The 14th Financial Markets and Corporate Governance Conference (FMCG 2024)
2 - 4 April 2024
Monash University Malaysia proudly hosted the 14th Financial Markets and Corporate Governance Conference (FMCG 2024) from 2nd to 4th April 2024. The conference brought together esteemed academics, industry experts, and practitioners to delve into pressing topics shaping the financial landscape, with highlights on Sustainable Finance, Earnings Quality, FinTech, Governance and post-pandemic challenges in Financial Markets.
The event chaired by Professor Balasingham Balachandran, witnessed engaging panel sessions featuring academic and industry keynote speakers from renowned institutions worldwide. Notable highlights included discussions on enhancing the quality of research papers, navigating challenges related to ageing population and Employees Provident Fund (EPF), sustainable finance, and household finance. Our esteemed lineup of guest speakers included:
Academic Keynote Speakers:
- Professor Ron Masulis, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
- Professor Avanidhar Subrahmanyam, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Professor Sumit Agarwal, National University of Singapore
- Professor Robert Faff, Bond University and University of Queensland
- Professor Tom Smith, Macquarie University and University of Queensland
- Professor Chris Veld, Monash Unviersity Australia
Industry Keynote Speakers:
- Balqais Yusoff, Head of Policy and Strategy Department, Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
- Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, CEO Bursa Malaysia
- Mohamad Ali Iqbal bin Abdul Khalid, Director of Investment Operations and Financial Market Department, Bank Negara Malaysia
Academic and Industry Panellists
- Professor Nafis Alam, Head of School of Business, Monash University Malaysia
- Mansoor Ahmed, Head of Technology and Head of Transformation, Infrastructure and Cloud - Functions at Standard Chartered Bank
- Mohammad Ridzuan Abdul Aziz, CEO WorldRemit Malaysia
- Dr. Mohamed Ashraf Mohamed Iqbal, Chairman Waafi Bank Ltd
- Namita Vikas, Founder and Managing Director of auctusESG
Sessions Overview
Day 1: The conference began with dynamic panel sessions, bringing together academic and industry experts to explore pivotal topics shaping the future of financial research and practice.
Panel Session with Editors/Reviewers at High Quality Journals
Moderated by Professor Balasingham Balachandran, this session featured Professor Ron Masulis, Professor Avanidhar Subramanyam, Professor Sumit Agarwal, Professor Robert Faff, and Professor Tom Smith. They provided valuable insights into publishing strategies for top finance journals and managing reviewer feedback. Additionally, they discussed case studies from India and Singapore, offering fresh perspectives on regional theory and research.
Panel Session on Research Methodology - “Dealing with Endogeneity”
Moderated by Professor Chris Veld, this session included Professor Robert Faff, Professor Tom Smith, Professor Avanidhar Subramanyam, and Professor Balasingham Balachandran. Discussions revolved around diverse techniques for addressing endogeneity in research methodology, offering practical approaches and insights into robust research methodologies.
Day 2: The conference began with Industry Keynote Address titled "Aging Population and EPF – Challenges and Strategies” by Ms Balqais Yusoff" and “Liquidity, Efficiency and Orderly Markets – Role of Bursa Malaysia” by Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift. Subsequently, Academic Keynote Address were delivered on “Sustainable and Household Finance: Past, Present and Future” by Professor Sumit Agarwal and “Scientific Directors, Innovation and Firm Value” by Professor Ron Masulis. The day concluded with a panel session offering profound insights into critical issues shaping climate finance.
Academics and Practitioners’ Session on Climate Finance
Moderated by Professor Tom Smith, this session featured Professor Sumit Agarwal, Namita Vikas, and Dr. Mohsin Ali. They explored the latest findings in climate finance research and industry challenges, sharing viewpoints into innovative solutions and the imperative for companies to address climate-related issues.
Day 3: The conference continued its exploration of pivotal issues influencing the financial sector through a panel discussion. This was followed by an Industry Keynote Address titled “Post-Pandemic Recovery on Equity/Bond Markets in Malaysia – Role of Bank Negara” by Mohamad Ali Iqbal bin Abdul Khalid, and an Academic Keynote Address on “Pitching Research & Research Ideas, Publishing at PBFJ" by Professor Robert Faff.
Panel Session on “Future of Banking in Malaysia: Navigating the Digital Transformation”
Moderated by Dr. Mirzet Seho, this discussion featured Professor Nafis Alam, Mansoor Ahmed, Mohammad Ridzuan Abdul Aziz, and Dr. Mohamed Ashraf bin Mohamed Iqbal. The session focused on navigating digital transformation in banking, addressing challenges and opportunities posed by crypto and other virtual currencies in Malaysia. Emphasis was placed on regulatory awareness and security measures in adopting innovative banking solutions.
The three-day conference featured four academic and three industry keynote addresses, four panel sessions, and concurrent PhD and academic symposium sessions. With over 120 papers discussed and participants from nine countries, FMCG 2024 was a resounding success, fostering valuable insights and collaborations.
As we reflect on the insightful discussions and collaborations fostered during FMCG 2024, we are excited to embark on future initiatives that will continue to shape the financial landscape and drive meaningful impact.