Dr Katherine Christ is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting in UniSA Business. She is an expert in accounting for modern slavery risk and modern slavery risk management in business operations and supply chains. She is the founder of the recently formed South Australian Modern Slavery Research and Practitioner Network and regularly engages with multiple stakeholders on the topic of modern slavery. She has received funding from CPA Australia for the development of a Modern Slavery Compass for use by business and more recently from AFAANZ to investigate the role of gender in modern slavery reporting by business.
Katherine has a PhD in environmental accounting focusing on water management in the Australian wine industry as... Read more
About me
Dr Katherine Christ is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting in UniSA Business. She is an expert in accounting for modern slavery risk and modern slavery risk management in business operations and supply chains. She is the founder of the recently formed South Australian Modern Slavery Research and Practitioner Network and regularly engages with multiple stakeholders on the topic of modern slavery. She has received funding from CPA Australia for the development of a Modern Slavery Compass for use by business and more recently from AFAANZ to investigate the role of gender in modern slavery reporting by business.
Katherine has a PhD in environmental accounting focusing on water management in the Australian wine industry as well as a First Class Honours Degree in Commerce while also being a full member of CPA Australia. She has previously received funding from the Australian Grape and Wine Authority and her research has been published in high level international academic journals and professional publications such as Acuity Magazine, International Accountant, The Sustainability Report, Accountancy Futures and The Conversation. Katherine is committed to both the provision of high quality education to the students in her charge as well as undertaking research with real world impact.
Katherine's research has been recognised via the 2019 Emerald Literati Awards, as a finalist for the 2015 Carolyn Dexter Award (Academy of Management Annual Conference Award for Best International Paper), via an Honourable Mention for the 2015 NBS Research Impact on Practice Award, best paper nominations for both the 2015 Academy of Management and 2016 European Academy of Management Annual Conferences, various internal research awards and more recently as a nominee for the 2021 Themis Financial Crime Prevention Awards in the category of Combating Modern Slavery.
Katherine is interested in supervising HDR students who wish to undertake projects involving the following topics: modern slavery in business and corporate supply chains; sustainability accounting; environmental management accounting; and water accounting.
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 09/10/2023 |
Modern Slavery: Why it's every Australian's business , https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/modern-slavery-why-its-every-australians-business/ |
| 30/08/2023 |
How accountants can support their clients to end modern slavery, https://www.publicaccountant.com.au/features/how-accountants-can-support-their-clients-to-end-modern-slavery#:~:text=Integrated%20reporting%20that%20increases%20visibility,reporting%20is%20unlikely%20to%20do. |
| 01/07/2023 |
Modern slavery: injustice persists, https://intheblack-magazine.cpaaustralia.com.au/cpa-australia/intheblack-july-august-2023?pid=MzM336927&p=25&v=8.1 |
| 10/06/2023 |
Rejuvenation in Corporate Reporting for the next Decade, https://dailynews.lk/2023/06/10/features/305276/rejuvenation-corporate-reporting-next-decade |
| 31/05/2023 |
Australia’s modern slavery law is woefully inadequate – this is how we can hold companies accountable, https://theconversation.com/australias-modern-slavery-law-is-woefully-inadequate-this-is-how-we-can-hold-companies-accountable-206605 |
| 15/12/2021 |
One in five major Australian businesses failing reporting obligations on modern slavery, https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/22945-one-in-five-major-australian-businesses-failing-reporting-obligations-on-modern-slavery |
| 14/12/2021 |
Afternoons with Sonya Feldhoff, ABC Radio Adelaide, https://www.abc.net.au/radio/adelaide/programs/afternoons/afternoons/13666940 |
| 10/12/2021 |
Report: One in five Australian businesses still not prioritising modern slavery obligations, https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/report--one-in-five-australian-businesses-still-not-prioritising-modern-slavery-obligations.html |
| 02/12/2021 |
Bikinis at work rule linked to slavery, https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/shocking-cases-of-wage-theft-and-worker-exploitation-highlighted-in-parliamentary-report/news-story/1b6a633ef6e1373967914b4ead0e8722?btr=cd6a4884799da369af43ca8afac0c558 |
| 25/08/2021 |
Senate’s vote to ban slave-made imports shows the weakness of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act, https://theconversation.com/senates-vote-to-ban-slave-made-imports-shows-the-weakness-of-australias-modern-slavery-act-166647 |
| 19/10/2020 |
Implementation of the SDGs, https://ajmsage.podbean.com/e/ajm-grand-challenges-talks-with-katherine-christ-and-roger-burritt/ |
| 09/10/2020 |
Modern Slavery and Accounting: Being Accountable, https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/being-accountable/id1505814548?i=1000495679107 |
| 01/07/2020 |
Why accountants play a lead role in supply chain management, https://www.intheblack.com/articles/2020/07/01/accountants-play-lead-role-supply-chain-management |
| 01/04/2020 |
Rooting out Slaver Labour from Supply Chains, https://www.fm-magazine.com/issues/2020/apr/rooting-out-forced-labour-from-supply-chains.html |
| 24/08/2018 |
Law passed to fight modern slavery, https://www.acuitymag.com/business/laws-passed-to-fight-modern-slavery |
| 15/12/2017 |
Moving towards an Australian Modern Slavery Act: What does it mean for Business?, http://www.thesustainabilityreport.com.au/moving-towards-australian-modern-slavery-act-mean-business/ |
| 21/08/2017 |
Modern slavery and how accountants can fight it, https://www.acuitymag.com/business/how-modern-slavery-impacts-big-brands-and-accountants |
| 06/07/2017 |
Business ed for an innovation age, http://campusmorningmail.com.au/uni-casuals-kept-in-the-cold/ |
| 09/06/2017 |
Extending Environmental Cost Accounting to the Supply Chain, http://www.ifac.org/global-knowledge-gateway/performance-financial-management/discussion/extending-environmental-cost |
| 19/05/2017 |
Removing Complicity in Modern Slavery?, http://www.thesustainabilityreport.com.au/removing-complicity-modern-slavery/ |
| 03/02/2017 |
Putting Sustainable Beef on the Table, http://www.thesustainabilityreport.com.au/9792-2/ |
| 25/10/2016 |
Get ready for the fourth industrial revolution, http://www.accaglobal.com/ubcs/en/member/accounting-business/2016/11-12/insights/industrial-revolution.html |
| 08/07/2016 |
What other industries can learn from the failures of greyhound racing, https://theconversation.com/what-other-industries-can-learn-from-the-failures-of-greyhound-racing-62217 |
| 26/02/2016 |
Uncorking the Economic and Environmental Benefits of Wine on Tap, http://www.thesustainabilityreport.com.au/8567-2/ |
| 08/02/2016 |
Wine exports are climbing, so why is the industry battling to survive?, http://theconversation.com/wine-exports-are-climbing-so-why-is-the-industry-battling-to-survive-53960 |
| 20/11/2015 |
Samarco mine costs will make for more than one ‘difficult year’ at BHP, https://theconversation.com/samarco-mine-costs-will-make-for-more-than-one-difficult-year-at-bhp-50961 |
| 13/11/2015 |
The water crisis and management: Implications for accountants in business, https://www.ifac.org/global-knowledge-gateway/sustainability/discussion/water-crisis-and-management-implications |
| 10/11/2015 |
How BHP and Vale now react to Brazilian dam failure will be critical, https://theconversation.com/how-bhp-and-vale-react-next-to-brazilian-dam-failure-will-be-critical-50405 |
| 23/08/2015 |
Waking up to the financial risk of water, http://www.accaglobal.com/ng/en/member/accounting-business/corporate/water-risk.html |
| 14/04/2015 |
Water and Australia’s wine industry, http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/article/water-and-australia-39-s-wine-industry-946515763 |
| 01/12/2014 |
Water accounting: a short-term drought?, https://charteredaccountantsanz.com/en/Site-Content/Business-Trends-Insights/Acuity/December-2014/Water-accounting-a-short-term-drought.aspx#.WCNAZq2JHIU |
| 10/11/2014 |
Environmental Economics, https://issuu.com/lexisnexisuk/docs/ia_novdec_issue_78_8aczskelelpjqmx |
| 25/09/2014 |
Women’s role in corporate sustainability, http://www.mq.edu.au/womens-conference/25-september-2014/ |
| 01/09/2014 |
Taking Water into Account, http://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/discover/ab-articles/business-management/taking-water.html |
| 01/08/2014 |
Failing to account for water lets business down, http://theconversation.com/failing-to-account-for-water-lets-business-down-29841 |
| 08/08/2013 |
Accountants: The Unlikely Environmentalists?, http://theconversation.com/accountants-the-unlikely-environmentalists-16040 |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy (Accounting) University of South Australia
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) University of South Australia
Bachelor of Commerce University of South Australia
CURRENT RESEARCH
Modern slavery; Environmental management accounting, Water management accounting, Water accounting, Material Flow Cost Accounting, Sustainability accounting.
HIGHLIGHTS
2023 - Visiting Research Fellow Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Germany
2022 - University of South Australia Business - Top Mid-Career Researcher Award
2022 - University of South Australia Business - Commendation for Research Excellence
2022 - Visiting Professor University of Brescia, Italy
2021 - University of South Australia Business - Commendation for Research Excellence
2021 - Nominated for a Themis Financial Crime Prevention Award in the category of Combating Modern Slavery.
2020 - UniSA Business - Top Early Career... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Gender-related disclosure in modern slavery statements in Australia, Accounting And Finance Association of Australia And New Zealand Limited, 07/07/2022 - 30/11/2023
Modern slavery compass - a new tool to point business in the right direction, CPA Australia, 01/02/2019 - 31/03/2020
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
5
|
| 2023 |
10
7
17
|
| 2023 |
8
7
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
60
50
6
|
| 2021 |
Open access
44
35
2
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
|
| 2022 |
Open access
10
|
| 2022 |
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2024 |
2
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
5
|
| 2024 |
1
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
3
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
20
14
1
|
| 2023 |
10
7
17
|
| 2023 |
8
7
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
16
14
|
| 2022 |
Open access
60
50
6
|
| 2021 |
19
18
|
| 2021 |
Open access
34
27
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
44
35
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
72
64
3
|
| 2020 |
Open access
34
27
3
|
| 2019 |
Open access
33
32
3
|
| 2019 |
Open access
49
38
7
|
| 2019 |
Open access
77
63
18
|
| 2019 |
Open access
16
14
|
| 2018 |
Open access
76
70
3
|
| 2018 |
Open access
26
|
| 2018 |
Open access
12
8
|
| 2018 |
Open access
19
15
|
| 2018 |
Open access
55
49
|
| 2017 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
29
21
|
| 2017 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
43
34
|
| 2017 |
Open access
22
15
|
| 2017 |
Open access
71
47
|
| 2017 |
Open access
26
21
|
| 2017 |
Open access
73
62
|
| 2017 |
Open access
18
12
|
| 2017 |
Open access
12
8
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
Open access
58
54
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2016 |
Open access
26
27
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
19
12
|
| 2014 |
91
81
|
| 2014 |
75
59
2
|
| 2013 |
220
181
|
| 2013 |
149
125
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
Open access
|
REFEREED CONFERENCE PAPERS
Research
CURRENT RESEARCH
Modern slavery; Environmental management accounting, Water management accounting, Water accounting, Material Flow Cost Accounting, Sustainability accounting.
HIGHLIGHTS
2023 - Visiting Research Fellow Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, Germany
2022 - University of South Australia Business - Top Mid-Career Researcher Award
2022 - University of South Australia Business - Commendation for Research Excellence
2022 - Visiting Professor University of Brescia, Italy
2021 - University of South Australia Business - Commendation for Research Excellence
2021 - Nominated for a Themis Financial Crime Prevention Award in the category of Combating Modern Slavery.
2020 - UniSA Business - Top Early Career Researcher Award
2020 - University of South Australia - Nominated for Best Early Career Researcher (University-wide Award)
2019 - Emerald Literati Awards - Highly Commended Recognition for the paper 'The Potential for ‘Boundary Spanning Organisations’ in Addressing the Research-Practice Gap in Sustainability Accounting’, published in Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal.
2019 - University of South Australia Business School - Certificate of Commendation for Research Excellence
2018 - University of South Australia Business School - Certificate of Commendation for Research Excellence
2017 - University of South Australia Business School - Certificate of Commendation for Research Excellence
2016 - European Academy of Management - Annual Conference Best Paper Nomination (All-Academy Award)
2015 - Academy of Management - Finalist for the Carolyn Dexter Award (All-Academy Award for Best International Paper – third from over 7,000 papers submitted)
2015 - Academy of Management - Annual Meeting Best Paper Acknowledgment (paper placed in the top 10% of submissions accepted for presentation in the Organizations & the Natural Environment Program)
2015 - Academy of Management ONE Division - Honourable Mention - NBS Research Impact on Practice Award for the paper ‘Bottling Location and the Global Wine Supply Chain: Dollar, Water and Carbon Trade-offs’
2023 - Member of the Federal Government’s Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (HTMS) Research Network, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra, Australia
2023 - South Australian Research and Practitioner Modern Slavery Network
2023 - Member of Modern Slavery Academic Advisory Board, Australian Universities Procurement Network
2022 - Founder of the South Australian Research and Practitioner Modern Slavery Network
2022 - Member of Modern Slavery Academic Advisory Board, Australian Universities Procurement Network
2021 - Member of the Financial Services Task and Finish Group for the UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group, United Kingdom.
2021 - Nominated for a Themis Financial Crime Prevention Award in the category of Combating Modern Slavery. Comment from the nominating manager: "Dr Christ is one of the world's few unique experts about the relationship between modern slavery and the accountancy profession. She is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the topic, and seeks to make her research as practicable as possible so that accountants can take it into their stride".
2018 - Member of the Scientific Committee for the EMAN - Asia Pacific Conference, 31st October to 3rd November, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
2016 - European Academy of Management - Annual Conference Best Paper Nomination (All-Academy Award)
2015 - Third out of over 7,000 papers submitted for the Carolyn Dexter Award. All Academy Award for Best International Paper - Academy of Management Annual Meeting
2015 - Honourable Mention - NBS Research Impact on Practice Award
2015 - Best Paper Nomination - Academy of Management Annual Meeting
2013-2015 Recipient of an Australian Grape and Wine Authority (previously the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation) PhD Scholarship
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Australian Institute of Business | AUSTRALIA |
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| Central Queensland University | AUSTRALIA |
| Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand | AUSTRALIA |
| Dresden University of Technology | GERMANY |
| Justus Liebig University Giessen | GERMANY |
| King’s College | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Leuphana University | GERMANY |
| Leuphana University Lüneburg | GERMANY |
| Macquarie University | AUSTRALIA |
| Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
| Toulouse Business School | FRANCE |
| TU Dresden | GERMANY |
| University of Edinburgh | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Kassel | GERMANY |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Zaragoza | SPAIN |
| Yokohama National University | JAPAN |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Academic of the YearAccountants Daily Australian Accounting Awards |
2024 |
Adelaide Young Women's Leadership ProgramZonta Club of Adelaide and Leaders Institute of South Australia |
2024 |
Audit Committee MemberVictor Harbor Horse Tram Authority |
2024 |
CPA Australia Full MemberCPA Australia |
2024 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Human Trafficking |
2024 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Behavioural Economics and Social Systems |
2024 |
Founding MemberSouth Australian Modern Slavery Research and Practitioner Network |
2024 |
Guest Editor - Special Issue on Accounting for Net ZeroAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) |
2024 |
Inquiry into the Customs Amendment (Preventing Child Labour) Bill 2023Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee |
2024 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Criminology, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (HTMS) Research Network |
2024 |
Member of the AUPN Modern Slavery Academic Advisory BoardAustralian Universities Procurement Network |
2024 |
Visiting ProfessorUniversity of Brescia |
2024 |
Audit Committee MemberVictor Harbor Horse Tram Authority |
2023 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Human Trafficking |
2023 |
Founding MemberSouth Australian Modern Slavery Research and Practitioner Network |
2023 |
Invited submission and witness for the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 [Provisions]Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee |
2023 |
MemberAustralian Institute of Criminology, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (HTMS) Research Network |
2023 |
MemberCPA Australia |
2023 |
Member of the AUPN Modern Slavery Academic Advisory BoardAustralian Universities Procurement Network |
2023 |
Plenary speakerAustralian Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research |
2023 |
Visiting ProfessorUniversity of Brescia |
2023 |
Visiting Research FellowTechnische Universität (TU) Dresden |
2023 |
Audit Committee MemberVictor Harbor Horse Tram Authority |
2022 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Human Trafficking |
2022 |
Federal Government Review of Modern Slavery Act 2018 SubmissionFederal Government of Australia |
2022 |
Founding MemberSouth Australian Modern Slavery Research and Practitioner Network |
2022 |
Guest EditorAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) |
2022 |
MemberCPA Australia |
2022 |
Member of the AUPN Modern Slavery Academic Advisory BoardAustralian Universities Procurement Network |
2022 |
Member of the Scientific Program CommitteeEnvironmental Management and Sustainability Accounting Network |
2022 |
Visiting ProfessorUniversity of Brescia |
2022 |
Editorial Board MemberJournal of Human Trafficking |
2021 |
Invited SpeakerSelect Committee on Wage Theft in South Australia, Legislative Council of South Australia |
2021 |
MemberFinancial Services Task and Finish Group for the UK Modern Slavery Training Delivery Group, United Kingdom |
2021 |
MemberCPA Australia |
2021 |
Guest Editor of Special Issue on the topic of Modern Slavery and the Accounting ProfessionBritish Accounting Review |
2020 |
Managing Guest Editor of Special Issue on Accounting for Modern Slavery, Employeees and Work Conditions in BusinessAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) |
2020 |
MemberCPA Australia |
2020 |
Nominee for the Combating Modern Slavery AwardThemis Ltd |
2020 |
Emerald Literati Awards - Highly Commended PaperEmerald Publishing Group |
2019 |
Guest Editor of Special Issue on the topic of Modern Slavery and the Accounting ProfessionBritish Accounting Review |
2019 |
Managing Guest Editor of Special Issue on Accounting for Modern Slavery, Employeees and Work Conditions in BusinessAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) |
2019 |
MemberCPA Australia |
2019 |
Guest Editor of Special Issue on the topic of Modern Slavery and the Accounting ProfessionBritish Accounting Review |
2018 |
Managing Guest Editor of Special Issue on Accounting for Modern Slavery, Employeees and Work Conditions in BusinessAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) |
2018 |
MemberCPA Australia |
2018 |
Member, Scientific CommitteeEnvironmental and Sustainability Management Accounting Network - Asia Pacific (EMAN-AP) Conference, Bangkok |
2018 |
Ad-Hoc ReviewerJournal of Cleaner Production |
2017 |
Ad-Hoc ReviewerAustralasian Journal of Environmental Management |
2017 |
Ad-Hoc ReviewerSupply Chain Management |
2017 |
Ad-Hoc ReviewerSustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal |
2017 |
Ad-Hoc ReviewerBritish Accounting Review |
2017 |
Managing Guest Editor of Special Issue on Accounting for Modern Slavery, Employees and Work Conditions in BusinessAccounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal (AAAJ) |
2017 |
MemberEuropean Academy of Management |
2017 |
Annual conference best paper nominationEuropean Academy of Management |
2016 |
Member, Scientific Committee (Responsible Global Value Chains Standing Track)European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference, Paris |
2016 |
Best paper acknowledgementAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2015 |
Finalist, Carolyn Dexter AwardAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2015 |
2022 - Co-Recipient of the UniSA Business Teaching Excellence Award in the category of Course Design Team
2017 - Co-Recipient of the UniSA Business School Achievement in Teaching and Learning Award in the category of Assurance of Learning Leadership
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Accounting for modern slavery: the case of Kenya | Current |
| Modern slavery in the Ghanaian cocoa industry | Current |
| The missing link: harnessing consumer power to support legislative efforts to eradicate modern slavery. | Current |
| Vulnerable employment and modern slavery in Africa: a gender perspective | Current |
| Islamic banking in Indonesia: a linked ecologies perspective | Completed |
| Tax compliance in Jordan | Completed |
