Retha de Villiers Scheepers

Associate Professor Retha de Villiers Scheepers holds dual roles as Associate Dean (Research) and Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s School of Business and Creative Industries, Queensland, Australia. She specializes in entrepreneurial decision-making, digital innovation, and regional economic development. Her work bridges academia and industry, emphasizing practical outcomes.

Education: PhD (Stellenbosch University), MCom (Potchefstroom), Honours in Marketing (Potchefstroom), BComm (Potchefstroom).

Research focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystems, corporate entrepreneurship, and small firm resilience. Notable projects include studies on regional innovation benchmarks, entrepreneurship talent development, and pandemic-era business adaptation. Her work has been funded by entities like Advance Queensland and Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Awards: OLT Citation Award (2015) for teaching excellence, USC Vice-Chancellor’s Engagement Award (2015), HEA Senior Fellowship (2019).

• Supervised HDR students from Australia, South Africa, and Salzburg.
• Leadership roles in 4+ research grants analyzing regional entrepreneurship ecosystems and entrepreneurial career transitions.
• Industry collaboration highlighted in media commentary for platforms like The Conversation.

Labs/Teams: Active in USC’s Engage Research Lab, focusing on experiential entrepreneurship education and regional economic development strategies.