Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 ABDC Network Awards. The awards recognise and reward innovation and excellence across all areas of activity within ABDC member business schools — professional management, international education, teaching and learning, and research.
ABDC Award for Innovation and Excellence in International Education
This award is for initiatives in ABDC member business schools that have enhanced outcomes or improved practice in inbound, outbound or collaborative international education. They may relate to student recruitment, student mobility and research/teaching and learning partnerships with institutions overseas.

Overall winner
Andrea Haefner — Lecturer & Director of Griffith Asia Business Internship (GABI) Griffith University
For leading the Griffith Asia Business Internship, an interdisciplinary, global work integrated learning course, and pivoting to a remote offering in 2020-21.
ABDC Award for Innovation and Excellence in Research
This award is for research in business, management, economics, and related fields of research that has had a demonstrable impact on scholarship and/or practice among non-academic stakeholders.

Overall winner
Alexander Newman — Professor of Management, Deakin University
Team members:
- Karen Dunwoodie
- Luke Macaulay
- Jo Ingold
For Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education (CREATE), which helps people from a refugee background rebuild their careers through access to education and meaningful employment.
Highly commended
Michelle Evans — Associate Professor, University of Melbourne
Team members:
- Cain Polidano
- Julie Moschion
- Marcia Langton
For I-BLADE (Indigenous Business Longitudinal Analysis Data Environment), a partnership between government, data custodians and researchers to measure the significant economic, social, and cultural contributions to Australia made by Indigenous businesses.
ABDC Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning
The ABDC Award for Teaching and Learning recognises Australia’s most outstanding university teachers in ABDC member business schools who have demonstrated leadership through sustained commitment to L&T innovation, quality teaching, and sustained dedication to improve the student experience and learning outcomes in higher education.

Overall winner
James Wakefield — Senior Lecturer, UTS
Team members:
- Kristina Vojvoda
- Raechel Wight
For utilising technology to facilitate active, collaborative student learning in UTS’ compulsory, first-year accounting course.
Highly commended
Nicolas Pontes — Lecturer, The University of Queensland
For Newish Communications, the first student-run and 100% student managed communications agency in Australia.
ABDC Award for Innovation and Excellence in Professional Management
This award recognises initiatives that demonstrably improve the efficient management of ABDC member business schools.

Overall winner
CBLG Trimester Project team — James Cook University (award accepted by Kym Davis)
For the design and implementation of a trimester teaching timetable across JCU Australia tropical campuses and partner locations in Singapore and Brisbane.
Highly commended
Colin Picker — Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong
Team members:
- Sue Mathews
- Erin Snape
- Michael Grainger
For two COVID-19 response initiatives for international students: Food+ with Care, and RUOK call campaign.