Meet Dr Michael Kollo
(aka The Curious Quant)

Dr Michael G. Kollo is a senior investment professional with extensive academic and private sector experience globally, more recently speaking on the application of machine learning and AI in the financial services sector. 

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Dr Kollo gained his PhD in Finance from the London School of Economics, and has lectured at the London School of Economics, Imperial College and at the University of New South Wales. He was Chief Examiner for the externals finance programme for London School of Economics, and Adjunct Professor at Imperial College where he taught Quantitative Finance in the Masters stream. He has mentored Fintech and CybertTech startups in London, through the Barclays Accelerator programme, helping young organisations distill complexity to simpler, intuitive and impactful messages.

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Dr Kollo's industry experience is in the application of quantitative statistical methods to improving investment outcomes in a variety of different mandates and organisations. He has lead experienced global research teams at Blackrock, Fidelity, Axa Rosenberg to more recently, at HESTA a $50bn superannuation industry fund in Australia. In each of these roles he led a team of quantitative investment teams, working to create the models, and crafting the messaging and communication to global clients. He has worked extensively across the business value chain, from sourcing, mentoring and creating innovative solutions, to team management, and senior leadership communication. He is a strong thought leader who has worked closely with sales teams to transform research insights into marketable service and products. Michael brings with him a technical and articulate skill-set, with a high academic pedigree and proven global experience. 

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He is a published author in both academic and private sector areas, with extensive thought leadership pieces, white papers, and the opening chapter in the best selling "Big data and machine learning in quantitative investment.". Michael writes regularly for industry publications on the topic of AI and alternative data, including Investment Magazine, World Economic Forum, and WSJ, and is a regular speaker at global quantitative research and institutional industry events. 

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Michael is passionate about the responsible application of AI in society, and the future of work. When he is not reading articles on AI, or watching sci-fi, he is an adamant gamer and follower of MMA. 

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