John Roberts

Scientia Professor John Roberts is a distinguished faculty member at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Business School, specifically in the School of Marketing. He holds the prestigious Scientia Professor title, which is UNSW's highest academic rank. Roberts has maintained significant international academic connections, having served as Visiting Professor at Stanford University (1995-2002), Professor of Marketing at the London Business School (2003-2014), and ANU (2009-2013). He has also held visiting positions at MIT, University of Hamburg, Indian School of Business, and HKUST.

• Ph.D. and M.Sc. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Master of Commerce and honours Arts degree from the University of Melbourne

Professor Roberts is a leading scholar in marketing science with research focusing on consumer behavior, brand management, and marketing strategy. His work bridges academic theory and practical application, examining how marketing decisions impact business outcomes. Roberts has made significant contributions to understanding consumer choice processes, marketing metrics, and defensive marketing strategies. His research often integrates quantitative modeling with practical business applications, particularly in the areas of new product development and brand management.

His recent publications show a strong trend toward examining marketing's role in societal issues, including sustainable marketing practices and how marketing can contribute to 'a better world.' Roberts has increasingly focused on the intersection of marketing science and practical business applications, exploring how academic research translates into real-world marketing effectiveness. His work spans both theoretical contributions to marketing science and practical applications for businesses across various industries.

Major Awards and Honors:

• Member of the Order of Australia (AM) (2023)
• Buck Weaver Award for lifetime contributions to Marketing Science (2018)
• American Marketing Association's John A. Howard Award
• William O'Dell Award for influential research
• Australian Marketing Institute's Sir Charles McGrath Award (2011)
• Distinguished Researcher and Educator Awards from ANZ Academy of Marketing

Professor Roberts has extensive experience in translating academic research into business practice. He founded Marketing Insights Pty Ltd, which became a regional leader in marketing strategy advice and was later acquired by Nielsen Research. He has consulted for major international companies including IBM, Unilever, BMW, and QANTAS, and conducted the internal brand analysis for Accenture worldwide from 1998-2008. Roberts has served on the Editorial Boards of leading marketing journals for over 25 years and sits on advisory boards for the Chief Marketing Officer Council, Harvard Business Review, and other prestigious organizations.

As a Scientia Professor at UNSW, Roberts leads research initiatives that connect academic marketing science with practical business applications. He has been instrumental in building marketing capability in Australasia and fostering connections between the academic marketing community and industry practitioners through his involvement with the Marketing Science Institute and other professional organizations.