Presentation material for the first seminar in the 2013 Investment Statement Seminar Series presented at the Treasury on 13 August 2013.
In the lead-up to release of the 2013 Investment Statement, Treasury will be holding a series of seminars. The seminar series aims to foster interest in, and discussion on, balance sheet matters as well as the sharing of knowledge across the public sector and beyond. By building interest and fostering debate on themes such as agency performance, capital management, and risk management, it is our hope that a sound platform will be provided for release of the Investment Statement by the end of 2013.
The first seminar in the series will be a presentation by the international credit rating agency Fitch Ratings, focusing on:
- the general approach Fitch uses in rating sovereigns
- how New Zealand fares under the rating criteria, and
- methodology for rating local governments in New Zealand.
Those with an interest in finance, and in particular the credit markets, rating methodologies and how the financial strength and resilience of New Zealand is being viewed externally, will find this session interesting and insightful.
Bios of Presenters
Andrew Colquhoun, Senior Director and Head of Asia-Pacific Sovereign Ratings
Andrew Colquhoun joined Fitch Ratings as a director in the Sovereign Group in 2006. He covered a range of credits on the Emerging Europe team for over three years before transferring to Fitch's Asia-Pacific Sovereigns team, based in Hong Kong, in 2009. He is currently the Head of Asia Pacific Sovereign Ratings and is the lead analyst for a number of countries in the region.
Before joining Fitch, Andrew worked at the Bank of England for eight years in a range of roles in the Bank's monetary analysis, market operations, and financial stability areas.
Andrew has an MSc in Economics from the University of Warwick and a BA from Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Matthew Wright - Director, International Public Finance Group
Matt Wright joined Fitch Ratings as a director in the International Public Finance group in 2012. He has responsibility for maintaining Fitch's ratings of, and research on, Australian and New Zealand Local and Regional Governments, as well as public sector entities. Matt is also involved in Fitch's Asian public finance coverage.
Before joining Fitch, Matt worked at Queensland Treasury Corporation in the role of Advisor, analysing local government's financial sustainability and debt/investment advice.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from Queensland University of Technology.