Rowena Barrett

Professor Rowena Barrett is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship and Regional Innovation) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She leads initiatives to foster entrepreneurial action and regional innovation across Queensland, collaborating with institutions like MIT Sloan School of Management and government bodies. Her academic focus includes managing people in smaller firms and entrepreneurship's role in regional development.

Education: PhD (University of Melbourne). Professional Affiliations: Life Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management.

Research Interests: Strategy, management, organizational behavior, SME performance, and human resource practices in entrepreneurial contexts. She emphasizes place-based innovation and the intersection of entrepreneurship with regional ecosystems.

Publications highlight themes such as gendered regulations in SMEs, team dynamics, and digital economy productivity. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications through programs like Queensland Connects and entrepreneurship spaces at QUT’s Foundry.

Awards: Recognized as a Life Fellow for contributions to management studies.

Advising & Grants: Supervises higher-degree research students and manages partnerships via MOUs with regional hubs. Her team supports entrepreneurship education across disciplines and industry collaboration.

Labs/Teams: Oversees QUT’s entrepreneurship spaces (Foundry and Tinkerspace), fostering innovation through physical and virtual hubs for students, staff, and alumni.