GW4 Fintech Research Network 2024
Bristol
Workshop
Theme: AI in Finance — Asset Management
Time: 25 April 2024
Location: Engineers House, The Promenade, Clifton Down, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3NB
Agenda
09:30-09:50
Arrival (refreshments provided)
09:50-10:00
Welcome and introduction
10:00- 11:00
Keynote speaker: Prof. Rama Cont, University of Oxford
Title: Learning to simulate: harnessing Generative AI for finance
11:00-11:20
Dr. Sandra Spencer, Research Program Manager, University of Bristol
Title: Overview of Funding opportunities
11:20-11:30
Break (refreshments provided)
11:30-12:00
Dr. Bo Sang, Univeristy of Bristol
Title: Cross-Cryptocurrency Return Predictability
12:00-12:30
Robert Farago, Head of Strategic Asset Allocation, Hargreaves Lansdown
Title: Personalising investment strategy: the client journey to a suitable portfolio
12:30-13:00
Dr. Chao Zhang, University of Oxford
Title: Forecasting Realized Volatility with Spillover Effects: Perspectives from Graph Neural Networks
13:00-14:00
Lunch and networking
14:00-14:30
Stuart Harrison, Director, Fintech West
Title: AI & FinTech – applications in industry
14:30-15:00
Prof. Maggie Chen, University of Cardiff
Title: Overview of UK Fin+
15:00-15:30
Ed Bujok-Stone, Leader of the European Actuarial Technology team, EY
Title: The Evolution of AI across FS
15:30-15:35
Closing remarks
15:35-16:00
Break (refreshments provided)
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Rama Cont
Prof. Rama Cont is the Statutory Professor of Mathematics and Head of the Oxford Mathematical and Computational Finance Group at the University of Oxford. Additionally, he serves as a Professorial Fellow at St Hugh's College and is the Director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Mathematics of Random Systems.
Academic Speakers
Dr. Sandra Spencer
Dr. Sandra provides high-level research development and management support and advice to the Faculty of Life Sciences-based academics at the University of Bristol, including identifying funding opportunities and coordinating bid development for collaborative research.
Dr. Bo Sang
Dr. Bo Sang's is a Lecturer in Finance at the University of Bristol. Her research focuses on Empirical Asset Pricing and Market Microstructure, with special interests in the trading patterns of retail & institutional investors and the subsequent market efficiency.
Dr. Chao Zhang
Dr. Chao Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, works on machine learning in finance. Topics include international stock returns, tail risk simulation, covariance forecasting, and similarity-based approaches.
Prof. Maggie Chen
Prof. Maggie Chen is a Professor of Financial Mathematics at the University of Cardiff. She specialises in interdisciplinary financial modelling, focussing on Hawkes processes and network approaches. Her research contributes to understanding FinTech, market behaviour, and regulatory impacts.
Industry Speakers
Stuart Harrison, Fintech West
Stuart is the director of FinTech West. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a 30-year track record of founding, supporting, and directing high-tech companies. Specializing in leveraging new technologies to disrupt and digitally transform businesses, his expertise spans software, FinTech, cloud services, and the reseller channel.
Robert Farago, Strageic Asset Allocation
Robert is the Head of Strategic Asset Allocation, Hargreaves Lansdown. He is an experienced leader in portfolio management, asset allocation, and relationship building. With expertise in research, risk management, and team leadership, he has led successful projects and chaired committees. He is recognized for delivering effective presentations and thought leadership, contributing to investment research and educational initiatives. Additionally, he serves on committees for two not-for-profit organizations.
Ed Bujok-Stone, EY
Ed leads the European Actuarial Technology team at EY, leveraging his expertise in risk management and financial analysis. With a strong passion for technology, he combines actuarial science with software development, AI, and ML to create rich business solutions. At EY, his team implements sophisticated models and automation protocols, enabling clients to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights.