Business School Brief
August 2021
Message from the Dean
Welcome to the all-new format of Business School Brief. I'm very pleased to share with you the latest news, stories and upcoming events.Highlights in this issue include research showing that customers crave less choice when shopping, insight on how to get Gen Z votes and a UWA Business School grad named Western Australian of the Year.
Our alumni continue to play a key role in recruitment, student experience and governance activities, including the UWA Open Day Careers in Business alumni panel in March and the inaugural UWA Business School Alumni Career Café in April. Both events saw alumni return to campus to share career experiences and tips with prospective or current students – demonstrating the power of our degrees to build lives and careers with impact.
The year began with two great success stories that truly show the breadth and value of the Business School on campus and in our state. We announced that former National Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, had joined the School in an Honorary position and we celebrated the success of the National Indigenous Summer School program – a transformative week for 25 young Indigenous women and men who took their first steps in understanding where a business education might take them.
UWA Public Policy Institute (UWA PPI) has moved to a new home in the Business School. The Institute’s remit is to provide informed leadership by maximising the policy impact of UWA research in Western Australia, Australia and the Indian Ocean region. Any alumni interested in the Institute’s work can visit UWA Public Policy Institute to find details of their fascinating public events series.
Graduation ceremonies in July saw over 500 new graduates join our Business School alumni community. It was wonderful to finally be able to celebrate in person with our 2020 and 2021 graduates, their families and friends.
Professor Peter Robertson
Dean of the UWA Business School
News and research
Former Finance Minister Mathias Cormann appointed to UWA Business School
In January, Mathias Cormann, who had just been elected secretary general of the OECD, accepted an honorary Professorship at UWA Business School. In this new capacity, Adjunct Professor Cormann will contribute to the UWA Business School by guest speaking at MBA Masterclasses, giving special lectures in undergraduate and postgraduate courses and offering support to academic researchers.
Research shows customers crave simpler experiences
New research from UWA Business School’s Dr Richard Gruner and Professor Geoff Soutar shows consumers crave less choice and simpler experiences despite companies offering more options, promotions and price fluctuations than ever.
The review article, published in International Journal of Management, found that bringing down customers’ mental load across the retail journey creates value for customers as well as companies.
Visionary philanthropist Stan Perron AC recognised with UWA lecture theatre
In recognition of his passion, vision and philanthropic support for a range of charitable causes, academic prizes and scholarships – including many related to the health and wellbeing of Western Australian children – the UWA Business School has named a lecture theatre in honour of Stan Perron AC.
Renowned for his commitment to ethical business practice and philanthropy, over his lifetime, Stan Perron built Perron Group – one of Australia’s most successful private companies. Growing up in the depression-era Goldfields of Western Australia, Mr Perron is the epitome of a rags-to-riches story.
Economics researcher on a mission to improve community wellbeing
The research impact of UWA’s first female Economics professor, Professor Anu Rammohan, stretches across the world: from childcare policy in Australia to food and nutrition security in Myanmar.
She’s delighted that UWA was recently successful in securing additional Australia Awards funding, which will allow five Indonesian students to study economics and public policy at the University. New articulation agreements are also in train, which will allow international students to cross credit their studies at top international universities into degrees at UWA. – and in some cases, even study UWA degrees wholly online.
Want Gen Z votes? Use social media to create intimacy
The last federal election showed low voter turnouts in Australia’s youngest electorates, despite a record level of young voter enrolments. This suggests a high level of dissatisfaction with democracy among younger voters, who are more likely to engage in non-electoral, issue-based and networked forms of political participation. Those born after the mid-1990s (termed Generation Zs) comprise around 10 per cent of the Australian voters.
Research by the UWA Business School shows that social media provides ideal avenues to build voter relationships and there are many ways of increasing its effectiveness.
Leading businessman named Western Australian of the Year
Telethon chair and graduate of The University of Western Australia, Richard Goyder AO, has been named Western Australian of the Year for his commitment to philanthropy at the 2021 Western Australian of the Year awards.
Mr Goyder, who graduated from UWA with a Bachelor of Commerce, chairs the WA Symphony Orchestra, Qantas, Woodside, the Australian Football League and diabetes not-for-profit JDRF and served many years as a UWA Business School Advisory Board member.
Recent events
MBA Mentoring Program Launch
The UWA Business School’s MBA Mentoring Program Launch in May was a Who’s Who of WA business community’s senior leadership and showed, in real terms, how our alumni community supports our students through in their leadership journeys. An inspiring event with many takeaways, including the mutually beneficial nature of mentoring.
2021 UWA Business School Prize Giving Ceremony
On Wednesday 4 August, we hosted the 2021 UWA Business School Prize Giving Ceremony to acknowledge the academic achievements of our exceptional student community and continued contribution and support of our generous donors. The light breakfast event held in the UWA Business School foyer gave our students the chance to celebrate their achievements with their award donor and share their UWA student journey and plans for post-graduation.
UWA Business School Alumni Career Café
At the inaugural UWA Business School Alumni Career Café in April, alumni returned to campus en masse, to share career experiences and tips with current students, helping them to build their own career strategies.
Careers in Business at UWA Open Day
UWA Open Day in March, where graduates shared their study and career stories at a special Careers in Business panel for prospective students and their families, demonstrating the power of our degrees to build lives and careers with impact.
The Annual Shann Memorial Lecture
In May, the Annual Shann Memorial Lecture welcomed Guy Debelle, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), for a webinar discussion about the RBA’s monetary policy During COVID. Specifically, Mr Debelle spoke to the actions taken over the past year and the impact they are having on the Australian economy and financial markets. The Shann attracted extensive media coverage and added to the long history of distinguished speakers including many RBA Governors. You can watch, or listen to, the discussion on the RBA website.
Upcoming UWA Business School events
- GMA - The Black Tie Event
- Contemporary Issues in Family Business Annual Lecture 2021
- 2021 Asia-Pacific Family Business Symposium
- Contemporary Issues in PRME
- UWA Strategy and Leadership Forum
Alumni stories
The global perspective of Handi Kurniawan MBA ’07

Group Head of Leadership & Academies Learning – GHR, Jardine Matheson, Author and UWA Hong Kong Alumni Network Ambassador
“Since UWA, I worked and lived in seven countries in the span of 20 years. Working in global, multinational companies give me great opportunities to experience working and collaborating with people from different cultures.”
Handi Kurniawan has extensive global experience as a human resource executive at General Electric, Standard Chartered Bank, Sinar Mas and Jardine Matheson, having been based in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei and the United States. He is the author of a bestselling career book in Indonesia, Go Global – Guide to a successful international career, and three other books, Global Career and The Brain Master, Great Advice published by Gramedia, a leading publisher in Indonesia.
Through the social impact lens with Rebecca Kais GradCertSocImp '16
Philanthropy Manager at PICA specialising in arts management, social impact and fundraising
“Since graduating from UWA I’ve been pursuing opportunities that exist at the intersection of arts management and social impact. Philanthropy is a powerful tool for achieving social impact through the arts and in my current role at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) I work with our supporters to make this happen.”
Rebecca Kais is an arts manager who approaches her work through a social impact lens. She has diverse experience across a 10-year career and is currently working in the role of Philanthropy Manager at PICA, specialising in arts management, social impact and fundraising. Read more.
For the love of sports (marketing) with Hayley Hamp BCom '15, MMktg '18
Marketing Communications Coordinator at Collingwood Football Club
“Working in marketing, I essentially service the rest of the business in all promotional efforts. For me, the most interesting part is learning from people in these different areas of the business, such as Partnerships or Community, and how they are integral to the success of a large sports club like Collingwood.”
Hayley Hamp completed Bachelor of Commerce - Marketing and Business Law in 2015 and Master of Marketing in 2017 before moving to Melbourne to work as Marketing Communications Coordinator for the Collingwood Football Club.
IN MEMORIAM
Vale Mike Goldstein, who passed away in early February 2021 - one of a very small group of academics who taught the first MBA cohort right back in 1973, so was well known to our older alumni. Mike was also a Head of Department for the Management discipline in the 1980’s.
Get involved
The goal of the Graduate Management Association (GMA) of UWA is to accelerate its members’ professional growth by creating infinite links to opportunity. Any alumni with a postgraduate degree from the Business School can join, and can network and share their collective knowledge at a range of events. In 2021, these include the prestigious Annual Black-Tie Dinner (Saturday 11 September), plus ongoing Odd Dozen Breakfasts. For queries on membership or to attend events, please email admin@gmauwa.com.au or visit gmauwa.com.au
Mentor a UWA grad
Alumni Mentor Link (AML) matches alumni with their alumni peers, providing an opportunity for shared industry knowledge, learning experiences, personal development, career transitions, and mutual learning, to benefit from the knowledge and career experience of their mentors. Help build an interdependent UWA alumni community and become a mentor for a grad today. Register your interest to take part in a pilot program that will impact grads locally and globally.