Smiths Biennial Maryland Finance Symposium To Focus on Governance, Markets and Financial Policy

In keeping with its distinguished record of professional leadership, Smiths finance department will host the biennial Maryland Finance Symposium. Titled Governance, Markets, and Financial Policy, the conference is scheduled to run from Thursday, March 31, to Saturday, April 2, 2005, at the University of Maryland Inn and Conference Center.

The Maryland Finance Symposium provides a forum for presentation and discussion of contemporary issues by leading experts. This year's sixth symposium (the twelfth year) continues to attract experts from the nations leading schools including: Duke University, New York University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, The Wharton School, University of Texas at Austin, and Washington University.

According to the president of World Bank Group, James Wolfensohn, the governance of the corporation is now as important in the world economy as the government of countries. This new approach to corporate governance and a number of high profile corporate failures in recent years, have resulted in a renewed focus on good corporate governance .As its contribution to this debate, the symposium will focus on governance of corporations and institutions, including mutual funds. The topics discussed will include: executive compensation, financial transparency, governance and investor protection, and financial system design.

Michael Jensen, Harvard University professor, delivered the keynote address during the welcome reception and dinner on Thursday evening. Smith School Dean Howard Frank welcomed attendees. On Friday there will be a special dinner hosted by Cornerstone Research. The conference is scheduled to close with a discussion on bank governance, financial systems, and investment led by Antonio Falato of Columbia University.

▓ Priscilla Mwangi, MBA Candidate 2006, Smith Media Group