The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) today announced it is offering four annual scholarship opportunities valued at $12,500 each to promote post graduate research in financial studies.
The scholarships are open to final year full-time Honours and PhD students in finance, economics, actuarial science, econometrics, statistics and related disciplines. The scholarships aim to support on-going and innovative research and study into financial services.
Applications are open to Australian and New Zealand citizen or permanent residents studying topics of relevance to prudential supervision and the financial soundness of the financial services industry.
The Brian Gray Scholarship program was established in September 2002 by APRA and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in memory of Brian Gray, APRA's former Executive General Manager.
Brian Gray was a major force in designing a supervision framework for conglomerate groups and in APRA's reform proposals for supervising insurance companies. He was also involved in superannuation reform and was involved in promoting the work of graduate staff in his role at the RBA and at APRA.
APRA Deputy Chairman Ross Jones said Brian's legacy supports tomorrow's experts in prudential supervision and regulation.
"We believe this is an opportunity for suitable candidates to further their studies and research which in turn we hope will be of benefit to both APRA and the financial services sector," he said.
"APRA is proud to support on-going research in financial services and our up and coming financial professionals."
Applications close on 21 April 2006 and must be made via APRA's website at www.apra.gov.au. Further information on Scholarship opportunities is available on APRA's website or by contacting Colleen Cassidy on email: colleen.cassidy@apra.gov.au.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) is the prudential regulator of the financial services industry. It oversees banks, credit unions, building societies, general insurance and reinsurance companies, life insurance, friendly societies, and most members of the superannuation industry. APRA is funded largely by the industries that it supervises. It was established on 1 July 1998. APRA currently supervises institutions holding approximately $2.2 trillion in assets for 20 million Australian depositors, policyholders and superannuation fund members.
Media and industry inquiries only:
Stuart Snell, Head of Public Affairs
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
Telephone: 02 9210 3384
Mobile: 0407 250 276
All other inquiries:
APRA Contact Centre
1300 131 060
