Rizwan Ahmed

Dr Rizwan Ahmed is an Associate Professor in Finance at the University of Vaasa. He has extensive academic and leadership experience, having served as Director of Studies for the Accounting and Finance Department and Research Lead for the Finance Department at the University of Kent. Prior to this, he was the Programme Director for Financial Management at the University of Birmingham (UK).

Dr Ahmed has also delivered his teaching and research responsibilities across the University of Birmingham’s international campuses in Dubai and Singapore, contributing to the global delivery of finance education.

His research interests lie at the intersection of Sustainable Finance, Financial Technology (FinTech), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in finance. His work focuses on how technology and data-driven innovation can foster sustainable investment practices, improve financial transparency, and contribute to ethical and climate-resilient financial systems.

Dr Ahmed has published in several ABS 4 and ABS 3 ranked journals, including:

• Risk Analysis – An International Journal
• European Financial Management
• International Journal of Finance and Economics
• Energy Economics
• Annals of Operations Research
• Business Strategy and the Environment
• Research in International Business and Finance
• Technological Forecasting & Social Change
• Journal of Environmental Management, among others.

His research has gained international policy and institutional recognition. The World Health Organisation (WHO) included two of his papers on COVID-19 in their global database of pandemic-related research:

• Ahmed, R., Ullah, S., Zaefarian, G., & Kimani, D. (2021). How to Apply the Event Study Methodology Using STATA: Insights from the Impact of Covid-19, Industrial Marketing Management (ABS 3; ABDC A*).
• Ahmed, R., Chaudhry, S.M., Kumpamool, C., & Benjasak, C. (2022). Tail risk, systemic risk and spillover risk of crude oil and precious metals, Energy Economics (ABS 3).

The first of these papers was also cited by the World Bank, further demonstrating the global policy relevance of his research.

Dr Ahmed has contributed to an ESRC-funded research project (GBP 200,000) in the UK and has also served as an ESRC reviewer and subject expert in Sustainable Finance. His research has been featured by the London School of Economics (LSE) Blog, with his article “How to overcome Bitcoin’s climate change dilemma” being well received by both practitioners and policymakers.

He is an active reviewer for several internationally reputed academic journals, including:

• European Financial Management
• Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation
• Energy Economics
• International Journal of Finance and Economics
• Journal of Environmental Management
• Research in International Business and Finance

Dr Ahmed has supervised several PhD and Master’s students in the UK and internationally, contributing to the academic and professional development of emerging scholars in finance, sustainability, and data analytics.

He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), UK, and holds a PhD in Finance (UK). His academic qualifications also include:

• PhD in Finance (UK)
• MSc Finance (UK)
• MSc Artificial Intelligence (UK) – Distinction (Dissertation)
• MSc Business Analytics (Data Science) (UK) – Distinction
• FinTech Programme, University of Oxford, UK
• Diploma in Financial Advice, London Institute of Banking and Finance

Areas of Expertise

• Sustainable Finance
• Financial Technology (FinTech)
• Artificial Intelligence in Finance
• Business Analytics and Data Science
• Sustainable Investment and ESG Strategies
• Technological Innovation in Financial Systems

He continues to collaborate with academic and industry experts to contribute to impactful research in sustainable finance and financial technology, aiming to bridge the gap between theory, practice, and policy.