2025 Derivative Markets Conference
Queenstown, New Zealand
14-16 December 2025
The Auckland Centre for Financial Research (ACFR) at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, Auckland University of Technology, hosts its 10th annual Derivative Markets Conference from 14 to 16 December 2025. This year’s conference will take place in Queenstown, New Zealand, a world-renowned destination offering breathtaking natural scenery, adventure sports, wineries, and a vibrant culture. We invite academics and professionals to submit papers related to derivative markets and products. The conference features a special issue of the Journal of Futures Markets.
Conference programme
Keynote Speaker
Charles Cao, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Professor Cao is the Yang Ju Mei Professor of Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School. Before joining CUHK, he held The Smeal Chair Professor of Finance in the Smeal College of Business at the Pennsylvania State University.
Professor Cao’s research interests include FinTech, cryptocurrencies, hedge funds, mutual funds, derivative securities markets, and market microstructure. His research has been published in a wide range of academic journals, including the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and Management Science. His research has been recognized with several best paper awards, including The Graham and Dodd Award of Excellence, Best Paper Award on Capital Markets from CFA Society Toronto, and New York Stock Exchange Award for Best Paper in Equity Markets at WFA. He won competitive research grants from the BNP Paribas Hedge Fund Center, the Real Estate Research Institute, the Q-group, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-FDIC, and Morgan Stanley. He serves (or has served) as an editor/associate editor of Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, an associate editor of Journal of Financial Markets, and Review of Derivatives Research.
Special Issue
The Journal of Futures Markets has dedicated a special issue to selected papers presented at the conference.
Best Paper Awards
The 2025 DMC Best Paper Award (NZD 1,000)
Queenstown FAQs:
- The conference venue is Crowne Plaza Queenstown, located in the centre of Queenstown and a 1-minute walk to Steamer Wharf.
- Queenstown Airport is 6km away from central Queenstown, about 15-25 minutes away by bus, car or taxi. There is more information on getting to and around Queenstown here.
- Airport transportation options:
- Airport shuttles, taxis, ride-share and luxury transport operators are located directly outside the terminal.
- Orbus bus departs the airport every 15-30 minutes to the city and costs $10 one way, or $2 with a bee card.
- If you are travelling by car, the drive to Crowne Plaza Queenstown is about 15 minutes (7.9km) via State Highway 6A.
- There are plenty of accommodation options in Queenstown. Please see Booking, Tripadvisor , Expedia or Airbnb.
- Things to do in Queenstown. Also, check out Tripadvisor’s top picks of activities in Queenstown.
Conference Organisers
Bart Frijns, Auckland University of Technology
Jose Da Fonseca, Auckland University of Technology
Iris Li, Auckland University of Technology
Contact
Email: acfr@aut.ac.nz