Jakub Kuriata from Poland – First Prize

I grew up in Koszalin (Northern Poland) where I went to high school and until the age of 18 I used to believe that I would become a playwright and/or a film director. Eventually I received two Master’s degrees in Finance: one from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and one from the Warsaw School of Economics. Since the second part of my studies and the beginning of my professional career coincided with the eruption of the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression, I naturally developed the interest in the dynamics of financial crises and the effects of the financial sector development on sustainable economic growth. Because for several years I have been chiefly concerned with politics in Poland and other CEE countries, I was also focused on the issues relating to the economic transition in Central Europe. After an internship in the economic research in Poland, I joined BNP Paribas as a credit analyst of financial institutions in the Group Risk Management and I am currently based in London. I decided to participate in the competition because I wanted to submit my initial thoughts on this topic to a peer review. I understand that the reputation of financiers has been tarnished and the attempt to understand the ethical dimension of this crisis, is my very tiny contribution to the reflection on the future of the financial industry.

Faly Ranaivoson from Madagascar – Second prize

Faly Ranaivoson studies the ways today’s greater complexity and faster pace of change affect individuals, communities, and organisations. He investigates how ever increasing complexity influences the way groups and companies organise themselves, address intractable challenges, and ultimately think about the world. His current research focuses on exploring inclusive and transdisciplinary approaches to address wicked problems, a phrase originally used in social planning, but which applies to some economic, environmental, and organisational issues as well. These problems typically involve many stakeholders with different values and priorities, contain considerable uncertainty and are tightly interconnected, economically, socially, technologically. Faly previously taught at ISCAM School of Management (Madagascar) where he also coordinated international relations. He formerly worked in other sectors including market research and publishing. He has a degree in management from HEC Lausanne.

Simone Heinemann from Germany – Third Prize Ex-Aequo

Simone Heinemann holds a Master’s degree in European Economics and Culture as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Media Science. Before studying she worked as a bank employee at Dresdner Bank Inc. for two years. Simone is currently enrolled at Ruhr- University Bochum, Germany, where she is working on her dissertation on financial derivatives and the ethical problems arising from systemic risk which she will defend in 2012. Her research interests revolve around ethics in finance and risk as well as socially responsible investing and political philosophy. Simone has taught courses in financial ethics, the ethics of risk, logic and ancient philosophy. During the last two years she presented her research results on international conferences in Germany, the Netherlands and Hawaii. In 2010 she won the Societas Ethica Early Career Award.

Bruno Federico Fernández from Argentina – Third Prize Ex-Aequo

Bruno Federico Fernández obtained his degree as Bachelor of Economics from the National University of Tucumán, Argentine, where he is currently pursuing a Master in Business Administration. He was a Fulbright grant recipient in order to carry out his graduate degree studies. Since 2008 he has worked for the Central Office of Public Funds in the Ministry of Economy of Tucumán. He was always interested in the relationship between the overall image of man and economy, which led him to educate himself and become involved with ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and social and solidarity economy. He collaborates as a volunteer in a microcredits program with the methodology of the Grameen Bank. He is a member of the Missionary Community of Santo Domingo and a contributor to the Tucumán Economy of Communion businessmen. In his free time he devotes himself to vocal and instrumental music.

Nicolás Meyer from Argentina – First Prize

Nicolás Meyer is 29 year-old Argentinean. He lives in Buenos Aires. He is married and has one child. When he was 15, Nicolas started working on various social projects in vulnerable neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires and in other provinces of his country. In 2007, together with eight of his friends, he decided to start working in solidarity finance, in an association called “Nuestras Huellas” (http://www.nuestrashuellas.org.ar/), where they introduced the community bank methodology. He initially acted as coordinator of these community banks, before moving on to become head of training. Nicolás is currently general manager of the organisation. He is involved in various Social and Solidarity Economy projects in Argentina and other Mercosur countries. Nicolás Meyer qualified in the philosophy baccalaureate (final school exams), and studied social psychology at university.

Bruno Federico Fernández from Argentina – Second Prize Ex-Aequo

Bruno Federico Fernández obtained his degree as Bachelor of Economics from the National University of Tucumán, Argentine, where he is currently pursuing a Master in Business Administration. He was a Fulbright grant recipient in order to carry out his graduate degree studies. Since 2008 he has worked for the Central Office of Public Funds in the Ministry of Economy of Tucumán. He was always interested in the relationship between the overall image of man and economy, which led him to educate himself and become involved with ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and social and solidarity economy. He collaborates as a volunteer in a microcredits program with the methodology of the Grameen Bank. He is a member of the Missionary Community of Santo Domingo and a contributor to the Tucumán Economy of Communion businessmen. In his free time he devotes himself to vocal and instrumental music.

Carlos Estapé from Uruguay – Second Prize Ex-Aequo

Born in Montevideo, República Oriental del Uruguay on January 17th, 1980. Master in Bussines and Administration, IEEM, Universidad de Montevideo (2010); Public Accountant, Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay (2006). Guyer & Regules Associate, Member of the Department of Corporations and Taxation Department (from 2002 to date). His practice includes accounting advice, tax and corporate advice to companies established in Uruguay. In the exercise of his profession as an Associate of Guyer & Regules advises in matters of accounting, corporate, labor and tax institutions from different sectors of activity, among which are financial institutions in the country such as Banks, Securities Dealers, Representatives Offices of Foreign Financial Institutions and Stock Brokers.

Carmen Carmona from Mexico – Second Prize Ex-Aequo

I am Mexican and studied Industrial Engineering at the Tec de Monterrey. For five years I performed roles related with the improvement and protection of the environment. I supported the implementation of quality standards for an electronic waste recycling company, promoted the National Greenhouse Gas Program, coordinated online education projects for Latin American non for profit organisations and I also actively participated in environmental advisory boards in my city, Guadalajara. In 2009, with the support from Chevening scholarships, the National Institute of Ecology and MOB-Brockman foundation I studied an Msc in Decision Sciences at the London School of Economics. Since January of 2011, I work as a decision analyst for a consulting firm in the UK.okers.