Distinguished academic leader and internationally recognised business scholar Professor Colin Higgins has been appointed Dean of the La Trobe University Business School.
Professor Higgins joins La Trobe from Deakin University, where he currently serves as Deputy Dean of its Business School. His appointment follows more than a decade of senior academic leadership, including Associate Dean (International) in the Faculty of Business and Law, a role he held concurrently with his position as Head of the Department of Management.
La Trobe Provost Professor Robert Pike congratulated Professor Higgins on his appointment.
"Professor Higgins is an accomplished academic and people leader with extensive experience across complex, multi‑campus environments," Professor Pike said.
"His commitment to high‑quality learning, global engagement and impactful research in an AI-driven world strongly aligns with La Trobe's mission and values."
Professor Higgins said he was excited to lead La Trobe Business School at a time of rapid transformation in the future of work and in the expectations industry and society place on business graduates.
"I am passionate about preparing students to lead responsibly and sustainably, and about working closely with industry to ensure curriculum and research remain deeply relevant," Professor Higgins said.
"La Trobe has an outstanding reputation for social impact and applied, future-focused learning, and I look forward to contributing to that mission."
An internationally recognised scholar in corporate responsibility and sustainability, Professor Higgins was until recently Co‑Editor‑in‑Chief of the leading SAGE journal Business & Society and is a former President of the Social Issues in Management Division of the Academy of Management.
He has published widely across management, accounting, corporate responsibility and sustainability, producing more than 20 peer-reviewed outputs and contributed chapters to book publications.
Professor Higgins will commence as Dean of La Trobe Business School on 1 July 2026.
About Professor Colin Higgins
Professor Higgins completed his PhD in Corporate Citizenship at Deakin University, focusing on social and environmental reporting.
He was made Deputy Dean of Deakin University's Business School in 2024. This followed a four-year term as Associate Dean (International) for the Faculty of Business and Law - a position he held concurrently with the role of Head of the Department of Management.
Professor Higgins was until recently Co‑Editor‑in‑Chief of the leading SAGE journal Business & Society and is a former President of the Social Issues in Management Division of the Academy of Management. He is a fellow and former President and Conference Chair of the International Association for Business & Society (IABS).
A successful researcher with an international reputation as a business scholar, Professor Higgins has more than 20 peer-reviewed outputs and contributed to six book publications.
His international teaching and leadership experience extends across universities in Asia-Pacific and visiting roles at leading schools in the USA and Europe.
Outside of his university roles, Professor Higgins is an experienced non-executive Director and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
