About the centre
COCA focuses on sustainable solutions for key commercial and societal challenges within the context of globalisation, climate change, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and other trends. We embed our research with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as we seek to engage in impactful research. Our practice-informed research approach spans research topics from finance and global project management, global supply and value to leadership, business systems and organisational behaviour.
Professor Roslyn Cameron, Centre Director
Professor Cameron is Co-Convenor of the Mixed Methods Research Special Interest Group of Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management, a Board Member of Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA), and a member of the Australian Human Resource Institute Advisory Research Panel in Australia. She has been awarded research grants for research into workforce development, skilled migration, workforce employability and the future of work. Professor Cameron leads our Human Resource Management cluster.
Contact Professor Ros Cameron for project partnerships or to learn more about our research centre.
Explore our areas of research
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Banking, Financial Services and Insurance and AccountingOur research provides a holistic view for “big picture” insights from research at the front end through to deployment in practice. Contributions towards financial and accounting innovation that is beneficial to society as well as research methodologies. Focus areas include applications in Smart Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Algorithms (STARA), qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research, and primary, secondary and systematic data reviews.
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Business Information SystemsActing as the conduit between Information Technology and Business, these are large and encompassing topics reflected in the diverse nature of this cluster. Our research ranges from highly technical fields, including machine learning and analytics through to the business impact of new technologies, strategies and transformation and focusses on cybersecurity, women and diversity in STEM, business analytics, and digital transformation.
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Tourism and Hospitality Research and PracticeThis cluster focuses on contemporary experiences in tourism, hospitality and related service and business industries, including current and emerging challenges affecting the industries globally and in Australia. Foci include the sustainable design, delivery and management of places and destinations, contemporary travel experiences through technology, leadership, education and skill development for the workforce of the future.
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Human Resource ManagementFocused on the impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and associated digital technologies on industry and people including skills and competencies needed of professions, and the impacts of these technologies on the future of work. Foci include impact of Smart technology, Artificial intelligence, Robotics and Algorithms (STARA) on the future of work, skilled migration and regional sustainability, and leadership and management development.
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Project ManagementCreating research synergies from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives to address emerging and future challenges for industry projects and project management in Industry 4.0, with a focus on construction projection management, strategic project management, and complexity and systems thinking in project management.
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African Business StudiesOur vision is a thriving African business research environment that realises opportunities for the benefit of Africa, Africans and the world at large, guided by the UN Sustainable Development goals. Our mission is to conduct multi-disciplinary research and help capacity building to address African business issues in striving for a better future. Key research areas include Models for Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship; Markets and Finance; Technology, Innovation and Business and; Education and Capacity Building.
Discover our live projects
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AHRI HR Digital CompetenciesExploring digital competencies required of Human Resources Management professionals with increasing use of AI and associated technologies and impacts on the future of work. We explore the HR strategies and functions most likely to be affected in the 4IR digital age, the competencies and capabilities required by future HR professionals to better undertake these changing functions, and associated curriculum needs for HR professional education.
HR Professional Bodies Responses to CrisisIn partnership with Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (UK Charter) and Institute for Human Resource Professionals (Singapore Charter).
Local Government Workforces: Attraction, development, and retentionExploring key challenges, enablers, and innovative strategies for attracting, developing, and retaining regional local government workforces and developing a comprehensive strategy and action plan for attracting, developing, and retaining local government workforces in regional South Australia. Legatus Project Advisory Committee.
Discover our partners
Our partnerships are national and international with organisations that align with our Be Good Principles. Partnerships are developed at an individual, group, centre and institutional level and align with our university research themes and build our reputation and profile.
Our partnerships are national and international with organisations that align with our Be Good Principles. Partnerships are developed at an individual, group, centre and institutional level and align with our university research themes and build our reputation and profile.
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LegatusLegatus Group is the peak regional local government organisation focusing on the wealth, wellbeing and social cohesion of its communities via sustainable productive landscapes and the natural environments and representing 15 local government areas in regional South Australia. Torrens University Australia partners with Legatus to study the local government workforce and their needs in regional South Australia.
CPA AustraliaCPA Australia is one of the world's largest accounting bodies with over 168,000 members in over 100 countries. Core services are provided to members including education, training, technical support and advocacy. The research project also provided benefits to the wider business community.
Association for Strategic ProfessionalsThe Association for Strategic Planning (or ASP) is a non-profit professional association setting global standards for strategic planning and management through thought leadership, professional development and certification.
Discover our partners
Our partnerships are national and international with organisations that align with our Be Good Principles. Partnerships are developed at an individual, group, centre and institutional level and align with our university research themes and build our reputation and profile.
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Legatus
Legatus Group is the peak regional local government organisation focusing on the wealth, wellbeing and social cohesion of its communities via sustainable productive landscapes and the natural environments and representing 15 local government areas in regional South Australia. Torrens University Australia partners with Legatus to study the local government workforce and their needs in regional South Australia.
CPA AustraliaCPA Australia is one of the world's largest accounting bodies with over 168,000 members in over 100 countries. Core services are provided to members including education, training, technical support and advocacy. The research project also provided benefits to the wider business community.
Association for Strategic ProfessionalsThe Association for Strategic Planning (or ASP) is a non-profit professional association setting global standards for strategic planning and management through thought leadership, professional development and certification.
Meet our researchers
Professor Burgess has received numerous Discovery, Linkage, and International ARC grants and is a grant reviewer for national and
Dr Scerri is a senior lecturer and research fellow at Torrens University whose research focuses on service communication dynamics for the
Dr Dumrak’s research interests include complexity and resilience in project management, systems thinking, project
Dr Herrmann is an adjunct professor in the Australian Graduate School of Leadership at Torrens University. He is a member of scientific
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Dr Masawi has a PhD in Finance and is a researcher and lecturer in economics and finance at Torrens University. His professional experience
Dr Islam’s research interests include governance, upgrading, value co-creation, resilience, innovation and sustainability in global
Dr Lee is a senior learning facilitator and a passionate researcher at Torrens University whose research interests include the tourist
Dr Reynolds is Program Director (Accounting) at Torrens University whose research focuses on Fourth Industrial Revolution accounting industry
Dr Hayden McDonald
Dr McDonald, an early-career Research Fellow within Torrens University's COCA, is in the process of developing a strong research profile
Professor London is Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at Torrens University Australia. She has published more than 200 peer reviewed
Professor Harper came to academe after a successful consulting career. He leads a team of Associate Deans, Program Directors in the Business and
Dr Arezou Pour Mirza
Dr Pour Mirza specialises in Business Analytics, Information Systems and is the first Australian female academic who holds the MIT University’s More
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Adjunct Professor Nankervis has over 30 years experience as an academic at WSU, Curtin and RMIT; teaching and research experience at
Dr Pablo is a multidisciplinary researcher who uses interpretivist approaches, qualitative techniques and theories of socio-materiality,
Dr Ahsan specialises in the field of Business and Technology and has extensive managerial and technical experience. Over the years, he had the
Professor Khoo’s research focuses on advancing diversity and equality in tourism. She is Editor-in-Chief of Tourism Management
Dr Neda Azizi
Dr Azizi is a lecturer in business information systems at Torrens University. Neda has been active as a project management
Dr Chatteur (née Kerr) is a senior lecturer, HDR director and ERA co-ordinator for Torrens University. Research interests include machine
Emeritus Professor Anneke Fitzgerald has over 20 years experience in the health industry as a nurse and health services manager.
With industry, teaching and research experience since 1988, Associate Professor Pawson is an academic leader, strategist, motivator and social justice advocate.
Kim Nelson-Miles is a Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead for the Tourism and Hospitality undergraduate programs.
Dr Newham has been researching for over two decades, initially part-time while working as a senior manager in the Victorian Public Service and then leaving to be a full-time academic.
Research stories
Learn more about some of impactful projects and partners at Torrens University's Centre for
Organisational Agility and Change.
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Closing the First Nations employment gap will take 100 yearsIn 2008 Australia’s federal, state and territory governments set the goal of halving the employment gap between First Nations Australians and others within a decade. So how are things going? Not well according to researcher Dr Hayden McDonald.
Researcher Spotlight - Laura Leigh on entrepreneurial resilience in disaster managementGlobal climate change forecasts predict the increased frequency of natural disasters, and entrepreneurs are first movers in the post-disaster recovery process.
Research that Matters PodcastA 9-part podcast series featuring researchers from Torrens University Australia, who are working towards solving complex global problems and propelling innovation.
