This post is part of our series about the individual experience of studying with UNE Business School – we’ll be talking to current students, graduates and alumni over the coming months. If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, let us know via email.

Dr Wasanthi Thenuwara Hennadige

Doctor of Philosophy – “Demographics and Asset Prices in Australia. Do the Dynamics of Population Ageing Matter?”,  April 2014 – December 2016, conferred at UNE May 2017, with Wasanthi processing in our recent October graduation.

Wasanthi comes to Armidale and UNE from Sri Lanka, by way of  University of Queensland and then Canada. Having started her career as an actuarial executive for a large insurance company in Colombo, she joined the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as an Assistant Director in 2005.

Wasanthi has a truly incredible educational background which started with a Bachelor of Science (Statistics) at University of Sri Jayewardenepura, with First Class Honours. A move to Australia and University of Queensland took Wasanthi to a Masters degree in International Economics and Finance (Advanced), followed by a Masters degree in Applied Economics at University of Waterloo, Canada.

When time came to move into a PhD, Wasanthi looked to University of New England and our own UNE Business School:

I wanted to apply a novel technique for my research. UNE has a great reputation for econometrics and I was confident my supervisors and the university would offer good support.

Wasanthi with Head of UNE Business School, Professor Alison Sheridan.

Taking up a place with UNE Business School, Wasanthi was supervised by Dr Nam Hoang (Principle Supervisor) and Professor Mahinda Siriwardana (Co-supervisor). She shares the focus of her thesis with us – “a substantial demographic transition is in progress in Australia caused by the ageing Baby Boomers. There is an ongoing debate among academic and non-academic researchers concerning the effect of rapidly increasing old age population, on asset markets both housing and financial. The ambiguity of findings in the existing research motivated me to undertake new research since the findings are topical and relevant for wide range of policy makers, individuals, financial planners, particularly insurance and superannuation and real estate professionals.”

Working with her supervisory team, Wasanthi shares that they enriched her experience with “consistent guidance, encouragement, and mentorship throughout my study. The patience, kindness and friendship I received from them made my PhD experience an enjoyable one”.

Part of her experience with UNE Business School has also been as a teacher; she has contributed to teaching several of the school’s units. While studying, Wasanthi took the opportunity to make new friends from around the world, exploring the country in the New England region, and even enjoying being part of badminton teams through SportUNE.

Wasanthi now teaches at the School of Economics at the University of Queensland, continuing with her research and publications – she looks to continue pursuing her academic career in Australia. We are pleased to congratulate her on graduating from her PhD this October, and wish her every success.

UNE Business School staff and PhD graduates (left to right) – Dr L Emilio Morales (UNE Business School), Dr Tsan Wang (PhD, UNE Business School) with Dr Wasanthi Thenuwara Hennadige, and Associate Professor Rene Villano (UNE Business School).