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UNSW Law, in a philanthropic collaboration with national law firm MinterEllison, has established the chair role at an “opportune time” for national leadership post-financial services royal commission.
Professor Dimity Kingsford Smith, whom Minters noted as a “leading voice in corporate and finance regulation”, will be the inaugural MinterEllison chair in risk and regulation, responsible for studying risk governance, risk management and regulation to help organisations identify, understand and respond to known and unknown risks.
Speaking about her new role, Professor Kingsford Smith said she is looking forward to working “on the big questions” surrounding how to deal fairly with risk and regulation and all the stakeholders they effect.
“Risk and regulation, along with community expectations, are central to most decisions in commercial and corporate life, and to how the legal system responses,” she said.
“I am very excited about and grateful for the opportunity this generous support provides to spend time as a research professor on these questions of continuing importance to some of our most significant institutions and to the lives of Australians.”
UNSW Law dean Professor George Williams said the faculty was delighted to be entering into the partnership with Minters, as supporting risk professionals is “important to the effective operation” of government, markets and corporations.
“These activities will help to protect the institutions and networks which we rely on for security, safety and modern economic prosperty in a complex and increasingly inter-related world,” he said.
“The royal commission highlights why universities and their partners must take the lead in ensursing that financial services are delivered fairly [for] the community.
This chair promises to have a large impact on those debates.”
MinterEllison partner and leader of risk, regulatory, insurance and controversy Ross Freeman added that connecting academic inquiry to leading professional practice is critically important to the financial services industry in Australia.
“The industry is going through the most profound changes we are likely to see in our lifetime. As advisers to the industry we have a particular interest in supporting sound risk management, regulation and legislation that benefits society and the economy more widely,” noted MinterEllison partner Rahoul Chowdry.
“Our partnership with UNSW Law will help us develop further our views on the interplay between community expectations, conduct and the law, and equip our people to deliver cutting edge advice that is particularly relevant in the turbulent times in which we live.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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