Bond University has appointed Professor Scott Holmes as Professor of Business and Risk Analysis, with a mandate to increase the impact of its business school’s research on industry and small business.
Previously Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor Research at Western Sydney University, Professor Holmes described research as his “passion.”
He said his priorities in his new role included ensuring colleagues were working together in strategic groups, making sure Bond had an increased focus on a blend of both qualitative and quantitative research, and his own research interests around the behaviour of small firms investing in single or limited asset bases.
Professor Holmes was keen to explore opportunities with other schools across Bond, and said strengthening the impact of the university’s research would largely come down to old-fashioned legwork.
“I’ve always worked with industry and government, I’ve advised all three tiers of government over my career, I think it’s a matter of using shoe leather to be honest. You’ve got to get out and about, knock on as many doors as you can, explain what you’re about, but it’s got to be a two-way value proposition and it’s got to be readily understood in that way.
“Obviously there’s a focus on building on our well-established base with industry and government and non-profits.”
Professor Holmes also intends to utilise Bond’s traditional strength of involving students and colleagues in research, and also planned to put a particular focus on linkage grant applications, involving partners from outside the university.
Mentorship is particularly important to Professor Holmes, who will use his experience to benefit Bond’s emerging researchers.
“That’s the thing I enjoy most, I’ve already reviewed several draft papers for some of our early career researchers, and I’ve been encouraging others to get their work to me. I just have an enthusiasm for applied research and … given the opportunities I was given, I just want to give that back.
“I think there’s room for increased teamwork and growth, and I also think Bond has built a very strong brand reputation around its focus on students.
“A major factor is understanding what the overall research priorities could or should be, building on what I think is a very strong agenda now in the business school.
“One of the things that attracts me to Bond is the size of the university. My interest is in the fact we can have that concentration of activity, and I think that’s Bond’s advantage. It really appeals to me, given I’ve spent all my career to now in big public universities. It’s a new challenge and an exciting one, and everyone I’ve spoken to is really keen to keep moving things along.”
Bond Business School Executive Dean, Professor Terry O’Neill, described Prof Holmes as an “eminent researcher in small business, governance and business risk.”
Bond Business School’s research priority is relevance and impact, and Prof Holmes is well-placed to help deliver both those priorities, while his diverse experience and leadership roles in research make him a good fit for Bond, Prof O’Neill said.