Retha Wiesner

Retha Wiesner is a Professor in Management and Entrepreneurial Behaviour at the University of Southern Queensland, leading the Women in Rural, Regional and Remote Enterprises (WiRE) Program. She has held this position since 1995 and oversees research and capacity-building projects totaling over $5 million in the entrepreneurship and small business domain. Her expertise spans Management, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Small Business Management, Organisational Change, and Human Resource Management.

Education includes a BCom, BCom(Hons), MCom, and PhD from the University of Pretoria (years: 1986–1992). She has authored/co-authored 11 books and over 80 research articles on management and behavior, with a focus on SMEs and sustainability.

Her research interests emphasize entrepreneurship in rural and regional contexts, gender dynamics in business leadership, and sustainability change management in SMEs. Notable projects include the WiRE program advancing women entrepreneurs and the Scenic Rim Entrepreneurial Hub.

She supervises over 10 doctoral students, with recent topics including digital identity in SMEs and sustainable entrepreneurial leadership. Key grants include Advance Queensland initiatives and Australian Government-funded programs targeting women’s entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability.

Her work bridges academic research with practical industry engagement, fostering resilient regional economies through innovation and inclusive leadership frameworks.