Banking and finance law specialist Ros Grady has been appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive of the Centre for International Finance and Regulation (CIFR), a consortium of leading Australian and international universities and research centres. She will take up her appointment on March 19.

 

Sponsored by the Commonwealth and NSW governments, the Centre was established last year to assist government, regulators and industry to meet emerging challenges and opportunities in the financial sector through world-class research and educational activities.

 

The appointment was announced by the Centre’s chairman Peter Mason and Professor Fred Hilmer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of New South Wales, the lead institution for the Centre.

 

Ms Grady has had a distinguished legal career. She was formerly the Partner in Charge of the Melbourne office of Mallesons Stephen Jacques (now King & Wood Mallesons), where she ran the Financial Market Regulation Practice Group.

 

Since 2010 she has worked as an international legal consultant to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other leading international financial institutions on reforms to improve access to finance in developing markets.

 

Ms Grady holds a current appointment as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Sydney and is Chair of the Human Rights Law Centre.

 

Welcoming the appointment, Mr Mason said: “I am confident that as the Centre’s inaugural Chief Executive, Ros will help position CIFR as an academic centre of excellence and an international leader in innovative financial market developments and financial system regulation.”

 

The Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten, said: “Ros Grady’s experience in both the commercial sector and academia provides her with a strong background to lead the Centre. The CIFR was a recommendation arising from the Johnson review and I am confident that it will strengthen Australia’s position as a financial centre.”

 

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner also welcomed the appointment.

 

"Ros Grady will bring strong international experience, including expertise in development finance, to her role as Chief Executive,” Mr Stoner said.

 

"The NSW Government wants to position Sydney as a global financial capital and regional centre for international development finance and CIFR’s presence in Sydney helps us achieve this goal.”

 

Mr Mason and Professor Hilmer paid tribute to outgoing Interim Director Mr John Trowbridge for his work in establishing the Centre, building relationships with consortium partners and key industry stakeholders and initiating the Centre’s research program. Mr Trowbridge has led the Centre since August 2011.