Graduate Student Placements

PhD Graduates

Jeofrey Abalos

Thesis title: Determinants of health status and health expectancy among older persons in the Philippines

Supervisors: Professor Heather Booth and Professor Zhongwei Zhao 

Graduated: 2018, took up a post-doctoral position at National University of Singapore

‘Studying at CEPAR has enriched my PhD experience in various ways. CEPAR provided me with the opportunity to participate in an international conference and present my research to a wider audience. I also learned novel and cutting-edge research methodologies through the workshops and training organised by the Centre. Being part of the CEPAR community I was able to expand my professional network and had the chance to meet and interact with many experts from around the world.’ Dr Jeofrey Abalos, former CEPAR PhD Student

Muhammad Absor

Title: Inequality in Later Life in Rural Indonesia: Filling the Gaps in Meeting the Needs of Older Persons

Supervisors: Dr. Iwu Dwisetyani Utomo, Professor Peter McDonald, Dr Arianne Utomo and Dr Brian Houle

Graduated: 2021, took up a position as a Lecturer at School of Social Welfare (Social Work), College of Dakwah and Communication, the State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta

Natalia Aranco

Thesis title: Education health and fertility: analysing interactions across countries and over time

Supervisors: Professor John Piggott and A/Professor Shiko Maruyama

Graduated: 2017, took up a position with the Inter-American Development Bank

Richard Arthur

Thesis title: Is anxiety a risk factor in cognitive ageing?

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr. Richard A. Burns, Dr. Moyra E. Mortby and Professor Richard O'Kearney

Graduated: 2019

Kimberly Ashby-Mitchell

Thesis title: The relationship of diet and physical activity behaviours to cognitive impairment

Supervisor: Professor Kaarin Anstey

Graduated: 2016, appointed as a Senior Technical Officer at the Caribbean Public Health Agency

'Being a CEPAR PhD student proved to be an invaluable opportunity for me. When I enrolled as a doctoral student under the supervision of Professor Kaarin Anstey at ANU in 2013, I knew I wanted to become involved in CEPAR's research program because the Centre covered such a wide range of issues and there were researchers from all over the world - I felt this was a place where I could both share my work and learn from others. Prior to starting my PhD at ANU, I haven't been to an academic conference and my first such experience was the 1st CEPAR International Conference in Sydney. I was blown away by the topics that were presented and also a tad bit intimidated! However, I resolved that I would capitalise on the investment that CEPAR made in its students and I was determined to meet as many of my fellow CEPAR students as possible and to collaborate with some of the fellows. This was facilitated by the fact that there were many opportunities for students, early career researchers and fellows to engage and exchange ideas. I attribute much of the opportunities that I have had professionally to CEPAR and its investment in me; post graduation I have held positions at both regional and international agencies and the exposure and experiences that I had as a CEPAR PhD student allowed me to perform my duties with confidence. The wide network of experts who serve as CEPAR investigators and fellows continue to be available to me and I am grateful that I can call on them whenever the need arises.' Dr Kimberly Ashby-Mitchell, former CEPAR PhD Student

Kofi Awuviry Newton

Thesis title: Older adults’ Functional engagements, caregivers lived experiences, and social workers role in the lives of older adults in Ghana.

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles, Dr Meredith Tavener, Dr Kylie Wales and Dr Paul Kowal

Graduated: 2020, Teaching, Academic tutor at the University of Wollongong and Peer Reviewer for The Gerontologist Eeis

Craig Blackburn

Thesis title: Longevity risk management and securitisation

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Research Fellow at CEPAR before moving on to Challenger

Bianca Bonollo

Thesis title: New perspectives on health choices and social interactions

Supervisor: Dr Loretti Isabella Dobrescu

Graduated: 2018, took up a position as a consultant in the Land Resources unit at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.

Johanne Brady

Thesis title: Meanings of Parkinson’s disease from the perspectives of people diagnosed and their partner-carers living in an Australian community setting

Supervisor: A/Prof Kate O'Loughlin

Graduated: 2017, teaching, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney; and Academic Director, Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia

Yodi Christiani

Thesis Title: Urban Women's Health Inequality and their Determinants in Indonesia

Supervisor: Professor Julie Byles

Graduated: 2016, took up a position as a Public Health Specialist at the CREDOS Institute

Dimity Crisp

Thesis title: Transitions in later life: Relocation to a retirement village

Supervisor: Professor Kaarin Anstey

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the National Institute for Mental Health Research

Jennifer Culph

Thesis title: Health Organisations and Innovation: The Implementation of a Community Dementia Care Program

Supervisors: Professor Lindy Clemson, Dr Kate Laver and Dr Justin Scanlan

Graduated: 2020, Took up a position as a Health Manager, NSW Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network

Cassie Curryer

Thesis title: Baby Boomer Women Ageing In Place: Childlessness, Social Policy, And Housing In Australia

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles and Professor Mel Gray

Graduated: 2019, took up a position as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle

Rachel Curtis

Thesis title: I think I can – The association between control beliefs and activity engagement in the second half of life

Supervisors: Dr Tim Windsor and Professor Mary Luszcz

Graduated: 2017, took up a position as a Research Associate in the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia

Arpita Das

Thesis title: Nutrient intake and its effects on health outcomes and mortality among older men living in Australia: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project

Supervisors: Dr Vasant Hirani and Prof. Robert Cumming

Graduated: 2020, Took up a positions as aPostgraduate Teaching Fellow, Department of Gender & Cultural Studies, University of Sydney

Parivash Eftekhari

Thesis title: Quality care in older Australian women with asthma

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles, Ms Peta Forder and Dr Melissa Harris

Graduated: 2018, took up a position as a research coordinator in the School of Medicine and Public Health at The University of Newcastle

Jun Feng

Thesis title: Old age support and risk management

Supervisor: Professor Hazel Bateman

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Research Fellow in the Dept. Banking & Finance at the Faculty of Business & Economics, Monash University

(Simon) Man Chung Fung

Thesis title: Pricing and risk management of long dated contracts in finance and insurance

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris and Dr Katja Ignatieva

Graduated: 2014, took up a position with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Capital Quantitative Analytics

Natalia Garabato

Thesis title: Pension literacy, present bias and retirement outcomes in Chile

Supervisors: Professor John Piggott and Professor Denzil Fiebig

Graduated: 2015, currently employed with Willis Towers Watson

Natasha Ginnivan

Thesis title: Self-perceptions of ageing from a cross-cultural perspective: Do collectivist cultures provide a buffer for the impact of negative stereotypes about age?

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Kerry Sargent-Cox and A/Professor Kate O’Loughlin

Graduated: 2016, took up a position as Research Assistant at CEPAR, UNSW

Mitiku Hambisa

Thesis title: Driving in later years of life and age-related vision changes among older Australian women: Assessment of healthy ageing and helathcare utilisation using driving as an operational indicator of ageing well 

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles

Co-Supervisor: Dr Xenia Dolja- Gore

Graduated: 2022, took up a position working for UNSW Sydney as a Senior Research Associate and a Conjoint Research Fellow position at Neuroscience Reseaqrch Australia (NeuRA)

Pushpani Herath

Thesis title: Understanding the relationship between treatment of common chronic diseases and cognitive function

Supervisiors: Professor Kaarin Anstey and Dr Nicolas Cherbuin

Graduated: 2014, took up a position as a research assistant at the Research School of Population Health, ANU

Henry Hongbo Jin

Thesis title: Financing retirement: Two issues in private risk

Supervisors: Professor John Piggott and A/Professor John Evans

Graduated: 2012, took up a position as a Business Analyst at QBE

Cuc Thu Hoang

Thesis title: The transition in modes of aged care in Vietnam

Supervisors: Professor Heather Booth, Dr Iwu Utomo and A/Professor Philip Taylor

Graduated: 2015, took up a position at the Australian Institute of Family Studies

Mydair Hunter

Thesis title: Prospective Memory in the fourth age: Evidence from ALSA Daily Life Time Sampling Study

Supervisors: Professor Mary Luszcz and Dr Tim Windsor

Graduated: 2014, took up a position as a Post-doctoral Fellow at Flinders University

Nerida Hunter

Thesis title: The geodemographic and life course dimensions of population ageing in Australia

Supervisors: Professors James Raymer, Peter McDonald and Heather Booth

Graduated: 2016, appointed as Branch Manager, NDIS Financial Policy & Performance, Department of Social Services, Canberra

Neil Jeyasingam

Thesis title: Attitudes to Ageing: Factors contributing to optimal mental health in older persons

Supervisors: Prof Kate O'Loughlin and Prof Lynda Matthews

Graduated: 2021, Took up a position as the Clinical Director, Far West Local Health District

Marijan Jukic

Thesis title: Modelling residential aged care in Australia: Entry and exit

Supervisors: Professor Peter McDonald and Associate Professor Jeromey Temple

Graduated: 2017, took up a position at NSW Data Analytics Centre, NSW Treasury and then took up a position as a Manager at the Department of Premier and Cabinet (VIC)

Kim Kiely

Thesis title: The interplay of cognition and sensory function in late life

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey, Professor Mary Luszcz and Dr Denis Gerstorf

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, ANU

Matthew Kidman

Thesis title: The impact of population ageing on the prices of domestic housing and equities in Australia

Supervisors: Professor Peter McDonald and Professor Alex Frino

Graduated: 2016, currently, Principal, Portfolio Manager, Centennial Asset Management

Sarang Kim

Thesis title: Motivations and barriers to lifestyle and behavioural changes for dementia risk reduction

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Kerry Sargent-Cox and Dr Nicolas Cherbuin

Graduated: 2014, took up a position as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, ANU

Andrew Kingston

Thesis title: Understanding the disablement process in the very old: Findings from the Newcastle 85+ study

Supervisors: Professor Carol Jagger and Professor Thomas B.L. Kirkwood

Graduated: 2015, appointed as a Research Associate, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK

Thomas Lo

Thesis title: The cost of arthritis associated with health-care utilisation among older women in Australia

Supervisors: Professor Lynne Parkinson, Dr. Michelle Cunich and Professor Julie Byles

Graduated: 2014, began a Post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of Alberta

Janet Maccora

Thesis title: Interrogating the association between education and older-age cognition

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Ruth Peters and Professor John McCallum

Graduated: 2020, Continued as a Research Officer, National Seniors Australia

Tazeen Majeed

Thesis title: Life Course Impact of Chronic Diseases on Patterns of Work Force Participation - A Gendered Approach

Supervisor: Professor Julie Byles

Graduated: 2015, took up a position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing

Kate Milledge

Thesis title: Study of the inter-relationships between dietary intake, oral health, and frailty among older Australian men

Supervisors: Vasant Hirani, Professor Robert Cumming and Dr Fiona O’Leary

Graduated: 2020

Arm Nakornthab 

Thesis title: Annuities and Estate Taxation in Entrepreneurship Model

Supervisors: Dr. Cagi Kumru 

Graduated: 2018, currently working as a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics at Khon Kaen University

Claire O'Connor

Thesis title: Understanding behaviour and function in frontotemporal dementia: developing better intervention approaches

Supervisors: Professor Lindy Clemson, Professor Eneida Mioshi, Professor Henry Brodaty, Professor Olivier Piguet and A/Professor Kate O'Loughlin

Graduated: 2017, took up a position as Research Fellow, Centre for Positive Ageing, HammondCare and as Conjoint Lecturer, UNSW, School of Public Health and Community Medicine

Augustus Panton

Thesis title: Essays on Climate Change and Monetary Policy.

Supervisors: Warwick McKibbin, Professor Renee McKibbin, Dr. Timo Henckel and Dr. Larry Liu.

Graduated: 2020, Took up a position as an Economist, International Monetary Fund.

Phitawat Poonpolkul

Thesis title: Evaluating Implications of Demographic Changes on the Macroeconomy and the Conduct of Monetary Policy.

Supervisors: Professor Warwick McKibbin, Dr Larry Liu and Professor Renee McKibbin

Graduated: 2021, took up a position as a Senior Economist at the Central Bank of Thailand

Mijanur Rahman 

Thesis title: Modelling Trajectories of Aged Care Use Among Older Australian Women

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles and Professor Jimmy Efird 

Graduated: 2020, took up a position as a Research Fellow (Applied Statistics) at the Australian Health Service Research Institute, University of Wollongong

Mahin Raissi

Thesis title: Online social networks and subjective wellbeing of older Australians: Network homogeneity, social capital and negative interactions

Supervisors: Professor Robert Ackland, A/Professor Heather Booth and Dr Lexing Xie

Graduated: 2016, currently lecturing at the University of Canberra

M. Pilar Rioseco

Thesis title: The role of social connectedness in the process of retirement

Supervisors: Professor Heather Booth, Professor Robert Akland and Dr Tim Windsor

Graduated: 2015, took up a position as a Senior Research Officer at the Australian Institute of Family Studies

Abul Rizvi

Thesis title: Evolution of Australian Immigration Policy.

Supervisors: Peter McDonald  and Jeromey Temple.

Graduated: 2020

Saran Sarntisart

Thesis Title: Religious Giving and Population Ageing

Supervisor: Dr Cagri Kumru

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Lecturer at the Thailand National Institute of Development Administration, School of Development Economics

Adam Wenqiang Shao

Thesis title: Pricing models and risk management of reverse mortgages

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris and Katja Hanewald

Graduated: 2014, took up a position as a Research Fellow at CEPAR UNSW node before moving on to the role of Senior Quantitative Analyst at Mine Wealth and Wellbeing

George Smyrnis

Thesis title: Essays on Improving Retirement Engagement.

Supervisors: Professor Susan Thorp.

Graduated: 2020

Martin Snoke

Thesis title: Baby boomers' retirement planning in turbulent times: The role of financial security

Supervisors: Professor Hal Kendig and A/Prof Kate O'Loughlin

Graduated: 2012, took up a position at the Australian Department of Health and Ageing

Michelle Tew

Thesis title: Advancing health economic evaluation methodologies for health policy design in vulnerable populations.

Supervisors: Professor Philip Clarke.

Graduated: 2020

Safrina Thristiawati

Thesis title: Gender and wellbeing of older Indonesians

Supervisors: Professor Terence Hull, Professor Heather Booth and Dr Iwu Utomo

Graduated: 2013, took up a position with the IRT Foundation

Quang Trinh

Thesis title: Ageing and intergenerational relationships in Vietnam

Supervisors: Professor Hal Kendig, Professor Peter McDonald, Associate Professor Minh Huu Nguyen and Dr. Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan

Graduated: 2018, took up a position as a Researcher at the Institute for Family and Gender Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences 

Rosilene Waern

Thesis title: The Geometric Framework and Nutrition in old age

Supervisors: Professor Robert Cumming, Professor Margaret Allman-Farinelli, Dr Vasant Hirani and Dr Thomas G Travison

Graduated: 2016, appointed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney

Kylie Wales

Thesis title: Measuring function and cost effectiveness in occupational therapy home discharge planning

Supervisors: Associate Professor Lindy Clemson, Associate Professor Natasha Lannin and Professor Glenn Salkeld

Graduated: 2017, took up a lectureship at the School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, NSW

Sarah Walker

Thesis title: Psychosocial impacts of driving cessation in later life

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey, Dr Tim Windsor and Dr Jay Brinker

Graduated: 2014, began working as a clinical psychologist

Jacqueline Wesson

Thesis title: Functional cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early dimentia: Validity of the large Aleen's Cognitive Level Screen (Version 5) (LACLS-5)

Supervisors: Professor Lindy Clemson, Professor Henry Brodaty and Dr Simone Reppermund

Graduated: 2017, took up a position at the Ageing, Work and Health Research Unit at the University of Sydney

Lynda Woodward

Thesis title: The Experience of Older Men and Women on Falling, Recovery and Participation in a Long-Term Management Program

Supervisors: Professor Lindy Clemson, Associate Professor Cathie Sherrington and Associate Professor Karen Willis

Graduated: 2019, took up a position as a clinicial physiotherapist in an acute hospital in Newcastle.

Shang Wu

Thesis title: Demand and supply side issues for a long-term care (LTC) annuity market

Supervisors: Professor Hazel Bateman, Dr Ralph Stevens and Professor Susan Thorp

Graduated: 2016, took up a position as Research Fellow with Centre for Excellence in Ageing Population Research (CEPAR), UNSW Sydney

Befikadu L. Wubishet

Thesis title: Health Care Utilisation and Health Economics of Diabetes among Australian Women.

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles.

Graduated: 2020

Mengyi Xu

Thesis title: Housing and retirement saving

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2017, took up a position as Research Fellow with CEPAR, UNSW Sydney

Yajing Xu

Thesis title: Cohort models of mortality and development of a tradeable longevity market

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris and Dr Jonathan Ziveyi

Graduated: 2017, took up a position at Ernst and Young, Shanghai, China

Xiao Xu

Thesis title: Variable annuity guarantee benefits: An integrated study of financial modelling, actuarial valuations and deep learning

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris, A/Professor Jonathan Ziveyi, Professor Jennifer Alonso-Garcia

Graduated: 2020, took up a position as Lecturer at the School of Risk & Actuarial Studies, UNSW Sydney

'The CEPAR scholarship provided me with more than just an exciting platform to develop a research network on the ageing population. During my PhD candidature under the supervision of Professor Michael Sherris, I learned a lot from many researchers during the seminars and enhanced my understanding of academic research. It's truly a privilege to be involved in the CEPAR research community.' Xiao Xu, former CEPAR PhD Student

 

Xiao se (Luna) Xu

Thesis title: The association between dietary patterns and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NR-RCDs) among older Chinese in China and Australia

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles and Associate Professor John Hall

Graduated: 2016, took up a position as casual academic with the University of Newcastle School of Nursing and Midwifery

Adam Yates 

Thesis title: International Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: Relative vs. Absolute

Supervisors: Professor Julie Byles, Professor Catherin D'Este and Dr Paul Kowal 

Graduated: 2019, took up a position as a Clinical Epidemiologist and Biostatistician with Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, USA.

Dandan Yu

Thesis title: Three Essays on Household Decision-making

Supervisors: Professor Denzil Fiebig and Professor Denise Doiron 

Graduated: 2019, took up a position as a Research Fellow at CEPAR

Xiaoyun Zhang

Thesis title: Three essays on migration, health insurance and pension policies in China

Supervisors: Professor John Piggott, Dr Katja Hanewald and Tess Stafford

Graduated: 2018

Jiaying Zhao

Thesis title: Transitions in mortality from cardiovascular disease in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei.

Supervisors: Professor Zhongwei Zhao and A/Professor Heather Booth

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Post-doctoral Fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU

 

PHd Practicum Graduates

(Crystal) Yu Fu

Thesis title:  Health risk assessment in the ageing China:  focusing on disability risk

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: Year 2019, took up a position as a Post-doctoral Fellow at National School of Development, in Peking University

 

Masters Graduates

Aishwarya Bakshi

Thesis title: Managing policy compliance in collaborative aged care environments

Supervisors: Professor Ray Pradeep and Srikumar Venugopal

Graduated: 2013, took up a position at IAG

Shuanglan Li

Thesis title: Investment strategies in pooled annuities

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris, Andres Villegas and Heloise Labit Hardy

Graduated: 2018, took up position as a Project Actuary, Zurich Financial Services Australia.

Chwee Chwee von Sanden

Thesis title: Health and labour force participation among older Australians: Investigating the roles of cognitive and sensory functions.

Supervisors: A/Professor Peter Butterworth and Professor Kaarin Anstey

Graduated: 2014, took up a position at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

 

Honours Graduates

Igor Balnozan

Thesis title: Slow and Steady: Drawdown Behaviours in Phased Withdrawal Retirement Income Products

Supervisors: Anthony Asher and Robert Kohn

Graduated: 2017; commenced PhD at UNSW in 2018 (in progress).

Liqing Chen

Thesis title: The Impact of Age Discrimination Law on the Employment of Older Workers: A Study of European Countries

Supervisor: Shiko Maruyama

Graduated: 2018, currently enrolled in the Economics PhD program at UTS

Daniel Cho

Thesis title: Modelling cross-over risk of equity release products and its implication on risk management

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2012, currently employed as an Actuarial Analyst at Mercer

Sidhant Chopra

Thesis title: Myelin matters - Using a novel in-vivo measure of myelination to investigate the relationship between ageing, myelination and processing speed

Supervisors: Associate Professor Nicolas Cherbuin and Dr Marnie Shaw

Graduated: 2016, took up a position as a Research Officer at the Brain and Mental Health Lab at Monash University

Shahin Elliin

Thesis title: A Trend - Change Extension of the Lee - Carter Model with Applicants to Annuity Pricing

Supervisors: Drs Ralph Stevens and Katja Ignatieva

Graduated: 2014, took up a position at Quantium

Zhiping (Pinky) Huang

Thesis title: Multi-factor Affine Mortality Model with Application to Longevity Risk

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris, Dr Jonathan Ziveyi and Dr Andres Villegas

Graduated: 2018, took up a position in Zurich

Kevin Krahe

Thesis title: Longevity Risk Management: A Value Based Index to Hedge Longevity Risk

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris, Dr Jonathan Ziveyi and Dr Andres Villegas

Graduated: 2018, currently enrolled in the Master of Pre-Doctoral studies with the School of Banking and Finance

Daniel Kontorovich

Thesis title: The Impact of Imagined Ingroup Contact on Age-Based Stereotype Threat and Older Adults’ Cognitive Performance.

Supervisors: Professor Kaarin Anstey.

Graduated: 2020

Alexandro Lai

Thesis title: Default option design: An evaluation of default investment strategies for defined contribution pension funds

Supervisor: Professor Hazel Bateman

Graduated: 2013, took up a position at Quantium

Yolanda Ruizhu Li

Thesis title: Perceived Value of Using Superannuation for Purchasing a Family Home

Supervisor: Dr Ralph Stevens

Graduated: 2014, took up a position at ANZ

William Jichen Li

Thesis title: China's Regional Differences in Life Expectancy

Supervisor: Professor Hazel Bateman

Graduated: 2014, currently undertaking a PhD at UNSW

Zixi Tiffany Li

Thesis title: Modelling Long Term Care Incorporating Systematic Uncertainties in Health Transition Rates

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris and Dr Adam Shao

Graduated: 2015, took up a position as an Investment Banking Analyst at UBS in Hong Kong

Estelle Changyi Liu

Thesis title: Evaluation of Dynamic Hedging Strategies for Managing Longevity Risk

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated:2014, took up a position at Mine Wealth + Wellbeing

Tasnim Rahman

Thesis title: Older workers' Motivation to Continue to Work: An Analysis on Mental Health and Productivity

Supervisors: Olena Stavrunova

Graduated: 2018, Tasnim is now pursuing a PhD project looking to establish developmental neurobiological changes in the maternal-immune-activated model of schizophrenia

Michelle Royters

Thesis title: Continuous Time Valuation Framework of Home Equity Release Products 

Supervisors: Jonathan Ziveyi, Andres Villegas, Michael Sherris and Pengyu Wei

Graduated: 2019, Data analytics team, TAL Australia/Marker, supervisor and tutor, Kumon Australia & New Zealand

Dilan SriDaran

Thesis title: Application of Machine Learning to Mortality Modelling

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris, Dr Jonathan Ziveyi and Dr Andres Villegas

Graduated: 2018, took up a position at Ernst and Young

Andy Wong

Thesis title: Natural Hedging of Mortality Risk using Annuities and Life Insurance

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2012, took up a position in the Graduate program CommInsure

Zhiwei Qu

Thesis title: Efficiency study of the Australian superannuation industry

Supervisors: Professor Hazel Bateman and Dr Sasan Bakhtiari

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Graduate at Deloitte-Access Economics

Yu Sun

Thesis title: Optimal investment consumption under systematic longevity risk

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2013, took up a position as a Consultant, Ernst & Young, Actuarial Services - General Insurance

Bofang Tan

Thesis title: What is the smoothest retirement income product?

Supervisors: Professor Anthony Asher, Jonathan Ziveyi and Heloise Labit Hardy

Graduated: 2020, took up a position as an Actuarial Analyst, National Disability Insurance Agency

Oliver Wood

Thesis title: Pricing and hedging guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits under a general Lévy framework using the COS method

Supervisors: Drs Jonathan Ziveyi and Jennifer Alonso Garcia

Graduated: 2016, took at a position at the Commonwealth Bank

Mengyi Xu

Thesis title: Modelling the mortality of heterogeneous populations

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2013, took up a PhD at UNSW

James Yap

Thesis title: Australian disability trends and projections

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris and Dr Joelle Fong

Graduated: 2013, took up a Masters of Actuarial Studies at UNSW

Qiming Zhao

Thesis title: Stochastic Phase-type Multiple State Models for Health and Mortality Risks

Supervisor: Professor Michael Sherris

Graduated: 2012, continued in the LLB component of her combined degree at UNSW

Luke Zhou

Thesis title: A structured investigation of retirement income products

Supervisors: Andres Villegas, Dr Héloïse Labit Hardy and A/Professor Jonathan Ziveyi.

Graduated: 2019, took up a position as a Consultant, KPMG Australia (Superannuation Advisory).

Yuxin Zhou

Thesis title: Financial Engineering: A New Longevity Bond to Manage Individual Longevity Risk

Supervisors: Professor Michael Sherris, Associate Professor Jonathan Ziveyi, Assistant Professor Mengyi Xu

Graduated: 2019, took up a PhD at UNSW

Safrina Thristiawati

Thesis title: Gender and wellbeing of older Indonesians

Supervisors: Professor Terence Hull, Professor Heather Booth and Dr Iwu Utomo

Graduated: 2013, took up a position with the IRT Foundation