FINISA Chief Executive and Managing Director Chris Whitehead has been elected to Chair the Asian Securities and Investments Federation (ASIF).
Mr Whitehead Chartered Banker F FIN said: “I am honoured to have this opportunity to work with other ASIF member institutions to add value and provide new opportunities to practitioners and other stakeholders within FINSIA and across Asia and Oceania.
“This can be achieved via collaboration on events and professional development activities, such as the current ASIF series of webinars on digital currencies. A side-effect of travel restrictions due to the pandemic has been a growing realisation of the ease and benefits of international collaboration via digital channels.”
ASIF can draw upon its very significant network of securities markets professionals across Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korean, Vietnam and of course Australia and New Zealand, via FINSIA.
“ASIF’s aims are consistent with FINSIA’s own professionalism strategy,” Chris said.
“Like FINSIA, the ASIF member institutes act as connectors across all stakeholders - finance professionals, financial institutions, industry bodies, regulators, academia and government.”
ASIF has also just re-launched its website asif.org.au. In addition to featuring ASIF news and events, the website allows member institutes to share their own local news and events which may hold international interest and details of their education programs and other services.
The website notes: “ASIF is a federation of membership associations in securities and investments with the purpose of promoting the interests of the finance and investment community of Asia and Oceania, and to assist the development of finance and investment professionals through the interchange of ideas and provision of means to facilitate industry communication among the community.”
Chris added: “I would recommend that FINSIA members, members of other ASIF institutes and other stakeholders with an interest in Asian and Oceania securities markets regularly visit the website and follow ASIF social network accounts.”
“I am sure that access to thought leadership insights from across Asia and Oceania will be a great benefit to our members.
“A case in point has been the excellent Digital Currencies webinar series that is free to members, run as part of the ASIF Forum Foundation Session.
“It was fascinating to hear the story behind Cambodia’s launch of the Bakong - one of the first digital currencies backed by a central bank - and to see just how much of an impact blockchain is having on an economy.
“The fact that the event that was hosted by the Securities Analysts Association of Japan (SAAJ) - one of our ASIF partners - illustrates the benefits of these synergies between the seven membership organisations, as they were able to secure Kazumasa Miyazawa to talk about the project that he personally led.
“With COVID accelerating the pace of digital change in financial services, it’s crucial to keep abreast of all these technological developments.
“If you did not get a chance to see it, a recording is available in our on-demand section. The first webinar is also available there.
“Looking ahead, members will be able to hear from Kasidit Tansanguan, who is the Deputy Director of Corporate Strategy, Bank of Thailand, who will be providing an introduction of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Thailand courtesy of the Investment Analysts Association, Thailand.”
FINSIA will be consulting with members to identify further potential benefits that can be generated from ASIF membership. An example might be such to develop their own personal networks across Asia via introduction to peers who are members of other ASIF institutions.
Visit the new ASIF socials
