Building Financial Expertise Together
Since starting out in 2019, we've worked with universities, research institutions, and training organizations across Australia to strengthen financial analysis education. Our partnerships aren't just formal agreements — they're working relationships built on shared goals and mutual respect.
We've learned that the best partnerships happen when everyone brings something different to the table. Some partners provide industry connections, others offer research capabilities, and many contribute specialized knowledge that enriches our programs.
How Our Network Evolved
Starting Small and Local
We began with three universities in Queensland. Back then, we had more enthusiasm than infrastructure. Our first partnership agreement was signed at a coffee shop — not because we wanted to be casual, but because we didn't have an office yet. Those early partners took a chance on us when we were still figuring things out.
Expanding Beyond Academia
Two financial services firms approached us about developing specialized training for their teams. This opened up a different type of partnership — one where we worked directly with practitioners who needed advanced analytical skills for real-world applications. We learned as much from them as they did from our programs.
Research Collaboration Takes Shape
A research institute in Melbourne wanted to collaborate on developing new analytical methodologies. This partnership pushed us into areas we hadn't explored before. The research they produced using our framework ended up being cited in several industry publications, which was unexpected but welcome validation.
Building Cross-Sector Connections
We now work with twelve organizations across education, finance, and research sectors. Each partnership looks different because each organization has different needs. Some run joint programs, others share resources, and a few focus on developing new educational materials together. The variety keeps things interesting.
People Behind the Partnerships
Partnership success comes down to individuals who care about making things work. These are a few of the people who keep our collaborations running smoothly.
Rhiannon Caulfield
Partnership Coordinator
Rhiannon handles the logistics that make partnerships actually function. She spends most of her time scheduling meetings, tracking commitments, and making sure everyone has what they need. Before joining us in early 2023, she worked in university administration.
Desmond Trask
Academic Liaison
Desmond bridges the gap between our practical approach and academic requirements. He understands both worlds because he's worked in both — ten years in investment banking followed by five years teaching finance at university level. He joined our team in mid-2022.
Celestine Varga
Industry Relations
Celestine maintains relationships with our financial sector partners. She has a background in corporate training and knows how to translate academic concepts into formats that work for busy professionals. She's been with us since 2020.
Partnership Impact in Numbers
We track several metrics to understand how our partnerships are performing. These aren't vanity numbers — they help us see where we're making progress and where we need to improve. The data covers our activities from January 2024 through April 2025.
Current organizations we're working with across education, finance, and research sectors. This number has grown steadily from three in 2019.
Total learners who've accessed programs through partner institutions during the past 16 months. About 60% are university students, while 40% come from professional training contexts.
Collaborative initiatives completed or in progress, ranging from curriculum development to research studies. Each project typically runs for 4-8 months.
Average timeline from initial discussion to program launch with new partners. This includes planning, approval processes, and material development.
What Comes Next
We're looking at autumn 2025 and beyond with some specific goals in mind. First, we want to develop more industry-focused programs with financial services partners. There's growing demand for advanced analytical training that goes beyond what traditional education provides.
Second, we're exploring partnerships with international institutions. Several universities in Southeast Asia have expressed interest in adapting our programs for their markets. This would be new territory for us.
And third, we want to create more opportunities for students to work on real projects with our industry partners. Theory is important, but nothing beats working with actual data and real business challenges.
Discuss Partnership Options