9 May 2024 - The author spoke at CISL today on the role of Citizens in the climate emergency

8 May 2024 - Richard Calland, Director for CISL’s Africa Programme and v isiting adjunct Professor at the Wits School of Governance, held a discussion with South Africa’s Trade & Industry Minister, Ebrahim Patel at an event to launch the country’s Industrial Policy and Strategy Review.

Boards of Directors need to act now to meet regulatory requirements for clear financial reporting of sustainability-related information, says a World Economic Forum (WEF) article co-authored by Dr Simon Learmount of Cambridge Judge Business School.

“Sustainability – including, critically, climate change – has rapidly evolved from an ‘environmental, non-financial’ consideration to a set of issues that often present material financial risks and opportunities for business”, says the article. 

The article is co-authored by Sarah Barker, Managing Director of climate change investment and advisory firm Pollination, and Simon Learmount, Associate Professor in Corporate Governance at Cambridge Judge, who are co-chairs of the WEF’s Community of Climate Governance Experts. 

Why information on sustainability should be considered mandatory 

The article says there are 3 key reasons why acting on new frameworks on sustainability reporting should be considered as effectively mandatory for companies: 

1. the speed and scale of regulatory change
2. directors’ duties and liability exposure
3. a firm’s competitive position in light of stakeholders’ increasing expectation of more information about climate-related risks and opportunities

As a result, boards need to assess their firms’ capacity and governance to meet these obligations, the gap between the firm’s current reporting and fast-emerging reporting requirements, and the implications of these requirements on company strategy. 

Featured faculty Simon Learmount

Associate Professor in Corporate Governance

View Simon's profile

Related content

Barker, S. and Learmount, S. (2024) “Sustainability reporting: what directors need to know and do.” WEF.org

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The post Why company boards should act now on sustainability reporting appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Frank Dobbin is Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences, and chair of the Department of Sociology, at Harvard.

At Cambridge Judge Business School our community of faculty and researchers are actively engaged with cutting-edge research across a wide range of interdisciplinary research centres and initiatives. These centres and initiatives – many of which are based at the Business School – play a key role in linking Cambridge research expertise with industry practitioners, business leaders and policy stakeholders.

As part of the MFin degree programme, students have the opportunity to work with these research centres, which span a wide range of business and finance related subject areas, including the Centre for Risk Studies, the Circular Economy Centre, the Centre for Endowment Asset Management and the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, to name a few.

Close ties with the research centres

Marwa Hammam, Co-Director of the MFin degree programme, shares some insights on how the programme’s close ties with the research centres can enrich the students’ learning journey. “MFin students can actively engage with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) via project work and participation in their global internship programme. Some students have also made valuable contributions to benchmarking studies and the groundbreaking Regulatory Genome Project (RGP) sponsored by the wider University.”

Marwa explains that the programme’s links with the research centres offers students the chance to collaborate with faculty and researchers in their chosen field or area of interest. “Such practical experiences showcase the MFin programme’s commitment to fostering the industry–academic partnerships that drive innovation and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of finance, providing students with hands on experience and the chance to contribute to cutting edge research initiatives. Our students and alumni particularly value the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution in their field via these collaborations with the research centres.”

We spoke to 3 MFin students as they were about to complete their MFin degree, to find out about their own experience of working with the research centres during the programme.

Hassan Aslam (MFin 2022/23) Hassan Aslam (MFin 2022/23) 

Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF)

Q. How did you first get involved with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF)? 

A. My journey with CCAF began when I recognised the incredible scope of their work in studying alternative finance and its tangible real-world implications. The CCAF focuses on researching financial channels and instruments that operate outside the conventional financial system. The centre’s interdisciplinary and rigorous research piqued my interest and I saw an opportunity to contribute meaningfully.  

Q. Can you share a bit about the project or research that you have been doing with the centre? 

A. The project I have been engaged in pertains to the growth and strategy of the CCAF itself. Specifically, my team and I were tasked with identifying, researching and prioritising approaches to expand the CCAF’s research programs globally and engage with key stakeholders in crucial jurisdictions. This project aimed to scale the CCAF’s Digital Assets Programme while ensuring its continuity to serve the financial and regulatory sector. I was able to collaborate with CJBS finance faculty and external practitioners who are experts in the field of alternative finance, such as Blockchain, DeFi, CeFi and emerging payment channels. 

Q. Is this a new field of research for you and has the project you have been working on helped you with your next career move?

This exposure greatly enriched my understanding of the subject and is far from ephemeral, resulting in an indelible learning experience. The work I have done at the CCAF taught me innovative research methods, application of data-driven approaches while focusing on real-world impact of alternative finance solutions. As I look into the future after the MFin programme, the project I’ve been involved in with CCAF will play a pivotal role in shaping my career path. 

Tom Mosher (MFin 2022/23) Tom Mosher (MFin 2022/23) 

Cambridge Circular Economy Centre (CEC)

Q. How did you first get involved with the centre and can you tell us about the research that you have been working on? 

A. I became familiar with the work of Cambridge’s Circular Economy Centre (CEC) in Easter term and affiliated with them for the purpose of contributing to the research they are conducting at the intersection of circular economy and the internet of things (IoT). In this connection, I spent a month on secondment in the summer in Cyprus, collaborating with a partner technology firm who is developing technologies that will help to make digital communications networks more sustainable.

Q. Is this a new field of research for you, or an area that you are interested in pursuing after your MFin?

A. A principal focus of my inquiry, therefore, was the telecoms industry — a sector that stands to gain considerably from the trends in the IoT and AI. As a postgraduate in finance, I found it compelling to look at strategies that make sound commercial sense whilst also using resources more intelligently: to do well in a business sense and do good at the same time. This was an entirely new area for me, and one that I likely would not have been able to delve into so deeply, except with the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School and CEC calling cards.  

Q. What are your plans after completing the MFin, and has your work with the Circular Economy Centre helped you with your next career move? 

 A. The work provides an excellent bridge between my past career (practicing financial law for sovereign and corporate clients, including TMTs) and my future as an investor who wants to work for a more purposeful financial sector. And the most wonderful thing about the secondment was that it granted me an opportunity to meet other contacts from around Europe working on circular economy. I felt tangibly that my work was feeding into a larger collaborative project with coworkers from the local partner, from other universities around Europe, and from others in academia, private industry and government. 

Sherin Tan (MFin 2022/23) Sherin Tan (MFin 2022/23) 

Cambridge Circular Economy Centre (CEC)

Q. Which research centre have you been working with, and what does the centre do? 

A. I have been working with the Circular Economy Centre (CEC). The centre carries out cutting-edge research exploring the opportunities for reimagining sustainable business models. The CEC navigates the intricacies within industries to present solutions for the elimination of traditional linear business models. Essentially, it helps transform the business model from a linear structure to circular one, where wastes are reused or repurposed as inputs. 

Q. Can you tell us about the project or research that you have been working on? 

A. The EU-funded research project aims to explore the interplay between the Circular Economy-Internet of Things (CE-IoT) through an independent review on the current intersection at commercial entity level. I interviewed the stakeholders of the host company in Warsaw, Poland to identify and quantify the necessary resources, processes and structure that are required to accelerate the CE adoption in the mainstream business as usual (BAU). I observed cross-references that exist between the theory and practice, which can be extrapolated to multiple industries.

Q. Is this a new field of research for you, or an area that you are interested in pursuing after your MFin? 

A. Yes, it is a new field of research for me. The theoretical Circular Economy elective course piqued my curiosity on the CE implementation in relation to manufacturing industry. The level of granularity that this research project offers has allowed me to peek into the infrastructure to make CE sustainable. Relative to its peers, such as climate finance, circular economy is still in its nascent stage of emergence within the sustainability taxonomy. Having said that, its huge potentials seem to offer a glimpse of an antidote to the resource constraint and waste toxicity that linear economy is causing. 

Q. What are your plans after completing the MFin, and has the project you have been working on helped you with your next career move? 

A. From this research project, I drew the foundational knowledge and clarity that convince me of the urgent need to redesign existing linear business model into a circular one. Although I am realistic to know that the journey will not be a linear one (no pun intended), I cannot wait to see how the dots eventually connect. Currently, I am taking a few months to work in both software technology and climate research companies to deepen my credentials as an enabler of circular economy, especially from financial analysis angle.

The Master of Finance

A one-year masters degree from Cambridge Judge Business School, at the heart of the University of Cambridge. Open doors to exciting new career possibilities with a Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin).

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The post How MFin students are contributing to real-world research appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

For the first time since 2019, the Cambridge Africa Business Conference will be hosted at Cambridge Judge Business School. The conference on 18 May is organised and led by the Cambridge Africa Business Network (CABN), a Cambridge Judge alumni- and student-led initiative to promote networking and dialogue about business in Africa. 

The mission of CABN is to stimulate a robust dialogue about business, investment and entrepreneurship in Africa, incorporating both practitioner and academic perspectives. 

This year’s conference theme – “Kujenga Africa – Forging Global Alliances” – focuses on the importance of collaboration in championing sustainable growth and development.  

Why overcoming challenges is key to maximising Africa’s economic potential 

Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a rapidly expanding consumer market. However, the continent still faces significant challenges related to poverty, infrastructure deficits, lack of access to healthcare and education, and more. Overcoming these hurdles will require mobilising resources, expertise, and coordinated action on a global scale. 

The organisers are bringing together some of the continent’s brightest minds in entrepreneurship, finance, technology, and the creative industries to dissect the opportunities that can emerge when we work together. From investors who were first movers in the continent’s industrial powerhouses and unicorns to the commercial minds taking Afrobeats to the world, they have convened an inspiring set of distinguished speakers who will provide thought-provoking insights on the African business ecosystem. 

Big growth opportunities to be explored at the conference 

At Cambridge Judge Business School, I am the Co-Chair of the Cambridge Africa Business Network, a role that I am extremely passionate about. This might be because it’s the continent that I call home or from a strictly professional angle. My experience as an investment professional analysing African markets for nearly a decade has opened my eyes to its massive growth opportunities, despite the challenges. Whatever the explanation is, I am glad to share this sentiment with a group of remarkable and driven classmates.

Toyosi Oni, Co-Chair of CABN and Class of 2023/24 MBA student Cambridge Africa Business Conference

The Cambridge Africa Business Conference, the 9th such conference to be held at Cambridge Judge, takes place at the Business School on Saturday 18 May, throughout the day and evening.

Find out more and get tickets

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The post Forging global alliances: the 2024 Cambridge Africa Business Conference appeared first on Cambridge Judge Business School.

Abraham Alsawaf, a 4th-year medical student (Magdalene) studying neuroplasticity will discuss what happens to our brains in space.

Prof Marina Frolova-Walker a co-author with Jonathan Walker of the recently published book “Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5” will talk about the research for this book about Shostakovich's most controversial symphony which was composed at the height of Stalin's Purges saved the composer from official disfavour and deeply moved audiences.

Join Heather Adkins VP, Security Engineering & Head of Google’s Office of Cybersecurity Resilience, and Benefactor Fellow, for a talk and discussion with the Master of Emmanuel College, Doug Chalmers on cyber security in higher education, its challenges and opportunities.

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2 May 2024 - CISL moderated key panels across the two days of the conference in London, earlier this week.

During the Renaissance, artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci described the heart's workings with a level of accuracy extraordinary for his day. In this talk, heart surgeon and artist Francis Wells will discuss da Vinci's sketches through a contemporary lens.

Movie Screening: The Cost Of Convenience examines how internet platforms are impacting our mental health, restructuring our communities, threatening our democracy, and violating our human rights.

Join us for an engaging expert panel discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence and human rights. Moderated by Dr. Ella McPherson and Dr. Sharath Srinivasan, Co-Directors of the Centre of Governance and Human Rights, this event will feature insightful contributions from leading thinkers in the field.

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Dr Mark Kotter, Founder and CEO at bit.bio, and Dr Patrick Short, co-founder and CEO at Sano Genetics are named in the CEO of the Year category, sponsored by Bidwells. Both are alums of our Accelerate Cambridge programme. bit.bio has also been listed in the Biotech Company of the Year category, sponsored by Chesterford Research Park, and the Award for Innovation category, sponsored by Railpen. 

Supersense Technologies, a startup currently participating in our Accelerate Cambridge Plus is a finalist in the One to Watch category sponsored by PR company Cofinitive. As is Vector Bioscience Cambridge, another Accelerate Plus startup, and Cambridge Nucleomics whose co-founder, Dr Hendrik Runge, participated in EnterpriseTECH and the follow up EnterpriseTECH STAR. Supersense Technologies has also been nominated for the Tech for Good Award, sponsored by Allia Future Business Centre, along with fellow Accelerate Cambridge alum Orca Scan. 

Vuala and Cambridge Ethicronics, currently participating in Accelerate Cambridge Plus, are also finalists in the Tech for Good category. Ethicronics was founded by Dr Franck Courbon, an alumnus of EnterpriseTECH. Vuala has also been nominated for the Cleantech Company of the Year, sponsored by Woodfines Solicitors.

We would like to congratulate all the alumni and businesses named in this shortlist for the awards. It is a testament to their passion, commitment and innovation to make it this far. We are pleased to have played our part in supporting them with their entrepreneurial ambitions.

Professor Stelios Kavadias, Academic Director of Cambridge Judge Entrepreneurship Centre

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 16 May at Hinxton Hall Conference Centre, on the Wellcome Genome Campus.

The Entrepreneurship Centre

The Entrepreneurship Centre supports the University of Cambridge’s entrepreneurial talent development and commercialisation of new ideas, and enhances the development of management capacity within the Cambridge entrepreneurial ecosystem and beyond.

Explore the Entrepreneurship Centre

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Visit the Cambridge Independent Science and Technology website to see the 2024 Science and Technology Awards shortlist.

Learn more about Accelerate Cambridge

Learn more about EnterpriseTECH

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This one-day symposium explores the relationship between film, art, and activism in the Amazon. Along with in-person discussions by international speakers, the programme includes a number of contemporary Amazonian films made by Indigenous creators who are using film to amplify their voices and contest historical marginalisation.

In our half-day event, open to academics, students and members of the public, we will explore these and other questions.

Concert by City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra with Simon Callaghan (piano)

liminal /?l?m.?.n?l/ (adj.) between or belonging to two different places, states, etc.