2024 Year in Review Guide

Year in Review

2024

Financial Management Association of Australia

Australia’s leading student-led association for businessrelated fields Editor Sophia Gao | Publications Director, FMAA Sydney

Contents President’s Address ..................................................................................... 3 Pre-penultimate Series ............................................................................... 4 Keynote Events ............................................................................................. 8 Corporate Cocktails ................................................................................... 10 Down to Business Luncheon .................................................................... 11 Women in Business Brunch ..................................................................... 12 Financial Services Evening ........................................................................ 13 Industry Insights: STEM Pathways Evening .......................................... 14 Industry Insights: Exploring ESG ............................................................. 15 Tailored Events ........................................................................................... 16 Case Competitions ..................................................................................... 25 Team sign-off ............................................................................................... 28 2024 Sponsors ............................................................................................. 29

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President’s Address

Dear Members, The Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA) prides itself on being a touchpoint for students’ professional development and career goals. We aim to connect members with our unparalleled sponsor base, comprising firms from a variety of industries spanning investment banking, management consulting, asset management and professional services. We also offer quality educational events, resources and networking opportunities to support students in their university journey.

2024 was another year of success for the FMAA, marking the 35th year of the society, and the 31st year for the University of Sydney branch. As FMAA Sydney’s outgoing president, I am deeply grateful for the 1,100+ members who joined us this year, the internal committee for their unwavering commitment to what we do, and our 60+ sponsor firms for their ongoing support.

Core to our offering are our famous keynote events. This year, we saw record student registrations and fantastic sponsor reception for all of our keynotes - including the Women in Business Brunch, Down to Business Luncheon, Corporate Cocktails, Financial Services Evening and our STEM Alternate Pathways event. We also are very proud of our individual firm tailored events, from national webinars to firm information evenings, which provided an intimate setting for students to meet firms. This year, we also worked hard to offer more educational style events including our inaugural Networking Workshop, Intern Speaker Panel and NoW x FMAA x 180DC LinkedIn Workshop. A large thank you to our fellow society partners who assisted us in the organisation of these events.

I’m immensely proud of all that was achieved this year, and I have no doubt that FMAA will continue to grow under the lead of the incoming 2025 Executive Team. I am excited to see what 2025 holds!

Once again, I’d like to thank all of FMAA’s members for their support. Your continued engagement with our society is the focal point of our mission. I would also like to thank all of our sponsors for the strengthening relationships that we have formed over 2024, in particular to Macquarie, our founding and gold sponsor, for their unwavering commitment to the FMAA. I wish you the best of luck for your future endeavours.

Warm regards, Jack O’Brien | 2024 Outgoing President, FMAA Sydney

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Pre-penultimate Series FMAA hosts various educational events that are suitable for pre-penultimate students in the early stages of their degree, offering them invaluable insights about the various industries they can enter into. The primary objective of these events is to empower students with knowledge and understanding of pathways into these industries.

Timeline: Pre-penultimate events

Welcome Drinks 16 February Courtyard Restaurant and Bar, The University of Sydney

How to Network Workshop 28 February Online via Zoom

First Year Fundamentals 6 March ABS Lecture Theatre 1040, The University of Sydney

SCC x FMAA Introduction to Consulting 21 March Michael Spence Function Room, The University of Sydney

Intern Speaker Panel 7 May The Refectory ABS, The University of Sydney

NoW x FMAA x 180DC Workshop

LinkedIn Skills

7 August ABS The Refectory, The University of Sydney

Women’s Mentorship Program (Sydney) 3 September (Expressions of Interest Close)

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First-year friendly

Welcome Drinks FMAA’s annual Welcome Drinks is a fantastic way for students to meet the team and other like-minded students at the end of the Welcome Week calendar. It is also a great opportunity to ask questions about FMAA’s recruitment process and attendance is looked upon favourably.

First-year friendly

Networking Workshop FMAA was proud to introduce its first ever Networking Workshop this year. As highly requested by students, this event focused on easing students’ experiences speaking to sponsors at FMAA’s keynote networking events. Students received curated tips and tricks from both alumni and current team members. The workshop also featured a Q&A with a former FMAA Committee Member to hear their advice and take questions.

First-year friendly

First Year Fundamentals Hosted on March 6 in the ABS, this event helped fresh university students wishing to learn more about the finance industry. Specifically helping younger students understand the valuable offerings of FMAA and meet other like-minded students, First Year Fundamentals offered tips into degree planning, internships, commerce subjects, different areas of the finance industry, as well as social elements of university.

First-year friendly

SCC x FMAA Introduction to Consulting The SCC x FMAA Introduction to Consulting evening allowed students to hear from a panel of experienced intern and graduate consultants, giving them real insight into the nature of a consulting career, what the day-to-day looks like, and how they can break into the industry. The evening began with a moderated panel discussion, followed by Q&A with the panelists, and was concluded by open networking with refreshments

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First-year friendly

Intern Speaker Panel Hosted on May 7th in the ABS Refectory, Intern Speaker Panel (ISP) offered insights into the recruitment process for prominent finance, consulting and legal positions, through a Q&A presentation with senior University of Sydney students. This event is particularly beneficial to pre-penultimate students, with questions ranging from a typical ‘day in the life’ as an intern, to networking strategies and cold emailing.

First-year friendly

NoW x FMAA x 180DC LinkedIn Skills Workshop Helpful for both pre-penultimate and penultimate students, this workshop gave students curated tips and tricks to make their LinkedIn profile stand out, also offering free professional headshots to enhance their profiles. In addition to providing valuable advice to help students navigate their career journey, students were able to connect with like-minded professionals through an open networking session.

Women’s Mentorship Program (Sydney) After the successful launch of FMAA Sydney’s Women’s Mentorship Program in 2023, we were thrilled to announce its 2024 return. This program aims to connect female students with accomplished FMAA alumni who have experience in financial services and related industries. A mentor who shares your personal and professional interests can be pivotal in helping students make decisions aligned with your goals.

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Keynote Events FMAA keynote events stand as the flagship events of the year and are held during the recruitment seasons for our sponsor firms, known for their unparalleled scale and quality. Each event features a keynote speaker or a panel discussion, followed by an open networking session over food and drink.

Timeline: Keynote events

Women in Business Brunch 5 March 12-Micron, Tower 1, Barangaroo

Down to Business Luncheon 28 March Hilton Grand Ballroom

Corporate Cocktails 11 April Hilton Sydney

Financial Services Evening 19 June Macquarie Group, 50 Martin Place

Industry Insights: STEM Pathways Evening 11 September The Great Hall, The University of Sydney

Industry Insights: Exploring ESG 29 October MacLaurin Hall, The University of Sydney

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Corporate Cocktails Event summary Corporate Cocktails Evening was held on Thursday April 11th at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney CBD. One of the first keynote events for the year for FMAA, this event offers unique value to our members due to the diversity of sponsor firms present. Over 25 firms across the financial and professional services, management consulting and funds management industries gathered to network and promote their internships to the 300 students in attendance.

More specifically, sponsor representatives appreciated the quality of discussion with our penultimate and final year students, which will have undoubtedly assisted in humanising each sponsor firm’s recruitment process for their internship and graduate programmes.

This also resonated with our FMAA members, who enjoyed the opportunity to connect with peers from diverse academic backgrounds and institutions who shared common professional interests. Overall, FMAA’s 2024 Corporate Cocktails Evening built upon this event’s long standing professional reputation, and is poised for a promising future.

Key stats 300 attendees 25 sponsor firms Macquarie Group, Altman Solon, Atlas Infrastructure, Australian Super, Azure Capital, Bank of America, Barrenjoey, Bloomberg, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Grant Samuel, Greenhill, Gresham, Houlihan Lokey, ICA Partners, J.P. Morgan, Lazard Australia, MA Financial, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, RBC Capital Markets, Stanton Road Partners, UBS, Dimensional, and Yarra Capital.

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Down to Business Luncheon Event summary Positioned at the beginning of the FMAA calendar, the Down to Business Luncheon provided FMAA members with a valuable opportunity to closely interact with sponsor firms at the Hilton Sydney and gain insight into their respective services and expertise.

This year, it was held on the 28th of March in the Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom. The event was a major success with over 250 attendees and 26 sponsor firms.

The event began with Keynote speaker Emanuel Petros, Head of Healthcare APAC at FMAA’s gold sponsor firm Macquarie, who shared his wealth of learnings from decades of corporate finance experience. Students were able to hear his inspiring story while enjoying a two-course meal and drinks. Following this, students were able to directly interact with FMAA sponsors they were seated with, gaining a deeper understanding of the firm’s services and potential pathways to an internship or graduate role. The event concluded with open networking, allowing students to ask sponsor firms further questions.

Keynote speaker: Emanuel Petros, Head of Healthcare APAC at Macquarie

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Key stats 250 attendees 26 sponsor firms Sponsors in attendance: Macquarie Group, Australian Super, Azure Capital, Bank of America, Barrenjoey, Bloomberg, Citi, Crescent Capital, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Grant Samuel, Greenhill, Gresham, Houlihan Lokey, Herbert Smith Freehills, ICA Partners, Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, Lazard, MA Financial, Morgan Stanley, RBC Capital Markets, Stanton Road Partners, UBS, Wesfarmers, and Yarra Capital.

Women in Business Brunch Event summary The Women in Business Brunch (WBB) was held on the 6th of March this year at 12-Micron, in the heart of Barangaroo. This annual keynote event is an empowering event that aims to showcase the diverse career pathways of accomplished female representatives in the business sector and offer quality networking opportunities for our female members. FMAA introduced the WBB to highlight the positive changes the finance industry has made to champion gender diversity.

The morning started with a welcome address by Emily Wong from Macquarie Group, who set a powerful tone for the day with her insights. This was followed by a panel featuring Kyra Hannaford from J.P. Morgan, Anastasia Anagnostakos from Dimensional Fund Advisors, and Natalie Vanstone from the Royal Bank of Canada.

Panellists shared insights on the current market outlook, equality in the workplace, and working overseas. Following the panel, more than 150 students had networking time with the 30 sponsor firms in attendance over tea and breakfast canapés.

Key stats 150 attendees

30 sponsor firms

Sponsors in attendance: Macquarie Group, Altman Solon, Atlas Infrastructure, Australian Super, Azure Capital, Bank of America, Barrenjoey, BCG, Bloomberg, Capgemini, CA ANZ, Citi, Crescent Capital, Dimensional, Grant Samuel, Gresham Partners, Houlihan Lokey, ICA Partners, Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, Lazard Australia, MA Financial, McKinsey & Company, Mercer, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Pinnacle Investment Management, RBA, RBC Capital Markets, UBS, Wesfarmers.

Welcome address: Emily Wong, Macquarie Group

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Financial Services Evening Welcome address The evening began with a welcome address from Dragi Ristevski, Executive Director at Macquarie Capital.

Event summary The Financial Services Evening (FSE) was held on the 19th of June this year at the Macquarie Group Head Office. FSE allowed students to explore the various roles and opportunities within financial services.

Through both a junior and senior panel, students were able to better understand the internship application process during the middle of the year and enhance their understanding of the finance industry.

Junior Panel This was followed by the Junior Panel, featuring Jessica Wu from Macquarie, Mathuraesh Nirmalarajan from Deutsche Bank, James Icanovski from ICA Partners, and Thomas Hill from Houlihan Lokey. Overall, this focused on recruitment processes, internships, and junior roles within financial services.

Key stats 180 attendees 20 sponsor firms Macquarie Group, Australian Super, Azure Capital, Barrenjoey, Bloomberg, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Greenhill, Gresham Partners, Houlihan Lokey, ICA Partners, Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, Lazard Australia, MA Financial, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, RBC Capital Markets, UBS

Senior Panel Next was the Senior Panel, featuring Goran Tomasevic, the Vice President of Macquarie Capital Real Estate, Lisa Moriarty, a short-term interest rates trader at Citibank, Clare Smeaton, an Assets Management Investment Director in Australian Super, and Tobias Hasbani, the Vice President of Asset & Wealth Management of Goldman Sachs.

Open networking The floor then opened up for open networking session with the 20 sponsor firms attending.

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Industry Insights: STEM Pathways Evening Event summary STEM Pathways Evening was held on Wednesday, 11th of September this year at the Great Hall at the University of Sydney, and was FMAA’s first-ever collaboration with SUDATA and COMM-STEM. The FMAA delivered a revamped, informative night capturing all the hot topics surrounding the emerging STEM field and its impacts on the finance industry.

With over 300 students in attendance, the event was a great success. The evening included a finance and tech panel, featuring representatives from FMAA sponsor firms discussing how tech has fundamentally changed the Australian startup culture, the impact on fundraising and deals advisory alongside the opportunities for STEM students to enter careers in finance.

Students heard intriguing and diverse perspectives regarding how technological developments are shaping careers, the finance industry and the broader global economy. Following the panels, students had the opportunity to network with over 20 sponsor firms over food and drink. STEM Pathways was a unique keynote in that it was open to non-penultimate or final-year students, and many of our younger members enjoyed it.

Key stats 300 attendees 20 sponsor firms Macquarie Group, Altman Solon, Azure Capital, Bain & Company, Barrenjoey, Capgemini, Citi, Deloitte, Dimensional, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Oliver Wyman, PwC, UBS, Amazon Web Services, Google, Immutable, Mandala Partners, Mercer, WiseTech Global, Yarra Capital

Finance panel: Harrison Adkin, Lucy Bennett, Lauren Harper

Open networking session

Tech panel: Miriam Haynes, Nabeel Siddiqui, Bosco Tan, Joshua Lipovic

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Industry Insights: Exploring ESG Event summary The Industry Insights: Exploring ESG event is the final event on the FMAA calendar and was hosted on the 29th of October at MacLaurin Hall, The University of Sydney. This keynote event provided an opportunity for students to learn about the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) trends taking place in the financial services industry, and how ESG considerations will shape the future of businesses and markets, and how it might influence students’ potential career paths.

The night started with a panel of industry professionals featuring Chamath Herath from Macquarie Capital, Harrison Adkin from McKinsey & Company, and Yang Chia from RBC Capital Markets, who discussed the impacts of ESG across the world of finance, in their careers and for their individual firms. Following the panel, students were able to network with representatives from the 8 sponsor firms in attendance over catering and drinks. During this session, students had meaningful conversations with sponsor representatives about early careers, ESG and financial services careers and more.

Panel: Yang Chia, Chamath Herath, Harrison Adkin

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Key stats 80+ attendees 8 sponsor firms Macquarie Group, Altman Solon, Grant Samuel, MA Financial, UBS, Crescent Capital Partners, McKinsey & Company, RBC Capital Markets

Tailored Events Tailored events are firm-specific events hosted by the FMAA in collaboration with sponsor firms, and sometimes with other student societies. They are a valuable opportunity for students to connect with and understand firms in more depth, typically in peak recruitment season. Events span various formats including interactive and virtual workshops, cocktail evenings, and networking sessions.

Financial Services Macquarie Capital: Recruitment Workshop & Networking Evening 15 May ABS Lecture Theatre 1040, The University of Sydney

This evening featured a workshop by Macquarie’s recruitment team. Students heard from Alison Thurgood, Early Careers Recruitment Partner at Macquarie, who walked them through CV, Cover Letter and Interview advice, while running an open Q&A. This presentation was followed by networking with over 10 Macquarie Capital firm representatives.

Macquarie Modelling Workshop 25 June Online (Zoom)

This one-hour workshop was an exclusive opportunity for students to learn valuation methodologies used in investment banking, presented by representatives from Macquarie Capital. The workshop guided students step-bystep through a financial model, providing real examples to give students an edge on technical questions in internship interviews.

Crescent Capital Partners x FMAA x NoW: Introduction to Private Equity 26 February The Michael Spence Building, The University of Sydney

This event was an exciting opportunity to hear from Crescent Capital Partners, a leading Australian private equity firm based in Sydney. The event began with a panel discussion, followed by an opportunity for students to network with representatives. Students were able to gain valuable insight about the private equity industry and connect with industry professionals.

Stanton Road Partners: Navigating Through Private Equity Transactions 6 March Sutherland Room, The University of Sydney

This was an opportunity for students to hear from seasoned Stanton Road Partners investment bankers, who provided an understanding of their day-to-day job, the lifecycle of a M&A transaction and how to stand out in the application process. The event consisted of a case study of a transaction, followed by an extended Q&A session with senior managing directors, and a networking session.

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Azure Capital: Anatomy of the Deal Workshop 6 March ABS Lecture Room 1130, The University of Sydney

This workshop featured a case study presentation by Azure Capital on the successful bid by Akaysha Energy & BlackRock to develop, build, own & operate the world’s largest battery. Azure Capital is a leading Australian corporate advisory firm specialising in Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Advisory across diverse industries.

Bain Capital Internship Program Evening 12 March ABS Case Study Lecture Theatre 2150, The University of Sydney

This event provided insight into Bain’s four-week Winter Internship program in their Special Situations and Credit teams through an in-person presentation from a Bain Representative. The presentation featured an overview of the company and the role of an intern, followed by an open floor Q&A session.

Jefferies Winter Internship In-House Cocktail Evening 25 March Jefferies Australia, Level 22, 60 Martin Place, Sydney

This event was a unique opportunity for students to meet with senior members of the Jefferies team and gain a deeper understanding of their activity in the Australian market. The evening included a brief Q&A session offering further insight into what it is like to work at Jefferies, followed by a general networking session with the broader team over refreshments. The event was a key component of assessing candidates for its Winter and Summer internship programs with a pipeline to 2026 full-time employment.

Grant Samuel Women in Banking Breakfast 23 April Grant Samuel Office, Sydney

Grant Samuel’s Women in Banking breakfast allowed students to gain insights and career tips from Australia’s leading independent corporate advisory firm. This event was an opportunity for students to learn about a career in investment banking, including the day-to-day work activities and recent transactions completed by Grant Samuel, hear career lessons from Grant Samuel’s female leaders and the CEO, and learn about career opportunities at Grant Samuel and their Women in Banking Internship program.

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UBS Investment Banking Challenge 24 April The University of Sydney

The UBS Investment Banking Development Challenge offers students an opportunity to be guided through a real transaction and gain hands-on experience as an investment banking analyst at UBS. This challenge is aimed at all penultimate year university students from across Australia and involves a 2-week development program. This challenge aims to provide students with insight into the world of investment banking and engage with careers at UBS.

FMAA x Grant Samuel Grant Samuel Casino Night 21 May Level 19 Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place

This information session was an opportunity for students to network with Sydney Grant Samuel representatives over canapés and casino games. Over the course of the evening, attendees played poker, blackjack and roulette while learning about Grant Samuel, its culture and internship programs. Grant Samuel is one of the most respected names in corporate finance across Australia and New Zealand, providing fully integrated advisory services spanning Corporate Advisory, Capital Advisory and Value Advisory.

Gresham LBO Modelling Workshop 30 May Business School 115, The University of New South Wales

Gresham’s interactive LBO modelling workshop focused on the technical skills required to build complex valuation models as an analyst in Gresham’s Corporate Advisory team, a leading independent Australian-owned advisory and funds management firm. The event was a unique opportunity for students to get ahead of their peer group, meet representatives from Gresham and boost their chances when applying for internships

Nomura Women in Finance Networking Night 20 June Nomura Office, Sydney

Hosted at Nomura’s Sydney office, students experienced a night of networking to discover what a career at the firm is like. They gained valuable insights into what Nomura does whilst networking with firm representatives. This exclusive event was specifically for female students expecting to graduate by December 2025.

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Houlihan Lokey Investment Banking Interview Skills 27 June Level 14, 20 Martin Place, Sydney

Hosted by Joseph Zirpolo, Global Head of Training, this event allowed attendees to gain valuable interview skills, network with members of the Houlihan Lokey team, and learn about their internship and graduate programs. With over 25 years of training experience at global investment banks, private equity, multinational corporations and consulting firms, Mr. Zirpolo currently leads Houlihan Lokey’s firm-wide intern and full-time training programs.

ICA Partners Summer Internship Networking Night 10 July Tank Stream Bar, 1 Tankstream Way, Sydney

This evening allowed students to learn more about ICA Partner’s 2024/2025 Summer Internship Program. The event featured a short presentation about the firm followed by a general networking session with the wider team over refreshments. For students interested in the Summer Internship program, it was an invaluable opportunity to network with experienced members of the team and gain insight into their presence in the Australian market.

Discover Bloomberg Sydney 24 September Bloomberg Office, Sydney

Hosted at the Bloomberg office, this event offered students an incredible opportunity to learn about Bloomberg Terminal, a leading financial data tool. Attendees gained exclusive insights from Bloomberg representatives on how different market players rely on them to make decisions.

The event was concluded with a panel discussion, and a networking session, accompanied by refreshments.

Pathways into Goldman Sachs 25 September ABS Lecture Room 1130, The University of Sydney

Featuring a panel and Q&A, students had the valuable opportunity to learn about Goldman Sachs’ collaborative culture, as well as its upcoming Summer Internship and Graduate Recruitment programs. This was followed by an open networking session, allowing students to meet over 30 Goldman Sachs representatives across various divisions such as Corporate Advisory, Fixed Income, and Asset Management.

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Women in Goldman Sachs 15 October Goldman Sachs Offices, Sydney

This evening showcased the culture of Goldman Sachs, one that empowers all careers in the finance industry. The event consisted of an opening speech from one of Goldman Sachs’ senior women leaders and was followed by a panel with Q&A. The event was concluded with an open networking session with Goldman Sachs Corporate Advisory team members. This event connects to the Goldman Sachs Women’s Mentorship program, an initiative intended to empower women in finance by pairing mentees with at least one Goldman Sachs Corporate Advisory representative.

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Asset Management ATLAS Infrastructure Valuation Workshop 5 March Online (Zoom)

This valuation workshop was open to FMAA members nationwide from the ANU, USYD, UNSW, UQ, UMelb, and Monash branches. It consisted of a valuation workshop focusing on the ASX-listed company Transurban (ASX:TCL), an overview of ATLAS Infrastructure, and a Q&A with members of the ATLAS team. ATLAS is a global listed infrastructure specialist with one of the largest and most experienced teams in the sector split between Sydney and London, managing A$6.6 billion.

Discussions with Dimensional: Exploring a Career in Investment Management 16 April Dimensional Office, Sydney

Dimensional’s expert panellists, both new and seasoned professionals from diverse backgrounds, shared their personal journeys and experiences within the investment management field, and how they got to their current position. They discussed the essential skills and traits which helped them along the way. Following the panel, students had the chance to network with industry professionals and fellow students.

Pinnacle Women in Finance Scholarship Information Webinar 22 October Online (Zoom)

This information webinar allowed students to gain exclusive insights and tips about the 2025 Scholarships on offer at UNSW and the University of Sydney. Attendees heard from a former scholar about her experience, as well as from a Business Development associate at Pinnacle Investment about the company. Pinnacle’s Women in Finance scholarships were first introduced to empower, inspire and enable women to gain experience in the investment management and broader financial services industry.

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Management Consulting Catch Up on Consulting with Capgemini 18 April Law Annex Seminar Room 340, The University of Sydney

As a renowned global leader in consulting, technology services, and digital transformation, Capgemini took students through the fundamentals of consulting. This event was targeted to business students, but also any student curious about the world of consulting. The workshop offered valuable insights, practical knowledge, and showcased essential skills used by consultants daily.

Learn about Consulting with McKinsey 1 August Law Annex Seminar Room 340, The University of Sydney

Students had the opportunity to learn about leading consulting firm McKinsey & Company’s industry-leading casing approach and gain firsthand insights into the consulting industry from a panel of esteemed McKinsey representatives. This was followed by an open networking session.

Bain Insights Series 3 October ABS Room 2140, The University of Sydney

This event was an exclusive opportunity for students to gain insights into the world of consulting with Bain & Company.

This series contained two events, the first featuring a panel discussion followed by a Q&A with Bain consultants, while the second offered a hands-on, interactive case study walkthrough.

FMAA x Kearney ANZ Graduate Recruitment Information Evening 15 October Kearney Sydney Office

Hosted at Kearney’s Sydney office, this evening allowed students to learn more about Kearney, its projects, and Kearney Originals. It included a thought-provoking discussion on what consultants do, and what makes Kearney different. Two Kearney consultants then went through a live case demonstration (of the type that is asked in Kearney’s graduate recruitment process), and provided tips and tricks to nail a Kearney case interview.

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FMAA x BCG: Cracking the Case 17 October BCG Sydney Offices

Global consulting firm BCG walked students through tips and tricks on how to crack their case interviews, and offered additional information on the BCG application process. This event provided all attendees with a strong advantage leading into consulting case interviews and upcoming case competitions. Attendees were then offered the opportunity to network with BCG representatives.

Professional Services PwC Traineeship Networking Night 29 August Law Annex Seminar Room 340, The University of Sydney

This evening featured a Q&A panel of diverse PwC team ambassadors, who discussed their experiences at PwC, provided tips for the recruitment process, and shared what each team at PwC could offer for prospective trainees. This presentation was followed by a chance to speak and network with PwC representatives over light refreshments.

Commercial Services An Evening with Wesfarmers 26 March Online (Zoom)

The virtual presentation and Q&A presented the history of Wesfarmers, its operations, the conglomerate structure and The Wesfarmers Way (value-creating strategies and core values). Students gained insight into the role of the Business Development team, with real examples of their work. This was followed by Q&A, where attendees were divided into virtual breakout rooms to foster a friendly environment for students to ask questions.

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Case Competitions Case competitions are a great way to develop research and presentation skills, spanning a range of styles and covering a range of industries, from Management Consulting to Banking and Markets. The FMAA hosts a Management Consulting Case Competition every year, which is friendly for first-years.

Key Competitions FMAA x Altman Solon Management Consulting Case Competition (MCCC)

First-year friendly

The MCCC is a national competition that offers participants a chance to tackle complex managerial problems and present their solutions. In teams of 2-4, participants are presented with a real-life business case — this year proposed by Strategy Consulting firm, Altman Solon — that requires strategic thinking and a data-driven approach to create meaningful recommendations.

FMAA x FAWA ESG Investing for the Future

First-year friendly

This case competition explores portfolio building with a strong emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and shared value principles, requiring students to go beyond traditional valuation methodologies. Partnering with leading industry experts in portfolio construction and asset management, students are able to expand their understanding of financial markets and receive feedback on their investment pitches.

Allegro Funds Private Equity Case Competition In this private equity case competition, students form groups of 3-4 to pitch a recommendation to an investment committee about a potential buyout. Students from all degrees and majors are encouraged to participate. The winning team receives a cash prize of $1000 and impressive competitors are invited to interview for an internship at Allegro Funds. The best pre-penultimate team also receives a coffee chat with an Allegro Funds Deal team member.

J.P. Morgan Investment Banking Case Competition This competition is open to pre-penultimate students graduating in 2026 Australia-wide. The aim of the competition is to offer an interactive and professional learning experience as students take the role of a client advisor. Students form teams of 4, are given a realistic client case, then make a suitable recommendation with a written submission and a presentation. The competition involves a semi-final and final round, with valuable feedback offered to competitors.

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J.P. Morgan Markets Case Competition The J.P. Morgan Markets Case Competition puts students right in the middle of the action. Through a hypothetical case study, students find out what it takes to work as an Analyst in Markets. Individual participants formulate a short and concise trade idea in both Equities and FICC (Fixed Income, Currencies & Commodities). Trade recommendations are assessed by members of the J.P. Morgan Markets team.

PropConnex Real Estate Case Competition The PropConnex Real Estate Case Competition is targeted at students interested in real estate, private equity, advisory, development and M&A. It is a great opportunity for students to showcase their abilities to industry judges and to represent USYD internationally at Cornell University.

Students form teams of 4-6 and present an investment committee pitch to industry judges and USYD academics.

Prizes include a $3,000 cash prize pool and the winning team at the NSW State Finals receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to participate in the prestigious Cornell International Case Competition in November 2023.

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Team sign-off

2024 Executive Team

2025 Executive Team

President: Jack O’Brien Vice President (Operations): Hui Ern Lim Vice President (Sponsorship): Eugenia Kim Secretary: Joshua Zhang Treasurer: Kevin Lee External Relations Director: Victoria Soegimin Events Directors: Jacinta Ma & Binglin Song Marketing Director: Connie Ni IT Director: Brandon Lam Publications Director: Aksara Sembu People & Culture Director: Jenni Lin Sponsorship Directors: Ethan Han, Kynan Lee, Serena Pham, Mary Tan, Jack Zhou, Joanna Kong, Joseph Lim, Kevin Chen, Michelle Hong, Toby Mok

President: Jacinta Ma Vice President (Operations): Aksara Sembu Vice President (Sponsorship): Mary Tan Secretary: Conor Milliken Treasurer: Joanna Kong External Relations Director: Emily Wu Events Directors: Jenni Lin & Brandon Lam Marketing Directors: Anna Lee & Natalie Duong IT Director: Zachary Smith Publications Director: Sophia Gao People & Culture Director: Aryan Desai Sponsorship Directors: Binglin Song, Hui Ern Lim, Connie Ni, Elyssa Chaaya, Jack Zhou, Joseph Lim, Joshua Zhang, Kevin Chen, Michelle Hong, Toby Mok

Thank you for checking out our 2024 Year in Review! As we reflect on the past year, we are deeply grateful to our members for their ongoing support of the FMAA. The FMAA is proud to be Australia's leading finance society with 6 branches across Australia's leading universities. Since 1994, the FMAA Sydney has strived to deliver exceptional events for our members, focused on networking, career development and finance education.

This year, we placed a strong emphasis on expanding opportunities for our pre-penultimate and younger students, growing our sponsor base, and broadening our reach across different degrees. In the incoming 2025, we hope to build on our existing foundations and continue to deliver even greater value to our members. We aim to introduce new events and publications that help cater our diverse membership base, helping you find value in us, regardless of your degree or progression. While we’re preparing for a successful 2025, we also want to hear from you! A feedback form will be sent to all members, giving you the chance to reflect on the year and share what you’d like to see moving forward. Please keep an eye on your inbox for this email.

Once again, we would like to thank all members for their engagement and support throughout the year. We hope FMAA has supported your career development and university journey, and we look forward to a bigger and better 2025!

Warm regards, The Incoming 2025 FMAA Sydney Team 2025 FMAA Sydney Team

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2024 Sponsors

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https://www.fmaa.com.au sydney@fmaa.com.au FMAA Sydney FMAA Sydney @fmaausyd