Business School to host GMAA conference

Professor Michael Powell at top of table in a boardroom setting
Professor Michael Powell will welcome delegates to the annual GMAA Conference on Friday.

Griffith Business School will host the 2013 national conference of the Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA) on Friday (July 12).

The conference, at the South Bank campus of Griffith University, brings together leading academics from Australia’s top business schools, and current and future leaders from both government and industry.

The keynote address will be provided on Friday morning by Admiral Chris Barrie. Admiral Barrieis a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Navy who served as Chief of the Defence Forcefrom 1998 to 2002.

He will speak to the theme of this year’s conference: Governance and Ethics — Myth or Reality?

Admiral Barrie is the President of the Australian Crime Prevention Council. He has been awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and holds an MBA degree from Deakin University.

GMAA conducts a comprehensive annual 5-star rating of Australian University MBA courses. Griffith University’s MBA was among 10 MBA programs to receive a 5-star ranking in October, 2012. It was the 10th occasion Griffith secured the 5-star rating.

“Griffith Business School is very pleased to host this year’s conference,” Professor Michael Powell, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business), said.

“Governance and ethics is a critical issue for the future of business worldwide and is an appropriate theme for this year’s conference. Responsible leadership and sustainable business practice are now at the heart of the best MBA degree programs which prepare future business leaders for the road ahead.”

Professor Powell will join national GMAA president and Griffith alumnus, Philip Leitch, to welcome delegates to the conference.

Delegates will also hear presentations by Professor John Kane from Griffith’s School of Government and International Relations on ‘Rethinking Corporate Social Responsibility’ and from Associate Professor Gavin Nicholson, QUT, on ‘An Effective Board of Director’.

The chief executive officer of the Australian Institute of Management (Qld and NT) and Griffith MBA graduate, Vivienne Anthon, will also address delegates prior to lunch.

Professor Peter Steane from the Australian Catholic University will speak on ‘Business, Education and Ethics’ in the afternoon, followed by Dr Michael Segon, RMIT, who will discuss ‘Business and Ethical Practice: The increasing importance of Accreditation and MBA ranking’.

Established in 1997, GMAA is a national organisation that endeavours to promote the standing and value of MBA, DBA and other postgraduate qualifications. Among its objectives are the promotion of the standing of graduate schools of management in Australia and the enhancement of the value of graduate management qualifications in Australia.