Book launch: Deeper Strategic Collaboration in the Securities Sector: India and Australia

Join us at ANU Law School for the launch of Deeper Strategic Collaboration in the Securities Sector: India and Australia. Authored by Dr Sonia Khosa from the University of Sydney, this book explores how India and Australia can collaborate to strengthen financial regulation, comparing the roles of SEBI and ASIC within the framework of international securities standards. Offering a roadmap for cross-border cooperation and market integrity, it provides valuable insights for policymakers and scholars alike.

The book launch will be followed by a panel discussion from:

Dr Sonia Khosa (author): After completing her PhD in early 2022 from the University of Sydney Business School, Dr Sonia Khosa started her current position at the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) | Enterprise and Engagement, University of Sydney (USyd) as a full-time Interdisciplinary Lecturer. Drawing on enterprise education and value creation pedagogies, Sonia leads and supervises student projects developed in partnership with eminent industry brands in Australia (Westpac, Jacobs, Adobe, Business Western Sydney) as well as globally (Tata Steel, Tata Auto in India).

Prior to commencing of her doctoral journey in Australia in 2017, Sonia worked with the Indian securities regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (counterpart of ASIC, Australia) as Assistant General Manager (Law). She worked at SEBI’s head office in Mumbai from 2007-2017 before proceeding on study leave from 2017- 2021 to pursue her PhD at USyd. At SEBI, Sonia worked in the legal policy and enforcement departments as well as the Office of International Affairs under SEBI chair’s office. She has represented SEBI and India at global bilateral and multilateral regulatory dialogues including in America, Europe and Africa.

Shri Pradeep Ramakrishnan (panellist): Shri Pradeep Ramakrishnan is a commerce graduate and qualified Company Secretary. He has a distinguished career of over 27 years, spanning multiple organisations and domains. He began his professional journey with Madras Fertilizers Limited in 1997-98 and subsequently served as the Company Secretary of Kothari Petrochemicals Limited, Chennai, until 2002.

From February 2002 to January 2024, he was with SEBI, where he held significant leadership roles. Between 2015 and 2020, he headed the Compliance and Monitoring Division, focusing on corporate governance, listing-related matters, BRSR, and the forensic accounting cell. Later, from September 2020 until his tenure at SEBI concluded, he led the Department of Debt and Hybrid Securities, handling corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and sustainable finance.

In February 2024, he joined IFSCA as Executive Director. Currently, he leads the Department of Capital Markets, overseeing Corporate Finance (Equity, Hybrid, and related products), Market Infrastructure Institutions (Regulation and Supervision), Sustainable Finance, Investment Funds, New Products & Services, and the Supervision of Intermediaries.Additionally, he heads the Department of Metals and Commodities, which includes divisions for Market Development, Market Regulation, and Market Supervision.

Arjun Prasad (panellist): Mr. Arjun Prasad is General Manager at International Financial Services Centres Authority, GIFT City, Gandhinagar. Mr. Prasad is in charge of the Division dealing with Primary Markets at IFSCA. During the last 4 years with IFSCA, he has been involved in policy making in several areas in the capital markets including Listing Regulations and Capital Market Intermediaries Regulations.

Prior to joining IFSCA, Mr. Arjun Prasad has experience of over 12 years in capital markets with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and has handled various portfolios including investigations, international affairs, takeovers, buy-backs and delisting.

He has done his MBA from IIM Indore and B. Tech from IIT Madras.

Associate Professor Akshaya Kamalnath (moderator), ANU Law School. Akshaya Kamalnath's research and teaching areas are corporate law, corporate governance, and corporate insolvency law. She has published on areas such as diversity within corporations, corporate social responsibility, AI and corporate governance, and equity crowdfunding regulation. Kamalnath has also worked as a Lecturer at AUT Law School in Auckland and Deakin Law School in Melbourne. Prior to joining academia, she worked in a leading law firm in India.

We look forward to seeing you at the book launch to celebrate this timely contribution to global financial governance and to explore its vision for Indo-Pacific collaboration.