorship at Singapore Management University. Her awards include the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (1975) and the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Lifetime Achievement Award (2005). Her work explores topics like mortgage market stability, climate impacts on housing, and equitable housing finance systems. Research Highlights: Climate risk in mortgage markets, pandemic-era housing dynamics, foreign buyer tax impacts, and systemic financial stability. Policy Contributions: Advised on housing finance reforms, GSE viability, and fair housing policy modernization. Grants & Labs: Directed the Wharton Geographical Information Systems Lab since 1995, focusing on urban spatial analytics. Her publications span over four decades, addressing topics such as mortgage stress, urban competitiveness, and the legacy of the 2008 housing bubble. Wachter's interdisciplinary approach bridges real estate finance, public policy, and urban planning to inform sustainable housing solutions.
Joshua Fairfield is the William Donald Bain Family Professor of Law and Director of Artificial Intelligence Legal Innovation Strategy at Washington and Lee University's School of Law. His expertise spans digital property, data privacy, cryptocurrencies, and virtual worlds regulation. He holds a BA from Swarthmore College and a JD from the University of Chicago. Professor Fairfield's research focuses on the intersection of law and technology, particularly in digital ownership, privacy rights, and emerging technologies like IoT and blockchain. He has authored influential books, including Owned: Property, Privacy and the New Digital Serfdom (2017) and Runaway Technology: Can Law Keep Up? (2021). His work critiques corporate control over digital devices and advocates for consumer rights in the digital age. Education: BA, Swarthmore College; JD, University of Chicago Key Achievements: Fulbright Grant (2012–2013), American Law Institute Member (2013) Consulting: Advises U.S. agencies like the White House Office of Technology and Homeland Security Privacy Office His recent articles address topics such as environmental AI ethics, NFT regulation, and smart contract governance. Fairfield emphasizes the need for updated legal frameworks to protect digital rights and ensure democratic control over technology. He directs the AI Legal Innovation Strategy initiative, focusing on integrating AI into legal systems while addressing ethical and regulatory challenges.
Edward R. Morrison is the Charles Evans Gerber Professor of Law at Columbia University's Columbia Law School, where he has been a full-time faculty member since 2003. His academic rank is Professor, specializing in corporate finance, bankruptcy law, and law and economics. He holds a Ph.D. in economics (University of Chicago, 2003), J.D. (University of Chicago Law School, 2000), M.A. in economics (University of Chicago, 1997), and B.S. (University of Utah, 1994). Morrison’s research focuses on corporate reorganization, consumer bankruptcy, and systemic market risk regulation. Notable work includes studies on racial disparities in Chapter 13 filings, valuation disputes in bankruptcies, and the link between financial distress and mortality. He co-edits the Journal of Legal Studies and directs Columbia’s Executive LL.M. Program. His teaching portfolio includes Contracts, Bankruptcy Law, and Corporate Finance. He co-directs the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy. Awards include the Willis L.M. Reese Prize (2018) for teaching excellence and the John Wesley Steen Law Review Writing Prize (2012). Morrison’s work is supported by the National Science Foundation and Pew Charitable Trusts. He previously served as Paul H. and Theo Leffmann Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Chicago (2013–2014) and has held roles on the Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules and as associate editor of the American Law & Economics Review .
Professor Martin Coppack is a Professor of Practice in Financial Inclusion and Consumer Policy at the University of Birmingham's School of Social Policy and Society, affiliated with the Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management (CHASM). His work focuses on advancing consumer-centric policies, particularly for low-income and vulnerable groups, with significant contributions to regulatory frameworks in essential services. He holds multiple advisory roles, including memberships in the HM Treasury Financial Inclusion Committee and the Pay.UK End User Advisory Committee. Education: MSc Consumer Studies, Syracuse University, 1998 Diploma in Special Education, College of Preceptors, 1996 Post Graduate Certificate of Education (Further Education), Keele University, 1995 BSc (Hons) Human Ecology, Bath Spa University, 1994 Research Interests: Eliminating the poverty premium in essential services Consumer vulnerability and inclusive design in financial systems Advocacy for regulatory policies prioritizing vulnerable consumers His publications highlight systemic issues in financial services, advocating for equitable access and policy reforms. He has led impactful initiatives, such as the Big Lottery Fund’s £31.7 million financial inclusion program and Fair By Design’s work on the poverty premium. Grants & Advisory Roles: Directed the Fair By Design initiative, shaping UK policy debates on fairness in essential services. Consulted widely with regulators, governments, and NGOs on consumer rights and financial inclusion. Labs & Teams: Active contributor to CHASM, focusing on household financial resilience and policy innovation.
Kingsley Yuen Lung Fong is an Associate Professor of Finance at the UNSW Business School, specializing in Banking and Finance. He has published extensively in leading international finance journals and co-founded the RISE Finance Lab to explore how finance can better foster well-being, relational trust, and long-term stewardship. Institution: University of New South Wales School: UNSW Business School Department: Banking and Finance His academic work is guided by the principle that finance is an evolving design for organizing life and activity across individuals and society. Fong's research expertise spans market microstructure, investment, household finance, and sustainable finance. He has made significant contributions to understanding the connections between finance, society, and nature for a flourishing future. The analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on market microstructure, trading behavior, and sustainable finance. His work examines algorithmic trading impacts, liquidity measurement, household investment decisions, and regulatory aspects of financial advice. Fong's research demonstrates consistent interest in how financial systems can be designed to better serve societal needs while maintaining market efficiency. 2017 Review of Finance Spängler IQAM Prize 2021 Aspen Institute Ideas Worth Teaching Award 2022 S&P Global Decarbonisation Hackathon As an educator, Fong teaches Wealth Management and Client Engagement, Sustainable Investing, and Sustainable Finance. His leadership roles include serving as Deputy Head of School for Banking and Finance (2011-2019), Co-Founder of UNSW RISE Finance Lab (2025), and member of the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute Sustainable Finance Capability Reference Group (2024). Beyond traditional finance, he created DATKIS, an intellectual framework that grounds common sense and intelligence in truth, awareness, and design.
Dr. Mary Lacity is a Distinguished Professor of Information Systems at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, and holds the David D. Glass Endowed Chair. She is also a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics for Spring 2025. Director of Walton College’s Blockchain Center of Excellence (2014-2019) Former Curators’ Distinguished Professor at University of Missouri Holds visiting positions at MIT, Washington University, and Oxford University Senior Editor for MIS Quarterly Executive Contributing Editor for Journal of the British Blockchain Association Her research focuses on enterprise adoption of emerging technologies, particularly blockchain, metaverse, service automation, and ethical technology use. She has conducted extensive case studies and surveys on automation and Web3 implementation across hundreds of organizations globally. Recent publications include books like Human Privacy in Virtual and Physical Worlds (2024) and Blockchain Fundamentals for the Web 3.0 (2022). She has over 30 books and 26,300 Google Scholar citations (h-index: 68). 2014: Inducted into IAOP’s Outsourcing Hall of Fame 2024: Recognized as top 2% scholar in Business and Management (Stanford) 2024: Top 1% scholar in Business and Management (ScholarGPS) Fellow of the Association of Information Systems She actively contributes to blockchain standards via the Global Standards Mapping Initiative (GSMI) of the Global Blockchain Business Council and the Linux Foundation’s Trust over IP (ToIP). Her work bridges academic research and practical applications in enterprise technology adoption.
Jonathan Zinman is the R. Stephen Cheheyl Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College, affiliated with the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding. He holds academic advisory roles at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and is a research affiliate with J-PAL, NBER, and ideas42. His work bridges behavioral economics and household finance, focusing on consumer decision-making, financial product design, and policy applications. Zinman earned his B.A. from Harvard College and Ph.D. from MIT. Research emphasizes experimental methodologies to study lender-consumer interactions, financial inclusion, and behavioral biases. He collaborates with global policymakers (e.g., CFPB, Federal Reserve) and private-sector firms to design interventions improving financial outcomes. Key areas include microfinance, payment systems, and financial literacy. Teaching includes undergraduate finance courses emphasizing real-world applications and behavioral economics frameworks. Notable contributions include seminal work on payday lending dynamics, savings behavior interventions, and measurement of consumer decision-making heterogeneity. His work appears in top journals like Review of Economic Studies , Journal of Finance , and Nature .
Maria Monica Wihardja serves as a Visiting Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute while holding an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at the National University of Singapore. Her career bridges academic research and high-impact policy engagement, including former roles as World Bank Economist in the Poverty and Equity Global Practice and senior advisor to Indonesia's Presidential Executive Office on strategic economic reforms. Her educational background features: PhD in Regional Science, Cornell University MPhil in Economics, Cambridge University BA in Applied Mathematics-Economics, Brown University Wihardja's research integrates economic analysis with sociotechnical systems, focusing on digital transformation's impact on labor markets, food security, and democratic processes. She examines how technological disruption creates both opportunities for inclusion and risks of inequality, particularly through studies of platform economies, electoral disinformation, and sustainable agro-food systems. Her methodology combines quantitative econometrics with policy-oriented field research, often leveraging large-scale datasets from government and private sector partnerships. Analysis of her recent publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Digital economy effects on labor market polarization and inclusion, (2) Food system resilience through agricultural modernization, and (3) Geopolitical dimensions of supply chain reconfiguration. These intersect with her policy engagement in ASEAN economic integration frameworks and Indonesia's G20 presidency initiatives. Her scientific recognition includes: Nikkei Asian Scholar 2023 award Wihardja actively shapes regional discourse through editorial roles at East Asia Forum and Center for Indonesian Policy Studies. Her grant-funded work frequently involves World Bank partnerships and Indonesian government collaborations, particularly on stunting prevention and food policy reforms. Current projects examine deepfake impacts on electoral integrity and sustainable financing mechanisms for green transitions. She leads the Media, Technology and Society Programme at ISEAS, coordinating interdisciplinary research on digital governance and Southeast Asian technology policy. The programme partners with regional think tanks, government agencies, and private sector stakeholders to develop evidence-based policy responses to technological disruption.
Bruce Grohsgal serves as the Helen S. Balick Professor in Business Bankruptcy Law at Widener University Delaware Law School, where he joined the faculty in July 2014 after over 30 years of legal practice. His primary academic affiliation is with Widener University's Law School, where he teaches Bankruptcy, Contracts I and II, Secured Transactions, International Bankruptcy, and Financial Regulation. Prior to academia, he practiced at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones, LLP in Wilmington, Delaware, representing major entities in high-profile bankruptcy cases including Solyndra, Global Home Products, and Trans World Airlines. Professor Grohsgal's research focuses on bankruptcy law with particular expertise in business restructuring, student loan dischargeability, and financial institution insolvency. His work critically examines the absolute priority rule, structured dismissals, and the legislative history behind student loan nondischargeability. He has extensively analyzed how bankruptcy courts handle debtor-creditor agreements, lease rejections, and the recharacterization of debt claims as equity. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical legal analysis with practical restructuring challenges faced by practitioners. As Editor-in-Chief of the Norton Journal of Bankruptcy Law and Practice and the Norton Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law, Grohsgal significantly influences bankruptcy scholarship. His recent publications (2020-2023) demonstrate a concentrated focus on student loan bankruptcy discharge mechanisms, evolving interpretations of the absolute priority rule, and procedural innovations in Chapter 11 cases. The articles reveal growing scholarly attention to consumer bankruptcy issues within traditionally corporate-focused bankruptcy scholarship. Professor Grohsgal actively engages with policy development through congressional testimony, including written submissions for H.R. 1667 (Financial Institution Bankruptcy Act of 2017). He directs the Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law and previously chaired the Delaware State Bar Association's Bankruptcy Section. His practical experience informs his academic work, particularly regarding first-day motions, asset sales in bankruptcy, and derivatives treatment in insolvency proceedings.
Thomas Jaeger is a Professor of European Law at the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Law, specializing in the Internal Market and Competition within European Commercial Law. He leads the Institute for European, International and Comparative Law and serves as President of the Austrian Society for European Law (ÖGER), a member of FIDE, advocating for Austrian perspectives in EU legal developments. His research spans European Commercial Law, State Aid Law, Media Regulation , and Intellectual Property , with notable publications addressing EU legal frameworks for transport, digital markets, and gambling concessions. Recent lectures focus on state aid challenges, constitutional identity conflicts , and merger control . Jaeger supervises dissertations requiring significant scientific contribution and has organized events like the European Law Roundtable with CJEU and State Aid Law Day . He has held visiting roles at Hannover and Munich universities and previously worked at the Max Planck Institute and UNHCHR .
Professor Emilios Avgouleas holds the Chair of International Banking Law and Finance at the University of Edinburgh's School of Law. He is a leading expert in financial regulation, fintech policy, and systemic risk governance. His research focuses on blockchain technology, sustainable finance, and digital finance frameworks. He serves on the European Securities and Markets Group, advises the World Economic Forum, and collaborates with institutions like the European Banking Institute and the Monetary Committee of the International Law Association (MOCOMILA). Education: PhD (LSE), LLM (LSE), LLB (Athens University). Research grants include Leverhulme Trust funding and collaborations with the Asian Development Bank and Hong Kong University. He has been a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale, Tsinghua, and other global institutions. Research interests span financial stability, bank resolution mechanisms, and the intersection of technology with legal frameworks. His recent work addresses CBDCs, crypto regulation, and post-pandemic banking challenges. Over 80 peer-reviewed articles and books include *Governance of Global Financial Markets* (CUP, 2012) and co-edited volumes on systemic risk and capital markets union. Grants and awards: AHRC (2008-2009), Australian Research Council (2013-2016), Leverhulme Trust. He advises the European Parliament on financial stability and NPLs. Engages in high-level policy dialogues with regulators like the Bank of England, FCA, and ECB.
Sam Weinstein is a Professor of Law at the Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. He previously held positions at U.C. Berkeley School of Law as a fellow and at the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division. His expertise spans antitrust law, competition policy, and regulatory history. He holds a J.D. and Ph.D. in U.S. History from U.C. Berkeley, alongside a B.A. from Haverford College. Education: J.D. (Order of the Coif) and Ph.D. in U.S. History from U.C. Berkeley; B.A. from Haverford College Professional Background: Attorney at U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division; Litigator at Munger, Tolles & Olson His research focuses on antitrust enforcement, innovation policy, and the historical evolution of regulatory frameworks. Notable areas include dynamic pricing algorithms, venture capital antitrust issues, and blockchain regulation. He teaches courses such as Antitrust, Contracts, and Corporations. Professor Weinstein's scholarship appears in top law reviews including NYU Law Review, Georgia Law Review, and Washington University Law Review. His work bridges legal theory with practical regulatory challenges in tech, finance, and corporate sectors.
Christoph Frei is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at the University of Alberta. He holds a PhD in mathematical finance from ETH Zurich and previously worked as a researcher at École Polytechnique in Paris. His research focuses on quantitative finance, risk management, and mathematical economics, with applications to algorithmic trading, credit risk, and digital currencies. Education: PhD in Mathematical Finance, ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Researcher, École Polytechnique (Paris) Bachelor/Master in Mathematics, ETH Zurich His work bridges academia and industry through collaborations with institutions like ATB Financial, Canadian Western Bank, and the Federal Reserve System. Key research interests include over-the-counter markets, financial regulation, and machine learning applications in risk prediction. Frei has received notable recognition, including the Best Paper in Asset Pricing Award (2019). Current industry partnerships include AI-driven customer risk prediction projects with ATB Financial and credit risk analysis with Canadian Western Bank. He actively contributes to professional organizations like PRMIA Edmonton and advises on financial technology innovation. Research grants come from NSERC, SSHRC, and Mitacs. His consulting roles have spanned risk modeling at UBS and Credit Suisse, emphasizing practical applications of theoretical frameworks.
John G. Lynch, Jr. is University of Colorado Distinguished Professor at the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado-Boulder. He also serves as Inaugural Director of the Initiative for Global Business Impact and is affiliated with the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making. Previously, from 2022-2024, he served as Executive Director of the Marketing Science Institute, a nonprofit think tank bridging industry and academia. He has held prestigious faculty positions at University of Florida (1979-1996) as Graduate Research Professor and at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business (1996-2009) as Roy J. Bostock Professor of Marketing. Lynch received his BA in economics, MA in psychology, and PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His academic journey spans over four decades with significant contributions to consumer behavior research. He is the founding Director of the Center for Research on Consumer Financial Decision Making and founding co-chair of the Boulder Summer Conference on Consumer Financial Decision Making. He served on the Academic Research Council of the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from 2017-2020. Lynch's research focuses on the cognitive psychology of consumer decision-making, particularly consumer financial decision-making since joining CU in 2009. His work spans consumer financial decision making, financial knowledge and well-being, planning for money and time, and research methodology validity. His publications reveal a strong emphasis on financial education effectiveness, couples' financial responsibility division, retirement savings behavior, and methodological rigor in marketing research. The recent publications show increasing focus on financial education, privacy regulation, statistical methodology, and the intersection of financial and physical health. Lynch has received numerous prestigious awards including the 2025 American Marketing Association-Irwin-McGraw Hill Award for Distinguished Marketing Educator of the Year (the highest honor in academic marketing), Paul D. Converse Award for Outstanding Contributions to Marketing Science, and the Society for Consumer Psychology's Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award. He is a Fellow of the American Marketing Association, Association for Consumer Research, and American Psychological Association/Society for Consumer Psychology - one of only six scholars worldwide to achieve this triple distinction. As an educator, Lynch has taught undergraduate Principles of Marketing, Marketing Research, and Senior Seminar in Marketing at CU. He has also taught MBA electives on market intelligence and PhD courses on marketing strategy and experimental design. He has supervised or co-supervised 100 PhD dissertations, with former students now on faculties of leading business schools worldwide. His teaching excellence has been recognized with multiple awards including Leeds MBA Elective Teaching Excellence Awards in 2011 and 2013.
