Dr Helen Roberts
Department of Finance &
Quantitative Analysis
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For the love of finance research and education, Dr Helen Roberts has come full circle back to Otago where she first studied mathematics, statistics and finance. Following her Otago studies, Helen moved to Vancouver where she first completed an MSc in Finance at the University of British Columbia, then worked as a finance manager for a cruise company in Vancouver while she taught finance part-time.
Realising her future lay in research and teaching, Helen return to Dunedin in 2001 to work as a lecturer in the Department of Finance while completing her PhD on executive compensation in New Zealand.
Teaching
Conveying complicated financial theories requires a very careful blend of theory and practice, and Helen enjoys bringing the world of finance into the classroom.
“Using data from companies that are publicly listed as examples for practical application is both interesting and motivating. This connection of real world events with the classroom curriculum is a great way of explaining ideas and can be done in so many different ways, from using a variety of media, to case studies, to class participation.”
Research
Helen’s main research focus is CEO compensation in NZ. New Zealand’s situation differs to that faced in the USA and provides an interesting perspective from which to analyse executive compensation and the pay-setting environment.
Internal governance, the role of the board in setting and monitoring executive pay packages, the composition of the board of directors and the inclusion of the CEO within this group, and the sensitivity of CEO pay increases to changes in firm performance, are some of the many aspects of Helen’s executive compensation research.
Life Beyond Finance
As every Dunedin-dweller knows, life is not all work and no play. Helen fills her spare time with numerous outdoor pursuits including running, water sports and spending time in the sun, as well as family time with her husband and young daughter.