Anja Hergesell

Dr Anja Hergesell is a Senior Lecturer in the Management Department at the UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney. She holds a Master’s degree from Bournemouth University and a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences from Vienna University of Economics and Business. Her research spans event and tourism management, consumer behavior, sustainable development, and academic ecosystems. She has previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UTS and taught internationally in Austria and Denmark.

Education Background:

• Master’s Degree: Bournemouth University
• PhD: Vienna University of Economics and Business (Focus: Interrelationships between vacation choices and environmental/transport attributes)

Research Interests:
Anja’s work emphasizes the intersection of sustainable practices and event management, particularly addressing environmental impacts and social responsibility. She explores consumer decision-making processes in tourism contexts and innovative teaching methods to bridge theory and practice. Her recent projects highlight collaborative research frameworks, such as relational writing and interdisciplinary approaches to counteract neoliberal academic pressures. Key themes include:

• Environmental sustainability in events
• Impact assessment of conferences and sports events
• Graduate attribute development through extracurricular activities
• Academic ecosystems and institutional culture

Funded Research Highlights:
Anja leads or co-leads multiple grants focused on business events’ social and economic impacts, including:

• Social Impact Stories and Measurement Research (2024–2026)
• Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap (2024–2025) funded by the Leisure Studies Association
• The Conference Legacy Project (2024–2027)

Her projects often involve partnerships with industry stakeholders like Business Events Sydney and ChristchurchNZ, emphasizing applied research outcomes.

Advising and Grants:
While no formal advisees are listed, Anja actively collaborates on grants and supervises event management coursework. Her funding portfolio reflects a commitment to evaluating both environmental and social dimensions of events, as well as student success programs like ActivateUTS.

Labs/Teams:
Anja contributes to interdisciplinary teams at UTS, focusing on collaborative research methodologies and sustainability initiatives. She is part of the Management Discipline Group and has built networks in tourism and event management education.