Dr Chris Graves

Biography/ Background

Chris Graves is Head of the Accounting & Information System discipline and Senior Lecturer in the University of Adelaide Business School, and has substantial experience in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Australia and Asia. Prior to joining academia in 1995, Chris worked as an accountant in a number of different fields, including public practice, the banking sector, and the manufacturing sector. He is a Certified Practising Accountant.

He has a Bachelors degree in Accountancy from the former South Australian Institute of Technology, a Masters in Economics from the University of New England, and a PhD from the University of Adelaide. His PhD investigated factors that limit the ability of family-owned SMEs to grow internationally, as well as the manner in which those obstacles can be overcome. His PhD research has received four international awards.

Chris is married with one child, enjoys cycling and is an active member of his local church.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Adelaide, 2006. Thesis was awarded the Best Dissertation Honourable Mention Award from the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in the USA.

PhD thesis was entitled "Venturing Beyond the Backyard: An Examination of the Internationalisation Process of Australian SME Family-Owned Manufacturing Enterprises"

Master of Economics [Accounting & Financial Management], University of New England, 2001. Thesis was awarded the UNE's DH Drummond Memorial Dissertation prize.

Masters thesis was entitled "Identifying Recovery Candidates"

Bachelor of Arts [Accountancy], South Australian Institute of Technology, 1992.

Certified Practicing Accountant [CPA], CPA Australia

Teaching Interests

Chris has a passion for equipping managers with the financial literacy required for them to effectively carry out their managerial roles. He is currently responsible for the courses "Accounting for Managers", "Strategic Performance Drivers" and "Family Business Issues & Perspectives" [new course for 2010].

He also has a strong interest in the management education of SME owners.

Research Interests

Because of his previous experience [both as an accountant and as a researcher], and their importance to national economies, Chris has a particular interest in the management and international growth of SMEs and family businesses.

He also has an interest in organisational financial distress and turnaround strategies, as well as the development and application of product costing and performance measurement systems within organisations.

Chris is currently on the editorial board of:

1. Family Business Review [A-ranked journal published by Sage Publications]

2. Journal of Family Business Strategy [New journal (2010) published by Elsevier]

Professional Associations

Member: Accounting & Finance Association of Australia & New Zealand [AFAANZ]

Member: International Family Enterprise Research Association [IFERA]

Files

• DR_CHRIS_GRAVES_Bio_of_publications_TO_DATE.pdf [195.2K] (application/pdf)

Entry last updated: Friday, 2 Oct 2009