Firsthand perspectives from industry thought leaders
Financial Risk Day is an annual event where leading figures from academia, industry and regulators discuss the achievements, trends and concerns in the development of the latest ideas underpinning financial market innovations.
Since 2010, the conference has featured panel discussions and showcase sessions hosted by industry experts from across Australia and the world.
Financial Risk Day 2026: Climate Finance and Energy Transition
Climate change presents significant and growing challenges for the global economy, society and the environment. The decarbonisation of the economy involves significant changes to the current structure of energy markets, the creation and design of new markets for carbon credit units, and the integration of new energy sources, such as hydrogen, into these markets. This has significant implications not only for the energy industry, but also for the financial sector and the entire economy. While the energy transition poses significant risks to incumbents, it also provides many opportunities for investment into new technologies, as well as the creation of new financial products and markets.
The Centre for Emerging Risks in the Macquarie Business School will host the 15th annual Financial Risk Day on 9 December 2026 to discuss impacts of energy transitions on the economy, as well as on the energy sector and financial industry. The conference will be co-hosted by Macquarie University’s Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre.
This year, Financial Risk Day is organised jointly with the 4th Climate Finance & Risk workshop. You can attend the full three-day program (7-9 December) or select to attend only the Climate Finance & Risk Workshop (7–8 December), or Financial Risk Day (industry day on 9 December). Bringing together experts from academia, industry and regulation, the event will explore how to model, assess and manage climate-related risks and the impacts of the decarbonisation of the economy to the current structure of energy markets and in the integration of new energy sources.
The program will feature a mix of lectures and discussions, including a roundtable on future challenges and opportunities in climate finance and energy transitions.
- Date: 9 December 2026
- Cost: $200 (plus 10% GST)
- Register now
- Program is coming soon.
This year Financial Risk Day will examine risks, opportunities and solutions for the transition of energy markets and the decarbonisation of the economy. Experts from industry, regulation and academia will discuss existing and new ideas on how to facilitate a smooth transition, the impacts of the transition on energy markets, financial institutions, and the economy as a whole.
Leonie Tickle, Professor of Actuarial Studies and Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School, will present a welcome address at the opening. The conference will feature:
- panel discussions moderated by David Orsmond (Professor of Economics at Macquarie Business School and former Deputy Head of Financial Stability Department at the RBA)
- a Macquarie University project showcase session
- a strong line-up of outstanding speakers from industry, academia and regulators.
This year's conference has been organised by our Macquarie Business School Committee:
- Professor Pavel Shevchenko Chair of the Committee (Actuarial Studies, Director of the Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
- Professor Stefan Trueck (Director of the Centre for Transforming Energy Markets, Macquarie University)
- Dr Igor Geninson (Industry Advisory Board Coordinator, Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
- Professor Zhuo Jin (Actuarial Studies, Co-Director of the Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
- Professor Shuping Shi (Economics, Co-Director of the Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre).
TBA soon.
Previous Financial Risk Day events
Past conferences discussed financial risks, solutions and opportunities related to:
- ageing populations
- AI
- banking
- climate change
- cyber security
- energy transition
- investments
- property
- technological innovation.
See a more detailed overview of what we've discussed in recent years.
The Financial Risk Day in 2025 focused on the risks and opportunities in the rapidly evolving world of digital finance.
Conference organisers
- Professor Pavel Shevchenko Chair of the Committee (Actuarial Studies, Director of the Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
- Dr Farida Akhtar (Senior Lecturer, Business Analytics)
- Associate Professor Di Bu (Applied Finance, Director of the Centre for FinTech and Banking)
- Dr Igor Geninson (Industry Advisory Board Coordinator, Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
- Professor Zhuo Jin (Actuarial Studies, Co-Director of the Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
- Professor Shuping Shi (Economics, Co-Director of the Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre).
Speakers
- Gayan Benedict (Partner at PwC; MIT CISR Industry Research Fellow; ISO TC/307 Blockchain Standards Committee)
- Rhys Bollen (Senior Executive Leader, Fintech, ASIC)
- Carlos Cacho (Equity Research Analyst and Co-Head of Australian Banks research at Macquarie Group)
- Sean Carmody (Executive Director, Policy and Advice Division at APRA)
- Adam Creighton (Chief Economist and Senior Fellow, Institute of Public Affairs)
- Rod Lewis (Chief Strategy Officer and Founding Partner, Imperium Markets)
- Greg Medcraft (Chair of Australian Finance Group and Chair of AEMO Services Ltd; former Chair of ASIC & IOSCO, Director, OECD/MD-Societe Generale)
- Talis Putnins (Chief Scientist of the Digital Finance CRC and Professor of Finance at UTS)
- Tony Richards (Senior Advisor at Digital Finance CRC and ex-Head of Payments Policy, Head of Economic Research and Head of Economic Analysis at Reserve Bank of Australia).
The Financial Risk Day in 2024 focused on the latest advancements of AI in financial markets – customer-based chatbots, tailored customer service, credit analysis, risk management, fraud prevention and detection.
Conference organisers
- Katrina Avery (Director, Partnerships – Research, Innovation and Enterprise, Macquarie University)
- Professor Pavel Shevchenko (Professor of Actuarial Studies, Director of Macquarie University Emerging Risks Research Centre)
Speakers
- Babak Abedin (Professor of Business Analytics, Macquarie Business School)
- Di Bu (Associate Professor of Finance at Macquarie Business School)
- Carlos Cacho (Equity Research Analyst and Co-Head of Australian Banks research, Macquarie Group)
- Longbing Cao (Professor, Distinguished Chair in AI, School of Computing, Macquarie University)
- Hamid Eltom (Data Scientist, Innovation Lab, APRA)
- Jonathan Kearns (Chief Economist and Head of Regulatory Affairs Challenger)
- Paul Minter (Non-Financial Risk, APRA)
- Craig Price (Associate Director, Head of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence CoE at Suncorp Group)
- John Selby (Principal Consultant and Head of Research, Privcore)
- Niloufer Selvadurai (Professor, Director of Research & Innovation, Macquarie Law School)
- John Simon (Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University and Head of Economic Research Department at RBA until August 2024)
- Renay Ringma (Head of the Artificial Intelligence, AMP)
The topic for the 2023 Financial Risk Day was Energy Transition: Risks and Opportunities. Our speakers examined risks, opportunities and solutions for the transition of energy markets and the de-carbonisation of the economy.
Experts from industry, regulation and academia discussed existing and new ideas on how to facilitate a smooth transition, the impacts of the transition on energy markets, financial institutions, and the economy as a whole.
Conference organisers
- Professor Tina Soliman Hunter (Macquarie Law School)
- Professor Jeffrey Sheen (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
- Professor Pavel Shevchenko (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
- Dr Madeline Taylor (Macquarie Law School)
- Professor Stefan Trück (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
Speakers
- Tim Jordan (Commissioner, Australian Energy Market Commission)
- Cameron Kelly (General Counsel, Australian Renewable Energy Agency)
- Cameron O’Reilly, Associate Director (Marsden Jacob Associates)
- Tina Soliman Hunter (Director, Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation (CENRIT), Co-Director of Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre, Macquarie University)
- Blair Palese (Director of Philanthropy, Ethinvest and Managing Editor, Climate and Capital Media)
- Madeline Taylor (Co-Director of the Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre, Deputy Director, Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation, Macquarie University)
- Professor Stefan Trück (Director, Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre, Macquarie University)
- Christiaan Zuur (Director of Market, Grid and Investment, Clean Energy Council)
The 2022 Financial Risk Day examined developments in the financial sector with regards to cyber-related risks. Experts from industry, regulation and academia discussed how to appropriately identify, measure and manage cyber threats and how to develop solutions to enhance cyber security in the financial industry.
Conference organisers
- Professor Jeffrey Sheen (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
- Professor Pavel Shevchenko (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
- Professor Stefan Trück (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
Speakers
- Rachel Howitt (Senior Executive Leader, Corporations, Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
- Zhuo Jin (Professor of Actuarial Science, Macquarie Business School)
- Richard Johnson (Group Chief Information Security Officer, Westpac)
- Prof Dali Kaafar (Professor and Executive Director of Macquarie University Cyber Security Hub)
- Quinton Kotze (Cyber & Technology Product Manager, A&NZ, Chubb Insurance Australia Limited)
- Alberto Piccenna (Client Director, Cyber Practice AON)
- Pavel Shevchenko (Professor of Actuarial Studies and Business Analytics, Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics at Macquarie Business School)
- John Singh (Head of Operational Resilience -Transformation, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority)
- Stefan Trück (Professor of Business Analytics and Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics at Macquarie Business School)
The 2021 Financial Risk Day theme was managing climate change risks in the financial sector. Experts considered both specific and broad approaches for government, financial institutions and product providers to develop solutions that meet the needs of winners and losers in the transition to a lower carbon economy.
Conference organisers
- Professor Jeffrey Sheen (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
- Professor Pavel Shevchenko (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
- Professor Stefan Trück (Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics)
Speakers
- Brad Archer (Chief Executive Officer, Climate Change Authority)
- Claire LaBouchardiere (Senior Executive Leader – Corporations, ASIC)
- Martina Linnenluecke (Professor of Applied Finance and Director of the Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Environmental Finance at Macquarie Business School)
- Richard Matear (Chief Research Scientist and Climate Intelligence Portfolio Lead in the Climate Science Centre at CSIRO)
- Rade Musulin (Principal, Finity Consulting)
- Graham Sinden (Head of Climate Risk – Operational Resilience, APRA)
- Stefan Trück (Professor of Business Analytics and Co-Director of the Centre for Risk Analytics at Macquarie Business School)