Ryan Phung, BBus (Finance)
"Presenting my research to seasoned professionals challenged me to articulate and defend my ideas with a precision and confidence that reflects the standards of the finance industry."
The RMIT Future Finance Leaders Program is a selective development pathway for high-performing and highly engaged finance students who wish to extend their studies beyond the standard curriculum and prepare for leadership in modern financial markets.
Applications are now closed for the 2026 program
Places are limited. Admission is based on a holistic assessment that considers:
- Academic performance (strong grades are essential).
- Evidence of engagement with learning and professional development (class participation, attendance, extracurriculars).
Strong potential is demonstrated not only through grades but also through curiosity, commitment, and active contribution.
Through dedicated workshops, advanced seminars, industry-led sessions, and elite competitions, students deepen their understanding of contemporary financial frameworks and apply theory in practical, high-stakes settings.
What makes this program unique is its focus on engaged learning: students are encouraged to challenge ideas, collaborate, and develop the judgment, communication skills, and ethical awareness required of future finance leaders.
By joining the RMIT Future Finance Leaders Program, students become part of an elite community that is recognised by industry for its rigor, professionalism, and forward-looking orientation. For students, it offers a powerful platform to accelerate learning, build networks, and distinguish themselves. For industry, it represents a trusted pipeline of thoughtful, capable, and well-prepared future finance professionals.
Signature Opportunities
CFA Research Challenge
CFA Research Challenge 2025 RMIT Highlights
The video showcases highlights from RMIT students participating in the CFA Research Challenge 2025, featuring their equity research work, presentations, and engagement with industry mentors and judges. It captures key moments of the competition, emphasizing teamwork, analytical skills, and professional development in investment research.
The CFA Research Challenge is a highly regarded international competition that immerses high-performing finance students in the realities of professional equity research. Teams operate as real-world analysts—valuing a listed company, developing a full investment research report, and presenting their recommendation to panels of senior industry professionals from investment management, banking, and advisory firms.
It is widely recognised by industry as a benchmark of analytical rigour, commercial judgement, and communication skill.
Embedded within the RMIT Future Finance Leaders Program, participation in the Challenge is reserved for students in the later stages of their degree and supported through a structured, high-intensity preparation program. Selected students undertake targeted workshops that integrate core finance concepts with real-world application, sharpen professional communication, and develop an industry-ready mindset.
Since introducing this formal preparation pathway, RMIT teams have consistently excelled—winning local competitions and representing Victoria at the national finals.
Student Reflections
2025 Local Winners
2025 Local Finalists
Ellysia Lee, BBus Finance
"The structured training program was invaluable. It taught me how to approach research systematically, build compelling narratives, and identify relevant data."
Drew Konarik, BBus Finance
"Presenting our research to the judges was a defining moment. The Challenge developed my communication and professional presentation skills in a way that classroom assignments never could."
2024 Local Winners
Arkapriya Biswas, Master of Finance
"Winning the CFA Research Challenge gave me a huge confidence boost entering the industry. It felt like a genuine transition from being a student to thinking like an equity analyst."
Bun Long Kim, Master of Finance
"The biggest lesson was collaboration: learning how to communicate effectively, leverage each team member's strengths, and turn mentor feedback into measurable improvements."
Clare Lau, Master of Finance
"Working closely with industry mentors gave me direct insight into professional expectations, and those conversations opened doors to internship opportunities."
Thinh Nguyen Duc, Master of Finance
"This journey forced me out of my comfort zone. I grew the most through feedback, learning how to handle criticism, improve my presentation skills, and keep pushing forward."
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Since 2025, RMIT has partnered with the Australian Corporate Treasurers Association to deliver a high-impact Trading Room Competition that immerses students in fast-paced, real-world market conditions.
Participants operate in a simulated trading environment where they must analyse information, execute transactions, and make decisions under pressure—closely mirroring the demands of professional trading and treasury roles.
A defining feature of the event is the networking session that follows the formal competition at Oxford Scholar, where students engage directly with industry professionals in an informal setting.
Student and industry feedback
Georgia O’Shea
"I gained valuable skills in strategy, decision-making, and teamwork that I'll carry forward into my studies."
NAB Institutional Banking
" This was a brilliant opportunity for students. We're proud to be able to support."
From 2026, RMIT will formally prepare and field elite student teams for one of the world’s most prestigious applied investment competitions.
The McGill International Portfolio Challenge places students in the role of institutional asset managers, requiring them to construct, manage, and defend a diversified investment portfolio under real-world constraints. Teams are evaluated on portfolio strategy, risk management, performance attribution, and their ability to clearly articulate and defend investment decisions to panels of senior industry professionals.
A Pathway to Excellence
Embedded within the RMIT Future Finance Leaders Program, participation in the McGill International Portfolio Challenge will be restricted to the highest-achieving students, with selection limited to those who have demonstrated exceptional performance in one of RMIT’s other formal flagship competitions, such as the CFA Research Challenge or the Trading Room Competition.
Selected students will undertake a structured, high-intensity preparation program that integrates advanced portfolio theory, applied investment analytics, and professional communication. This pathway reinforces RMIT’s commitment to excellence, while further enhancing our standing with industry as a source of graduates trained to global institutional standards.
Students selected into the RMIT Future Finance Leaders Program will receive priority access to a curated series of industry and research seminars, roundtables, and conferences. These events are designed to give students early and privileged exposure to the frontiers of thinking in finance—where academic insight, industry practice, and policy debate intersect.
Focus Areas
Sessions will focus on pressing issues, including how capital markets influence technological progress, the role of finance in ESG challenges, and the structural forces transforming the profession.
Industry Access
Program members will be first in line to attend industry-led conferences and partner events, learning directly from senior practitioners well before graduation.
This ensures you engage in high-level dialogue and build meaningful professional networks. Upcoming seminars and workshops will be communicated to students selected into the program via email.
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Transition to Professional Practice
Students in the RMIT Future Finance Leaders Program will have the opportunity to participate in a structured Industry Mentoring Program designed to strengthen career readiness.
Priority will be given to students in the later stages of their degree who are actively preparing to enter the job market.
Match with Experts
Participants are matched with experienced industry professionals for scheduled one-on-one meetings.
Candid Perspectives
Mentors share practical insights on recruitment, workplace expectations, and professional development.
Build Networks
Develop confidence and professional judgement that extends well beyond graduation.
