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The 2026 Climate Investment Challenge brought together student-led climate finance solutions from more than 30 institutions across five continents

Participants in this year's Climate Investment Challenge. Source: �ԹϺ�� Business School

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�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

Shamita Harsh — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:33:43 +0000

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

Shamita Harsh Wed, 20/08/2025 - 10:33

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

24 September 2026

�ԹϺ�� Business School is delighted to announce a new cohort of academic, research and teaching staff for the 2026–27 academic year, bringing new expertise and perspectives to our community at the intersection of business, science and technology.

Joining across the School’s four departments – Analytics, Marketing & Operations, Economics & Public Policy, Finance, and Management & Entrepreneurship – the new faculty are exploring some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing business today, from AI and healthcare to financial markets, entrepreneurship and organisational change. Together, they will strengthen �ԹϺ��’s distinctive approach to connecting business with science, technology and real-world impact.

Analytics, Marketing & Operations

Alireza AmaniHamedani is joining as Assistant Professor of Analytics & Operations in January 2027. Currently, a final-year PhD candidate in Management Science & Operations Research at London Business School, his research explores how data and optimisation can improve complex decisions, with applications ranging from organ donation and ride-sharing to emergency response systems. His recent work also examines markets powered by AI agents and their potential for operational decision-making.

“It is my great privilege to join �ԹϺ�� Business School and the wider community of �ԹϺ��. As we enter a new era shaped by artificial intelligence, I look forward to collaboration across disciplines to advance the research and training we need for the world ahead.”

Alireza AmaniHamedani

Assistant Professor of Analytics & Operations

Economics & Public Policy

Dr Ameet Morjaria is joining as an Associate Professor of Economics & Public Policy in January 2027, moving from MIT Sloan School of Management, where he is currently a Senior Lecturer in Applied Economics. His research examines organisations in development, focusing on two themes: the organisation of firms and markets, and the organization of the state. Recent studies explore quality incentives in global supply chains, commodity market design, nation-building and the politics of the environment.

“What excites me most about joining �ԹϺ�� is its combination of world-leading scholarship and a commitment to bringing together science, technology and business to address society’s most important challenges. It is exactly the kind of environment in which I want to do my best work.”

Dr Ameet Morjaria

Associate Professor of Economics & Public Policy

Professor Elena Pizzo returns to �ԹϺ�� as Chair in Health Economics and Evaluation, a joint appointment between the School of Public Health and Business School. A health economist with more than 20 years’ experience, her research examines the value of healthcare interventions and innovations, spanning cancer, mental health, digital health and public health. Having previously worked at �ԹϺ�� Business School, she is looking forward to building collaborations across economics, healthcare, clinical research and public policy.

“What excites me most about being back at �ԹϺ�� is being part of a unique STEMB university, where economics and business come together with science, technology and medicine. I’m particularly motivated by the opportunity to build on these connections to translate research and innovation into better decisions and meaningful impact for patients, populations and society.”

Professor Elena Pizzo

Chair in Health Economics and Evaluation

Finance

Dr Charles Parry joins as an Assistant Professor of Finance, where his research focuses on entrepreneurial finance, innovation and how firm grow and evolve. He holds a PhD in Economics and an MPhil in Economic Research from the University of Cambridge and has previously worked at the European Central Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

“I’m excited to join �ԹϺ��’s excellent Finance group and work with its students. �ԹϺ�� brings together deep expertise in finance with a wider community of scientists and entrepreneurs, making it an ideal place to study how innovative young firms raise capital.”

Dr Charles Parry

Assistant Professor of Finance

Professor Elikplimi K. Agbloyor joins as Provost’s Visiting Professor of Finance and Risk Management, from the University of Ghana Business School, where he is Professor of Finance and was Coordinator (Associate Dean) for International Relations and Accreditation. His research spans financial intermediation, financial stability, digital finance, AI and development finance, with a focus on emerging and frontier markets. His work has been published in leading international journals and has informed research and policy discussions on banking, financial inclusion, FinTech and institutional development. He is an Associate Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Financial Risk Manager.

“This role offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with some of the world's leading researchers across the Business School and the wider �ԹϺ�� research ecosystem. I look forward to advancing research on AI, financial intermediation, digital finance, and financial stability that addresses important global challenges and informs policy and practice.”

Professor Elikplimi K. Agbloyor

Provost’s Visiting Professor of Finance & Risk Management

Dr Farouk Jivraj joins as Senior Teaching Fellow and Co-Director of the �ԹϺ�� Student Investment Fund. An �ԹϺ�� alumnus, he brings extensive experience across quantitative investing and academia, having held senior roles at Fidelity Investments and Barclays Investment Bank. He began his career as a propulsion engineer before completing his PhD in Financial Economics at �ԹϺ��, bringing a unique perspective across science, technology and finance. His current research examines risks in liquid alternative investment strategies and the role of AI in the design and management of investment strategies.

“Having undertaken my undergraduate, master's and PhD at �ԹϺ��, now joining faculty feels like coming home. I'm looking forward to helping develop the student-learning experience, as well as teaching and continuing to conduct cutting-edge research. Having sat at the intersection of science, technology and business throughout my career in finance, I'm excited to foster and advance this same intersection whilst at �ԹϺ��.”

Dr Farouk Jivraj

Senior Teaching Fellow and Co-Director of the �ԹϺ�� Student Investment Fund

Management & Entrepreneurship

Omar Mir, Baron of Thorntoun, joins as Visiting Professor of Practice in Management & Entrepreneurship. He has been a member of the School’s Advisory Board since October 2025 and leads the Technology Leaders Speaker Series, bringing global technology voices to �ԹϺ�� to explore the forces shaping the future, from AI and sustainability to health and security. With a career spanning academia, government and industry, Omar works at the intersection of technology, governance and business, and serves as the International Board Member of World Wide Technology, the International AI Advisor of HM King Charles III's The King's Trust International and Strategic Advisor to Commandant of Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

“I’m excited to work with �ԹϺ�� at a time when technology is reshaping every part of society. I look forward to continuing my work on the Advisory Board as well as connecting students and faculty with the leaders shaping that future and exploring how innovation can translate into real-world impact.”

Omar Mir, Baron of Thournton

Visiting Professor of Practice in Management & Entrepreneurship

Dr Alexis Avery joins as Assistant Professor in Management & Entrepreneurship. After more than a decade working in the US federal government, she brings a distinctive perspective on workforce and organisational challenges. Her research explores how history and societal change shape workplace experiences, including skin tone disparities, identity, organisational decision-making and emerging workplace technologies.

“I’m excited about joining a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and truly global community. �ԹϺ��’s commitment to cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and research with real-world impact creates many opportunities to collaborate across fields and tackle important problems in new ways. I’m particularly excited by the international student body and �ԹϺ��’s global partnerships, which create unique opportunities for global business education and research.”

Dr Alexis Avery

Assistant Professor in Management & Entrepreneurship

Dr Robin Bagchi joins as Professor of Practice, Sales & Enterprise, bringing his extensive experience as an investment banker and more recently, a private equity and venture capital investor, where he remains active. At �ԹϺ��, he works closely with industry, investors and founders, while teaching sales and entrepreneurship. Robin is Chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre for Responsible Leadership at �ԹϺ�� Business School and teaches the MBA elective he designed, “The Psychology of Sales: Mastering the Mindset to Drive Results.” His new book, "Outcomes" based on the elective is due to be published by Wiley in Spring/Summer 2027.

“I am most excited to be joining �ԹϺ�� to help support the excellent work already underway in translating �ԹϺ��'s innovation and ideas into real-world ventures and impact, and to give students the tools and exposure to enhance their career paths.”

Dr Robin Bagchi

Professor of Practice, Sales & Enterprise

Dean's Office

Professor Darren Meister joins as Vice-Dean (Education) and as Professor of Teaching in Management & Entrepreneurship. He joins from Ivey Business School at Western University in Canada, where he was Associate Dean, Programs. His research focuses on design thinking, technology-based entrepreneurship and how technology can enhance organisational effectiveness and innovation.

“I'm at �ԹϺ�� because it combines a world-class business faculty and staff with a culture of excellence embedded in a leading STEM institution located in a truly global city. This creates unique interdisciplinary opportunities unavailable elsewhere, and that prospect drew me here.”

Professor Darren Meister

Vice-Dean (Education) and Professor of Teaching in Management & Entrepreneurship

Academic promotions

Alongside welcoming new colleagues, the Business School is also celebrating four academic promotions, recognising the achievements and contributions of colleagues working across economics, analytics, marketing and behavioural science.

Professor Mirabelle Muûls, Professor of Economics

Professor Mirabelle Muûls is Convening Co-Director of �ԹϺ��’s School of Convergence Science and Co-Director of the Hitachi-�ԹϺ�� Centre for Decarbonisation & Natural Climate Solutions. Her research focuses on the economics of climate change, energy use and decarbonisation. She was awarded the President’s Medal for Excellence in Education in 2019.

Dr Zhe Liu, Associate Professor of Analytics & Operations

Dr Zhe Liu’s research focuses on revenue management, sharing economy platforms and supply chain management. He serves as PhD Director for the Analytics & Operations group and as Associate Editor for Decision Sciences, and has received multiple awards for his research.

Dr Stijn Maesen, Associate Professor of Marketing

Dr Stijn Maesen researches how marketing actions by retailers and manufacturers affect firm performance and societal outcomes. His work has appeared in leading marketing journals and Harvard Business Review, alongside recognition through several research awards.

Dr Michael Yeomans, Associate Professor of Behavioural Science

Dr Michael Yeomans studies how language technology can help us understand and improve conversational decision-making. His research has received international recognition, including the International Association for Conflict Management Technology Innovator Award and multiple best paper awards.

These promotions recognise the continued contribution of colleagues whose research, teaching and leadership are helping shape the Business School’s academic community.

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From AI and healthcare to entrepreneurship and finance, our new faculty bring global expertise, fresh perspectives and real-world impact to �ԹϺ��.

7 minute read

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes global scholars as new faculty for 2025–26

Shamita Harsh — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:33:43 +0000

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes global scholars as new faculty for 2025–26

Shamita Harsh Wed, 20/08/2025 - 10:33

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

5 September 2025

�ԹϺ�� Business School is delighted to announce the new academic, research and teaching staff joining for the 2025–26 academic year, strengthening its global reputation at the intersection of business and technology.

The new colleagues join across all four academic areas — Finance, Management & Entrepreneurship, Analytics & Operations, and Economics & Public Policy — bringing world-class expertise in fields ranging from asset pricing and healthcare innovation to entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, and macroeconomic policy.

Finance

Two new assistant professors join the School’s Finance department: Dr. Alireza Aghaee and Dr. Harsha Dutta, alongside Luigi Rizzo who joins as a professor of practice.

Dr. Aghaee, who completed his PhD at Bocconi University, is an empirical researcher with interest in asset pricing and corporate finance. His award-winning work on the “index effect” in the S&P 500 has been recognised with the European Finance Association Doctoral Tutorial Best Paper Prize.

“I am excited to join �ԹϺ��’s vibrant research community, where collaboration across disciplines drives innovative thinking in finance. The School’s strong ties to policy and industry provide a unique environment to translate research into real-world impact.”

Alireza Aghaee

Assistant Professor of Finance

Dr. Harsha Dutta, previously at Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, studies the intersection of finance and development, with complementary interests in economic history and political economy. His research has appeared in journals including Science Advances and explores how financial incentives and institutional constraints shape the behaviour of households and firms in developing economies.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside �ԹϺ��’s exceptional business scholars. London’s rich historical legacy provides an inspiring environment for uncovering new insights from the past to inform modern financial policies.”

Harsha Dutta

Assistant Professor of Finance

Luigi Rizzo has more than three decades of investment banking experience. He is Vice Chair of Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, having previously been a partner at Goldman Sachs and Head of Investment Banking for the EMEA region at Bank of America. He is an adjunct professor of business at Columbia Business School and has previously taught mergers and acquisitions as a visiting professor at the Business School. Eager to share practical insights with �ԹϺ�� students, he is an expert connecting theory to the realities of corporate finance.

“It is a privilege to be part of the �ԹϺ�� community and help students bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and the daily realities of global finance.”

Luigi Rizzo

Professor of Practice

Management & Entrepreneurship

The department welcomes three globally recognised scholars, including two full professors, Professor Tobias Kretschmer and Professor Jeffery S. McMullen, as well as Dr. Poornima Luthra as a principal lecturer.

Professor Jeffery S. McMullen, former Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Business Venturing, is internationally recognised for advancing the theory of entrepreneurship and has been honoured with multiple awards, including the Foundational Paper Award from the Academy of Management.

“I am excited to explore the potential of entrepreneurship at a world-class STEM university dedicated to serving humanity and to do so in the middle of one of the most vibrant cities the world has ever known.”

Jeffery S McMullen

Professor of Entrepreneurship

Professor Kretschmer, coming from LMU Munich School of Management, is a leading expert in strategy and organisation design in technology-intensive industries. His work focuses on strategy and organisation design in technology-intensive industries. He currently serves as an associate editor at Strategic Management Journal.

“I’ve been studying new technologies for my entire career. Being at �ԹϺ�� gives me a chance to learn in depth how these technologies work and to understand the strategic implications of technological change (and vice versa).”

Tobias Kretschmer

Professor of Strategy, Technology & Organisation

Dr. Poornima Luthra is a leading practitioner-academic in talent management and EDI, known for bridging research and practice across Asia and Europe. She is joining from Copenhagen Business School A TEDx speaker and author of multiple acclaimed books, she advises global organisations and was named a Thinkers50 top management thinker and Nordic Blaze Inclusion Trailblazer.

“I am thrilled to join �ԹϺ�� Business School as it offers a dynamic environment at the forefront of global business education and research. The School’s strong commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world impact aligns perfectly with my vision for advancing knowledge and nurturing future leaders. I look forward to contributing to its diverse academic community and shaping its continued success.”

Poornima Luthra

Principal Lecturer of People, Culture & Inclusion

Economics & Public Policy

Two early-career scholars are joining this department Dr. Jasmin Moshfegh as Assistant Professor and Dr. Patrick Schneider as Assistant Professor. Ragvir Sabharwal will also be joining the Department as Senior Teaching Fellow from October.

Dr. Moshfegh, who joins from Stanford University, studies the causes and consequences of healthcare innovation, with a focus on information technologies. Her doctoral research, supported by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, examined how new technologies diffuse through healthcare systems and their impact on health inequality.

“What excites me most about joining �ԹϺ�� is the opportunity to be part of a department and institution that sits at the intersection of cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world impact. In health economics and public policy, the challenges we face—whether around healthcare access, innovation, or inequality—require perspectives that cut across economics, medicine, technology, and data science. �ԹϺ��’s unique ecosystem brings these disciplines together in a way that few other places can.”

Jasmin Moshfegh

Assistant Professor of Economics & Public Policy

Dr. Schneider, who earned his PhD at the London School of Economics, previously worked as an economist at the Bank of England, contributing to debates on Brexit and UK productivity. His work focuses on the distributional effects of macroeconomic policy. with a particular interest in inter-generational conflicts and behavioural biases.

“I’m most excited to work with our students. Understanding economics is essential to functioning in today’s world, and I want to help our students tool up for their futures.”

Patrick Schneider

Assistant Professor of Economics

Analytics & Operations

Joining the department are Dr. Jónas Oddur Jónasson as Associate Professor, Dr. Heeyoung Yoon as Assistant Professor and Angela O'Connell as Senior Teaching Fellow.

Dr. Jónasson, previously at MIT Sloan, specialises in improving healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings. His data-driven models have supported organisations such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the London Ambulance Service, and his award-winning research has influenced public health outcomes worldwide.

Dr. Heeyoung Yoon, who completed her PhD at New York University, focuses on prediction bias, consumption experiences and decision-making. Her research investigates why individuals mispredict their consumption patterns and how it affects consumer welfare as well as market outcomes.

“�ԹϺ��’s commitment to world-leading research and global impact makes it an inspiring place to be. I’m excited to contribute to and learn from colleagues who are advancing solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

Heeyoung Yoon

Assistant Professor of Marketing

Angela O'Connell's journey started with a Maths degree at University of Bristol, followed by a CIMA qualification and an MBA at INSEAD. Since then, She’s worked across finance, consulting and marketing in consumer goods companies L’Oreal and P&G , and technology companies, including eight years at Google leading marketing teams across EMEA and more recently scaling teams at high-growth companies like Onfido and Plaid. Outside work, she's learning the trumpet, coaches her daughters' hockey teams, and plays padel.

“What I enjoy most is translating real world business challenges into practical learning experiences, and I’m excited to continue that approach here at �ԹϺ�� Business School.”

Angela O'Connell

Senior Teaching Fellow

This diverse academic cohort embodies world-leading research, innovative teaching and a strong connection to practice. Their contributions will further strengthen the Business School’s mission to bring business and science together for the benefit of society.

This article was updated on 8 September 2025 to include revised details for Luigi Rizzo; on 9 September 2025 to include information on Angela O'Connell and Ragvir Sabharwal; on 12 September 2025 to reflect Poornima Luthra's correct title and on 3 March 2026 to reflect Patrick Schneider's correct title.

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From corporate finance to healthcare innovation, our new faculty are set to strengthen �ԹϺ��’s interdisciplinary edge

Main image: �ԹϺ��

6 minute read

�ԹϺ�� awards medals to Business School's Professor Lara Cathcart and Afrey Edes

Shamita Harsh — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:04:25 +0000

�ԹϺ�� awards medals to Business School's Professor Lara Cathcart and Afrey Edes

Shamita Harsh Mon, 02/06/2025 - 15:04

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

4 June 2025

During the graduation ceremony on 2 June, �ԹϺ�� awarded the prestigious �ԹϺ�� College Medal to two exceptional members of the Business School community: Professor Lara Cathcart and Afrey A. Edes. The medals came in recognition of their transformative impact on the university over the course of their distinguished career.

Professor Lara Cathcart, who has served �ԹϺ�� for 27 years, was honoured for her pioneering contributions to finance education and her unwavering commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and inclusion.

“It is an honour to be awarded the �ԹϺ�� College Medal, and this recognition means a great deal to me. What started out as one finance programme has become a fully-fledged department with several courses producing leaders of the finance industry. I am truly grateful to have played a part in this journey.” said Professor Cathcart, a trailblazer who has co-created and led a suite of MSc programmes.

Her dedication is mirrored with graduates and peers alike citing her as an inspiring mentor, role model, and advocate for gender equity in academia.

Reflecting on her diligence, Dean Peter Todd said, “Lara exemplifies the values of �ԹϺ�� through her excellence, integrity, and enduring commitment to the university and its students. It is an honour to recognise her with the �ԹϺ�� College Medal.”

Continuing to shape the future of finance education both at �ԹϺ�� and internationally, Lara said: “I always believed that the lack of representation of women in the field of finance served as a kind of deterrent for prospective female students and academics. I felt it my duty to provide encouragement to staff and students alike to pursue their dreams."

“Diversity is a strength, and the increasing representation in the Business School is furthering its success, something I am very proud of.”

Professor Lara Cathcart

Professor of Finance, �ԹϺ�� Business School

Afrey Edes, Executive Director of Faculty Services and Space at the Business School, received the Medal in recognition of over two decades of transformative leadership in operational excellence, innovation, and strategic space planning. Since joining �ԹϺ�� in 1996, Afrey has played a key role in the growth and development of the Business School, most notably leading on the design and delivery of space innovation initiatives.

Acknowledging her journey at �ԹϺ��, Afrey said: “Cross-disciplinary collaboration has always been essential, working with teams in Estates, ICT, student representatives and academic faculty has enabled us to do something genuinely transformative. Receiving this award is both a personal milestone and a testament to the incredible teamwork that defines �ԹϺ��.”

Afrey’s leadership was especially vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she swiftly adapted campus facilities for multi-mode learning, enabling high-quality hybrid teaching for thousands of students.

Recognising Afrey's commitment to the Business School community, Peter said, “Afrey’s calm, pragmatic approach, deep institutional knowledge, and unwavering dedication to �ԹϺ��’s mission make her a highly respected and valued colleague. It is a privilege to recognise her contributions tonight with the �ԹϺ�� College Medal."

Reflecting on her work leading space design and pandemic adaptations, Afrey added: “I feel honoured to be recognised by �ԹϺ�� for my contribution, it’s a moment of immense pride and reflection, which I’m very grateful for. Throughout my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a number of different roles and contribute in many ways to the outstanding growth of the Business School.”

Her forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of institutional needs have helped shape an environment where both students and staff can thrive.

Professor Cathcart affirms that this recognition is a testimony to the �ԹϺ�� legacy: “It is the pursuit of scientific advancement, and the quantitative unity of all disciplines, that fosters the ecosystem of research, innovation and education at the Business School and �ԹϺ�� at large.”

Together, Professor Cathcart and Afrey Edes exemplify the values of �ԹϺ��—excellence, innovation, and commitment to the greater academic community—and their lasting legacies continue to shape the future of the institution.

“Thinking about the student and staff experience has been at the heart of all the projects I’ve worked on, creating spaces that are inclusive, adaptable and innovative. ”

Afrey A Edes

Executive Director of Faculty Services and Space Planning

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Outstanding contributions to finance education, operational excellence, and inclusive growth recognised

Professor Lara Cathcart (left) and Afrey A Edes (right) receiving the �ԹϺ�� Medal from Professor Hugh Brady | �ԹϺ��

3 minute read

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

28 September 2026

�ԹϺ�� Business School co-hosted the inaugural London Macro Policy Forum on 24 September 2026, bringing together some of the most influential voices in economic policy for a full day of debate at �ԹϺ��'s South Kensington Campus.

Organised by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), �ԹϺ�� Business School and Santander Corporate & Investment Banking, the Forum drew a full house of policymakers, academics, market participants and commentators. The programme ran from the immediate pressures of an energy price shock to the much longer arc of how artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape the economy over the coming decades.

The timing was sharp. With energy prices pushing inflation higher and gilt yields climbing, central banks on both sides of the Atlantic are weighing difficult choices. Alongside those near-term pressures, a more fundamental question is emerging: whether AI is already beginning to change how the economy grows, and how policymakers should prepare for what comes next.

Central bankers on uncertain ground

The day opened with an introduction from Professor David Aikman, Director of NIESR, and Krishna Murali of Santander, followed by a fireside chat between John Williams, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Sir Charles Bean of the London School of Economics. Their conversation explored how central banks can communicate their intentions when the economic outlook is so uncertain, and the limits of forward guidance in a volatile world.

That theme ran through the day. The Monetary Policy Outlook panel, chaired by Victoria Clarke of Santander, brought together Rob Burrows (M&G), Professor Swati Dhingra (London School of Economics; external member, Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee) and Gertjan Vlieghe (Millennium). The discussion centred on the current energy price shock and the path of inflation, and on what the Bank of England can realistically do in response. Panelists also weighed how two powerful forces, rising energy costs and a surge in AI investment, pull in different directions on how restrictive monetary policy needs to be.

In the afternoon, Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England, returned to the same challenge in conversation with Professor Aikman. She said: “The larger and longer the shock, the more likely it is that we'll see the material second-round effects that policy needs to respond [to].”

Public finances under pressure

Two sessions turned the spotlight on the UK's public finances. The Gilt Markets, Quantitative Tightening and the Public Finances panel, chaired by Philip Aldrick of Bloomberg, heard from Freya Beamish (TS Lombard), Adam Dent (Santander) and Professor Paul Fisher (King's College London).

After lunch came what organisers affectionately described as the ‘doom-and-gloom’ session. The Fiscal Sustainability panel, chaired by Sam Fleming of the Financial Times, featured Peder Beck-Friis (PIMCO), Helen Miller (Institute for Fiscal Studies) and Professor David Miles, a member of the Budget Responsibility Committee at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and Professor at �ԹϺ��.

Panellists broadly agreed that a fiscal framework so sensitive to individual forecasts makes little sense. Professor Miles warned that relying on a future productivity boom to ease pressure on the public finances was a risky strategy. He said: “Getting lucky isn't a plan.”

“If you walk into almost any department at �ԹϺ��, you can see how AI has revolutionised the progress of science itself. That is what makes AI different, and it's why I'm an optimist. I think AI will reshape the economy very profoundly over the next 10 years.”

Jonathan Haskel

Professor of Economics and Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility

From Left to right: The Rt Hon Kanishka Narayan MP, Professor Diane Coyle, James Benford and Professor Jonathan Haskel

The macroeconomics of AI

The Forum closed with its most forward-looking session. Chaired by Professor Jonathan Haskel, Professor of Economics at �ԹϺ�� Business School and Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility, The Macroeconomics of AI panel brought together four perspectives on the technology: Kanishka Narayan MP, Minister for Artificial Intelligence; Professor Dame Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge; James Benford, Deputy National Statistician at the Office for National Statistics (ONS); and Adam Cohen, Head of Economic Policy at OpenAI.

Between them, the panellists represented government, academia, official statistics and one of the companies building the technology, a combination that allowed the discussion to move between big-picture ambition and what the evidence shows today.

Mr Benford set out the view from the data. There are tentative signs of AI in the UK's growth figures, he said, with information and communications technology accounting for 40% of the 0.4% growth in the three months to July. Investment in digital infrastructure is running at around £11 billion a year, broadly matching the peak of the dotcom boom. Adoption remains at an early stage, however. Around a third of companies say they use AI, rising to 60% of large firms, but only 10% of those use it extensively. Public attitudes are cautious, with 38% of people believing the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, compared with 13% who see a net benefit.

He also highlighted how difficult it is to measure AI's impact on the labour market, which is being shaped at the same time by tax changes and monetary policy. The ONS has now published the first edition of a thematic account of AI to help build a clearer picture.

Questions from the floor pushed the panel further, including on whether the gains from AI will be shared fairly and what the technology could mean for inequality.

“That is what makes AI different”

Speaking after the panel, Professor Jonathan Haskel said he was optimistic about the scale of change ahead, and pointed to �ԹϺ�� itself as evidence.

He said: “If you walk into almost any department at �ԹϺ��, whether that's biology, maths or chemistry, you can see how AI has revolutionised the progress of science itself. That is what makes AI different, and it's why I'm an optimist. I think AI will reshape the economy very profoundly over the next 10 years.”

The challenge for policymakers is to stay close to how the technology is being used in practice. He said: “Central banking is an all-consuming job, and it's hard to make time to get out into the world. But when you see how firms are working with AI, and what the AI producers themselves are doing, it really opens your eyes. My advice to central bankers, and I'd give myself the same advice, is to get out and spend more time with the people using and producing AI.”

He added that universities have a vital role to play on both sides of the technology, from improving the algorithms themselves to studying how firms are putting AI to work and how that can unlock prosperity. For students, understanding the technology is only part of the picture: they will also need to understand the organisational changes firms must make to turn AI into new processes and products.

The Rt Hon Kanishka Narayan MP

The questions nobody is asking yet

Asked which policy question is being overlooked, Jonathan offered a striking provocation. There is a chance, he suggested, that AI-driven discoveries in health could make real progress against conditions such as cancer and the diseases of ageing. If society suddenly became much healthier and longer-lived, how would people spend that extra time, and what would it mean for families and communities? That, he said, is something policymakers should start thinking hard about.

Professor Coyle pointed to a more immediate gap: clarity over who is responsible when AI goes wrong. As AI agents take on more tasks, she argued, the legal framework must be clear about liability when poorly safeguarded systems make mistakes or cause harm.

She was frank about the range of possible futures. One scenario sees AI destroying jobs; another sees it becoming one of the most important technologies ever invented. The truth may lie somewhere in between.

For young people, she said, this is an exciting moment, because AI is a general-purpose technology that will shape the whole economy for decades. Her advice was clear: learn to use it well, but hold on to the skill it most threatens to erode. She said: “Don't let it do your thinking for you, because that's going to be your advantage over the technology.”

Convening the conversation

Reflecting on the day, Professor Haskel said the Forum showed the value of bringing different communities into the same room. He said: “What's special about the kind of forum �ԹϺ�� can convene is that we can bring together not only academics but people working in central banks, in government and in business at the sharp end. The questions and discussion today were very wide ranging, and that reflects the range of people �ԹϺ�� can bring together.”

As the UK navigates an energy shock, stretched public finances and a technology that could transform how the economy grows, the inaugural London Macro Policy Forum put �ԹϺ�� Business School at the centre of the conversation, connecting rigorous research with the people making decisions that shape the economy.

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The inaugural London Macro Policy Forum brought central bankers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders to �ԹϺ�� to tackle inflation, public debt and the economic promise and perils of artificial intelligence.

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Leonardo Centre takes sustainability research to Wall Street investors during New York Climate Week

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

Leonardo Centre takes sustainability research to Wall Street investors during New York Climate Week

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

21 September 2026

�ԹϺ�� Business School's Leonardo Centre on Business for Society will bring its latest sustainability research directly to institutional investors this month, co-hosting an invitation-only roundtable during New York Climate Week. The Investor Case for Transformation takes place on 24 September at the World Climate Summit in New York, convened with Natixis Investment Managers and the World Climate Foundation.

The 60-minute closed-door session will bring together around 30 senior asset owners, asset managers and private-market investors to test a practical question: can observable evidence of corporate transformation give investors a more decision-useful signal than intentions, disclosures or sustainability labels alone? For the Leonardo Centre, it is a chance to take its research out of the report and into the room where capital allocation decisions are actually made.

The discussion draws on the Centre's GOLDEN Sustainability Dataset, which tracks more than 360,000 initiatives across around 3,000 US-listed companies between 2015 and 2024, part of a global dataset covering 2.6 million initiatives at more than 23,000 companies. Using a behavioural maturity framework that distinguishes advocacy, preparation and transformation, the research found that a portfolio of US companies leading on transformative, innovative sustainability action generated 4.56% annualised alpha over the period studied, without taking on more downside risk than the market.

The roundtable is structured around four themes: identifying transformation, strengthening investment decisions, translating evidence into practice and mobilising capital for transformation. It combines a short presentation of the findings with a moderated discussion and audience Q&A.

The confirmed panel is moderated by Laura Kaliszewski, Global Head of Client Sustainable Investing at Natixis Investment Managers, and includes Livio Scalvini, Executive Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society; Richard Damania, Chief Economist at the World Bank; André Schneider, Chairman of the World Climate Foundation; Manon Salomez, Impact & ESG Specialist at Mirova US; and Hua Cheng, Portfolio Manager at Mirova US.

“This is about collaborating to enable real adoption, and translating that into impact.”

Livio Scalvini

Executive Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society

Livio said the research was built to be used rather than filed away: "This is not an academic paper for citation. It has to be simple, it has to be clear, and it has to come with guidance on how you apply it. Nobody else has this data, so this is about collaborating to enable real adoption, and translating that into impact."

He added that scale depends on the network built around the research, not a single pilot: "The network of actors is the way to scale this. It is not about one pilot application, it is about impact at a systemic level. Value chain, scalability, and doing that through data networks and global platforms, that is our contribution."

The roundtable is one of several events Livio will take part in during New York Climate Week, spanning behavioural transformation, sustainable finance, Scope 3 decarbonisation and market mechanisms, reflecting the Leonardo Centre's wider push to connect rigorous sustainability evidence with the investors, companies and policymakers who can put it into practice.

Further research and reports from the Leonardo Centre's Finance for Impact work are available on the Centre's publications page.

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Global experts explore new ways to navigate an uncertain future

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

Global experts explore new ways to navigate an uncertain future

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

8 September 2026

Researchers from across the world gathered at �ԹϺ�� Business School on 1–2 September for the Risk Sciences Annual Conference 2026, hosted by the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment (CCFI) in partnership with Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management.

The two-day conference explored how new approaches to risk analysis can help decision-makers navigate an increasingly complex world – from climate change and biodiversity loss to financial instability, cyber threats, artificial intelligence and supply chain disruption.

Bringing together expertise from economics, finance, mathematics, computer science, engineering and the life sciences, the programme highlighted the value of looking beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Sessions examined topics including sustainable finance, nature-related risks, voluntary carbon markets, AI and machine learning, macro-financial risks, insurance, and climate finance.

A series of plenary and parallel sessions featured leading researchers from leading universities and research institutions across Europe, Asia and North America. Discussions ranged from monitoring tropical forests and quantifying cyber risk, to understanding how AI can be made safer and how financial systems can better share and manage risk.

“The risks we face today are increasingly interconnected, and understanding them requires us to look beyond traditional boundaries. This conference brought together researchers from different disciplines to share ideas, challenge assumptions and develop new approaches to managing uncertainty.”

Professor Enrico Biffis

Professor of Actuarial Finance and Academic Director of CCFI

The conference also saw the inaugural Ken Seng Tan Award, recognising outstanding interdisciplinary research that advances the field of risk sciences. The award went to Fabio Maccheroni, Massimo Marinacci, Ruodu Wang and Qinyu Wu for their paper Risk Aversion and Insurance Propensity, which offers a new way to understand how people respond to uncertainty through their willingness to use insurance.

By convening leading academics and experts from around the world, the conference underlined �ԹϺ�� Business School’s commitment to research that is rigorous, relevant and connected to real-world challenges.

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From climate change to AI, leading researchers explored how better risk analysis can help build a more resilient future.

1 minute read

�ԹϺ�� Business School academics take to the stage in Lisbon

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

�ԹϺ�� Business School academics take to the stage in Lisbon

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

7 September 2026

From pitching a million-pound business idea to connecting with customers, some of the skills that matter most in running a successful business are also at the heart of making people laugh: confidence, communication, creativity, timing, and understanding your audience.

The festival delivered the sessions on the Tribeca Storymakers Stage at Worten Mock Festival for a series of conversations bringing academics, comedians and industry leaders together.

The programme opened with Set Up. Pay Off. How to Build a Career When Stakes are High, bringing together two Professors of Finance Professor Cláudia Custódio and Professor Marco Di Maggio, comedian José Diogo Quintela and Henrique Mota Lourenço, Booking Director at Kilt and Worten Mock Fest. The discussion explored the different paths people take when building a career, alongside the role of financial decisions and the skills needed to develop sustainable and meaningful professional careers.

“I was delighted to take part in Mock Fest and see academics, alumni and comedians come together. There’s more common ground than you might think – from reading the room and understanding your audience to thinking creatively and knowing when to adapt.”

Professor Cláudia Custódio

Professor of Finance

The second conversation, Pitch It to a Comedian, looked at what makes a business idea compelling. Comedians and writers Cláudio Almeida and Rui Cruz joined �ԹϺ�� Business School Associate Professor Pedro Rosa Dias and physician Francisco Goiana da Silva , to explore how humour, storytelling and improvisation can transform the way an idea is communicated.

The final session, Can’t Buy Me Laughter – Why Businesses Love Humour?, turned the focus towards brands, leadership and organisational culture. Comedian and Worten Mock Fest ambassador Luana do Bem joined �ԹϺ�� Business School alumnus Guida Marques Pinto, Business Director of Loyalty & Customer Value at Worten, and Andreia Vaz, Head of Brand & CX at Worten, Guilherme Ludovice and , to discuss how humour can help businesses create more authentic and memorable connections with customers and employees.

The three conversations reflected the School’s focus on bringing academic thinking into conversations with business and wider society, while exploring familiar business challenges from an unconventional perspective. From financial decision-making and career development to pitching ideas and building brands, the sessions highlighted the role that creativity, communication and an understanding of people can play across the business world.

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This August, �ԹϺ�� Business School academics joined comedians and industry leaders to explore the parallels of comedy and business at Lisbon’s Mock Festival.

2 minute read

Climate resilience in focus at London Climate Action Week

Lou Lee — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

Climate resilience in focus at London Climate Action Week

Lou Lee Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

29 June 2026

Delivered in collaboration with General Atlantic, the event reflected the Centre for Climate Finance and Investment's (CCFI) growing role as a convenor of interdisciplinary expertise on climate risk and finance. Discussions explored how climate-related risks such as extreme weather are increasingly affecting economic stability, infrastructure, and investment decisions, and how organisations are adapting their approach to managing these risks over the long term.

The event opened with a keynote from Abigail Ng, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), who highlighted climate resilience as a key part of protecting economic security. This was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Rowan Douglas CBE, Honorary Practice Fellow at CCFI, and featuring Kemal Erçevik (Bank of England), Natasha Fowlie (General Atlantic), Paul Munday (S&P Global), Julian Wentzel (HSBC).

A central theme throughout the conversation was the need to integrate climate and nature risks into the core functioning of financial systems, rather than treating them separately. Speakers highlighted the importance of better data, shared standards, and clearer ways of measuring risk in order to improve decision-making across banking, insurance, regulation and investment.

“This is what CCFI is all about: a platform that brings together scholarly excellence and leading market participants to deliver effective solutions at scale.”

Dr Enrico Biffis

Academic Director of CCFI and Professor of Actuarial Finance

Rowan Douglas commented: “We now have our resilience priorities confirmed and an excellent community of financial-sector partners to mobilise with CCFI and �ԹϺ��’s School of Convergence Science. Our mission is to help retrain the invisible hand to value resilience and better protect exposed assets and communities in the years and decades ahead.”

In closing remarks, Dr Enrico Biffis, Director of CCFI and Professor of Actuarial Finance and Academic, said: “This is what CCFI is all about: a platform that brings together scholarly excellence and leading market participants to deliver effective solutions at scale.”

The event underscored CCFI’s role within �ԹϺ�� Business School as a bridge between academic research and industry practice, and highlighted ongoing collaboration with MAS and other partners to strengthen resilience in the face of growing climate challenges.

Panel speakers (from left to right): Natasha Fowlie (General Atlantic), Kemal Ercevik (Bank of England), Julian Wentzel (HSBC), Paul Munday (S&P Global), and Rowan Douglas (�ԹϺ�� Business School).

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The Centre for Climate Finance and Investment (CCFI) brought together leaders from finance, insurance, law, technology, policy and academia for an event on Climate Resilience & Economic Security during London Climate Action Week (20-28 June).

Abigail Ng and Rowan Douglas at London Climate Action Week

2 minute read

“Markets are really sociology with bond maths,” says London Stock Exchange CEO at �ԹϺ�� Business School

Shamita Harsh — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:15:24 +0000

“Markets are really sociology with bond maths,” says London Stock Exchange CEO at �ԹϺ�� Business School

Shamita Harsh Mon, 14/04/2025 - 10:15

1 October 2026 News

Prof. Franco Sassi quoted in Parliament Politics

28 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� hosts London Macro Policy Forum, putting AI in the economic spotlight

24 September 2026 News

�ԹϺ�� Business School welcomes new faculty for 2026–27

17 March 2026

What does generosity look like in global finance? This question framed the conversation between Dame Julia Hoggett, CEO of the London Stock Exchange and Peter Todd, Dean of �ԹϺ�� Business School, at this year’s Joan Woodward Memorial Lecture.

As part of this year’s theme “Give to Gain”, the event, which marked International Women’s Day, focused on how generosity in leadership, mentorship and opportunity can shape stronger institutions and more inclusive markets.

The event honoured Joan Woodward, one of �ԹϺ��’s earliest female professors and a pioneering scholar, whose research showed that organisational structures must adapt to their social and technological context.

A sociologist in finance

Opening the discussion, the Dean noted that Woodward’s insight on organisations being fundamentally social systems remains highly relevant today.

“Joan Woodward brought a sociologist’s eye to questions of power, structure and technology – and demonstrated that management is, above all, a social practice.” he said. “It was therefore especially fitting that our speaker this year should be Dame Julia, someone who has carried that social and political science perspective into the heart of global finance. It was a great pleasure to have her with us.”

That perspective has shaped Hoggett’s own career. In 2024, she was awarded a Damehood for services to business and finance, recognising both her industry leadership and her work championing more inclusive workplaces.

“Markets are really sociology with money,” she told the audience. “They’re about how large groups of people think, behave and organise themselves.”

“It was... especially fitting that our speaker this year should be Dame Julia, someone who has carried... [a] social and political science perspective into the heart of global finance.”

Peter Todd

Dean, �ԹϺ�� Business School

Trust and access to capital

Exchanges, Hoggett argued, act as essential conveners in the global financial system.

“Stock exchanges bring together those who have capital with those who need it,” she said. “Trust has been at the heart of every transaction in this city for 300 years, and it still is. Maintaining it requires institutions that prioritise trustworthiness.”

“What the world needs is not more trust,” Hoggett said, echoing philosopher Onora O'Neill. “The world needs more trustworthiness.”

That principle has also shaped her views on access to capital: “One of the reasons I care so passionately about public markets is that they are inherently democratising.” she said.

By contrast, she suggested that private markets can concentrate opportunity among already wealthy investors. Supporting companies as they move from private to public funding, she said, helps broaden wealth creation across the economy.

Leadership through generosity

For early-career professionals in the audience, Hoggett emphasised that leadership is about generosity – giving time, mentorship and opportunity to others.

Her advice: “You can lead from any seat in an organisation. Leadership starts when you understand your role in the wider system and take full ownership of it. Master your brief, understand the context and seek to shape outcomes, and you can do far more than you think.”

That spirit reflects the legacy of Woodward herself: a scholar whose work reshaped how organisations are understood and whose influence continues to inspire new generations of leaders to rethink how markets truly work.

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