2024: Partnering for impact

In 2024, the School strengthened our research culture and continued our strong commitment to industry collaboration by working with a diverse range of partners, including Sunshine Coast Council and the City of Moreton Bay, digital and visualisation experts HavenXR, the Australian Institute of Sport, Arts Queensland, and the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training. These partnerships reflect our dedication to enabling career transitions, fostering sustainable businesses, social enterprise and community engagement, with a clear focus on the social impact of our work. Income from research funding almost doubled on the previous year, up from $230,000 in 2023 to $440,000 in 2024.

We also worked closely on collaborative projects with our fellow researchers from across UniSC, including colleagues from the Sustainability Research Centre and Australian Centre for Pacific Island Research.

The number of higher degree by research (HDR) students who completed their degrees was also double the previous year’s figure, with several doctoral graduates now contributing as early career researchers within the school and our communities, nationally and internationally.

Highlights

• The School secured funding for 12 research projects (including several prestigious Category 1 and 2 grants).
• Our researchers produced 150 research publications, 
  up from 125 in 2023.
• Our three research clusters – Creative Ecologies, Sustainable Development Goals for Business, and Work, Live and Play – continued to foster productive collaboration to address pressing social challenges.
• We grew our international partnerships and adjunct collaborations, welcoming visiting scholars and working with international institutions such as Salzburg Business School (SMBS) and Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH Bern), for PhD pathway opportunities and research collaborations.

Celebrating our staff

• Design discipline lead Dr Leah Barclay was one of a team of 10 researchers awarded a prestigious Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous grant of more than $880,000 for a project titled ‘Dandhigu yimbana: Listening on Country for social-emotional wellbeing’, which will explore how arts-based methods such as yarning and creative storytelling can promote social and emotional wellbeing for First Nations Peoples.
• Senior Lecturer in Public Relations Dr Karen Sutherland authored a book on the use of artificial intelligence for strategic communication and now provides thought leadership and guidance
• Professor Sajid Anwar was internationally recognised by Research.com as one of its top Economics and Finance scientists, as was Professor Ferdinand Gul, who also received accolades for Economics and Finance, as well as Business and Management.
• For contributions to Strategic Management, Associate Professor Tak Yan Leung was named one of Australia’s top 250 researchers by The Australian’s Research Magazine.
• Senior Lecturer in English Dr Clare Archer-Lean received the UniSC Award for Excellence in HDR supervision.

Making a difference: Our research in action

Supporting entrepreneurship and regional economic growth

Cultivating Entrepreneurship Ecosystems is a long-running research theme led by Associate Professor Margarietha de Villiers Scheepers. Since 2016, several projects have focused on strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship in regional Australia, where communities often face barriers such as fragmented policies, limited investment in research and development (R&D), and difficulty attracting entrepreneurial talent. With national R&D investment falling below the OECD average, regional areas have struggled to grow economically and create jobs.

To address these challenges, the UniSC team developed a research program using a “complex adaptive systems” approach, which involved looking at how different parts of the regional innovation ecosystem interact and evolve together. The program included four major projects:

1. Assessing entrepreneurship support programs: Funded by Sunshine Coast Council, this project mapped local support networks and created 14 entrepreneurial personas to help tailor business support services to the diverse needs of founders.
2. Dynamics of Regional Innovation: This pilot project, supported by Sunshine Coast Council and Advance Queensland, measured how businesses collaborate and innovate, aiming to inform region-specific development programs.
3. Queensland Regional Innovation Benchmark: Funded by Advance Queensland, this project assessed innovation performance and ecosystem resilience across eight Queensland regions, including Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Wide Bay Burnett.
4. Regional reputation and media portrayal: Funded by the City of Moreton Bay, this project explored how media narratives and regional business reputation influence investment and talent attraction.

The research helped shift regional development efforts from isolated programs to coordinated, long-term strategies involving entrepreneurs, government, investors, and universities. Findings were used by Sunshine Coast Council and City of Moreton Bay to shape their economic development strategies, positioning entrepreneurship and innovation as key priorities. For example, Sunshine Coast Council used the ecosystem map and entrepreneurial personas developed to guide over $3 million in policy decisions, and to launch support programs for youth, migrants, and small businesses, benefiting thousands of participants. The City of Moreton Bay used the findings to enhance its investment campaigns and business engagement efforts, resulting in a measurable improvement in its entrepreneurial reputation.

The research also contributed to the creation of the Sunshine Coast Regional Innovation Project Team (SCRIPT), a $1 million collaboration involving 31 partners. SCRIPT supported 53 projects and events, created 76 jobs, and helped raise the region’s innovation profile nationally and internationally. By 2020, 52 percent of local businesses reported implementing new innovations, and collaboration among businesses increased significantly.

The program’s ecosystem benchmarking and leadership training brought together 14 partner organisations and supported 95 regional leaders. These leaders implemented initiatives such as climate-focused tech hubs, innovation programs for accountants, and community wellness centres offering employment and enterprise support.

Overall, the research has advanced understanding of how regional entrepreneurship ecosystems function and how they can be strengthened. It has informed policy, supported local innovation, and helped position regional Queensland as a vibrant and resilient hub for entrepreneurial growth.

Stories of Country Women: Leadership, livelihoods and legacy in rural Australia

Stories of Country Women is a research theme led by Dr Sarah Casey to highlight the experiences and resilience of rural women in Australia. Rural or country women often face significant challenges due to environmental pressures like drought, geographical isolation and socio-economic inequality, but despite their vital roles in sustaining families, businesses, and communities, their stories are frequently overlooked in mainstream narratives, which tend to focus on the experiences of rural men.
To address this gap, the research program developed a series of community-informed and co-designed initiatives aimed at empowering women in climate-vulnerable regions. These initiatives provided practical tools to build resilience, economic independence, and leadership skills. The program unfolded through four interconnected projects:

1. Real Stories of Country Women shared personal accounts from women in drought-affected areas of South-West Queensland, including Murweh, Maranoa, and Paroo Shires. Funded by AGL Energy Ltd and Lifeline Darling Downs, this project gave visibility to women’s lived experiences and coping strategies.
2. Real Rural Digital Solutions was supported by the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) and local NGO Care Balonne. Recognising that digital skills are essential for economic resilience in rural communities, it focused on improving digital literacy and business communication across the Balonne Shire. 
3. Real Rural Women’s Leadership, also funded by DAWE and Care Balonne, helped women develop strategic communication, business management, and leadership skills, especially for those leading in informal or community roles.
4. Livelihood Diversity as a Strategy for Coping with Climate Change compared entrepreneurial practices of rural women in Australia and Fiji. In partnership with UniSC’s Sustainability Research Centre, this international collaboration fostered shared learning and highlighted how women adapt to climate-driven economic challenges.

These projects used innovative storytelling methods, including 17 micro-documentaries and a podcast series, to share women’s experiences. Stories were hosted on a dedicated website and shared across social media platforms, reaching over 40,000 viewers and building a community of more than 2,250 followers. The podcast series, featuring 30 episodes with diverse women leaders, attracted over 7,000 downloads across six countries, demonstrating global interest in rural women’s leadership.

To further support women, the project delivered 16 workshops in accessible community venues, engaging 147 participants in training on digital skills, leadership, and business development. Over 80 women continued with personalised mentoring, helping them stay and lead in their communities. Some participants launched new businesses or expanded their online presence as a direct result of the program.

The initiative also created two permanent digital repositories, hosted by Care Balonne and local councils, offering resources for business development, leadership, and digital skills. These repositories ensure the project’s impact continues beyond its completion, supporting ongoing growth and resilience among rural women.

Ultimately, Stories of Country Women has reshaped how rural women are seen and supported, offering a powerful counter-narrative to traditional portrayals and creating lasting tools for empowerment and leadership.

(L to R): Associate Professor Gail Crimmins, Dr Sarah Casey and Associate Professor Saskia de Klerk.

Resources

Download the report (PDF)