After 10 years in the property industry I completed a Master of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship comprising time in Germany studying the dynamics of European and international business.
With funding from the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) and Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) Bright Futures scholarship scheme, I then completed my PhD investigating ways entrepreneurial family businesses can be sustained across generations. I won an international research proposal award (IFERA and FBN-I) in recognition of my focus on sustaining entrepreneurial family businesses across generations.
Building on my PhD research I received three years funding to investigate “Innovation in New Zealand’s Traditional Industries.” These include primary, engineering, manufacturing, and services, including science and technology suppliers to those industries. Through this research we understand more about the characteristics and innovation practices of firms in traditional industries; perceived barriers towards innovation; and how these firms access, develop and apply knowledge and competence.
I am also part of the National Science Challenge: Science for Technological Innovation, Kia Kotahi Mai: Te Ao Pūtaiao me Te Ao Hangarau, investigating ‘Building New Zealand’s Innovation Capacity‘. This research programme tackles two big weaknesses in the New Zealand innovation system – human capacity (people and skills) and relational capacity (the network between researchers and industry).
___________________________Résumé
Academic positions
2017-present – National Science Challenge: Science for Technological Innovation (0.1-0.2 FTE appointment)
Longitudinal Researcher for Spearhead One: Building New Zealand’s Innovation Capacity
2016-present – Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
2017-present – Senior Lecturer, International Business, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship department; 2016-2017 – Lecturer, Management Department
2009-2016 – University of Auckland
2013-2016 – Post-doctoral Research Fellow; Wine Science programme (between 2012 and 2017); 2012-2015 – Professional Teaching Fellow; 2009-2010 – Graduate Teaching Assistant (part-time); 2007-2012 – PhD candidate
2002-2015 – Unitec Institute of Technology (part-time)
2005-2015 – Lecturer in Quantity Surveying; 2006-2009 – Lecturer in Business; 2004-2008 – Research Associate
Industry positions
2000-2002 – Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd (now Beca)
Cost Engineer
2000-2001 – Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (now Deloitte.)
Quantity Surveyor advisor to liquidators of Goodall ABL
1999-2000 – Goodall ABL Construction Ltd
Project Quantity Surveyor
1993-1999 – Knapman Clark (now Davis Langdon an AECOM Company)
Construction Cost Consultant
Governance positions
2024-present – Vaughan Park Retreat Centre
Trust Board member: A partnership resource of the Diocese of Auckland and Te Pihopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau.
2022-present – Anglican Diocese of Auckland
Diocesan Council member: The Diocesan Council is responsible for the governance of the diocese between sessions of Synod. It deals with property, legal, financial, and strategic matters, partnerships with other tikanga and relationships with other diocesan bodies.
2022-present – St Paul’s Anglican Symonds Street
Vestry: As the governing body of St Pauls, the Vestry deals with property, legal, financial, and health and safety matters.
2019-present – International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA)
Board member: The IFERA Board has the overall responsibility of charting the development of the organization and managing its research initiatives. These responsibilities include financial and strategic matters, partnerships, conferences.
1994-2003 – Lebanese Society of Auckland Incorporated
Various roles: 1994/1995 Treasurer; 1996/1997 Assistant Secretary; 1998–2000 Vice President; 2000–2003 President
1994-1999 – New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS)
Secretary/Advisory: Auckland branch board
Degrees
2007-2012 – PhD in Management
The University of Auckland, New Zealand
2002-2004 – Master of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MBIE)
Unitec Institute of Technology, New Zealand
2004-2004 – “Doing business in Europe” (completed extramurally during MBIE)
European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
1991-1999 – Diploma in Quantity Surveying
Carrington Polytechnic/Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, New Zealand
Professional Memberships
2023-present – Institute of Directors (IoD)
Associate member
1991-present – New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS):
Reg. QS, Associate (ANZIQS)
Certifications and CPD
2017-present – National Science Challenge capacity development/CPD
Science Leadership Programme: facilitated by Leadership Training Ltd
Stakeholder engagement: facilitated by the University of Auckland Business School
Governance: facilitated by the Angel Association NZ
Policy workshops: facilitated by FrankAdvice
Next Generation Directors workshop: facilitated by the Institute of Directors
2017 – Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE-39)
Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States (8 Jan 2017 – 12 Jan 2017)
2017 – Certificate of Wine (WSET 1)
New Zealand School of Food and Wine, Auckland, New Zealand
Affiliations and memberships
2020-present – Australasian Family Enterprise Research Network (AFERN)
2016-present – New Zealand Policy Research Institute (NZPRI)
Future of Work Research Group
Sustainability, Hope and Meaningful Work Research Group
2009-present – Family Business Network International (FBN)
2008-2016 – Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)
2007-present – Board member: International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA)
2002-2005 – Enactus (formerly Students in Free Enterprise, SIFE)
Winner of National SIFE Team Competition 2002
1993-present – Past President and Treasurer: Lebanese Society of Auckland Incorporated
1991-present – New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS): Registered Quantity Surveyor, Associate (ANZIQS)
1995-2002 – Auckland Branch board Advisory/Secretary
1995/2001 – NZIQS National Conference Committee
Ad hoc reviewing and editorial boards
Journal of Family Business Strategy – Editorial Board Member
Wine Business Journal – Editorial Board Member
Conference coordination
Manufacturing, Design, and Entrepreneurship (MaDE) conference (2019-2022)
Primary Innovation Workshop (with AgResearch) (2015)
Innovation in traditional industries PhD workshop (2014)
Forum for Markets and Marketing (FMM) (2012)
Academy of Wine Business Research Conference (AWBR) (2010)
Judging and other
Schlesinger Global – Family Enterprise Case Competition (vSG-FECC) Judge (2017-2022)
Head Judge for the AUT Venture Fund (2016)
AUT’s entrepreneurship and innovation competition steering committee (now X Challenge (2016-2017)
Informal research groups (University of Auckland Business School)Wine Business Research Group
Family Business Research Group
Spark Ideas Challenge Participant (now Velocity) (2009)
Youth Enterprise Scheme (YES) Judge, Onehunga High Business School (2008)
Post-graduate review committee, Master of International Communication, Unitec (2006)