Professor Keryn Chalmers has been appointed the next President of the Australian Business Deans Council, the peak body of Australia’s university business schools.

Professor Chalmers has been ABDC Treasurer since 2016 and is currently Dean of the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship at Swinburne University of Technology.

In late February, she will take over the ABDC Presidency from Professor David Grant, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Business) at Griffith University, who has served in the role since February 2019.

Professor Chalmers will further the ABDC’s advocacy role by strengthening the Council’s links with industry and government.

‘An immediate issue for our members is to support the return to on-campus learning for our domestic students and now, as border restrictions ease, for our international students,’ she says.

‘Prior to the pandemic, ABDC member business schools graduated almost half of Australia’s international students. We will continue to rebuild and contribute strongly to international education, the nation’s largest services export.’

Business Schools Stepping Up to Meet Critical Challenges

‘Business education can and should make a positive contribution to social and environmental challenges,’ Professor Chalmers says.

‘The ABDC is currently conducting research to inform co-ordination of business school responses to climate change in curriculum and research. Business schools are also working together to increase the representation of Indigenous students in business education.

‘All of these efforts will continue during my term as ABDC President,’ she says.

In congratulating Professor Chalmers on her appointment, outgoing ABDC President David Grant said: ‘Professor Chalmers is a highly regarded financial accounting and financial reporting scholar with extensive leadership and governance experience and a fantastic track record as Dean of Swinburne Business School. She brings to the role strong links to industry and professional bodies, which will be an asset to the Council.’

Professor Chalmers is also President of the International Association for Accounting Education and Research (IAAER). She was previously the Australian President of the Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ); Deputy Dean of Monash Business School (2012-2016); and Head of the Department of Accounting and Finance at Monash University (2018-2012).