Alumni in profile

Deakin MBA graduate Srini Vasan considers himself to be one of luckiest people in the world-he's found a way to combine his love of cricket with a challenging career in finance.

Srini graduated from Madras University in India in the 1970s with chartered accountancy and chartered secretary qualifications. Srini worked with the Sanmar Group-one of the biggest companies in southern India-during the early 1980s before he found his way to the small island nation of Nauru to work as a financial controller for the Nauru Phosphate Mining Company.

Srini came to realise that this job effectively meant managing much of the country's economy.

"As the phosphate industry is really the only income source for Nauru, it meant that I was managing the GDP of one of the richest countries of the world at that time; however, I would like to add this responsibility did not extend to the government's poor investment decisions over recent times and the country's currently precarious financial position," he said.

Srini moved to Australia in 1990 to work with British company Trade Indemnity. He began a business degree at Swinburne University and attained CPA accreditation.

Trade Indemnity became financial icon QBE Australia Ltd, where Srini has been a financial controller ever since.

It was during this period in the mid-1990s that Srini decided to undertake an MBA with Deakin-a career decision he doesn't regret.

"Since completing an MBA my advancement prospects have improved significantly, allowing me to work in global operations. The MBA enhanced my presentation skills along with my lateral problem-solving ability and has also been an invaluable asset in my role as CPA mentor," he said.

While the future holds many more challenges for Srini, he believes his cross-cultural understanding and academic qualifications will enhance his career prospects.

"In India, the method of study is to look more in depth at a particular aspect, whereas in Australia you cover a broad range of subjects. Therefore I have been able to develop my knowledge and skill base over a broad range of things. My background in both India and Australia has also provided me with the important ability to facilitate for cross-cultural relations-which can only help me in future employment endeavours," he said.

Finance may be Srini's main occupation, but cricket is his passion-he is also an accredited Cricket Australia journalist and works as the sports editor for Melbourne-based Indian newspaper Indian Voice. Srini frequently tours with the Australian cricket team when they travel to India and is actively involved in the Indian cricket community.

Srini's career highlights include moving to Australia, completing his MBA, and witnessing QBE expand into the Indian market-but an exclusive interview with a cricket icon tops his list.

"One of my greatest highlights was doing an exclusive interview with India's cricket god and master batsman, Sachin Tendulkar. I have interviewed so many sports personalities, but Tendulkar stands out as a perfect role model for his talent, humility and deep thinking," he said.

Srini plans to continue working with QBE, even though the job has been very challenging in recent times.

"As one of the insurers of the World Trade Centre, QBE's interests were hard hit. But the company has managed to bounce back strongly from the 2001 tragedy and is now planning an expansion into south-eastern Asia, which I hope to be part of," he said.

Srini is currently a financial controller in QBE's Trade Credit Insurance Division. He is also vice-president of the Australia India Business Forum, which promotes business relationships between India and Australia.

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