Microfinance 101 2021
March 31st saw MMI host their first educational event of the year - Microfinance 101! Hosted by Anita Jiang and Angus Kennedy, the presentation was broadcast over Zoom and provided viewers of all backgrounds with a fundamental understanding of microfinance. The incredibly insightful panel consisted of Megan McAlpine and Dr. Abu Shahriar alongside members of the MMI Initiatives consulting team.
Megan is currently the General Manager of Economic Participation & Enterprises at Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, a charity committed to helping disadvantaged women. She offered an explanation of the great work that Good Shepherd does to assist vulnerable members of our community here in Australia, emphasising the importance of microfinance.
Dr Shahriar is currently a Senior Lecturer of Banking & Finance at Monash University and has conducted extensive research in the field of microfinance. He went on to provide an overview of financial inclusion globally, detailing the success of Grameen Bank and similar microfinance institutions in supplying credit to those in need. He offered a balanced discourse around the sometimes controversial concept of microfinance, highlighting the importance of community and leveraging technology to achieve success.
Members of the MMI Initiatives team then detailed the work that the club has done in the microfinance space over its history. Throughout the evening, attendees were encouraged to pose questions to the panel, many of which provoked insightful discussion across an array of topics. The inaugural edition of Microfinance 101 proved to be a fantastic introduction into the world of financial inclusion, educating viewers on an important yet often overlooked facet of social impact.
Weren’t able to attend? Be sure to sign up for our exciting next event, Access to Consulting with Kearney! To guarantee you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming events, make sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Thomas Spargo, Communications Officer 2021
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