Adam Smith Business School

Rise, created by Barclays, on tour in Glasgow in collaboration with Adam Smith Business School

Thursday 29 September, 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Lecture Theatre 206, Adam Smith Business School, Gilbert Scott Building, University of Glasgow

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Join us as we explore the role microfinance offerings have to play in financial inclusion. We will be joined by a panel of experts from industry and academia to discuss the different ways microfinance is having an impact on financial inclusion across the globe. This event is complemented by the upcoming Rise Insights Report on microfinancial offerings, covering topics such as micro lending, micropayments and micro insurance. The report will be available at Rise. Barclays from September. Topics covered in the panel discussion will include:

• The role micro investing has to play in financial education
• The role microfinance has to play in engaging with those previously excluded from financial services
• The role microfinance has to play in growing the economy
• Challenges/obstacles to overcome

About our speakers:

Professor Georgios Panos

Georgios is working on issues of household, personal and behavioural finance. He was previously a reader in accounting and finance at the University of Glasgow, a senior lecturer and a lecturer in economics at the University of Stirling and a lecturer in business economics and finance at the University of Essex. His research has been featured in outlets such as the Journal of Financial Economics, the Journal of Banking and Finance, and the Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, inter alia. He has served as a consultant to the World Bank on multiple occasions and is a principal investigator for the collaborative EU-funded Horizon 2020 project “PROFIT: Promoting financial awareness and stability”. Georgios is also featured among the Poets & Quants 2020 Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professors.

Dr Yingru Li

With a concern for social justice and fairness, Yingru is interested in research that could have policy significance and impact on the practice of corporate accountability for human rights and a sustainable economy. In translating the theoretical concerns to practice, she is closely engaged in projects that explore human rights issues in the corporate world and how to mobilize businesses to be “better” and more responsible.

Andrew Duncan, founder & CEO Soar

Andrew is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for technology. In 2011 he founded SwarmOnline, a software house focusing on mobile and web applications. He organically grew Swarm from his living room to offices in Glasgow & Edinburgh with over 25 employees serving some of the UK’s largest companies. Following on from this, Andrew formed Glasgow-based Fintech, Soar, in 2017. In addition to his entrepreneurial achievements, Andrew is an author, having written two technical textbooks used all over the world by developers. His credentials have earned him some top speaking slots at conferences across Europe and the USA and he regularly takes to the stage in the UK.

Chris Turnbull, Founder of AirFunders

Chris has had a varied career in financial services spanning wealth management and institutional trading and broking with the likes of Standard Life Investments, Instinet and ICAP. Latterly Chris was the co-founder alongside renowned macroeconomic strategist Russell Napier of ERIC (Electronic Research Interchange), a solution to help fund managers deal with the unbundling of investment research before going on to found 'Founder of AirFunders'AirFunders, using open banking and consumer loyalty to assist individuals in building a living pension.

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Further information: business-events@glasgow.ac.uk 

First published: 20 September 2022