Rita Pidani

Dr. Rita Pidani serves as a Senior Lecturer in Business and Program Coordinator at the Newcastle Business School within the College of Human and Social Futures at the University of Newcastle, Australia. With over 15 years of academic experience since joining in 2010, she transitioned from sessional teaching roles at the Australia campus to full-time lecturing at the Singapore campus in 2014, establishing herself as a key educator in business programs across international settings.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Business Administration, and Ph.D. in Economics, all earned at the University of Newcastle, Australia. These qualifications form the foundation for her specialized expertise in economic development and business education.

Dr. Pidani's research centers on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development with particular emphasis on women's enterprise, local economic growth, and financial models in developing economies. Her work investigates critical dimensions including MSME performance drivers, export-led development strategies, cluster formations, productivity enhancement, innovation pathways, and financing mechanisms. As an active member of both the Economic Society of Australia (ESA) and Economic Society of Singapore (ESS), she maintains strong professional engagement in economic policy discourse.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a distinct focus on Southeast Asian economies—particularly Indonesia—with significant contributions spanning digital learning adaptation during the pandemic, gender-inclusive business development, and cross-cultural management practices. Her collaborative research approach is evident through frequent international partnerships, reflecting a global perspective on economic challenges.

Dr. Pidani has secured four competitive research grants totaling S$51,344.08, demonstrating sustained research productivity. Her funded projects include the 2023 Vaccine Hesitancy Research Project (S$20,000), the 2021 digital well-being study for online learners (S$10,000), the 2019 China-Africa export analysis (A$19,650), and the 2016 ASEAN board diversity investigation (S$5,000). These grants highlight her ability to address timely economic issues while securing institutional support for her research agenda.