Dr Libby Sander

Dr Libby Sander, has degrees in Arts, Japanese and Business, a Masters degree in Human Resource Management, and a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from Griffith University.

She is Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bond University, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, the founder and director of the Future of Work Project, founder of Rethink, past Chair of Goldspaces, an urban renewal and cultural development platform, and an Agenda Contributor at the World Economic Forum.

Libby is an acknowledged expert on the future of work, and a leading authority on the design of the workplace and its influence on thinking, emotion and performance. Libby is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Work and Place Journal.

Libby has appeared on Channel 7’s Sunrise, as well as ABC TV’s science program Catalyst, ABC TV’s The Drum, ABC News and spoken at TEDx presenting her research on the effects of the workplace environment. She regularly presents keynote addresses at conferences around the world.

She is a feature writer for The Conversation. Libby’s writing has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, The Guardian, the BBC, Fast Company, The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and on SBS amongst many others. To date, her articles have over 1.5 million readers worldwide.

Libby is the co-author of Work in the 21st Century: How do I Log On? which was published by Emerald in 2017. She is currently working on a new book for Routledge.

Libby’s expertise lies in organisational design, workplace design, change management, design thinking, human resources and high-performance practices and strategies. She is highly regarded for her ability to influence change in large, complex organisations. Libby has over 15 years experience as a human resources director and executive team member prior to her academic career. Libby has worked with clients such as Microsoft Europe, Lend Lease and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation.

Libby is leading an extensive program of research on the workplace using leading edge neuroscience and big data methodologies with significant grant funding received. Libby works with clients such as Microsoft Europe and Lend Lease. She has presented her research at some of the world's leading academic conferences.

Libby teaches in the Executive MBA and Masters programs at Bond University and leads the Japan Study Tour.

Awards

•  2020 Innovations Connections Grant (Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants & Resonate Consultants)  ($58,678)
• 2017-2020 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science – Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists. Collaboration with Dr Hiro Saito, Ritsumeikan University, Japan. ($32,500) 
• 2019 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning through Sustained Innovation ($5000) 
• 2019 Bond University Research Infrastructure Grant ($42,150)
• 2018 Winner of the Bond Business School Teaching Excellence Award ($2000)
• Finalist in the 2018 Bond University Early Career Researcher Excellence Award
• Griffith Graduate Research School Scholarship ($50,000. 2014-2016)
• Griffith Business School Doctoral Research Poster Competition Winner (2015)
• Judges Winner & Audience Winner – Three Minute Thesis Competition, GBS Research Colloquium (2014)
• Academy of Management Annual Meeting Outstanding Reviewer Award (2013)
• Travel Scholarship Asia-Pacific Symposium of Emotions & Work-Life Balance ANZAM (2013)

Twitter https://twitter.com/LibbySander

Industry Collaborations
CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY Libby was invited by Charles Darwin University to apply the findings of her research to the design of a new workspace for their ITMS division refitting the whole of their former Trades Building. Libby designed and implemented the new workplace working alongside the CDU team, leading the change management program and assessing the results over a four year period. The project was awarded the top award for Interior Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects awards for the Northern Territory in 2017. The project also won the award for Innovation in Service Management in the 2019 Northern Territory Digital Excellence Awards.

NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT Libby worked with the faculty of Rosebery Schools, an innovative new school in Palmerston in the Northern Territory. The school has been designed around a co-teaching model with a number of innovative community partnerships in response to social and demographic needs of the region. The design features are focussed on age appropriate learning spaces bringing primary school infrastructure in the Northern Territory into the 21st century. “Libby showed her versatility in contributing to the plan for opening two new Government schools in the Northern Territory in 2011. Libby rolled up her sleeves and had a profound impact on our teams. Libby’s ability to adjust the collective thinking of teams to develop new models of operation within innovatively designed architecture speaks volumes. Libby’s impact continues to resonate with the schools today. But further, Libby takes a personal interest in her clients, demonstrating a deep passion for her work. I unreservedly recommend Libby to any organisation looking to find new ways, processes and spaces through which to succeed.” Adam Voigt, Former Principal, Rosebery Schools.