Endorsements
PhD Maria Mangano
Maria is currently a research fellow in the Centre for Research in Applied Economics with the School of Economics and Finance. Maria's PhD was recently conferred by Curtin, and she expects to graduate in February 2008. Maria's PhD title is Frontier Methods for Comparing Public Hospital Efficiency: The effect casemix funding in Victoria. This area of research was chosen by Maria after consulting with a potential supervisor within the School. Maria's PhD was initially supported by a three year Teaching Fellowship made available by the School of Economics and Finance in 1999. Subsequent to that Maria was able to work as a Sessional Tutor and Lecturer, and then was employed as a fixed term research associate and teaching assistant.
It is with the benefit of hindsight that Maria recommends completing a PhD to anyone who is ready to undertake a journey of discovery. The journey is analogous to setting off on a long bush walk not knowing where the path will lead, and not knowing where the path becomes obscured by undergrowth. Maria says, "A PhD is not to be taken lightly. It represents a significant contribution to the literature and should be viewed as a growth experience for the individual who is adventurous enough to be subjected to its ups and downs. Prepare yourself for a wild ride but also the great satisfaction that follows when it is complete".
PhD Denise Fernandes-Dodsley
Denise is currently a student within the School of Economics and Finance. Her PhD topic is in the field of Applied Economics, in particular fiscal equalisation through grants in developing or transitional economies. As part of the research on this topic, Denise has been involved in a Curtin Linkage Project with the Department of Industry and Resources on estimating Australian state public capital stocks.
Denise has also attended a conference in Cape Town held jointly by Aus Aid, Curtin University, the University of Western Cape and the South African Financial and Fiscal Commission in the area of grant schemes for the progressive realisation of constitutionally mandated basic services.
In addition to her studies at Curtin University, Denise is currently a Manager at KPMG, Chartered Accountants.
B.Com(Honours) Finance -Tze Sheng
Tze Sheng recently finished his honours year in the School of Economics and Finance after completing his undergraduate degree majoring in Accounting and Finance a year earlier from the same university.
With a belief that university study involves both receiving and contributing knowledge, Tze Sheng was keen to take up the challenge of completing his honours dissertation as well as being exposed to more advanced topics and discussions in the field of finance. He has particular interest in investment finance, and used the opportunity of his thesis to study a particular dividend yield strategy in the Australian stock market. His thesis is titled "Dogs of the Dow Down Under: Having a bite at the Efficient Market Hypothesis in Australia", and was supervised by Associate Professor Lakshman Alles.
Tze Sheng arrived in Perth in 2006 from the Sarawak branch campus of Curtin University of Technology as a recipient of the WA Premier Scholarship, and through its association with other organisations has been involved with volunteer activities that compliment university life. He is also an avid supporter of the cbsplus program - the professional development program of Curtin Business School. He believes the program is a worthwhile and nobel cause and he has put a lot of time and effort into supporting it. With the opportunity to contribute to the area of finance literature as well as participating in extracurricular activities, Tze Sheng believes his year in honours has been both enjoyable and rewarding.
PhD Anoo Nanna
Anoo's PhD is in Health Economics and his thesis is "Design of health insurance systems in developing countries: Thailand". He is interested in problems of health insurance in developing and developed countries, health insurance financing and the willingness to pay for health insurance. Prior to studying at Curtin Anoo used to work at a car rental and mobile phone company in Australia. His study has now enabled him to work as a Research Assistant and Tutor Assistant in Australia. Anno's long term goals are to work with either the Australian Government or a good private company as a researcher, he would also like to be a Professor.
At present Anoo is working full time in a private hospital in Thailand as an MD's Assistant. He also works casually with Thailand's Health Research System Institute and is a part-time tutor in Health Economics for Nurses (Bachelor Degree) in Thailand.
PhD Shuddasattwa Rafiq
Thesis topic: Price Volatility in World Crude Oil Market: Implications for Developing Countries.
Shuddhasattwa enrolled as a PhD Student in February 2007 and received confirmation of his candidacy in July 2007. During this time Shuddasattwa submitted two co-authored articles for publication.
Presently, concentrating on data search, and literature review chapter of his PhD Thesis. Previously Shuddhasattwa achieved distinction in all the academic examinations in different levels
during his school and university days. He completed MBA (Master of Business Administration) and BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) in 2000 and 1998, respectively.
After completing an MBA, he joined the biggest corporate, named Beximco, of Bangladesh and worked there for one year before joining Jahangirnagar University as a faculty. During his teaching career there, he specialised in broad areas of Economics, Marketing, and Finance and published several articles in different referred journals and attended a number of professional and academic workshops and conferences. In addition to that, Shuddhasattwa was engaged in several research and consulting works of UNICEF, Bangladesh and some other corporate houses. Furthermore, Shuddhasattwa is still the executive advisor of the most popular lifestyle and corporate magazine, named Canvas, of Bangladesh.
Shuddasattwa’s long term goal is to be positioned as an internationally renowned academician and researcher through meaningful contribution to the global base knowledge in economics and finance.
PhD AFM Kamrul Hassan
Kamrul enrolled as a PhD student in April 2007 and successfully completed his candidacy in August 2007, he also co-authored two research papers submitted for publication and is currently working on data collections and literature review of his thesis. Kamrul also achieved his Honours and Masters degrees in Finance and Banking, and did his M.Phil at the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Prior to joining Curtin Kamrul published several research papers in national and international and edited books.
Kamrul’s short term goal is to learn how to do basic research and to complete his PhD within the stipulated timeframe which will add value to his capability as a researcher. Kamrul’s long term goal is to make original / fundamental contribution to the field of economics and finance through extensive research.