Opportunities and challenges for business engagement, innovation and growth
This broad area of research canvasses a range of issues from political economy and capacity building to opportunities and challenges for business engagement, innovation and growth. Research explores financial inclusion and literacy, gender studies, sustainable development and issues affecting economies in developing countries.
Impact
Overview
GAI's Dr Hui Feng and Shawn Hunter talk about economic development and growth challenges and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region and why GAI is well placed to address these.
Research
GAI's Dr Hui Feng and Shawn Hunter talk about research and capacity-building programs around financial inclusion and digital technologies being undertaken at GAI.
RESEARCHERS
- Professor Naomi Birdthistle
- Assoc Prof Kerry Bodle
- Professor Caitlin Byrne
- Assoc Prof Andreas Chai
- Mr Anthony Cook
- Dr Tarni Cooper
- Professor Ivan Diaz-Rainey
- Dr L.Fernando Distadio
- Professor Susan Harris Rimmer
- Mr Shawn Hunter
- Dr Md Sayed Iftekhar
- Professor Shireenjit Johl
- Dr Amber Marshall
- Dr Bradley McConachie
- Dr Athula Naranpanawa
- Dr Akihiro Omura
- Assoc Prof Robin Roberts
- Assoc Prof Tapan Sarker
- Professor Selva Selvanathan
- Professor Saroja Selvanathan
- Dr Parmendra Sharma
- Assoc Prof Tarlok Singh
- Dr Elise Stephenson
- Dr Jen-Je Su
- Dr Tracey West
CURRENT RESEARCH
Here are some samples of our current research projects that show the breadth and depth of our interdisciplinary research in economic development and growth.
COVID-19 gendered risks, impact and response in the Indo-Pacific–rapid research and policy guidance
This project aims to develop an evidence-based approach that identifies the specific risk of economic hardship and food insecurity that women have experienced during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Stage 2 of the ACIAR COVID-19 assessment identified that gender inequity and its consequences were significant vulnerabilities across the Indo-Pacific region, and while some progress has been made in gender equality, significant inequality for women and girls remains persistent. The unequal access to productive resources (including land, service inputs, finance, training and information), markets and institutions, continues to hamper the realisation of women's human and productive potential.
During conflicts and natural disasters, social structures are further destabilised, leaving many women and girls vulnerable to increased sexual violence, exploitative labour and trafficking. This is further compounded by the lack of adequate data and evidence to inform policy and program interventions and insufficient monitoring to address impunity and provide protection.
There is an opportunity to build an evidence base that identifies the specific risk of hardship, insecurity, and inequality that women have experienced during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, there was growing concern that the UN SDG #2, Zero Hunger, would not be met.
Regionally, women and children have experienced more significant hardships accessing safe, affordable and nutritional foods during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is further compounded by the discrimination women experience in accessing credit, seed, and markets (formal and informal). A crisis on the scale of COVID-19, where lockdowns and border closures have caused extensive disruption to food systems and access to food markets, is likely to have created unequal gendered effects.
This pilot study encompasses a mixed-method research design through surveys and 'deep dive' studies. The research approach will produce information essential for developing reliable estimates of food insecurity and economic impacts on women in three countries due to the pandemic.
Developing women in knowledge intensive industries – Platform 4 Change – Australia-Vietnam
Naomi Birdthistle, Elise Stephenson, Susan Harris Rimmer, Julienne Senyard, Helen Massa, Caitlin Byrne and Bradley McConachie | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Platform 4 Change (P4C) is an educational and networking platform where women in innovative and knowledge-intensive industries (including high value-added market service industries such as finance, insurance, business services and telecommunications) across Vietnam and Australia can develop digital skills, leadership and advance international partnerships critical for navigating economic growth, engagement, and COVID-19 recovery. P4C will engage Vietnamese and Australian women interested in growing collaborative innovations, entrepreneurship and research pathways through masterclasses, fireside-chats, personalised mentoring, skills toolkits and workshops. P4C will develop transnational skills and networks, enabling people-to-people and business linkages to develop, supporting greater Australia-Vietnam economic engagement.
Pacific Islands Centre for Development and Policy Research
Parmendra Sharma, Tarlok Singh, Dr Jen-Je Su | Bank of Papua New Guinea, Central Bank of Solomon Islands, Central Bank of Timor Leste, Reserve Bank of Fiji and Reserve Bank of Vanuatu
The Pacific Islands Centre for Development and Policy Research (PICDPR) brings together leading economic and finance experts to help build the capacity for research and policy formulation at the central banks in the South Pacific, through joint working papers, research seminars, symposiums, conferences and other research activities.
The Centre aims to improve the emerging research engagement and collaboration between Griffith and the region’s central banks.
APEC Study Centre
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) Study Centre at Griffith University conducts research and engages relevant communities on international trade and investment, sustainable development, and inclusive growth in the Asia–Pacific region.
Our research focuses on:
- producing socially relevant knowledge that contributes to regional cooperation and development
- offering short-term academic-based training programs to policymakers and business leaders
- hosting high-level public forums and lectures on the latest APEC-related developments and trends.
Collaborative Australia-Indonesia Program for Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Caitlin Byrne, Cordia Chu and Brendan Mackey
The Collaborative Australia-Indonesia Program was launched to realise Griffith University’s commitment in engaging with Indonesia through a strategic and mutually beneficial way. The bilateral Program brings together expertise and coordinates opportunities across the two nations with the focus on sustainable development and climate change.
The Program will facilitate high level (track 1.5) bilateral dialogues, multidisciplinary research collaborations, higher degree research support and student mobility opportunities. The Program puts emphasis on contributing to sustainable development in Indonesia and enhanced knowledge and capacity in responding to the challenges of climate change.