Navigating Geopolitical Risk in Australia's Financial System and Economy

Chris Dreverman has responsibility for driving APRA’s contribution to the Council of Financial Regulator’s Geopolitical Risk Work Program. Chris was previously APRA’s Senior Manager for Strategy and Governance, and APRA’s Head of Governance, Remuneration and Accountability. Chris was also involved in APRA’s Royal Commission Project Team and has previously worked at the Commonwealth Treasury.

Cassandra Winzar was appointed CEDA’s Chief Economist in May 2023, after joining CEDA as a Senior Economist in 2020. As Senior Economist Cassandra led CEDA’s portfolio of research identifying practical solutions to deliver better human services for Australians. She has authored reports in Aged Care, Disadvantage and Mental Health. Prior to joining CEDA, Cassandra was Principal Economist at the WA Department of Communities (Housing Authority). Cassandra has also held roles as the WA based Economist for the Reserve Bank of Australia, and in Transfer Pricing at EY. Cassandra is Chair of the WA Women in Economics Network. She has a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and Bachelor of Asian Studies from the University of Western Australia.

Mike is a Managing Director at Teneo based in Sydney. Prior to joining Teneo, Mike served with the Australian Foreign Service as a lawyer and diplomat, specialising in Chinese politics, economics and trade. From 2016-2020, Mike was based at the Australian Embassy in Beijing reporting on Chinese domestic politics, political economy and legal issues. His reporting helped shape current thinking on China across the Australian government, including on Australia’s 5G guidance and positioning on human rights. Subsequently, he worked to establish the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations as the Secretariat of its Advisory Board, providing guidance on strategy and governance. In 2013, Mike led the development of the Australian Government’s ‘Australia-China Commercial Dispute Resolution Initiative.’ The initiative advised Australian companies on how to manage business risks with China by providing best-practice guidelines for commercial dispute resolution. The initiative was launched by the then Minister for Trade under the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper. Prior to joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mike worked in both state and federal politics, and private legal practice. Mike holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons); a Bachelor of Arts; a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice; and a Master of International Affairs from the Australian National University. He also holds a certificate in business analytics, financial accounting and economics from Harvard Business School Online (CORe). He is published in the leading journal for international economic law, The Journal of World Trade, and the Australian Yearbook of International Law. Mike is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; an alumnus of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue (the preeminent dialogue for emerging leaders from Australia and China); and speaks Mandarin.