Professor
College of Science and Engineering
Dr Giselle Rampersad is a Professor in Innovation in the College of Science and Engineering and Director of the Centre for Defence Engineering Research and Training at Flinders University. She was named STEMM Educator of the Year in 2021 in the SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards and is the Director for the award winning Diploma of Digital Technologies. Under her leadership, it received national recognition, winning the Australian Defence Industry Award for the Training and Mentorship Program of the Year in 2020, by Defence Connect. It also won the Industry Collaboration award at the SA Training Awards in 2021. The program is undertaken by employees from BAE Systems Australia, Boeing, SMEs and teachers.
She leads various major defence research projects.
She has an interdisciplinary educational background including a PhD in Innovation and Technology Management (Adelaide University, Australia) and an MSc in Internet Systems and e-Business (Durham University, UK). Her primary research area is in innovation and technology management, with a particular emphasis on devising strategies for firms in managing innovation and developing policies with governments in building innovation capacity. A key part of her research includes digital transformation and human factors in the adoption of disruptive technologies, including autonomous technologies. Hear a podcast on her research.
Giselle has industry experience in several sectors such as defence, ICT, renewable energy and medical technologies as well as academic experience as she held various positions, namely, Director for the Work Integrated Learning Program for innovation, science, IT and engineering students (2009-2014); Coordinator for several Master, Bachelor and Diploma Programs (2009-present); founding member of the Advisory Board for Venture Dorm (for start-ups) (2012); and Lecturer in innovation management, innovation in medical devices and project management (2005-present).
PhD Innovation and Technology Management, University of Adelaide Business School (Australia)
Her PhD topic was: What are the key factors in managing collaborative innovation networks and how do they lead to successful technology transfer? Networks comprising government, university and business involved in innovation have grown in international prominence. Despite increases in these phenomena, few studies identify their critical success factors. Consequently, her research used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to contribute to theory development in various literatures including innovation and technology management, marketing and information systems. The study also provided guidelines for practitioners involved in multi-sectoral collaboration and innovation. The study spanned various industries including defence, ICT, biotechnology, nanotechnology and wine.
MSc E-Business and Internet Systems, Department of Computer Science, Durham University (UK)
BSc Management Studies, University of the West Indies
Finance (major), marketing and information systems (minors)
Graduate Certificate in Education (Higher Education), Flinders University (Australia)
Current funded research projects include:
BAE Systems and Flinders University industry 4.0 research: Further info
$2.9M research program with BAE Systems, ASC Shipbuilding and the Innovative Manufacturing CRC on industry 4.0 and human factors.
Naval Group industry 4.0 research:Further info
ARC Linkage project LP17 0100718: Economic complexity as a driver of innovation and smart specialisation (2018-2020), with Department of Innovation and Skills.
BAE Systems Australia, Industry 4.0 for supply chain competitiveness. (2019-2020) with AMGC Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre. See: further info
ACEN Australian Collaborative Education Network (2017-2018) Research Grant. An employer-student model for developing innovation and employability skills in STEM WIL students. Further info and podcast here
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science: Entrepreneurs Program Evaluation (2018-2019).
Australian Army. Exploring Australian industry capability to support Force scaling up (2019-2010). See report.
ARENA Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Development of National Roadmap for the Effective Deployment of Concentrating Solar Energy in Australia (2018).
Her teaching interests include innovation and technology management, information systems, project management, e-commerce and marketing.
Editorial Contribution
Giselle serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Engineering and Technology Management (JET-M), Technovation, Industrial Marketing Management (IMM) and the International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation (IJTTC). She has editted two books which have been published by Routledge and Nova Publishers, New York.