People

Sefa Awaworyi Churchill holds the RMIT Distinguished Professor tile. He is Co-Director for the RMIT Centre for African Engagement and Director for the RMIT Centre for International Development. He is an internationally recognised applied economist whose research and leadership advance the sustainable development goals in various ways. His scholarship is inter-disciplinary and focuses on development economics, energy and environmental economics, health economics and behavioural economics. He is a Stanford/Elsevier top-cited researcher, ranked in the top 2% of researchers worldwide for five consecutive years (2021 to 2025), and has published over 160 academic works in prominent journals including Journal of Business Venturing, Research Policy, Journal of Economics Behavior & Organization, Energy Economics, Social Science & Medicine, and World Development, among others. In 2020 and 2021, he was named by The Australian among Australia’s top 40 young researchers and top 5 in the broad field of social science. RePEc also ranks him among the top 5 economists in Australia over the last decade.   Sefa has been the recipient of a number of prestigious academic research awards including the Australian Research Council (ARC) DECRA and an Endeavour Fellowship Award, a government scheme which allows Australia’s highest performing researchers to conduct research in alignment with the government’s strategic priorities. His research has garnered over $5.6 million in competitive funding, including grants from the ARC, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and Plan International. His work has shaped international policy conversations and guided actionable change for marginalised communities, and he remains committed to addressing pressing social and economic challenges. He actively collaborates with academic, government, and international organisations including the United Nations, the Australian Government, Indian Government and Asian Development Bank. He is committed to promoting evidence-based policy and building lasting partnerships for sustainable and equitable development.   Sefa regularly contributes as a visiting scholar both within Australia and internationally, most recently as a Resident Fellow/Scholar at the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research. He previously worked with Princeton University as a Fung Global Fellow, contributing to policy-relevant research on sustainable futures. As an award-winning educator, Sefa brings a capacity-building ethos to his teaching and mentoring, supporting the next generation of researchers and thought leaders across diverse backgrounds.   Sefa received his doctorate in economics from Monash University. He holds masters degrees in educational leadership (Melbourne), public health (UNSW), construction management (Melbourne), health leadership and management (UNSW), business and financial economics (Greenwich, UK) and a BSc (Hons) in mathematics (KNUST, Ghana) and BPsych (Hons) (JCU). He serves as an Associate Editor for Energy Economics (ABDC A*/Q1) and Energy Research and Social Science (Q1), which are two leading field journals.

Simon Feeny is a Professor of development economics in RMIT's School of Economics, Finance and Marketing and co-directs the University's Centre for International Development. Professor Feeny has over 20 years’ experience in international development, with more than 100 academic publications. He has been awarded and led large research projects valued at almost $3 million for governments, international organisations and NGOs including the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, the Australian Government’s Department of Defence and the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Government’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Oxfam Australia, Plan International, World Vision International, the Indigenous Land Corporation, the South Pacific Forum Secretariat, the APEC Study Centre, the ASEAN Secretariat and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. Professor Feeny is currently an Associate Editor for Australian Economic Papers and an editorial board member of Economies. He is a former Associate Editor for the Journal of International Development and is a regular reviewer for the Australian Research Council. Professor Feeny is also a member of the International Advisory Board, Centre for Economics and Governance, Amrita University, India. Professor Feeny has undertaken work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, India, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, the UK, Vanuatu and Vietnam. External awards Australia’s Top Development Economist, The Australian newspaper, 2018 Summit Delegate, Australia 2020 Summit, Parliament House, Canberra, April 2008. University of Oxford-Visiting Fellowships, August-September 2005 and March-May 2008 and February - June 2010.

Ankita Mishra is an Associate Professor at RMIT University’s School of Economics, Finance, and Marketing (EFM). Previously, she was an Assistant Lecturer at Monash University and a Research Associate at Morgan Stanley Advantage Services Ltd., India. Her research interests lie in Applied Development Economics and Applied Macroeconomics. Ankita’s research is interdisciplinary, solution-focused, and closely aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). She has published extensively in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, supervised numerous PhD students, and secured external research funding. Ankita has significant teaching experience, both as an instructor and in academic governance. She has designed, taught, and managed a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Additionally, she has served as the Program Manager for Economics at the School of EFM at RMIT, where she oversaw a team of economics course coordinators.

My research aims to understand how social and economic policies impact on the lives of individuals. I have over 10 years of experience leveraging large datasets and applying statistical tools to disentangle correlation from causation. My current research focuses on issues at the intersection of machine learning, econometrics and social policy. I am the lead investigator on two Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage grants.

Janet Roitman is a Professor at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.   She is the founder-director of The Platform Economies Research Network (PERN). She is also an Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-making and Society (ADM+S) and serves on the Council of Advisors for the Platform Cooperativism Consortium.     Her research focuses on financial practices, digital technologies, and emergent forms of value.  She is the author of Fiscal Disobedience: An Anthropology of Economic Regulation in Central Africa (Princeton University Press) and Anti-Crisis (Duke University Press).     Professor Roitman serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Cultural Economy, Cultural Anthropology, Finance & Society, and Platforms & Society. Her research has received funding support from the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, the United States Social Science Research Council, Agence française du développement, The Institute for Public Knowledge, and the United States National Science Foundation.  

I am a lecturer in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. I did my PhD in economics from the University of Melbourne.

Preety joined RMIT University in 2013. Prior to this, she was a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University. She has a PhD in Econometrics from Monash University. Her research and publication interests have focused on applied microeconomics and econometrics, with applications in areas such as recreational drug consumption, health and the labour market. Preety is the recipient of two ARC/NHMRC grants. She has published in high-ranked journals including the Journal of Health Economics, Health Economics, and the Journal of Royal Statistical Society (A). She is currently an Associate Editor for the Bulletin of Economic Research. Her recent pieces in the media are: Are tobacco and cannabis economic substitutes or complements? New research suggests it changes with age, The Conversation, December 2024. (https://theconversation.com/are-tobacco-and-cannabis-economic-substitutes-or-complements-new-research-suggests-it-changes-with-age-245155) Australia’s system of taxing alcohol is ‘incoherent’, but our research suggests a single tax rate isn’t the answer, The Conversation, April 2023. (https://theconversation.com/australias-system-of-taxing-alcohol-is-incoherent-but-our-research-suggests-a-single-tax-rate-isnt-the-answer-195907) Children whose parents smoke have lower test scores and more behavioural issues than kids of non-smokers, The Conversation, January 2022. (https://theconversation.com/children-whose-parents-smoke-have-lower-test-scores-and-more-behavioural-issues-than-kids-of-non-smokers-172601)

Dr Longfeng Ye is an economist specializing in economic growth and development, Chinese Economy and trade. Her research seeks to understand why some countries remain poor or less developed by examining growth dynamics of current middle-income countries to shed light on the “middle income trap”; constructing the growth trajectories of European countries in pre-industrial era to shed light on the debate on “The Great Divergence”; modelling the structural change from an agriculture to non-agriculture dominated economy. She is also interested understanding the impact of climate change on Agriculture and adaption strategies; and the impact of automation on firms’ offshoring decision and growth opportunities for developing countries.  Her research appears in both leading Economics journals including European Economic Review, Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organization and policy outlets such as VOXEU and The Conversation.

Dr Anh Le is a Lecturer in Finance in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing at RMIT University. Her research is in corporate finance, with a recent focus on climate-related risks and firms’ social practices, how these factors influence financing, investment, and risk management decisions and are priced in financial markets. She has published in numerous international peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, Energy Economics, Innovation and Green Development, Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Finance Research Letters, Accounting and Finance, and ABACUS. She also has extensive teaching experience across a wide range of finance courses.

Dr Bhagya Gunawardena is an applied economist with primary research interests in the economics of education, gender economics, labour economics, and experimental and behavioural economics. Her current projects centre on identifying cost-effective strategies to improve learning and educational outcomes and minimising female under-representation in high-paying occupations, with particular emphasis on peer learning, performance, and preference towards STEM. For her research, Bhagya primarily uses experimental and quasi-experimental methods.

I am Applied Economist working in the areas of development, gender and household behaviour using lab and field experiments. 

Lola Akin Ojelabi is Professor and Head of Department (Law) in the School of Law.  Lola’s research focuses on access to justice and conflict resolution: appropriate dispute resolution (ADR) including in relation to ethics, mediator responsibilities, teaching ADR in the law curriculum, cultural appropriateness, ADR and access to justice and ADR and social justice. Lola is interested in the role of international law in promoting global peace and justice particularly, how finding shared values may assist in the resolution or management of seemingly intractable conflicts.  She is co-author of Ethics and Justice in Mediation (2018), Dispute Resolution in Australia: Cases, Commentary and Materials (2023), Alternative Dispute Resolution (2026).

Marian Makkar is an Associate Professor of Marketing. She is also an award-winning researcher and educator. To foster change, she engages with industry, government, and communities.   Marian’s research program focuses on understanding and promoting consumer diversity and market inclusion at the intersection of identity, technology, branding, and institutions. She is deeply committed to making a difference by empowering communities and individuals to realise their potential and create sustainable impacts, which is evidenced by her 2024 College of Business & Law Research Excellence Award in Social Impact. Her passion lies in fostering positive change that transforms lives and strengthens communities, whether through academic research, collaborations with not-for-profits, or personal volunteer work.   Her research falls under consumer behaviour, specifically consumer culture theory (CCT), employing qualitative methodologies such as ethnography, netnography, in-depth interviews, observations, and projective techniques. She has published in leading international journals, including the International Journal of Research in Marketing, Journal of Business Research, European Journal of Marketing, Current Issues in Tourism, Journal of Fashion Marketing & Management, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, and Marketing Intelligence & Planning. Her work has also been presented at premier academic conferences such as the Association of Consumer Research, Consumer Culture Theory Consortium, and Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conferences.   Marian is driven by the belief that targeted actions can drive significant shifts at individual, group, and societal levels. She finds fulfillment not only in research outcomes but also in the process of building relationships and contributing to something larger than herself.   Non-academic experience Before transitioning to academia, Marian worked with luxury brands as the Marketing Manager of Alfred Dunhill Limited in Dubai. Her career also includes public relations experience, managing FMCG, beauty, and luxury automotive brands across the Middle East, Africa, and New Zealand. Beyond academia, she actively volunteers in community housing and food banks in Melbourne, and drives initiatives to supply donated clothes and food to orphanages in Fiji.

Dr. Richard Ramsawak is a Senior Lecturer of Economics at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) – University, Vietnam, and former Head of the Center of Strategy and Competitiveness – at Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. He has lectured at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels in research methods, applied economics, micro and macroeconomics, mathematical methods in economics, data visualization, and business analytics. He is also a Director of Competitive Insights and Data Analytics Services Limited (CIDA). Dr. Ramsawak has significant experience coordinating the development and implementation of national-level strategic plans and competitiveness initiatives domestically and internationally. Awards & recognition: - Skills Award Fellowships Graduate Student Council, Clark University, 2017 - LASPAU Fulbright Scholarship - Ph.D. Economics USA, 2013-2015 - Overall Winner - Graduate Research Awards , Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, UWI 2007 - First Citizens Bank Graduate Scholarship in Economics, University of the West Indies, 2000 Industry experience: - Mohan, Preeya, Ramsawak, Richard and Mc Fee, Deborah (2021) “A Gender Responsive Private Sector Scoping Study to explore investment opportunities to enhance NDC implementation in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines”, Awarded by: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - Pricewaterhouse Coopers Trinidad and Tobago (2019), “Strategic Plan for the Guyana Land and Surveys Commission” Awarded by: The United Nations - Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Ramsawak, Richard and Miguel, Dindial (2020) – “Assessment of Secondary Markets for Movable Assets in the Jamaica Manufacturing Sector”, Awarded by: The International Financial Corporation Washington D.C. - Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, UWI and Nordicity (2019), “National Strategic Plan for the Development of the ITeS Industry of Trinidad and Tobago” Awarded by: The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

Dr. Nhung Vu is a lecturer in Economics at RMIT Vietnam, specialising in Economics, Quantitative Analysis, and Finance. She brings over two decades of academic experience, having previously held teaching positions at Can Tho University in Vietnam, the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and the Vietnamese-German University. Her expertise lies in imparting complex economic concepts and analytical skills to students across diverse cultural backgrounds. Awards & recognition One of five selected partipants who won the grant to join the final round of Publishing Workshop in Leicester University, United Kingdom funded by British Academy in June, 2019. Best research paper presented at the 2nd Vietnam's Business and Economics Research Conference (VBER 2018), Vietnam. Best research paper presented at the 10th Vietnam Economist Annual Meeting (VEAM 2017), Banking University, Vietnam, August 2017. Excellent Young Researcher, Can Tho University, Vietnam, 2017. Industry experience 2022 - Present: Consultant on Women Empowerment at the Center of Women Development, under the Vietnamese Women's Union. Focuses on initiatives and strategies to promote gender equality and enhance women's roles in societal development. 2022: Consultant on Microfinance for the Social Life Institution. December 2015 - January 2016: Worked as a Financial Analyst for the Impact Evaluation Project of Strengthening Social and Financial Performance of the Mekong Organization of Microfinance. This project aimed to position the organization as a leading MFI in the Mekong Region, funded by the Norwegian Mission Alliance and operating under the Tien Giang Capital Aid Fund for Women Economic Development. May - June 2015: Engaged as a Consultant for the final evaluation of the Child-centered Climate Resilience Program, managed by International Plan and Save the Children in Thai Nguyen, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Tien Giang provinces, Vietnam. April - May 2015: Served as a Consultant for the final evaluation of the Climate Smart Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in the Mekong Project. This was a collaboration between the Australian Red Cross, German Red Cross, and Vietnam Red Cross in Kien Giang and An Giang provinces, Vietnam.

Dr Chung received both master and PhD in Economics from James Cook University, Australia. Prior to joining RMIT Vietnam, Dr Chung worked as a lecturer/research assistant at James Cook University, Australia for more than 3 years. He also has more than 15 years of experience working as a senior lecturer in Economics in Vietnam. Also, he has more than one year of experience working as a research collaborator for the Harvard Business School, Harvard University, USA. His research interest focuses on economics development, household and SME economy. He has demonstrated his outstanding skillset in statistics, quantitative research methods, and big data analysis. Awards & recognition: - 2016-2020: Endeavour Leadership Program, Australia. - 2015-2016: New Zealand ASEAN Scholarship. - 2012-2014: Australian Development Scholarship. - 2010-2011: English Learning Course Scholarship.

Dr. Deepak Behera is a Lecturer in the Economics and Finance Department at RMIT University Vietnam. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, India. His doctoral research, Health Care Financing in Indian States: A Fiscal Space Perspective, examined the impact of macroeconomic policies on public healthcare expenditure and explored sustainable fiscal strategies to strengthen healthcare financing at the state level.   Dr. Behera's research sits at the intersection of economics and public health, with interests spanning macroeconomics, public finance and policy, development economics, health economics, global public health, and global economic issues. His current research focuses on healthcare financing, healthcare utilization and access, efficiency of health spending, aging and cognitive health, financial protection, climate and health, disease risk factors, digital health, maternal and child health, and the Global Burden of Disease.   Before joining RMIT University Vietnam, Dr. Behera worked at the Public Health Foundation of India and the Asian Institute of Public Health. He later joined the Manipal School of Commerce and Economics at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India, where he contributed to the development of the MSc Health Economics and MSc Economics programs. He has taught courses in health economics, healthcare financing and management, healthcare modelling, health policy, biostatistics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, and has supervised postgraduate research across a wide range of public health and economics topics.   Dr. Behera has contributed to several national and international research projects, including the Diagnostics of Health System Transformation (DHST) Project funded by Tata Trusts and the Health Systems Transformation Platform (HSTP). In 2021, he was awarded the Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) Fellowship, during which he led a research project on palliative healthcare services for cancer patients.   He has published extensively in leading international journals, including The Lancet Global Health, BMC Public Health, Scientific Reports, Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, Alzheimer's & Dementia, and Health Economics Review. He also serves as an Associate Editor of Health Economics Review and is an active member of Health Systems Global.

Dr. Van Ha is a Senior Lecturer in Economics in the Department of Finance and Economics at RMIT University Vietnam. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, as well as a Master’s degree in Economics and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Economics and International Economics from Vietnam National University.   With more than 15 years of academic and research experience, Dr. Van has taught at several universities in Vietnam and New Zealand. Her research focuses on foreign direct investment, domestic firm performance, firm behavior, gender inequality, and sustainable development. She has published nover 20 research articles in highly ranked journals, including two A* journal.   Dr. Van is committed to linking economic theory with practical application and contributing to research on important issues in international and development economics.  

Dr. Adeel Ahmed holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Malaya, complemented by a postdoctoral stint at the University of Waterloo, Canada. With an illustrious career spanning over a decade and served as an Associate Professor at NUST Business School, Islamabad Pakistan. Administration Experience Current (2018-2023) HoD Executive MBA Program NUST BusinessSchool (NBS), National University of Sciences & Technology Current (2019-2023) Leading Assurance of Learning Standard (AOL) AACSB for EMBA NUST Business School (NBS), National University of Sciences & Technology Professional Affiliations Associate Editor (till 2022) NUST Business Review Guest Editor Sustainability Editorial Assistant 2016-2019 International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development Editorial Assistant 2016-2019 International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Member of Editorial Board Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies Conference Coordinator International Symposium on Sustainable Development and Management (ISSDM-2016) Research Experience (National and International Projects) 2020/22 (Team Member) ‘Public Private Partnership’ (PPP) model for low carbon climate resilient infrastructural development investment and institutional strengthening roadmap for PPPA and the Private Sector to unfold the opportunities, RFP-BD-2021- 029’, funded by UNDP New York, USA. 2018/19 (Principal Investigator) Prioritizing Climate Change Mitigation Option for Pakistan Food SecurityHigher Education Commission, Start-Up Research Grant Program (PKR 380000) Industry experience 2020/2021 Consultant in Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) In-depth economic analysis of the 5G technology implementation in Malaysia” 2019/2020 Consultant for Demand Analysis Techno-Economic Feasibility of Graphene-Based Supercapacitors (GSC) Sponsored by UNITEN- Malaysia Training and Workshops Conducted Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Training at International Business School, UTM Malaysia. (2016) Conducted Structural Equational Modeling training at the University of Haripur, Pakistan (2019) Awards and Recognitions 2003 Merit Scholarship in Agricultural University Peshawar 2008 Bronze Medal in Bachelor, Faculty of Rural Social Sciences. 2008 Higher Education Commission Pakistan Scholarship “Support to Scientific Talent” 2013 Bright Spark Scholarship from the University of Malay, Malaysia for a PhD

Tung is an experienced economics lecturer, having taught at various institutions over the past eight years. Before joining RMIT as a lecturer in economics, Tung was a lecturer at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. Tung has taught many courses in economics and finance, such as Price Theory, the Blockchain Economy, Corporate Finance, and International Finance. His research focuses on financial economics and macroeconomics policies. Tung is also an expert in macroeconomic modelling. Awards & recognition ·        2024 RMIT Media Star Award: Media Star of the Year 2024 ·        2024 Listening to Citizens’ Policy Proposals contest by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee: Second prize winner ·        2023 RMIT Media Star Award: Top Versatile Spokeperson 2023 ·        2021 Emerald Publishing Literati Awards for Outstanding Paper ·        2020 Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ·        2018 Research Excellence Award from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Industry experience 2019: Consultant for the Economics Analysis and Cost-Benefit Analysis for the project " Preventing River Bank Erosion in Mekong-River Delta"

Dr. Trinh Nguyen is a Lecturer in Economics at RMIT University Vietnam, with an integrated academic profile spanning research, teaching, and academic leadership. His research focuses on Economics, FDI, productivity, and economics of digital transformation, with publications in leading journals, including an A* paper in Research Policy (FT50, ABS 4*) and a strong pipeline of Q1 outputs. He is recognised for innovative, research-informed teaching, particularly in authentic assessment and simulation-based learning, improving student engagement and outcomes in large cohorts, and awarded the ADVC EdTech Encouragement Award 2025. Prior to joining RMIT, he held roles as a Senior Quantitative Analyst and Research Consultant at Standard of Proof (New Zealand), where he conducted rigorous impact evaluations for public sector programs using advanced quantitative methods. He also brings extensive academic leadership experience from Vietnam, having served as a Program Manager in Business and Management (2006–2017), where he led curriculum development, program delivery, and academic coordination. Awards & recognition: - August 2019. Best Paper Award. New Zealand Agricultural and Resource Economics Society - August 2019. Flower Agribusiness Conference Participation Award (New Zealand) - ADVC EdTech Encouragement Award 2025 (RMIT) - Research Excellence Awards for Top 1% publication 2024, Top 2-5% publication 2025 (RMIT)

Professor Tra Pham holds a PhD in Economics from University of Groningen (the Netherlands). Prior to joining RMIT Vietnam, she held various academic positions in University of Groningen and Vietnam National University and served as a Senior Economist to USAID projects advising the government of Vietnam on international economic policy issues. She has published in Economics of Transition, Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Journal of Emerging Market Finance, and Topics in Theoretical Economics. Her current research interests span over financial inclusion, applied development economics, applied economics of innovation and entrepreneurship, and blockchain economy. Awards & recognition 2020. College of Business & Law Research Impact Award 2017. Teaching excellence recognition, School of Business & Management, RMIT Vietnam.  2017. Top 5 inspiring teachers in 2017 nominated by RMIT Vietnam students 2016. Teaching excellence recognition by School of Business & Management, RMIT Vietnam.  2012. Best lecturer award, School of Business, International University (Vietnam National University HCMC) Industry experience 4 years experience as Senior Economist for a USAID project providing advice and consultancy to the government of Vietnam on economic issues

Dr. Kok Seng Kiong is currently Senior Lecturer in Finance and Head of Undergraduate Business Programs at The Business School, RMIT Vietnam. This role, sees Seng oversee the development and implementation of the academic quality framework for undergraduate offerings, focusing on the learner experience and graduate outcomes. This includes the recent implementation of the blended learning framework and involved educating the student cohort on its benefits, whilst also training the guiding the academic faculty on the development of their pedagogical practices. Within this dimension, Seng has also worked with the wider academic community conducting training with further and higher education institutions across Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Europe on gamification in the classroom and the construction of active learning spaces. He graduated with a PhD from the University of Liverpool focusing on alternative financial and banking systems, and socially responsible investments. His research interests have extended into exploring use-cases for emergent disruptive technologies within sustainable finance and th economics of sustainability. He has led and co-led numerous research projects funded by entities such EU Horizon, and the European Regional Development Fund that address key SDG issues, and has published in international academic journals including Journal of Development Studies, Emerging Markets Review, and Research in International Business and Finance. These publications have also included market commissioned reports to non-academics including work funded by Business Finland and the Ethereum Foundation.     Research grants & Funding   2026  Climate Adaptation & Resilience (CLARE-ASEAN), Heat Adaptation in the Mekong Region, A$82,242  2024  Australia Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Urban Heat Resilience: Bridging, Science, Policy, and Sustainable Design, Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks, A$8,000 Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy – Business Finland, Medical Sector in Vietnam: Waste Management (MedView), A$24,900 RMIT Strategic Innovation Challenge, Green traceability and the creation of on-campus nature-based solutions for urban greening and sustainability objectives, A$98,200 RMIT Strategic Innovation Challenge, Empowering educators with AI: A nationwide transformative initiative for Vietnam, A$249,275  2023 EU Horizon, Waste Management in Humanitarian Operations: Reduction and Minimisation (WORM), Project No: 1011353392, A$327,341 RMIT Strategic Innovation Challenge, Enabling the green energy transition at RMIT Vietnam SGS Campus, A$99,252 RMIT Strategic Innovation Challenge, The creation of active learning spaces using modular classroom furniture, A$32,000 RMIT Innovation Proof of Concept Grant, A blockchain-enabled emissions trading scheme, A$10,000  2022 Ethereum Foundation, Monetary Policy in the Age of Cryptocurrencies, A$96,108  2019 European Regional Development Fund, LCR Activate, A$84,000    Awards & recognition   2025: Recipient of Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) Service Delivery Team Award 2025  2025: Recipient of CoBL Staff Awards 2025 Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning  2025: Recipient of RMIT Vietnam Research Through the Lens 1st Place Award for Research Impact   2024: Recipient of TBS Research Impact Awards 2024, Team Category, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam 2024: Recipient of RMIT Vietnam Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards 2024, Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, RMIT Vietnam, Vietnam 2021: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) 2021: Faculty Recognition Award, Excellence in Digital Education, Liverpool John Moores University U.K. 2020: Nominee, Best Teaching Team in John Moores Student Union Amazing Teaching Awards, Liverpool John Moores University, U.K.

Biography Dr. Ronald Kumar is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at RMIT University Vietnam. He brings more than a decade of academic, research, and industry experience across economics, finance, and development studies. Prior to joining RMIT University Vietnam, Dr. Kumar served at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji, for over ten years, progressing through a range of academic leadership roles including Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, and Adviser for the Banking and Finance Program within the School of Accounting and Finance. He began his academic career in 2011 as a Teaching Assistant in the School of Economics at USP, where he taught courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic statistics, and development economics before transitioning to finance and banking education.   Before entering academia, Dr. Kumar worked as an Economist at the Reserve Bank of Fiji and as a Project Analyst with ANZ Pacific Operations. From January 2019 to May 2022, he served as Associate Professor in the School of Accounting and Finance at USP, contributing significantly to teaching, research, curriculum development, and postgraduate supervision.   Teaching Dr. Kumar has extensive teaching and course coordination experience across economics, finance, and banking disciplines. His teaching portfolio includes: Economics Microeconomics Macroeconomics Business Statistics Development Economics Finance Financial Mathematics Investment Analysis International Finance Corporate Finance Development Finance Banking Banking Management His teaching philosophy emphasizes analytical thinking, practical application of economic and financial theory, and evidence-based decision-making in contemporary business and policy environments.   Research Dr. Kumar's research lies at the intersection of economics, finance, and development studies. His work explores the drivers of economic growth and development, with a particular focus on developing economies and small states. Drawing on both theoretical and empirical approaches, his research is strongly informed by contemporary growth theories and development economics. His major research interests include: Tourism Economics Research examining the economic impacts of tourism development, sustainability, and tourism-led growth. Selected publication outlets: Tourism Management, Tourism Economics, Tourism Management Perspectives, Tourism Analysis, Applied Economics, Social Indicators Research, Metroeconomica, Economies, and Journal of Asia Pacific Economy.   Migration and Remittances Research focusing on labour mobility, remittance flows, and their implications for economic development. Selected publication outlets: Quality & Quantity, Economic Systems, International Migration, Applied Economics, African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, and International Review of Economics.   Energy and Economic Growth Research investigating the relationship between energy consumption, renewable energy, and economic development. Selected publication outlets: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Energy Policy, and Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology.   Technology, Innovation, and Economic Development Research exploring digitalization, technological advancement, innovation, and productivity growth. Selected publication outlets: Telecommunications Policy, Economic Change and Restructuring, and Quality & Quantity.   Peace Economics Research examining the economic dimensions of conflict, peacebuilding, and social stability. Selected publication outlets: Defence and Peace Economics, Journal of Economic Studies, and Singapore Economic Review.   Pensions and Demographic Economics Research focused on population ageing, pension systems, demographic transitions, and economic sustainability. Selected publication outlets: Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Metroeconomica, and Panoeconomicus.   Investment and Banking Sector Analysis Research related to financial markets, banking performance, risk management, and investment behaviour. Selected publication outlets: Journal of Risk and Financial Management, Accounting Research Journal, Risks, PLOS ONE, Quality & Quantity, and Physica A.   Market Structure and Macroeconomics Research examining competition, industrial structure, and macroeconomic performance. Selected publication outlets: Annals of Economics and Finance, Metroeconomica, Sustainability, Journal of Economics, and Bulletin of Economic Research.   As of January 2026, Dr. Kumar's research impact is reflected in an h-index of 24 on Scopus and 35 on Google Scholar, demonstrating a strong international scholarly presence across economics and finance disciplines.   Professional Service and Memberships Dr. Kumar is actively engaged in the international academic community through editorial leadership, professional memberships, and scholarly service.   Professional Memberships Member, Post Keynesian Economics Society (since 2024) Member, Australian Economic Society (since 2024) Regular Member, CFA Institute (2021-2025)   Editorial and Academic Service Editorial Board Member, Green Finance (AIMS Press), 2019-present Guest Editor, Journal of Risk and Financial Management (2019-present) Guest Editor, Special Issue on Financial Development and Economic Growth, Journal of Risk and Financial Management (2020-2022) Guest Editor, Sustainability (2019-2020) Associate Editor, Journal of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Fiji (2018-2020)   Through his research, teaching, and professional engagement, Dr. Kumar contributes to advancing knowledge in economics, finance, and development, with particular emphasis on policy-relevant research for developing economies and small island states.