The benefits of the sweeping reforms of the 1980s, an economy in its 15th consecutive year of growth and an entrepreneurial business culture have combined to give Australia one of the world’s most innovative and successful financial sectors.

Long regarded internationally as a commodity-based “old economy” because of its large resources sector, Australia now punches above its weight in global financial services. This is despite its relatively small population of 20m and its distance from the main Euro-Atlantic markets.