Dr Sharon Zivkovic

Dr Sharon Zivkovic conducts research that investigates issues related to social entrepreneurship, complex adaptive systems and wicked problems. She is both a scholar and a practitioner.

Her scholar roles include Adjunct member of the University of South Australia’s Centre for Markets, Values and Inclusion; Adjunct Research Associate at University of South Australia Education Futures; and Board Member of the University of South Australia Yunus Social Business Centre. In 2018 Sharon received a Fresh Scientist Award for her work in addressing wicked problems using complexity science, and in 2021 she was recognised as the leading scholar in the field of Applied Complexity (Social Entrepreneurship and Wicked Problems) in the Map of the Complexity Sciences.

Sharon’s current practitioner roles include Founder and CEO of Community Capacity Builders, and Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Wicked Lab. Community Capacity Builders was established in 2005 with support of the University of Adelaide’s Business Initiatives for Graduates Program to enable the commercialisation of Sharon’s active citizenship Masters research. In recent years Community Capacity Builders has focused on the delivery of a Program for Systems Social Entrepreneurs through universities and communities that is informed by her PhD research.

In 2015 Sharon and Emily Humphreys established Wicked Lab with support from the University of South Australia’s Pank Prize for Entrepreneurship. This Prize funded the establishment of Wicked Lab and the development of an Online Tool for Systemic Change based on a complexity science model from Sharon’s PhD research. In addition to its online tool, Wicked Lab offers a research-informed Complex Systems Leadership Program and Systemic Innovation Lab Elective.

Sharon is a Board Member of Emerald Publishing's Impact Advisory Board and Co-Chairs the Catalyst 2030 Social Entrepreneurial Scholar-Practitioner Group.

Member, EMES International Research Network for Social Enterprise

Founding Member, Complexity & Network Governance Special Interest Group, International Research Society for Public Management

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia

• Master of Entretpreneurship University of Adelaide

• Graduate Diploma in Education (Education and Training Adults) University of South Australia

• Graduate Certificate in Research Commercialisation University of South Australia

• Vocational Graduate Certificate in Education & Training for Sustainability Swinburne University

• Bachelor of Accounting University of South Australia

Work history

Cofounder & Chief Innovation Officer, Wicked Lab Pty Ltd (Jul 2015 - Current)

Founder & CEO, Community Capacity Builders (Jan 2005 - Current) 

Lecturer Social Entrepreneurship, University of Adelaide (Jan 2008 - Current)                

Research Assistant, University of South Australia (May 2012 - Dec 2012)     

Senior Project Officer Community Capacity, Dept for Families and Communities (Feb 2003 - Jan 2005)        

Senior Community Development Coordinator, Department of Human Services (Feb 2001 - Feb 2003)

Employment Development Officer, City of Salisbury (Sep 1999 - Feb 2001)

Workshop Facilitator, School of International Business, University of South Australia (May 1998 - Jun 2000)

Finance Manager, Kosmea Australia Pty Ltd (Sep 1997 - Sep 1999)   

Lecturer, Department of Management Studies, Adelaide Institute of TAFE (Feb 1997 - Dec 1998)             

Tutor, Small Business Training Centre, Adelaide Institute of TAFE (Jul 1994 - Dec 1994)