Bonnie Buchanan appointed Professor of Finance at the University of Vaasa: "Financial markets and instruments are pivotal in funding clean, renewable energy”
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PhD Bonnie Buchanan has been appointed Professor of Finance with a specialisation in Sustainable Finance and Business Transformation in the Energy Transition. An internationally recognised scholar in finance and sustainability, Buchanan joins the University of Vaasa through a strategic profiling initiative funded by a €2.5 million grant awarded by the Research Council of Finland.
Buchanan's research focuses on sustainable finance, the energy transition, and the role that financial markets and instruments play in building sustainable energy infrastructure. She is particularly interested in how digitalisation and artificial intelligence are reshaping financial markets and supporting the transition to a more sustainable economy.
– The global push for net zero is transforming the financial landscape. Financial markets and instruments are pivotal in funding clean, renewable energy. I look forward to serving the University of Vaasa, which is well poised to address the interplay of finance, energy policy and sustainability, Buchanan says.
Research explores the financial foundations of the green transition
Buchanan studies investor attitudes towards sustainable investing, the role of ESG factors in firm value and executive compensation, and financing solutions for the green and blue economies. She also examines the financing of digital infrastructure, including data centres.
According to Buchanan, sustainable finance and the energy transition represent some of the most significant transformations currently shaping global financial markets and society.
– Sustainable finance is vital in aligning the finance sector with the global transition to net zero. At the same time, sustainability is about much more than climate issues alone. It also involves addressing challenges such as wealth inequality and financial inclusion. Studying sustainable finance alongside the energy transition is essential for building a stable, resilient economy while tackling climate change, she explains.
Buchanan emphasises the importance of engaging with policymakers, regulators, industry representatives, investors, the media and the wider public.
– Sustainable finance and the energy transition are important for all of us in society. I strongly believe in engaging with stakeholders and presenting research in an accessible and explainable manner, Buchanan says.
Extensive international experience in research and leadership
Before joining the University of Vaasa, Buchanan served as Professor of Finance and FinTech at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. She also held several academic leadership positions, including Associate Dean (International), Director of the Sustainable and Explainable FinTech (SAEF) Center, and REF Lead for Business and Management. Previously, she held professorial positions in the United States and served as the Fulbright-Hanken Distinguished Chair of Business and Economics at Hanken School of Economics in Finland.
Buchanan has published extensively in leading international journals in finance, business ethics, and financial economics. She is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Finance and Economics and serves on the Bank of England and UK Financial Conduct Authority AI Consortium, where she co-chairs a working group focusing on generative AI explainability and transparency.
Buchanan holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Georgia in the United States and has built an international academic career across Europe, North America, and Australia.
Drawn by interdisciplinary research and societal impact
Buchanan says she was drawn to the University of Vaasa by its strong commitment to interdisciplinary research and societal impact.
– I am tremendously impressed by the University of Vaasa's dedication to improving Finnish society. I appreciate places that truly walk the talk when it comes to interdisciplinary research. The University's strengths in business, technology, energy, and the digital economy create an excellent environment for addressing major societal challenges, she says.
Looking ahead, Buchanan is eager to build partnerships across academia, industry and policymaking, including through her role as Coordinator of the Finland Investment Institute.
– Through this professorship, I feel honoured and privileged to be part of the University of Vaasa community and contribute to addressing some of the grand societal challenges facing Finland together with colleagues and students.