Simon Darcy

Simon Darcy

Professor Simon Darcy is a leading academic at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) within the Management Discipline Group of UTS Business School. His work focuses on disability inclusion, accessible tourism, and social policy, blending academic research with advocacy. He holds a PhD in Business from UTS and has over 35 years of experience in inclusive organizational practices.

• Roles: Professor, Co-Lead of UTS Disability Research Network, and member of the Australian Centre for Olympic and Sport Studies.
• Research Focus: Disability entrepreneurship, accessible tourism, sport legacy, volunteer management, and policy reform.
• Grants: ARC grants on volunteer management and disability entrepreneurship, CRC Sustainable Tourism projects, and UN initiatives.

Research & Awards

Professor Darcy has authored/co-authored over 350 publications and 10 books, including Managing the Paralympics and Disability & the Tourism World. His work has earned accolades such as the World Leisure Innovation Prize (2010), UTS Chancellor’s Medal (2024), and top 1% citation rankings (2021–2023).

• Advocacy: Member of NSW Disability Council (2011–2015), advisor to Commonwealth/NSW Governments, and ambassador for disability employment campaigns.
• Teaching: Coordinates courses on social impact, diversity management, and venue design. Awarded UTS Teaching Citation (2007) for supporting students with disabilities.

Key Projects

Current initiatives include research on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Paralympic legacy studies, and co-design of accessible public infrastructure. He also leads projects on disability citizenship and inclusive urban planning.

Awards & Recognition

• UTS Human Rights Social Media Award
• 2020 National Aspire Awards (Highly Commended)
• Australia Day Ambassador