The Fields Institute Turns Twenty-Five 170725 Final book with covers | Page 163

Financial Mathematics
141
largest lecture room, and word spread. In fact, it was
the largest seminar of its kind anywhere in the world, and
Toronto’s reputation grew even further. Nobody dared ask,
“Why are you doing Financial Engineering in Toronto?”
Fields largest seminar room overflowing with attendees for the
Financial Engineering seminar, 2006.
Concurrently, the Dean of Graduate Studies, Michael
Marrus, and the Provost, Adel Sedra, and I met to create the
first Mathematical Finance Program in Canada, located in the
Mathematics Department. Luis Seco became our first Risklab
director and fiercely fought to create a great training ground
for Financial Engineers. Math was buzzing with Finance,
and the banks, who were slowly getting better at Enterprise
Risk, were happy to scoop up the graduates. This is a great
success story and continues to do well. The synergy between