Impact and Knowledge Exchange
Our academic members are very keen to engage with non-academic stakeholders in knowledge exchange activities to disseminate the outcome of their research and build pathways to impact, and to contribute to stakeholders’ activities with their academic insights. For example, members often share their knowledge with regulators and legislators in the UK and abroad by submitting responses to open consultations or by presenting their work and insights at knowledge exchange events organised by these actors. Moreover, some of our academic members are involved in training programmes for non-academics and a few of our members also engage with the media on topics that fall within their research expertise. For specific details about the knowledge exchange activities of individual members of staff, please consult their web profiles and their social media accounts.
In addition, when organising their own events, our members often seek to invite non-academic experts who can bring a practical perspective into the discussions. At some of our most recent events we have hosted representatives of some of the largest companies in the UK, financial institutions, insurance companies, regulators, and non-governmental organisations. For more details about the various events organised by the Research Group, please visit our News and Events section.
This active engagement in knowledge exchange activities has allowed our academic members to create numerous pathways to impact, some of which have led to our members’ research directly influencing the activities and operations of non-academic organisations. The paragraphs below provide a glimpse of the impact that some of our academic members have achieved with their research:
Dr Alessio Azzutti:
Alessio Azzutti regularly engages with financial regulators, industry bodies, and research institutions to advance financial regulation, particularly in AI governance. In March 2024, he was invited to present his research on AI risks in capital markets and market manipulation to the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). His work in this area has been cited by regulators, including in the SEC’s proposed regulation on AI in broker-dealer relationships.
Beyond financial trading, Alessio’s research on SupTech and RegTech informs regulatory innovation. His ECB-funded research on the legal implications of AI adoption in banking supervision has inspired scientific debate in this field. Similarly, his contributions to the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL), including the Microcredential in AI and RegTech, equip industry professionals with the knowledge and tools to actively participate in RegTech transitions within their organisations.
Additionally, Alessio’s involvement with UCFINN and the Rockefeller Foundation on carbon pricing standardisation methodologies contributes to global regulatory discussion on the adoption of carbon-linked financial instruments.
Professor Irene-Marie Esser
Professor Irene-marie Esser’s research on corporate governance, director’s duties and ESG has had, and continue to have, an impact on industry and the work of various institutions. In South Africa her work had impact through her role as an External Consultant to the King IV Committee on Corporate Governance in South Africa. Reference has been made to her work in the King IV Report on Corporate Governance following her inclusive stakeholder protection approach. She is a Senior Advisor at the Centre for Corporate Governance at the IoD in the UK, which has potential to have impact through the work of various consultation committees. She also continues to be involved with the work of the Institute of Directors, South Africa.
She collaborated on a frequent basis with the Good Governance Academy, and is an accredited trainer for them and also with the Corporate Secretaries International Association.
Finally, as a member of the Greenlight ESG Panel Prof Esser contributes to industry. Greenlight is a service for investment fund providers to gain anti-greenwashing accreditation for their ESG & sustainable funds and products.
Professor Konstantinos Sergakis
In his capacity as Mefop Spa Advisor, Professor Konstantinos Sergakis has co-designed and co-authored the inaugural Stewardship Guidelines for pension funds (2021) and of a set of Guidelines on the use of ‘comply or explain’ principle in annual statements from pension funds (published in December 2020). He has also participated in the drafting of the first Operating Manual for pension funds, together with Assofondipensione and Mefop (published in December 2021).