Family Businesses are one of the cornerstones of the Australian economy and Saturday saw Bond University Professor and Founding Director of the internationally renowned Australian Centre for Family Business (ACFB), Ken Moores AM, awarded a Doctor of Business, for his research that has showcased the opportunities, challenges and future of this crucial sector.
Forming up to two-thirds of Australian industry yet often overlooked in academic studies, family business has been the focus of Professor Moores’ research – as well as his passion - for over two decades. The peer nominated, higher doctorate, which is on top of an existing doctorate earned by Professor Moores, is recognition of his impact in this field and is a first for the Bond Business School.
The application was put together on behalf of Professor Moores by his colleagues. They submitted the university endorsed application to three internationally recognised academics, who assessed his work as having made a significant contribution to be awarded the Doctor of Business.
Professor Moores was extremely honoured by the award, one of the highest possible endorsements of his work and only found out a few days before the Bond University graduation ceremony that he was to receive it.
“I only found out on the Monday before Saturday’s graduation ceremony that I was to receive the Doctor of Business and was extremely surprised, grateful and honoured that my peers had made the application on my behalf,” Professor Moores said.
“However the personal highlight of the day was the fact that I shared the ceremony with my son, Christopher, who received his MBA with high distinction, with the day being a celebration of both our achievements, while acting as a symbolic reflection of my work in, and passion for, the field of family business.”
Professor Moores has been involved with Bond University for over two decades, establishing the internationally recognised ACFB in 1994, the first of its kind in Australia, as a reaction to what was perceived as a massive knowledge gap in a field of immense importance for the economy.
He is recognised as one of the leading experts in the field of family business and has featured prominently in the industry’s top international journal, Family Business Review, a reflection of his ability to identify and analyse the unique issues and problems that face family run enterprises, while being able to prescribe workable solutions.
His work with the Centre has seen it become the preferred education supplier for Family Business Australia, with his research forming part of the coursework being taught to a wide variety of professionals across an array of industries.