Associate Professor Sukhbir Sandhu is the executive director for the Centre for Workplace Excellence (CWeX). A/Prof Sandhu's research focuses on social and environmental sustainability issues that confront organisations and societies. Her current research involves an Australian Research Council (Discovery) project that investigates the external drivers that push organisations to act on sustainability issues and the internal strategy and structure changes required to successfully accommodate these social and environmental initiatives.
A/Prof Sandhu has a PhD in Strategy (Sustainability Strategies of Firms) from Lincoln University, New Zealand. A/Prof Sandhu has published in leading management and sustainability journals (e.g.,... Read more
About me
Associate Professor Sukhbir Sandhu is the executive director for the Centre for Workplace Excellence (CWeX). A/Prof Sandhu's research focuses on social and environmental sustainability issues that confront organisations and societies. Her current research involves an Australian Research Council (Discovery) project that investigates the external drivers that push organisations to act on sustainability issues and the internal strategy and structure changes required to successfully accommodate these social and environmental initiatives.
A/Prof Sandhu has a PhD in Strategy (Sustainability Strategies of Firms) from Lincoln University, New Zealand. A/Prof Sandhu has published in leading management and sustainability journals (e.g., Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Learning and Education, Business and Society, Ecological Economics, Journal of Cleaner Production, Business Strategy and Environment). She has also published three books on social and environmental sustainability.
Her research on organisational sustainability has been recognised by the prestigious Research Impact on Practice Award from the Network for Business Sustainability. Her research has also been listed in the Financial Times "all-time top 100 social science research" articles that can lead to meaningful social impact and help improve society.
A/Prof Sandhu has also won numerous other awards for her leadership, research and teaching. She has been awarded the Academy of Management Award for Outstanding Leadership (2024); Ivan Montiel Award for Leadership in the Organizations and the Natural Environment (ONE) division at the Academy of Management (2023); and Excellence in Research Collaboration and Peer Support Award, UniSA Business (2023).
She has been awarded the Excellence in Ethics and Social Responsibility Award, UniSA Business (2022), the Top Mid-Career Researcher, the Top Mid-Career Teaching, and the Top Research Team awards (2019). A/Prof Sandhu has also received the Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning - Excellence Awards (2023 - 2016). She received Vice Chancellor’s Outstanding Contributions to Digital Learning Award (2016). She was also awarded the Emerald Literati Outstanding Reviewer (2017). She has been a Finalist in Wharton-QS Stars Reimagine Education Awards (2017, 2016) and a finalist for the Australian National Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2017).
A/Prof Sandhu serves as the Director for Centre for Workplace Excellence (CWeX). She has been elected to the five-year leadership track at the Organisations and Natural Environment (ONE) Division of the Academy of Management (2020 – 2024). She has previously chaired ONE award committee (2016 - 2019).
She is the Deputy Editor of the Australian Journal of Management to oversee all qualitative and CSR/Sustainability papers (ABDC A/Q1) and the Associate Editor for Business and Society (ABDC A/Q1).
She also serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Business Research (ABDC A/Q1) and Sustainability (Q1).
A/Prof Sandhu has served as the UniSA Business lead for the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) from 2017-2022.
About me
Academy of Management
Australia New Zealand Academy of Management
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 20/02/2025 |
Humans generate 62 million tonnes of e-waste each year. Here’s what happens when it’s recycled, https://theconversation.com/humans-generate-62-million-tonnes-of-e-waste-each-year-heres-what-happens-when-its-recycled-249842 |
| 31/10/2024 |
Individual action on climate was tarred as greenwashing or virtue signalling. But it still has a place, https://theconversation.com/individual-action-on-climate-was-tarred-as-greenwashing-or-virtue-signalling-but-it-still-has-a-place-239196 |
| 27/05/2024 |
Curious Kids: why can some plastics be recycled but others can’t?, https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-can-some-plastics-be-recycled-but-others-cant-229270 |
| 08/12/2023 |
Agriculture’s transition to a green economy has a single-focus problem, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2023/12/08/a-single-focus-problem-blocks-agricultures-just-transition-to-a-green-economy/ |
| 10/10/2022 |
Charting a way forward for ESG, https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/archive/2022/10/10/charting-a-way-forward-for-esg |
| 29/07/2022 |
How to ensure success in environmental, social, and governance efforts, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2022/07/29/how-to-ensure-success-in-environmental-social-and-governance-efforts/ |
| 29/04/2021 |
Shutterstock Risky business: 54% of Australian companies plan to slow ‘green’ initiatives due to COVID, https://theconversation.com/risky-business-54-of-australian-companies-plan-to-slow-green-initiatives-due-to-covid-158532 |
| 21/07/2020 |
What makes people switch to reusable cups? It’s not discounts, it’s what others do, https://theconversation.com/what-makes-people-switch-to-reusable-cups-its-not-discounts-its-what-others-do-142254 |
| 17/12/2019 |
Have Impact at Every Stage of the Sustainability Journey, https://nbs.net/have-impact-at-every-stage-of-the-sustainability-journey/ |
| 06/12/2018 |
How to ensure the success of a position your company hasn’t had before, https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-to-ensure-the-success-of-a-position-your-company-hasnt-had-before |
| 14/11/2018 |
Data analytics, inclusion, sustainability: new roles multiply in organisations, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2018/11/14/data-analytics-inclusion-sustainability-new-roles-multiply-in-organisations/ |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Lincoln University, New Zealand
Associate Professor/Director: CWeX, UniSA Business 2021 - present
Senior Lecturer, School of Management, UniSA Business School 2015 - 2020
Lecturer, School of Management, Division of Business, University of South Australia 2010 - 2014
Key Highlights
86 high quality outputs: 3 co-edited books with top tier publishers; 18 journal articles (15 A*/A ABDC/Q1 –including leading journals such as the Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Learning and Education, Ecological Economics, and Business and Society); 13 book chapters; 15 outputs in practitioner outlets (such as Harvard Business Review, The Conversation and London School of Economics Business Review); and 37 peer-reviewed conference papers
International research leadership roles (including five-year leadership track of the Organizations and Natural Environment division at the Academy of Management); Deputy Editor of the Australian Journal of Management (ABDC A/Q1); Associate Editor for Business ... Read more
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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
1
3
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
1
|
| 2018 |
1
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2015 |
2
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2012 |
1
|
| 2010 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
1
2
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
1
51
|
| 2024 |
Open access
13
9
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
15
14
1
|
| 2021 |
52
48
14
|
| 2021 |
Open access
24
17
116
|
| 2019 |
Open access
6
2
|
| 2019 |
70
61
64
|
| 2019 |
5
6
22
|
| 2019 |
Open access
17
15
|
| 2017 |
6
2
|
| 2016 |
33
29
12
|
| 2015 |
Open access
11
32
2
|
| 2014 |
71
59
|
| 2012 |
11
6
|
| 2012 |
48
42
|
| 2010 |
16
|
| 2010 |
Open access
54
53
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
Open access
|
| 2014 |
Open access
|
| 2013 |
Open access
|
| 2013 |
Open access
|
| 2013 |
Open access
|
| 2010 |
Open access
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2008 |
Open access
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
Articles in Practitioner Journals/Outlets
1. Sandhu, S. (2025). Humans generate 62 million tonnes of e-waste each year. Here’s what happens when it’s recycled. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/humans-generate-62-million-tonnes-of-e-waste-each-year-heres-what-happens-when-its-recycled-249842
2. Sandhu, S. (2024). Individual action on climate was tarred as greenwashing or virtue signalling. But it still has a place. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/individual-action-on-climate-was-tarred-as-greenwashing-or-virtue-signalling-but-it-still-has-a-place-239196
3. Sandhu, S. (2024). Why can some plastics be recycled but others can’t? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-why-can-some-plastics-be-recycled-but-others-cant-229270
4. Sandhu, H., & Sandhu, S. (2023). Agriculture’s transition to a green economy has a single-focus problem. London School of Economics Business Review. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2023/12/08/a-single-focus-problem-blocks-agricultures-just-transition-to-a-green-economy/
5. Sandhu, S., Kulik, C. T., Perera, S. S., & Jarvis, S. A. (2022). How to ensure success in environmental, social, and governance efforts. London School of Economics Business Review. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2022/07/29/how-to-ensure-success-in-environmental-social-and-governance-efforts/
6. Sandhu, S. (2022). Charting a way forward for ESG. InDaily. https://indaily.com.au/news/business/2022/10/10/charting-a-way-forward-for-esg/
7. Crocker, R., Chileshe, N., Heliar, C., Panagua, J. O. & Sandhu, S. et al. (2021). Implementing the circular economy in regional South Australia: Identifying targets and developing partnerships. https://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/148201
8. Sandhu, S. (2021). Risky business: 54% of Australian companies plan to slow ‘green’ initiatives due to COVID. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/risky-business-54-of-australian-companies-plan-to-slow-green-initiatives-due-to-covid-158532
9. Sandhu, S., Crocker, R. & Lodhia, S. (2020). What makes people switch to reusable cups? It’s not discounts, it’s what others do. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/what-makes-people-switch-to-reusable-cups-its-not-discounts-its-what-others-do-142254
10. Sandhu, S. & Kulik, C. T. (2020). Sustainability managers: Making changes with impact. UniSA Business. https://www.unisa.edu.au/connect/unisabusiness/16/sustainability-managers-making-changes-with-impact/
11. Sandhu, S., Kulik, C. T. (2019). Have impact at every stage of the sustainability journey. Network for Business Sustainability. https://www.nbs.net/articles/have-impact-at-every-stage-of-the-sustainability-journey
12. Sandhu, S. & Kulik, C. T. (2018). Data analytics, inclusion, sustainability: New roles multiply in organisations. London School of Economics Business Review. http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2018/11/14/data-analytics-inclusion-sustainability-new-rolesmultiply-in-organisations/
13. Sandhu, S. & Kulik, C. T. (2018). How to ensure the success of a position your company hasn’t had before. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/12/how-to-ensure-the-success-of-a-position-your-company-hasnt-had-before
14. Sandhu, S. & Kulik, C. T. (2018). Tighten the reins or let them roam free. CWeX Newsletter. http://unisabusinessschool.edu.au/contentassets/30fd468259c64fb3a3942192343d1400/cwex-newsletter-nov2018-web-v5.pdf
15. Sandhu, S. (2013). You make me want to be... clean and green. CWeX Newsletter. http://unisabusinessschool.edu.au/siteassets/research/cwex/newsletter/chrm-newsletter-july-2013.pdf
Research
Key Highlights
86 high quality outputs: 3 co-edited books with top tier publishers; 18 journal articles (15 A*/A ABDC/Q1 –including leading journals such as the Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Learning and Education, Ecological Economics, and Business and Society); 13 book chapters; 15 outputs in practitioner outlets (such as Harvard Business Review, The Conversation and London School of Economics Business Review); and 37 peer-reviewed conference papers
International research leadership roles (including five-year leadership track of the Organizations and Natural Environment division at the Academy of Management); Deputy Editor of the Australian Journal of Management (ABDC A/Q1); Associate Editor for Business and Society (ABDC A/Q1)
Internal leadership roles including Co-Director, Centre for Workplace Excellence Research centre at University of South Australia; Program Director: Master of Management; UniSA Business Lead on United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (UN PRME)
$927,847 in competitive research grants (including European Union Product Stewardship; Australian Research Council Discovery and Green Industries South Australia)
Developed and taught courses on Sustainability and Ethics (MBA, postgraduate and undergraduate) at UniSA; student evaluation scores for last 4 years averages 93
8 HDR completions (6 PhDs and 2 MBRs). Supervising 9 PhD students (3 as primary supervisor and 6 as co-supervisor); for 2 years in a row my PhD students have won the competitive Graham Arnold Travel Grant
More than 300 newspaper and magazine interviews (e.g., The Washington Post, Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The National Geographic); international podcasts and been featured on the ABC, SBS and at the Adelaide Writer’s Festival; delivered more than 20 keynotes on sustainability topics
Associate Professor Sukhbir Sandhu is the Associate Editor for Business and Society [Impact Factor 6.740, ABDC A].
She also serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Business Research [Impact Factor 7.550, ABDC A], Australian Journal of Management [Impact Factor 3.229, ABDC A] and Sustainability [Impact Factor 3.889].
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Aalborg University | DENMARK |
| Audencia Business School | FRANCE |
| CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
| Federation University Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Green Industries South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Lincoln University | NEW ZEALAND |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Private Individual | UNITED KINGDOM |
| RMIT University | AUSTRALIA |
| Ryerson University | CANADA |
| South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) | AUSTRALIA |
| Stanford University | UNITED STATES |
| Tianjin University | CHINA |
| Universitat De Lleida | SPAIN |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Bergamo | ITALY |
| University of Canterbury | NEW ZEALAND |
| University of Granada | SPAIN |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Western Sydney University | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2017 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2017 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand International Business Academy |
2017 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2016 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2016 |
Invited presentationHumanistic Management Network, University of Adelaide |
2015 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2015 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2015 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2014 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2014 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2013 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2013 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2012 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2012 |
Invited presentationAalborg University, Denmark |
2011 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2011 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2011 |
Invited presentationIndian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India |
2010 |
MemberAsia Pacific Academy of Business in Society |
2010 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2010 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2010 |
Organising committeeAustralian and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference |
2010 |
Invited presentationCanterbury University, New Zealand |
2009 |
MemberAcademy of Management (AOM) |
2009 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2009 |
MemberAsia Pacific Academy of Business in Society |
2009 |
MemberAustralia New Zealand Academy of Management |
2008 |
Associate Professor Sukhbir Sandhu is the Associate Editor for Business and Society [Impact Factor 6.740, ABDC A].
She also serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Business Research [Impact Factor 7.550, ABDC A], Australian Journal of Management [Impact Factor 3.229, ABDC A] and Sustainability [Impact Factor 3.889].
Associate Professor Sandhu has been elected to the Organizations and Natural Environment (ONE) Division's executive leadership committee of the Academy of Management (2019 – 2024). In 2023 she serves as the ONE chair She has previously chaired ONE award committee (2016 - 2018). The Academy of Management is the oldest and largest professional body of management scholars in the world with over 21,000 members.
Associate Professor Sandhu has served as UniSA Business lead for the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education (2017 – 2022).
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Certification of used solar PV panels underlying their circular economy | Current |
| Developing a Dynamic Circular Economy Framework for the Mining Industry | Current |
| Development of Trust-Based Framework to Implement Sharing Economy Practices in the Construction Industry | Current |
| First Nations Communities, Sustainability & Renewable Energy Policy | Current |
| Investigating Supplier Diversity Programs Within Australian Supply Chains | Current |
| Sustainable extraction of critical metals: the resin-in-the-moist mix (RIMM) process technology lifecycle assessment | Current |
| Unleashing the "S" in ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance): Transforming Office Building Investment | Current |
| Will you forgive me? The moral licensing of social enterprises | Current |
| A dynamic capability approach to sustainable supply chains: an investigation of agility and resilience in the Australian manufacturing sector | Completed |
| Corporate social responsibility, employee engagement and the effect on employee dignity | Completed |
| Museums and Muslim women's empowerment: a case study of the Islamic Museum of Australia | Completed |
| Negative displays, positive outcomes? Gender differences in managing employee behaviour with emotion displays | Completed |
| Tension management for integrative outcomes in corporate sustainability: a multiple instrumental case study of the Australian forestry and wood products industry | Completed |
| The person-environment fit approach to employee resilience: the role of leadership and co-worker support | Completed |
| Threads of change: environmental sustainability and gender equality in Australian fashion organisations | Completed |
| Understanding the phenomenon of skill discounting and its implications for migrant employment in Australia | Completed |
| Wind farms in South Australia: a multi-level case analysis of stakeholder responses to planning policy changes | Completed |
