UNSW Business School

13/10/2026

This year’s 2026 Bill Birkett Memorial Lecture will explore what accounting measures, what we value, and what accounting could become, drawing on First Nations perspectives to consider the profession’s potential to drive meaningful societal change.

The keynote speaker, Shelley Cable CPA, Head of First Nations Strategy, Australia at ANZ and former CEO of Generation One at Minderoo Foundation, will draw on her Nyoongar heritage and professional experience to challenge traditional ideas about value and the role of accounting in society.

Hosted by the UNSW School of Accounting, Auditing and Taxation in partnership with CPA Australia, join us at 12-Micron, Barangaroo, Sydney on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. Register here:

What are we really accounting for? Rethinking Accounting Through A First Nations Lens

13/10/2026

Want to Meet the CEO?

Mark Arbib (UNSW MA '94, BA '93), Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Olympic Committee, joins us for our next Meet the CEO event on Thursday, 5 November in Sydney.

In conversation with Professor Paul Andon, Dean of UNSW Business School, Mark will share insights from his career leading high-performing organisations across sport, government and business. He will also discuss preparing Australian teams for LA 2028 and laying the groundwork for Brisbane 2032.

Registration is a must. Join us for Meet the CEO at the State Library of New South Wales from 6:30 pm. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/meet-the-ceo-mark-arbib-tickets-1998940046489?aff=Socials

12/10/2026

What happens when an AI system behaves in a way its developers never expected? Recent research suggests responsible AI requires more than safety checks before launch, with companies needing to continually identify and respond to risks as technology evolves.

Professor Tania Bucic, School of Marketing, UNSW Business School, said: “A model can pass every pre-release evaluation and still behave in unexpected ways once it is given tools, connected to real systems and deployed by millions of users.”

The research identifies four capabilities businesses can build into everyday decision-making: anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion and responsiveness. Together, they can help companies identify emerging risks, respond when things go wrong and build trust as new technologies reach the market.

Read the full UNSW article here:

As AI systems keep breaching their own safeguards, UNSW research details the capabilities and competencies technology companies need to mitigate risks and innovate responsibly.

09/10/2026

Taking business beyond the classroom and all the way to Seoul. 🇰🇷🌏

As part of the Global Business Practicum, UNSW Business School students travelled to Seoul to tackle real-world business challenges, experience Korean culture and connect with industry and UNSW alumni.

A pretty great way to put your degree into practice. 👏

08/10/2026

If we lean on AI for everything, will we lose the ability to think for ourselves?

Professor Paul Andon, Dean, UNSW Business School, says the answer is simple but not easy: think first, act next.

On the new The Business of AI Explained podcast, Paul says that before opening an AI tool, it is important to think through what you want to achieve, what you already know and how you will get there. The antidote to cognitive decline is not avoiding AI, but using your own judgement first.

Watch the full episode with guest host, Fahim Khondaker, Partner in Data and AI at BDO and Professor of Practice at UNSW: https://youtu.be/8mecAwj06wg

28/09/2026

“People are going to fall for deepfakes over and over again, no matter how advanced your technical defences are, or how much education you provide to your people in the company," says Associate Professor Eric Lim, School of Information Systems and Technology Management, UNSW Business School. "I guarantee that they will happen again. It’s a never-ending war. So, where do you start?”

Deepfakes threaten organisational reputation, brand credibility and consumer trust, says Prof. Lim. In this episode of The Business Of, he explores the limitations of detection tools, the importance of building a culture of authenticity and why individuals are the strongest line of defence.

Listen to The Business Of Deepfakes: https://pod.fo/e/42d417

24/09/2026

Would you rather pay 20% less for a product, or pay the same price for 25% more? New research found that age can influence this choice, with older shoppers less likely to choose an extra product over an immediate saving.

“For older customer segments, immediate price discounts may be more effective because the financial benefit is realised at the point of purchase," says Dr Sophie Fan, School of Marketing, UNSW Business School.

Offering extra products separately or framing choice around sharing and gifting can make bulk promotions more appealing to older shoppers and help retailers rethink how they provide value.

Read the full article here: https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/articles/marketing-to-older-consumers-volume-promotions

23/09/2026

UNSW Business School has ranked 14th globally in the 2027 QS Master's in Finance Rankings.

This is the first year UNSW Business School has been included in the ranking, following the launch of its Master of Finance in 2026. UNSW scored above the global average across all five ranking categories: alumni outcomes, employability, thought leadership, diversity and value for money.

With an overall score of 90.4 out of 100, UNSW also ranked 11th globally for alumni outcomes, reflecting the impact of its graduates, and 16th for employability, based on its reputation among global employers.

The ranking reflects UNSW’s continued focus on finance education, research and industry relevance.

22/09/2026

“AI is a wonderful technology, but you’re the best people to solve your business problems," says Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute. "I always say to people, 'There’s no AI problem, there’s a business problem,' and AI might be a tool that helps you solve that problem.”

Prof. Walsh discusses how AI is reshaping work, the skills it is unlikely to replace and why businesses should invest in an AI-literate workforce. In this episode of The Business Of, he also discusses the risks of agentic AI, the importance of human oversight and how organisations can use AI to improve their products and services.

Listen to The Business Of Jobs and AI: https://pod.fo/e/420782

21/09/2026

Safe Work Australia recorded 188 workplace fatalities in 2024. While workplace safety has improved over the past two decades, production pressure, inadequate risk assessments, and workers who feel they are unable to raise concerns are risks that contribute to workplace deaths.

Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan, School of Management and Governance, UNSW Business School, says working conditions (such as pay) can also influence workplace safety. “You can’t have a safe workplace if you’re not giving people decent pay. If they don’t get decent pay, they will either work too many hours or they’ll find other ways of cutting corners, which can harm safety or their own health," he says.

As gig work, automation and AI change how Australians work, Prof. Quinlan says employers need to assess risks before new work systems are introduced, while ensuring workers are paid correctly, receive adequate training, and have a genuine voice when it comes to their safety.

Read the full UNSW article here:

New forms of work are creating fresh safety risks, but the failures behind workplace deaths remain stubbornly familiar, says UNSW expert Professor Michael Quinlan.