International Distinguished Lecture Series

The International Distinguished Lecture is a major annual event of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies.

In highlighting the work of the Australian Centre the occasion furthers the Centre’s mission to enhance Australia’s national and international reputation for excellence in financial practice, research and education. The Lecture itself is directed to providing thought leadership to the Australian finance and business communities on matters of contemporary global import.

The target audience for the lecture series includes senior executives from the Melbourne and Australian business and finance communities, senior public sector officials, and academics. Consistent with the goals of the Australian Centre, the lecture will address important practical issues in a rigorous fashion, but in a style suited to the target audience.

The invitation to speak as the International Distinguished Lecturer is made at the discretion of the Director of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies on behalf of the Centre’s Board. The Distinguished Lecturer will have some or all of the following qualities:

A record of high achievement in a senior finance or business role;
Be widely recognised as a leader in their profession;
A demonstrated contribution to, or affiliation with, academic excellence and
A known capacity to address matters affecting the finance sector (globally or nationally) in a manner suitable for, and of interest to, an Australian audience.

The topic of the address is at the discretion of the Distinguished Lecturer. However it is intended that the Lecture will focus upon areas of direct interest to the target audience, and consistent with the Australian Centre’s core areas of interest, such as: financial regulation; funds management and retirement savings; banking and insurance; new financial markets; corporate finance and infrastructure; and emerging financial and economic issues of national and international significance.

On December 21st 2006, the Inaugural International Distinguished Lecture under the Melbourne Centre for Financial Studies was delivered by Mr Mervyn King, Governor of The Bank of England. Over 400 senior banking, finance and securities practitioners and academics attended the luncheon at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne. Governor King chose the event to make an important speech entitled “Through the Looking Glass: Reform of the International Institutions.”The Lecture was widely reported in the UK press.

On December 12th, 2007, Dr. Robert Joss, Dean of Stanford Business School and former CEO of Westpac Banking Corporation delivered the second annual International Distinguished Lecture. His timely lecture on “Modern Finance and Its Leadership Challenges” was universally acclaimed and also widely reported.

The 3rd Lecture on 26 November 2008 by John Fraser, Chairman and CEO of UBS Global Asset Management reflected on A Tumultuous Year or so – Some Observations on the Turmoil in the Financial Markets, Policy Settings and Regulatory Implications, with a speaker who was at the centre of that tumult. Fraser has since lent his experience to the local market by becoming the Chairman of VFMC.

The 4th Lecture on 10 February 2010 with Jaime Caruana, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements entitled “Grappling with Systemic Risk” came at time when banking regulators led by Mr Caruana are still considering future frameworks for prudential supervision and regulatory capital rules. The event was attended by 350 senior banking and finance executives, industry practitioners, government bodies and academics.

Sponsorship Opportunity

The International Distinguished Lecture provides an outstanding opportunity to be associated with, and seen to be supportive of, the emergence of a new and ongoing source of Thought Leadership for the Australian finance and business communities.

It provides an opportunity to have the sponsors important role in the financial sector publicised and recognised by a distinguished audience of major decision makers. It provides the opportunity to establish relationships with leaders in the financial, business and political communities.

To ensure maximum benefit to sponsors of this event, there will be at most two industry sponsors. (The Reserve Bank of Australia will also be a sponsor and acknowledged as such).

Sponsorship benefits include:

An invitation to the pre-lunch, invitation only, meeting with the Distinguished Lecturer, which also provides the opportunity to meet other distinguished invited guests;
Alignment between SPONSOR and the Australian Centre for Financial Studies;
Opportunity to provide vote of thanks to / or introduction of the Lecturer;
An invitation for TWO SPONSOR representatives to attend the pre-Sponsorship Event function, invitation-only meeting of distinguished guests with the Lecturer;
TWO seats at the head table for the Sponsorship Event;
Acknowledged in promotional material for the function;
SPONSOR name and logo to appear on ACFS and Finsia websites advertising the Sponsorship Event;
ONE complimentary table of 10 seats at the Lecture or alternatively 10 seats on (non corporate booked) tables to enable networking;
SPONSOR banner displayed at the function venue and
Opportunity to meet and greet all guests as they arrive at the lecture.

Further Benefits:

Involvement in the decision-making process for the Lecturer for future years, including nominating possible lecturers, and consultation throughout the decision making process;
the lecturer must attend another event hosted by sponsor as nominated by sponsor and
First right of refusal to continue with the arrangement/agreement.

Organisations wishing to align to this key industry event are requested to contact:

Frieda McLoughlin
Senior Manager Marketing, Events and Sponsorship
(+61 3) 9666 1007