Marian Makkar

Marian Makkar is a Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Marketing at RMIT University's Economics Finance & Marketing department. She holds a PhD from Auckland University of Technology (2019), with prior industry experience in luxury marketing and public relations. Her research focuses on consumer diversity, market inclusion, and the interplay of identity, technology, branding, and institutions. She actively engages in sustainability initiatives aligned with UN SDGs 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 12 (Responsible Consumption), and 4 (Quality Education).

Education: PhD in Marketing (AUT, 2019), Master’s (First Class Honours, AUT, 2015), BA in Journalism & Mass Communication (The American University in Cairo, 2004). Awards include the 2024 RMIT Research Excellence Award and 2017 Royal Society of New Zealand Emerging Researcher Recognition.

Teaching interests include Marketing Management, Design Thinking, and Service Quality. She supervises research projects on topics like transformative branding, vegan fashion consumption, and luxury car market sustainability. Professional roles include editorial board memberships with Journal of Business Research and Journal of Consumer Behaviour.

Community engagement includes volunteering with Melbourne food banks and supporting orphanages in Fiji. Her work bridges academic research with practical impact through collaborations with NGOs and corporate partners.