UQ recognises a blue-chip career

UQ has twice-recognised a lifetime of service to the University and the field of finance by naming a Professorial position and establishing a scholarship fund in honour of a retiring academic.

The Frank Finn Professorship in Finance and the Frank Finn Scholarship Fund are named after the former Director of Studies for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law who finished working at the University in December 2007.

The Professorship will be held by the senior Professor of Finance in UQ Business School, which is currently School Head, Professor Tim Brailsford.

The Frank Finn Scholarship Fund has been established from generous donations by many of Frank Finn’s former students and colleagues.

Professor Finn had been working at the University since he was first appointed Lecturer in the then Department of Commerce in 1969 but his association with UQ extends to 1963 when he commenced a Bachelor of Commerce at the University.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law and a long-time colleague of Professor Finn’s, Professor Ian Zimmer, said the establishment of the Professorship and the scholarship fund was just recognition for an academic who had contributed greatly to the University, its students, and his particular field, finance.

“Professor Finn is one of the most respected finance academics not only in Australia but also in the Asia-Pacific region and has had a lifetime association with UQ that should be adequately recognised,” Professor Zimmer said.

“In addition, Professor Finn has had a lasting impact on the students he came in contact with, many of whom he still keeps in touch with.

“For much of his career Professor Finn taught the Finance Theory class in the Bachelor of Commerce honours program and many of those former students have gone on to have successful careers in investment banking and other related industries.

“In addition, for the past 25 years Professor Finn played a major role in the University’s development of relationships with institutions and professional bodies throughout South-East Asia, stamping UQ firmly as a leader in the region.”

Throughout his career Professor Finn has held positions at the University including Senior Lecturer, Reader, Professor of Finance (which he was appointed 1983), Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Economics, Head of the School of Commerce and, most recently, Director of Studies in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.

Professor Finn’s main areas of academic interest lay in accounting and finance. He contributed extensively to the academic literature in these areas via numerous books and academic papers and served as Editor of the journal Accounting & Finance and on the editorial advisory board of four other journals.

Professor Finn also supervised 12 completed PhD theses and consulted to industry/government bodies including the National Companies and Securities Commission and has appeared as an expert witness in legal cases involving company valuations.

Professor Finn is on Long Service Leave until his official retirement date in the middle of the year; however, when it does become official, Professor Finn will retain his academic title as he was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus by the University Senate.

Media: Sam Ferguson, Faculty of Businss, Economics and Law Communications Manager, telephone 07 3365 6662