Dr. Leila Afshari is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Management and currently serves as the Co-Leader of the Gender Equity and Organisations Theme at the Centre for Organisations and Social Change (COSC) at RMIT University. She joined RMIT in 2022 after serving as School Director-Graduate Research and Senior Lecturer at La Trobe University. Before entering academia, Dr. Afshari gained substantial industry experience, where she managed people, projects, and operations. This professional background continues to shape her research and teaching with a strong industry focus.

Dr Afshari earned her PhD in Business and Management from RMIT University in 2017 and also holds a Bachelor's (Honours) in Engineering. Her research interests span the Future of Work and Employment, Employee Well-being, Organisational Leadership, Women in STEM and Leadership, and Career Development, with a particular emphasis on professional migrant workers and knowledge workers. Her work is published in top-tier academic journals, and a full list of her publications can be found on her Google Scholar profile.

Dr. Afshari is the Co-Editor in Chief of the Leadership & Organization Development Journal and sits on the Editorial Boards of Personnel Review, the Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, and Human Resource Development International. She has successfully secured over half a million dollars in external research funding as a lead investigator. Her latest project, funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, and Resources, is focused on future-proofing career development for female migrants.

Dr Saima Ahmad is a Senior Lecturer in Business Administration at RMIT University's School of Management. She holds a PhD in Management from Monash University. Her research focuses on the development of sustainable work environments and the promotion of individual well-being by cultivating positive leadership styles. She is dedicated to advancing knowledge on leadership, organizational behavior and workplace dynamics to create positive impacts within communities. She has published widely in high-ranking journals and actively contributes to academic conferences and industry collaborations. Her dedication to student success and scholarly excellence has earned her recognition through multiple teaching and research awards.

Saima served as the HDR Coordinator for the Graduate School of Business and Law (GSBL) at RMIT University from 2022 to 2024, and adopted a candidate-centered approach to foster a supportive and inclusive research community. Overseeing the PhD (Business), PhD (Law), and Master by Research programs in Business and Law, she ensured smooth program operations while supporting HDR students and their supervisors. She played a key role in managing student recruitment and selection, facilitating professional development initiatives, and coordinating social events and activities to enhance the student experience. Under her leadership, the school surpassed previous records for HDR completions. Her outstanding leadership and commitment to HDR development were recognized with the 2022 RMIT GSBL Dean’s Merit Award for HDR Leadership Excellence. 

In the RMIT MBA program, Saima coordinates and delivers courses such as Leadership Issues in International Management and Leading in the Age of Digital Disruption. She empowers students with valuable insights and equips them with the necessary skills to thrive in the dynamic business landscape. Saima serves on the editorial board of the European Management Journal and PLoS One. She sits on the ABEN Advisory Committee.

Professional interests:
- Member of the Academy of Management

- Member of the European Academy of Management
- Member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management
- Member of the Australasian Business Ethics Network

Associate Professor Kevin Argus

Department of Marketing

School of Eonomics, Finance & Marketing, RMIT University

Biography

Associate Professor Kevin Argus is a driving force in circular economy, leading RMIT's interdisciplinary efforts for sustainability as Co-Chair of the RMIT Circular Economy Hub and Lead of a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Food Waste Reduce Grant Project. The Hub enables interdisciplinary research grant collaboration and HDR supervision across the University. Kevin also Chairs the Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Reference Group (Leadership and Governance) for the College and is the MBA Program Director (2022-2025).

Innovating Collaboratively for Food Waste Reduction

Enabling collaborative innovation for food waste reduction, Kevin collaborates with industry leaders, including a technology entrepreneur and major retailers. Their research focuses on optimising technology to connect consumers with discounted, soon-to-expire food, creating sustainable social, environmental, and financial value for both retailers and consumers. Other cross-disciplinary projects include exploring viable products from cellulose recover from waste water and an exploratory project addressing the feasibility of floating housing through a regenerative lens.

Bridging Sustainability Gaps for Real-World Impact

Kevin’s practical impact is underscored by an industry sponsored Social Procurement Partnership Award in the construction sector. He was a 2024 finalist for Outstanding Leadership in Engagement in the national Engagement Australia Excellence Awards for social and environmental impact. Additionally, his co-supervision of the 2023 RMIT Vice Chancellor's HDR Research Impact Award recipient contributed to five high-impact publications integrating sustainability with circular economy principles.

Disseminating Knowledge for Global Impact

Recipient of the 2023 RMIT Rising Media Star Award and the college 2023 Global Engagement Award, Kevin is recognised for disseminating impactful knowledge through diverse media. This showcases his commitment to sustainable futures with a broad national and international reach, emphasising his passion for bridging gaps between academia and industry.

Awards

2024 Finalist in Australia Excellence Awards (National Award)

2023 Recipient of inaugural International Engagement Award (College of Business and Law)

2023 Recipient of Rising Media Star Award (RMIT Award)

2022 Social Traders Game Changer Award via Shared Value Partnership with Ability Works Australia, Aurecon, Transurban, Apricot Consulting, RMIT

2020 Social Traders Social Procurement Partnership of the Year Award with Ability Works Australia, Aurecon, Transurban, Apricot Consulting, RMIT

Leadership Roles

1. Co-Chair of RMIT Circular Economy Hub 2023 - Present
2. MBA Program Director 2022-2025
3. Lead of CRC Food Waste - Reduce Grant Project 2023-25
4. Chair of College Gender Equity & Inclusion Reference Group - Leadership and Governance 2022-25

Description of Leadership Roles

1. Co-Chair, RMIT Circular Economy Hub 2023 - Present

• • Position: Co-Chair, RMIT Circular Economy Hub
  • Description: The Circular Economy Hub (CEH) is a cross-disciplinary, industry-engaged network of RMIT experts working on cutting-edge and innovative circular economy research across Australia and internationally. The RMIT Circular Economy Hub fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, promoting holistic and systemic research partnerships focusing on empirical outcomes. This enhances the University's influence and proficiency in the circular economy domain. Additionally, it aids in the development of a new platform for capability building, encompassing micro-credentials, executive training, and vocational and higher education outcomes. Learn more

2. Former MBA Program Director 2022-2025

• Position: MBA Program Director (all modes) MBA Program Manager for Melbourne City Campus and RMIT Online.
• Description: MBA Program Director for the MBA Programs taught in multiple modes and locations across Melbourne City, RMIT Online, and Vietnam.

3. Lead, End Food Waste CRC - Reduce Stream - Gander Retail Project (2023-2025)

• Position: Lead, End Food Waste CRC - Reduce Stream - Gander Retail Project
• Description: Conducts action research with Retail Partner Gander Retail, Metcash, and selected IGA Supermarket partners to research the impact of technology, gamification, food waste reduction, and consumer behaviour.

4. Chair, Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Reference Group - Leadership and Governance (2023-2025)

• Position: Chair, Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion Reference Group - Leadership and Governance
• Description: Leads College, School representatives in design, development and implementation of a Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Framework to guide policy implmentation (implemented for the Research Active Status Policy).

Education

PhD Marketing, Monash University, 2011

Masters of Management, Monash University, 2002

Masters of Marketing, Monash Univeristy, 2001

BBus Acctg, Swinburne University, pre 2000

Contact

__________

Dr Kevin Argus

Associate Professor, Marketing (School of Management)

MBA Program Director

Department of Business Administration

School of Economics, Finance & Marketing

RMIT Building 80 (Level 9), 435-457 Swanston Street, Melbourne Vic 3000

Phone: +61 419 889 465 or (03) 9925 1457

Email: kevin.argus@rmit.edu.au

____________________________

Dr. Argho Bandyopadhyay (AB) is a Lecturer in Marketing and Design Thinking at the School of Marketing-Economics, Finance and Marketing at College of Business and Law, RMIT University, Australia. He has been coordinating and facilitating courses in MBA programs at RMIT University. His principal research interests are in the areas of brand management, advertising and consumer emotions. His secondary research interests lies in the intersection of digital communities and consumer app adoption and innovation.

Argho is an experienced educator and researcher with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Marketing. As an educator, Argho has seven (7) years of teaching and course coordinating experience in the Australian (5 years) and Malaysian (2 years) higher education sector, with impressive teaching record across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate marketing and communication subjects.

Argho has developed a strong and steadily growing publication record across leading marketing and interdisciplinary outlets. His research appears in top-tier A* journals, including the European Journal of Information Systems (A*) and the European Journal of Marketing (A*), demonstrating his capacity to publish in internationally recognised, high-impact venues. He has also established a solid presence in A-ranked journals, with publications in the Journal of Strategic Marketing (A), Psychology & Marketing (A), Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services (A), Australasian Marketing Journal (A), Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics (A), and the Journal of Product and Brand Management (A), reflecting both depth and breadth across marketing’s core domains. 

Complementing his publication record, Argho regularly disseminates his work at major international conferences, including the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) conferences, further enhancing the visibility and scholarly reach of his research program.

Argho has received the 2021 inaugural Graduate School of Business and Law (GSBL) Dean's Merit Award, and 2023 COBL Research Led Teaching award for his teaching into numerous marketing and entrepreneurial subjects. He is strongly committed to collaborating with students to practically apply their learning, using real-life industry projects to develop skills and capabilities, personally and professionally, for their career advancement.

Industry experience:
- Campaign Analyst
- Research Consultant

Professor Timothy Bartram is Professor of HRM and Head of Department HRM in the School of Management. His area of expertise is in HRM, industrial relations and healthcare management.

Professor Bartram's research is in human resource management (HRM), high performance work systems (HPWS) industrial relations and healthcare management. His work also focuses on the effective management and inclusion of vulnerable groups working in organisations, such as workers with intellectual disability, neurodiverse workers, Indigenous men and older men. He has an interest in AI, people analytics and the digitisation of HRM. His research work has culminated in 167 refereed journal publications. Publications include articles in Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, Human Resource Management Review, The British Journal of Industrial Relations, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, British Journal of Management, Journal of Product Innovation Management, International Journal of Small Business, Public Management Review, Personnel Review, Industrial Relations Journal, Applied Psychology: An International Review, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Advanced Nursing, and Health Care Management Review. Professor Bartram's work has been cited over 11,000 times (Google Scholar) and has a H-Index of 55. Web of Science Author Analytics has recently ranked him as the fourth most impactful researcher of HPWS in business and management research. 

Professor Bartram has led a number of large externally funded research projects, including ARC grants (Discovery and Linkage(s)), DFAT-funded grants, Federal and State Government research contracts, as well as contract research for both private and public sector organisations, which have culminated in almost $2,000,000 in research income. He has held three ARC grants ((1) DP120103071 Testing the integration and differentiation of national employment systems: Multi-nationals in an international comparative context; (2) LP110200528 Work process change in hospital services; and (3) LP200200379 Promoting Long-Term Employment of Autistic Individuals). He has also been awarded grants and research contracts from the Department of Vetran Affairs, Department of Health ansd Human Services (Vic), Telematics Trust, Department of Foregn Affairds and Trade, WorkSafe, ISCRR, AFL Player Association and others.

CI-Bartram's research work utilises cutting-edge research methods and strong theoretical underpinning (e.g., HRM, organisational behaviour and management theories) to solve real-world contemporary challenges, such as the effective management of healthcare professionals in contemporary hospitals, development of sustainable and effective management systems and the inclusion of vulnerable groups of workers, such as Men's Shed participants, and people with intellectual disability and neurodiversity. His most significant contributions to HRM/HPWS research include a theoretical and empirical examination of the relationships between high-performance work systems, clinician attitudes and behaviours (i.e., intention to leave, emotional labour) and clinician/hospital performance (i.e., HRM performance indicators, quality of patient care and patient safety). This work has been at the cutting edge of HRM in health research and as a result he has developed research relationships and commissioned research with key healthcare industry players (e.g., Victorian Hospitals' Industrial Association, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Australian Men's Shed Association, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Health and Ageing), as well as a range of leading healthcare services. He has also contributed innovative research to lean management and HRM in healthcare organisations (e.g., British Journal of Management), and has recently published leading research on wellbeing-orientated HRM practices and employee resilience (e.g., Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Journal, International Journal of HRM).

His work on HRM and disability is also cutting-edge. This work has made a significant contribution to social enterprise organisations and other organisations, such as hotels and supermarkets that employ people with a disability and has been published in the Journal of Business Ethics, Personnel Review and the Journal of Vocational Education and Training.

Professor Bartram has been involved in large-scale research projects examining the employment, management and social inclusion of workers with disability across Australian industries. He and his team have examined using a qualitative research the inclusion of workers with intellectual disability design in 15 organisations, which has culminated in over 10 journal articles (e.g., Journal of Business Ethics; Personnel Review) and a special issue in the Journal of Vocational Education and Training.

He has also led large-scale projects for the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) on the Men's Shed movement in Australia (e.g., examining Indigenous men's participation in Men's Sheds and related health, wellbeing and employment outcomes and evaluating the operations of the Australian Men's Sheds Association (AMSA)). These projects have involved a census of all the Men's Sheds in Australia (including shed coordinators, men members and healthcare service workers. He has advised Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) (Federal Government) on the efficacy of the current management (including HRM) operations of AMSA and Indigenous sheds and community groups and their impact on men's health and wellbeing in Australia. He is regarded as the leading expert on the Men's Shed movement (throughout Australia and internationally) having conducted research with twenty-six Indigenous groups across every State and Territory. The research included a review/consensus of over 1,000 Men's Sheds in Australia. This was the first ever census of Australian Men's Sheds. This research has made a significant impact on building healthy communities and improving the health and wellbeing of people. He has published over 10 journal articles on Men's Sheds and he and his team have undertaken several interviews with the media (e.g., ABC Breakfast, ABC Radio, The Australian, Wall Street Journal).

Professor Bartram has also consulted to several medical and healthcare associations (e.g., Victorian Hospitals' Industrial Association) and health care unions (e.g., Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Medical Scientists Association of Victoria). He has also published a report detailing the adoption of strategic HRM in the Victorian public healthcare sector (published by the Victorian Hospitals' Industrial Association). This was the first ever large-scale survey of HRM practice of Victorian public health care organisations. He has also led complex research projects in large tertiary hospitals on the use of strategic HRM and HPWS and impact on employee wellbeing and quality of patient care. This research has contributed significantly to the development of management practices within many of these organisations. He has presented his research work at world leading management, human resource management and employment relations conferences, at health practitioner and union delegate conferences and healthcare human resource director forums.

Professor Bartram has successfully supervised 21 PhD students to completion. He has also successfully supervised to completion 24 DBA students.

Professor Bartram is the Co-editor of Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources (APJHR) with Professor Fang Lee Cooke. He is on the Editorial Board of Personnel Review and The International Journal of HRM. He acts as a referee for many leading international journals, including the Journal of Management Studies, Human Resource Management, International Journal of HRM, Personnel Review, Relations Industrielles, British Journal of Management, the British Journal of Industrial Relations, and Human Relations.

Professor Timothy Bartram is Professor of HRM and Head of Department HRM & IR in the School of Management. He coordinates and teaches Key Concepts in HRM (BUSM4499).

Dr Ashenafi Biru is a senior lecturer and program manager for the Strategy and Innovation Major in the Bachelor of Business at the School of Management, RMIT University. His work bridges academia and practice, focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, strategy, and international business. He collaborates with industry partners, mentors entrepreneurs, and contributes to thought leadership in the field.

Prior to joining RMIT, he held academic roles at Mekelle University in Ethiopia and the Korea Development Institute in South Korea. He also has industry experience with the Millennium Villages Project. He earned his PhD in Entrepreneurship and Management from RMIT University.

Ashenafi’s research sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, innovation, strategy, and international business. He has published in leading ABDC A*/A journals, including the Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, International Business Review, and Energy Economics. He has presented at major international conferences such as the Academy of Management (AOM), Babson Entrepreneurship Conference, and Australasian Consortium for Entrepreneurship Research Excellence (ACERE).

He has secured multiple internal and external research grants, supporting projects that contribute to both academic knowledge and industry practice.

In teaching and learning, Ashenafi teaches entrepreneurship and strategy, integrating experiential learning and innovative teaching methods. His work in interactive educational games enhances student engagement and learning. He developed The Entrepreneur Within You, a serious board game designed to enrich entrepreneurship and innovation education. His contributions to teaching excellence have been recognised with several awards, including:

• 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students’ Learning
• 2024 RMIT College of Business and Law Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students’ Learning
• 2023 School of Management Award for Collaborations in Learning and Teaching
• 2022 School of Management Award for Innovative Learning and Teaching Practice

Ashenafi collaborates with startups, multinational corporations, and government agencies through research, executive education, mentoring, consultancy, and public speaking. His work focuses on fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems and driving strategic innovation.

He is the co-founder and co-leader of the RMIT Entrepreneurial Academics Network, an initiative that supports academics in developing entrepreneurial mindsets, translating research into impact, and facilitating a collaborative entrepreneurial community of practice within and beyond the university’s ecosystem.

Professor Banita Bissoondoyal-Bheenick is currently the Director of Research Services and Program in the College of Business and Law and is an internationally recognised researcher in the field of financial markets and institutions.

She is an internationally recognised researcher in the field of financial markets and institutions and an experienced academic with nearly 20 years of extensive educational experience. She has successfully maintained her profile through significant contributions through several grants, quality publications and distinguished research outputs.

She currently serves on committees and editorial boards, including the RMIT Philanthropic Investment Committee, College of Business and Law gender and Equity reference Group for careers, Women Research Network as well as she is the Associate Editor and Subject Editor of international finance journals including International Review of Financial Analysis, Global Finance Journal and Journal of International Financial Markets, Money and Institutions.

Industry experience

Industry Conferences presentations

2025- Melbourne Money and Finance Conference, Unimelb 
2018 - Melbourne Money and Finance Conference, ACFS
2018 - Australian Centre for financial Studies: Industry Seminar: Paper Title: Risk Analysis of Investment Options
2018 - Melbourne Money and Finance Conference, Industry Conference; Presenter of Superannuation Policies Paper and Discussant
2017 - Australian Catholic Super – Board Presentation Investment Risk and Return and Option
2017 - AIST Investment Workshop, Superannuation Trustee Professional development, Melbourne (October, December)
2017 - AIST Investment Workshop, Sydney, (October, November)
2017 - Self-Managed Super Funds National Conference, Melbourne, Presenter

Industry Keynote
2017 - Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustee Super Investment (AIST) Conference (ASI Industry Conference): Paper Title: Long term Return and Risk of Superannuation Investment Options

Industry Partners (Current)
Q Group Australia- Partner for the RMIT Finance Symposium
CFA Melbourne Society: Partner for the RMIT Finance Symposium
Northern Trust Asset Management
Refinitiv: London Stock Exchange Group

Programs
Director of Reserach Services and Programs, COBL 

Head of Dept - Finance - led all Finance Programs 

Awards

2024  Research Award- 2024 RMIT Commendation for Graduate Research Leadership

DVC COBL Academic of the year Award, RMIT University
Award date: 2020
Recipients: Banita Bissoondoyal-Bheenick

Australasian Finance and Banking Conference Best paper Award
Award date: 2018
Recipients: Banita Bissoondoyal-Bheenick

International Postgraduate Research Scholarship, RMIT University
Award date: 2002
Recipients: Banita Bissoondoyal-Bheenick

State Govt Award of Mauritius Postgraduate Scholarship scheme
Award date: 1999
Recipients: Banita Bissoondoyal-Bheenick

1999
De Chazal Du Mee (DCDM) Trophee for First Class Honours Degree in Accounting.

Dr. Janneke Blijlevens is an Associate Professor in the Marketing discipline in the College of Business and Law at RMIT. Social impact and interdisciplinarity are her middle name. She works with students, industry partners, and research collaborators to develop and implement learning experiences, behavioural interventions, and designs that catalyse social change in the world. Tackling complex societal issues such as cultural inclusion, sexual harassment and assault, financial literacy, and future-forward education requires the theoretical and methodological lenses of multiple disciplines. Her experience in design and marketing schools, and background in cognitive (experimental) psychology, gives her a unique ability to understand different ways of thinking and working with collaborators from different backgrounds. She has, over the years, carefully crafted a methodology to solve complex societal problems and design innovative, evidence-based behavioural interventions that make a real impact in the world. Janneke is passionate about preparing her students for their positive role in society and for them to learn how to use their (thinking and operational) powers for good.

Carol Bond is a political and social scientist investigating business-related socio-economic and policy topics in the energy and resources sectors.

Industry Experience
Carol works closely with the energy and extractives industries as well as peak bodies. Research partners include: Energy Networks Australia (ENA), Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA), The Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC), Australian Institute of Mining & Metals (AusIMM), Jemena, Origin, and the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG).

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Engagement

Carol is privileged to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland on topics such as entrepreneurship, business management, protecting Indigenous IP, while supporting deep connection to culture and country.

Prue is aLecturer (Management) in the School of Management. Her research interests include improving health and social care service delivery, and understanding how institutional change may be provoked and harnessed for the social good. Prior to working in academia, Prue worked in the NGO and Government sectors as a senior researcher and policy officer on a number of public policy and service delivery issues affecting disadvantaged Australians.

Her PhD dissertation explored how firms support former prisoners to reintegrate into the workforce.

Key activities:

Academic Director, School of Management

Course co-coordinator: BUSM1094 Organisations; BUSM1100 Organisations

Sara Charlesworth is Professor Emerita in the College of Business & Law.

She was previously Professor of Work, Gender & Regulation in the School of Management (2014-2022) and an RMIT Distinguished Professor (2019-2022). Sara is a socio-legal scholar whose research focuses on gender (in)equality in employment at the labour market, industry and organisational levels. She has held two Australian Research Council fellowships, including a Future Fellowship (2013-2018), and held several ARC projects including on sexual harassment, gender equality and decent work, quality part-time work, work/life balance and gender-equitable organisational change in male-dominated organisations.

Over recent years of Sara’s research has focused mainly on low-paid work in feminised industries and on paid care work. Her last major ARC-funded research was the Discovery project ‘Decent Work & Good Care: International Approaches to Aged Care’. She is currently a chief investigator on a Canadian SHHRC partnership grant ‘Imagining Age–Friendly “Communities” within Communities: International Promising Practices’, for which she is hosted the Melbourne case study in April 2024. 

Sara has published and presented widely in a wide range of academic, policy and community fora and has been involved in a number of key gender equality policy reviews and debates. She continues to publish as highlighted below under publications. In 2024 Sara completed work for Public Services International producing a report on Decent Work and Quality Long-term Care with Profs Ian Cunningham (Strathclyde) and Tamara Daly (York) and a Literature Review on Work and Care with Prof Meg Smith (Western Sydney) for the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Review 2023-2024.

Sara is deeply committed to collaborative practice and knowledge exchange. Sara was invited to the 2022 Jobs and Skills Summit and presented on collective bargaining for low paid workers and on policy levers to progress gender equality. She has been an advisor to the Australian Human Rights Commission on their 2012, 2018 and 2022 National Sexual Harassment Prevalence Surveys. Sara was a member of the Victoria Police VEOHRC Review Academic Governance Board (2017-2020), following VEOHRC’s Review of Sexual Harassment and Predatory Behaviour at Victoria Police. In 2018 Sara was invited to be expert advisor to the Australian Workers’ Delegation on the Standard- Setting Committee on Violence & Harassment in the World of Work, 107th Session of the International Labour Conference.

Sara has been invited to present expert evidence to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality & Safety and to various state and federal Parliamentary committees, most recently to the Select Senate Committees on Job Security and on Work & Care. She has also presented expert evidence to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) in the Aged Care Work Value Case and the just completed FWC gender-based undervaluation prioity awards review. 

Sara is a Thinker in Residence for HumanAbility, the Jobs and Skills Council for human services and other industries. She is on the Victorian government Equal Workplaces Advisory Council, co-convenor of the Work+Family Policy Roundtable, a network of Australian gender, work and care scholars and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Industrial Relations.

Field of media:
- Gender equality in employment
- Job quality & decent work
- Social care workforce
- Industrial and anti-discrimination law & practice
- Intersection of work & care

Anni Cheng is a Lecturer in Marketing in RMIT's School of Economics, Finance and Marketing.

Anni holds a PhD in Marketing from Monash University. Her research interests include using experimental methods to study consumer behaviour, sustainable marketing, and inclusive marketing. 

Her research has been published in the International Journal of Advertising. Her work has been presented at academic conferences, including the AMA Winter Academic Conference, ANZMAC and ACR. 

Prior to RMIT, Anni was working at Science Says. She specialises in market research translation and B2B consulting, solving problems for companies like Mars Inc. 

Daisy (Hsin-I) Chou is an Associate Professor at the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing.

Daisy previously held positions at the University of Otago, the University of Bath, and La Trobe University. She was awarded a Ph.D. from Queen's University of Belfast in the United Kingdom. She specialises in corporate governance and corporate finance.

Daisy's intellectual curiosity is piqued by the areas of board of director behaviour, executive compensation, Asian economies, and M&A activities in the U.S. market. Her findings have been published in numerous leading academic journals, including the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Journal of Corporate Finance, Journal of Banking & Finance, and others.

Ad-hoc journal reviewer for A*/A: British Accounting Review, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Energy Economics, Journal of Banking and Finance, Accounting and Finance, Applied Economics, Australian Journal of Management, Asia Pacific Journal of Business Administration, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Corporate Governance: An International Review, Economic Modelling, Emerging Market Review, European Journal of Finance, Fnance Research Letters, Internatioal Review of Economics and Finance, International Review of Financial Analysis, International Review of Managerial Finance, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Journal of Behaviour Finance and Pacific Basin Finance Journal. 

Dr Bronwyn Coate is an Associate Professor in economics based in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing at RMIT.  In both teaching and research Bronwyn takes a multi-disciplinary perspective that demonstrates how economic and business concepts can be applied to many diverse areas within business and society, to help make sense of the complex world we live, work and operate within. Bronwyn also collaborates with experts from a range of disciplines within academia as well as industry professionals and policy makers to address real world problems in both her teaching and research.

At RMIT she also co-leads  the Gender, Equity and Organisations theme within the Centre of Organisations and Social Change. Additionally,  she co-founded and co-leads the Cultural Value Impact Network which champions interdisciplinary approaches to articulating cultural value. Bronwyn is a member of the Behavioural Business Lab at RMIT and Editor of Book Reviews for the Journal of Cultural Economics.

Dr Justyna Dąbrowska is a Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow in Innovation Management at RMIT University, with a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management from LUT University, Finland. She also holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and Management with a specialization in Human Resource Management from the University of Szczecin, Poland. She also studied International Business and Technology Management at LUT University, Finland.

Her research focuses on innovation management, with particular emphasis on organizational renewal, open innovation capabilities, collaborations between mature companies and startups, innovation ecosystem orchestration, and the impacts of digitalization on modern business practices.

Dr Dąbrowska has led large-scale international research and industry engagement projects in the areas of open innovation, education, sustainability, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. She collaborates closely with businesses, non-profits, and government agencies through research initiatives, advisory roles, mentoring, and executive education.

The results of her research, tools, and innovation frameworks have been adopted by a range of global companies, including Swarovski AG. She is also an active keynote speaker, facilitator, and strategic advisor on innovation, leadership, and technology management topics.

Industry Experience:

Before embarking on her academic career, Dr Dąbrowska gained valuable industry experience in the automotive and manufacturing sectors across Europe. She worked at General Motors Europe GmbH in Germany, supporting the International and Diplomatic Sales team, and later served as the Central and Eastern Europe Sales Manager at a leading manufacturer in the promotional products sector.

In addition to her early career roles, Dr Dąbrowska has extensive ongoing engagement with industry through consulting, contracted research, strategic workshop facilitation, advisory roles, and innovation capability building programs. Her work bridges academic rigor and practical application, supporting senior executives and organizations in navigating challenges related to innovation, transformation, and future skills.

Key Projects and Initiatives: 

• EINST4INE – European Training Network for Industry Digital Transformation (2021–2024, EU MSCA; total budget: 4 057 000 EUR)
  • Co-Chief Investigator, leading research and training activities across seven countries to advance future skills and organizational capabilities for digital transformation.; Project partners: 7 HEIs from Finland, Denmark, Germany, UK, Italy, Australia, USA; 18 industry partners
• OI-Net – The European Academic Network for Open Innovation (2013–2016)
  • Consortium Manager and lead researcher for this European Union-funded network, involving 52 partners from 35 countries, advancing open innovation education and capability development.

• Open Innovation Ecosystem Collaboration Projects
  • Led engagement projects with the City of Melbourne and ARC Lifeblood, focusing on creating and capturing value from open innovation initiatives in public and nonprofit sectors.

• Systems Thinking for Circular Economy (2024, Strategic Impact Initiative)
• Establishing New Capabilities on Strategic Foresight & Technological Roadmapping to Foster Innovation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration (ECP Strategic Capabilities Development Fund), cross-disciplinary strategic lead 
• DOIT - Entrepreneurial skills for young social innovators in an open digital world. The European Initiative (2017-2020, EU H2020; total budget: 2 566 000 EUR)
• Overcome - Open innoVation Raw Materials
  • Project Manager,  development and pilot of tailored collaborative tool at LKAB; report on implementation of open innovation in raw materials industries
• Accelerate - A Platform for the Acceleration of go-to market in the ICT Industry (TEKES, ITEA2-labeled; total budget: 11 356 000 EUR)
  • Project Manager, Project partners: 18 partners (academia, ICT companies) from Finland, Belgium, France, Spain, Romania

Academic internationalization experience:
- Visiting Scholar, LUT University, Finland, VII 2023, VII 2024
- Visiting Research Fellow, RMIT University, Australia, X - XII 2017 and IX 2018 – I 2019, research focus: micro-foundations of open innovation
- Visiting Scholar, Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, Sweden, VIII - IX 2017, research focus: transformation of mature companies in the digital era
- Visiting Scholar, Wharton School of Business University of Pennsylvania, USA, I 2013, research focus: strategic management of knowledge
- Visiting Scholar, Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University, Russia, X 2013, visiting lecturer

Research interests:

Business and Management; Innovation Management; Open Innovation; Corporate-startup collaboration Organizational Renewal, Digital Transformation, Sustainability, Supporting tools for decision-making; Strategic Foresight

• I am in lecturer in Human Resource Management. I obtained my PHD in 2018 for the thesis titled 'Managing workforce diversity - Framing justice and fairness in Australian organisations' with a perfect score from all examiners. My research interests include diversity and inclusion in organisations, gender based violence, employee wellbeing, and training and organisational capability development evaluation for sustainable outcomes underpinned by my passion to empower vulnerable communities including women, migrant women and CALD communities. Prior to joining academia, I worked as a senior HR professional in two MNEs - in aviation and in manufacturing. I also lead community projects to empower migrant women and CALD communities through community consultations and workshops. 

Dr Marco De Sisto is an Associate Professor in Management and member of the Centre for Organisations and Social Change (COSC) at RMIT University’s School of Management (Australia), where he also earned his PhD. He is also the Chair of “EARTH”, RMIT’s Sustainability Research Group. With a background in psychology, criminology, and human resource management, Dr De Sisto has held roles as a consultant, general manager, HR advisor, and research officer across businesses, governments, and emergency agencies.

His research focuses on sustainability and responsible management in extreme and uncertain contexts, examining how top management teams make strategic and ethical decisions during crises, disasters, and systemic shocks to generate long-term societal value. His work has made a global impact across developed (e.g., Australia, Italy) and developing economies (e.g., China, Pakistan), and has been published in leading journals, including Journal of Business Ethics, Human Resource Management Journal, Journal of Product Innovation Management, Journal of Environmental Management, and International Small Business Journal. For the full list of publications please visit Google Scholar page. 

Dr De Sisto holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and an M.Sc. in Criminology, earned in collaboration with the International Police Association (IPA) in Italy. Currently, he coordinates and teaches the MBA postgraduate Business Consulting (Capstone and Work Integrated Learning), Social Entrepreneurship & Global Development, and Sustainable business models courses At RMIT, Melbourne, Australia. 

Recognised as an international “Distinguished Talent” in emergency management by the Australian government, his work has been featured in SBS Radio and the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) magazine, highlighting the critical intersection of HR and crisis management. He has secured multiple  grants, including the NSW Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund ($486,930). Since 2017, Dr De Sisto has received multiple Learning & Teaching, Research, and Research Impact Awards at the Business School, University, and National levels, further solidifying his reputation as a leading scholar in management and decision-making in extreme contexts.

Cameron Duff is a Professor of Politics and Organisation in the Centre for Organisations and Social Change in the College of Business and Law at RMIT University, where he is also Deputy Dean, Research and Innovation in the School of Management. Trained in Political Science and with a strong commitment to interdisciplinarity, Professor Duff’s ongoing program of research has three main areas of focus: (A) theoretical and conceptual investigations of community, place, and ‘the commons’, with a focus on theories of praxis and social change; (B) empirical investigations of the ways notions of ‘place’ and ‘community’ are mobilised in social innovations in diverse community settings; and (C) policy and practice investigations of the ways organisational forms and processes support (or inhibit) innovation in the design of social impact and sustainability initiatives in particular organisational settings. 

In each of his areas of focus, Duff is concerned to elaborate how social innovation and social change are argued about in Australian social and political debates – including across ‘civil society’ and the ‘for purpose’, community and not-for-profit sectors – with a focus on problems of sustainability, housing, health and social care. With his collaborators, Duff publishes the results of this research in the top international journals in geography and urban planning, organisational studies, sociology and medical anthropology. Recent key publications indicate how demands for social change typically reflect enduring local struggles over place and belonging, identity and social inclusion. Duff’s research is highly cited and he is routinely placed in the top 2% of research scientists in the Stanford/Elsevier Global ranking of highly cited scholars. Duff serves on the Editorial Boards of Wellbeing, Space & Society, Contemporary Drug Problems and the International Journal of Drug Policy where he is the Senior Editor for submissions in social sciences, political and social theory. 

Across RMIT, Duff regularly collaborates with researchers at the Centre for Urban Research, the Social Equity Research Centre, and the Workforce Innovation and Development Institute where he is embedded in key research programs in organisational innovation, social care, housing and mental health research. Recent national research collaborations have involved collegeagues at the University of New South Wales, Swinburne University and the University of Tasmania He also has a number of longstanding international collaborations with colleagues at the Goldsmiths and Liverpool University in the United Kingdom, and the University of British Columbia and McMasters University in Canada. Duff has attracted nearly $2million in career external research income with recent projects funded by the Australian Research Council (LP190100247) for research exploring the social and policy implications of the ongoing widening of categories of ‘personality disorders’. Additional research has been funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (18/PRO53210 and 22/PRO/51311) for studies exploring the coordination and integration of housing, health and social care responses in community settings. The results of this research provide crucial insights into the needs of diverse groups seeking support across the health and social care sectors in Australia, and how programs may be improved to better meet these needs.

Duff commenced at RMIT in 2015 when he was appointed as Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for People, Organisation and Work in the School of Management. Prior to joining RMIT, Duff held a Monash Fellowship in the Social Sciences and Health Research Centre at Monash University. Between 2005 and late 2008, Dr Duff was a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Dr Duff was awarded his PhD in Political Theory at the University of Queensland in 2002 for research that developed a novel political ethics from the works of Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze. Duff’s first book, Assemblages of Health: Deleuze’s Empiricism and the Ethology of Life, was published in 2014 by Springer.

Industry experience:
Professor Cameron Duff's current program of research is informed by an extended period of applied and practical research engagement. From August 2005 to January 2009 he was Manager of Youth Addiction & Mental Health Services at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Canada. In this role he was responsible for delivering evidence based mental health care services for disadvantaged youth in complex urban settings. His most significant responsibility in this time was the leadership of a large change management activity supporting the introduction of ‘community based’ youth mental health promotion initiatives across all programs within the Youth Addiction & Mental Health Services portfolio. Working with partners at the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver School Board, the Provincial Ministry of Health, and the School of Public and Population Health at the University of British Columbia, all programs were reviewed and then restructured to incorporate ‘strengths based’ program orientations. The goal was to move the locus of prevention care from clinical settings into the community.

Awards:
2019 RMIT Research Excellence Award; Outstanding Research Performance by an Academic in the School of Management

2018 RMIT Research Excellence Award; Innovative Research Supervision by an Academic in the School of Management

2017 RMIT Research Excellence Award; Best Journal Publication by an Academic in the School of Management

2014 Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellowship. RMIT University.

2009 Sir John Monash Fellowship. Monash University.

2004 Young Writer’s Award. International Journal of Drug Policy Award for best paper published in 2004 by a writer aged under 35.

2002 Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement, University of Queensland.

1997 Australian Postgraduate Award

Catherine Earl is a social anthropologist, policy analyst and community educator. She is a highly experienced qualitative researcher and she has conducted ethnographic fieldwork and sensory studies in and around Ho Chi Minh City since 2000. Her research focuses on the rise of Vietnam’s middle classes, mobilities, urbanisation and public space, changing nature of work and welfare, ageing, gender equity and inclusion in contemporary Vietnam and Australia. She leads action research projects on sustainability and social transformation in Ho Chi Minh City and fostering creativity and higher education in the ASEAN region.

Meg is a cultural and behavioural economist whose research focuses on those on the economic fringes and community wellbeing. Her work examines how information biases shape decision-making, with particular interest in artists' livelihoods, street performers, social protection, poverty reduction, and wellbeing. She has led research teams evaluating the economic impact of arts investment for the City of Melbourne and served as inaugural research leader for the Placemaking Economics Group. She is a member of the Behavioural Business Lab, serves as Secretary for the Economic Society of Australia (Victorian Branch), and is Associate Editor of Cogent Economics and Finance.

As a media economist, Meg regularly provides commentary on economic issues across television (ABC News, 7News, Nine News, SBS World News), radio (ABC Melbourne, BBC Radio 4, Radio National, 3AW, RNZ, and numerous regional stations), and print (The Age, Financial Review, Herald Sun, ABC Life, Yahoo Finance, BBC News).

In teaching, Meg is an innovative and passionate educator driven to achieve excellent outcomes for her students. She currently designs and leads the Graduate Business Portfolio, the capstone unit for all Bachelor of Business students. As programme leader for economics and finance (2017-2020), she developed meaningful industry partnerships with IBM, ASIC, ATEC Global Research Centre, and Finding Infinity. Her teaching excellence has been recognised through multiple university awards, most recently the RMIT University Mabel Sandes Leadership Award for Academic Excellence in 2025. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and served as an assessor for the Australian Awards University Teaching Excellence Panel in 2018.

Industry Experience

• 2020: The Busking Project - Creative industry platform
• 2016-2017: City of Melbourne - Arts Strategy Team
• 1990-2013: Professional actor
  • Television: MDA, Neighbours, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Country Practice, Simon DeBeauvoir's Babies, Australia's Most Wanted
  • Film: Hoorah, The Dish
  • Television commercials: Westpac, Carpet Court, K-Mart

Awards

2025

• Mabel Sandes Leadership Award for Academic Excellence, RMIT University
• Media Star Top Performer, COBL RMIT University

2024

• Media Star, RMIT COBL
• Economics, Finance and Marketing Teaching Excellence Award, RMIT University

2023

• Media Star Top Performer, RMIT COBL

2022

• Learning and Teaching Partnerships Award, COBL RMIT University
• Media Star Top Performer, RMIT COBL

2021

• Rising Media Star, RMIT University

2020

• Media Star Top Performer, RMIT COBL

2017

• Individual Teaching and Learning Excellence Award, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University

2016

• Nominated for National Award, Office of Learning and Teaching: Teaching Excellence Award for Law, Economics, Business and Related Studies

2015

• Teaching Excellence Award, College of Business, RMIT University
• Individual Teaching and Learning Excellence Award, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University
• Individual Teaching and Learning Award, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University

2014

• Collaborative Teaching and Learning Award, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University
• Runner-up Early Career Researcher of the Year, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, RMIT University
• Runner-up 3-Minute Presentation, College of Business, RMIT University

2012

• Best PhD Student Presentation, Monash Graduate Students Conference in Economics

Dr David Fan is a Professor of Management in the School of Management at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. 

Prior to his migration to Australia, David worked as a financial accountant in an international real estate group. David completed his PhD in International Management at Monash University (Clayton Campus) in 2010, including one-year full-time doctoral-level methodology training at the Australian National University in 2006.

David is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Human Resource Management (ABDC: A; 2019-); Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources (ABDC: B; 2017-); and serves on the Editorial Review Boards of Human Relations (ABDC: A*; 2023-), Management and Organization Review (ABDC: A; 2017-), Asia Pacific Journal of Management (ABDC: A; 2017-), and the Advisory Board of COMPASSS (2015-).

Dr Sandy H. M. Fitzgerald is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at RMIT University and the coordinator of the undergraduate capstone Strategic Marketing course across Melbourne and Singapore. Her teaching is explicitly industry-partnered: students work on live briefs with corporate and community clients through WIL/IPL projects and deliver Shark-Tank-style pitches that connect rigorous analysis with actionable strategy. Sandy’s research sits at the intersection of transformative consumer and service research, with a focus on wellbeing, vulnerability, and contemplative/spiritual service experiences. She has published in field-relevant journals and contributed chapters with leading academic presses, alongside applied evaluation work in digital health (mHealth). She is an AMI Fellow and Certified Practising Marketer. She serves on the VIC/TAS WIL Australia committee and BChean research ethics committee. She mentors emerging professionals and collaborates with industry partners on curriculum, research and impact.