AFS Australia-New Zealand Chapter Research Seminar: Financial Vulnerability

Join us for a conversation on financial vulnerability, where we explore the disconnect between financial advice for the affluent and financial therapy for those in crisis. Our speakers will examine the 'missing middle' and discuss the pathways for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to contribute to a more inclusive financial support landscape.

Speaker Bios

Dr Bomikazi Zeka is an Associate Professor in Finance and Financial Planning at the University of Canberra, and is passionately committed to breaking down barriers to financial education. Her mission is to make finance more accessible and equitable, particularly for women, people of colour, and older adults. Through teaching, research, public speaking, and community engagement, Dr. Zeka strives to build a more resilient and financially educated society.

Her work centres on understanding the economic challenges faced by disadvantaged communities and exploring the strategies they use to overcome them. She believes that financial education is a powerful catalyst for lasting change and dedicates her research to uncovering the root causes of financial inequality and identifying practical solutions. With teaching experience at institutions like Nelson Mandela University and Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr. Zeka brings a global perspective to her work, blending academic expertise with a deep commitment to social justice. She leverages her knowledge to help individuals navigate economic challenges and build financial resilience. At the heart of Dr. Zeka’s work is the conviction that financial literacy empowers individuals and communities to overcome socio-economic barriers.

Dr Amanda Craft is an Associate Lecturer in Accounting and Financial Planning at Western Sydney University. Her research spans financial regulation, cultural intelligence in professional services, and the behavioural dimensions of financial decision-making. She has particular expertise in the intersection of financial planning and cross-cultural psychology, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine how cultural norms and institutional structures shape financial advice relationships, trust, and regulatory compliance.

Dr Craft’s doctoral research explored the cultural intelligence of Australian financial advisers and academics, contributing to emerging scholarship on the role of intercultural competencies in professional judgment and client engagement. She has also published on the representation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) themes in the financial planning literature. A committed educator, Dr Craft integrates her research into curriculum design, embedding modules on Islamic finance, ethical insurance practices, and cross-cultural communication into postgraduate financial planning subjects. Her teaching has been recognised through consistently high student evaluations and innovative pedagogies, including the use of live cross-cultural role plays to simulate professional practice.

Her current research projects include a critique of gender-neutral financial policy and its implications for male financial distress, and a conceptual framework for incorporating the process of cultural capital acquisition into financial therapy. She has presented at national conferences and contributed to edited volumes on financial advice and therapy.

Dr Craft holds degrees in ancient history, taxation, international business, and accounting, and brings a multidisciplinary perspective to both research and teaching.