Research Challenge

What It Is

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics. Each student will be tested on their analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills. They gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst.

How It Works

Local level competitions are organized and judged by CFA Institute society members and volunteers who function as local hosts.

The winning university team from each local competition advances to the sub-regional competition.

The sub-regional, regional, and global competitions are hosted by CFA Institute in the Americas; the Asia Pacific; and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions. The winning teams from each sub-regional competition advance to the regional competition. Regional winners advance to the Global Final, where one team emerges as the global champion.

Research Challenge Sub-Region Breakdown

Research Challenge Fact Sheet

Research Challenge Official Rules

The Research Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally and globally for a real-world competition. Additionally, all participants are introduced to and held to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

ESG Workshop for Research Challenge Students

REPLAY: CFA Institute Research Challenge Information Session

CFA Society Perth
CFA Society Sydney
CFA Brisbane Chapter
CFA Society Melbourne

CFA Society Perth is proud to host the local level of the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Key Dates

Competition Kick-off Briefing – 25 August 2023

Fact Set Registration – 29 August 2023

Final Teams Due – 1 September 2023

Analyst/Company Briefing (1-2.30pm) – 5 September 2023

First Draft Due to Mentor – 22 September 2023

Written Report Due – 29 September 2023

Semi-Final – 3 October 2023

Local Final – 6 October 2023

Oceania Final: TBC

APAC Final – TBC

Global Final – TBC

Participating Universities

Resources

CFA Society Sydney is proud to host the local level of the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Key Dates

Kick-off event – 8 August 2023

FactSet Information Session – 30 August 2023

Target Company Presentation: 13 September 2023

Written reports due – Midday, 6 October 2023

Local Final – 26 October 2023

Oceania Final – TBC

APAC Regional Semi Final – April 2024

APAC Regional Final – April 2024

Global Final – May 2024

The Brisbane Chapter is proud to host the local level of the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Key Dates

Target Company Presentation: 5 September 2023

Written reports due: By 5pm – 14 September 2023

Local Final: 5 October 2023

Oceania Final – TBC

APAC Regional Semi Final – April 2024

APAC Regional Final – April 2024

Global Final – May 2024

CFA Society Melbourne is proud to host the local level of the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Key Dates

Kick Off Meeting – August 1 2023

Training – How to Prepare an Equity Research Report – August 8 2023

Training – How to Use the S&P Platform for Research – August 15 2023

Deadline for Team & Student Names – August 18 2023

Target Company Presentation – TBC

Deadline for Report Submission – September 22 2023

Presentations (Zoom) – 25-29 September 2023

Finalists (Top 3) Announcement – September 30 2023

Grand Final; Live Presentations – October 12, 2023

CFA Society Perth Honour Roll

Winning Team

2021/22: University of Western Australia
Team: Mark Woods, Patrick Newton, Franklin Lou, Joshua Taylor, Abbey Kasten
Mentor: Antoine Nguyen | Faculty Advisor: Lee Smales, CFA

2020/21: University of Western Australia
Team: Nathan Brooks, Jack Keene, Yousif Al Rikabawi, Jordan Tyson, Kimberley Hince
Mentor: Indika Rajakaruna | Faculty Advisor: Daniel Cahill

2019/20: University of Western Australia
Team: Nicole Chung, Benjamin D’Souza, Ankit Rangan, Thomas Mcsharer
Mentor: Indika Rajakaruna | Faculty Advisor: Mahmoud Agha

2018/19: University of Western Australia
Team: Maxim De Bosscher, Reagan d’Souza, Rachel Hobbs and Tapiwa Mangwana
Mentor: Andrew Foster | Faculty Advisor: Dr Jing Yu

2017/18: University of Western Australia
Team: Antoine Nguyen, Michael Assmann, Darren Gan, Erin Oliver, Andre Chinnery
Mentor: Ian Chu | Faculty Advisor: Professor Raymond da Silva Rosa

2016/17: Curtin University
Team: Alexander Williams, Levi Lin-Sullivan, Anthony Nguyen, Sam Jackman, Daniel Blackwell
Mentor: Andrew Foster | Faculty Advisor: Dr Mostafa Hasan

2015/16: Curtin University
Team: James O’Donnell, Damien Gullone, Terence Meere, Kristina Blazeski and Jake Gorman
Mentor: Andrew Foster | Faculty Advisor: Dr Lee Smales

2014/15: University of Western Australia
Team: Mathew Bunny, Joseph Mikhail, Zarjnt Spire, Henry Ryan and Brandon Haywood
Mentor: Robert Huth, CFA | Faculty Advisor: Professor Raymond da Silva Rosa

2021/22 Winning Team

2020/21 Winning Team

Research Challenge Perth Winning Team

CFA Society Sydney Honour Roll

Winning Team

2022/23: The University of Sydney
Team: Andre Thomas, Jason Shi, Moniq Wever, Patrick Mahony, Rachel Wang
Mentor: Mathew Kaleel, CFA | Quan Gan, CFA
Subject: Qantas

2021/22: The University of Sydney
Team: Andy Gu, Ganan Sritharan, Kelly Ma, Raymond Zhou, Richard Ge
Mentor: Michael Wang, CFA | Quan Gan, CFA
Subject: Transurban

2020/21: The University of Sydney
Team: Claire Chen, Joshua Mok, Joyce Chen, Cheran Ketheesuran, Joshua Sechi
Mentor: Pratik Joshi, CFA | Angelo Aspris
Subject: IAG

2019/20: The University of Sydney *Global Winners*
Team: Jassis Chen, Jeffrey Brown, Tom Luo, Sahil Arora, Jessica Wu
Mentor: Michael Toh, CFA | Faculty Advisor: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: CBA

2018/19: The University of Sydney
Team: Bill Chan, Brendan Ma, Kenn Savvas, Nick Andrews, Wendy Yang
Mentor: Vincent Ling, CFA | Faculty Advisor: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: Telstra

2017/18: The University of Sydney
Team: Gary Chen, Akshat Marwah, Alexander Orsmond, James Sioud, Alice Yang
Mentor: Vincent Ling, CFA | Faculty Advisor: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd

2016/17: Griffith University
Team: Lisa Rawlings, Rhyan Nash, Tingxi Zhang, Ruby Sethi, Elias Greil
Mentor: Ken Howard, CFA | Faculty Adviser: Alexandr Akimov, CFA
Subject Company: Flight Centre Travel Group

2015/16: The University of Sydney
Team: Angus Gibbs, Anthony Yao, Levi Romanov, Zubin Bilimoria, Lisa Wang
Mentor: Vincent Ling, CFA | Faculty Adviser: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: Sydney Airport

2014/15: The University of Sydney
Team: Luke McAlpin, Ryan McCourt, Bravin Ragavan, Ivan Yang & Marco Anselmi
Mentor: Ross Curran | Faculty Adviser: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: Woolworths Limited (WOW)

2013/14: Griffith University
Team: Euan Orsini, John Fan, Andrew L’Estrelle, Jake Muspratt & Jason Rayment
Mentor: Ken Howard, CFA | Faculty Adviser: Alexandr Akimov, CFA
Subject Company: Caltex Australia Limited (CTX)

2012/13: The University of Sydney
Team: Brendan Coughlan, Leelan Goddard, David Kohn, Kurtis Larsen and Aaron Mbakwe
Mentor: Roger Samuel, CFA | Faculty Adviser: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: Blackmores Limited (BKL)

Winning Team 2011/12 The University of Sydney
Team: George Hadjia, Daniel Wu, Murphy Xue, Tobias Hasbani and Justin Zuo
Mentor: Ian Myles, CFA | Faculty Adviser: Angelo Aspris
Subject Company: Fairfax Media Limited (FXJ)