Christopher Graves

Associate Professor Christopher Graves

Associate Prof/Reader

Adelaide Business School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Associate Professor Chris Graves is a Chartered Accountant, and director of the Family Business Education and Research Group [FBERG] at the University of Adelaide Business School. Chris 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. Chris has been serving as an external member of the University Council's 'Audit, Compliance and Risk' sub-committee since 2014.

Since joining the University of Adelaide in 2007, Chris has spent considerable time educating managers and owners of privately-owned firms. Each year, he is actively involved in improving the financial literacy of owners and managers through the University’s Executive Education and Masters of Business Administration programs. In 2015, in conjunction with Family Business Australia and the Government of South Australia, he introduced the NextGen eChallenge educational program to assist in the development of the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders in family-controlled enterprises. In 2015, he developed an owner leadership development program (‘Catalyst’) in conjunction with the Government of South Australia, industry associations and business owners.

With regard to research, Chris publishes in top international journals such as Family Business Review on issues surrounding the management and performance of family-controlled SMEs. In 2006, he graduated with a PhD which 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 received an international award from the Family Firm Institute (FFI), based in the USA. In 2013, 2015, and 2017 he undertook the KPMG-Family Business Australia ‘National Family Business Survey’ and was an academic advisor for KPMG International’s study investigating the role of private equity financing in family-controlled enterprises around the world. He completed a 4 year term on the board of the International Family Enterprise Research Academy (www.ifera.org), the leading global network of family business scholars.

As part of his specialisation in family business, Chris completed a Graduate Diploma in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice in 2017.

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chris-graves-315bb2b/

Areas of research:

  1. Family Business [main focus]
  2. Small Business Management
  3. Internationalisation
  4. Management Accounting Systems
  5. Financial Management

 

2020 KPMG Australia - Australian Family Business Insights (funding amount available on request)

2020 University of Western Australia COVD-19 Research Grant Round 2 (with Donella Caspersz) “A Different Normal? Responsible Leadership in Australian Family Business During COVID 19’’ ($5,000). 

2019 Government of South Australia / Mutual Trust Pty. Ltd. - Australian Family Office Research Project ($100,000)

2017 KPMG Family Business Australia - National Family Business Survey (funding amount available on request)

2016 Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners - Estate and Wealth Planning Survey ($20,000 - together with Charles Sturt University)

2015-2016 South Australian Department of State Development Fostering an Entrepreneurial Culture in the NextGen of Family Firms, ($30,000)

2015 KPMG Family Business Australia - National Family Business Survey (funding amount available on request)

2013 KPMG Family Business Australia - National Family Business Survey (funding amount available on request)

2006 CPA Australia CPA Small Business Research Grant - Family-owned SMEs and Private Equity – Closing the Knowledge and Perception Gap’ ($10,000)

Program Director: Graduate Certificate in Family Enterprise

Areas of teaching: Family Business, Small Business Management, Management, Accounting, Governance

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Business succession and retirement planning for small business in Australia? Are the current small business tax concessions sufficient for small businesses to adequately retire and businesses succession? Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mr Markus Troschke
    2024 Co-Supervisor The role of identity in family firm succession Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Gary He
    2023 Principal Supervisor Governing the Family Enterprise: Models, Practices and Outcomes Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Mrs Lyndie Jane Van Orsouw
    2023 Principal Supervisor Strategic responses of Chinese family firms during times of external disruption: Examining family involvement and dynamic capabilities Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yao Zhou
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Advancing the Understanding of Family Businesses’ Psychological Foundations Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Ayoosha Saleem
    2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor The Story is in the Bottle: How SEW Influences the Business Models of Family Wine Businesses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Michael Holgate Browne
    2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor The harmonisation of GAAP and GFS financial reporting in the Australian public sector: Why and how did it happen? An agenda setting perspective Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sabine Schuhrer
    2010 - 2018 Co-Supervisor The Role of the User in Accounting for SME Wine Businesses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Melanie Jayne Reddaway
  • Board Memberships

    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2011 - 2014 Member Baptist Churches of South Australia Assembly Board Baptist Churches of South Australia Australia
    2011 - 2014 Board Member International Family Enterprise Research Academy Board International Family Enterprise Research Academy Netherlands
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2018 - ongoing Member Teaching and Learning Committee The University of Adelaide Business School Australia
    2018 - ongoing Member Honours / Masters of Business Research Committee The University of Adelaide Busines School Australia
    2016 - ongoing Member Faculty of Profession’s Student Misconduct Tribunal The University of Adelaide Australia
    2014 - ongoing Member University of Adelaide Audit, Compliance and Research Committee The University of Adelaide Australia
    2012 - 2014 Chair International Family Enterprise and Research Academy External Relations Sub-Committee International Family Enterprise Research Academy Netherlands
    2011 - 2014 Chair Baptist Churches of South Australia - Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee Baptist Churches of South Australia Australia
  • Editorial Boards

    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2015 - 2015 Editor International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research - Special Issue [Vol.21(6)] http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journal/ijebr United Kingdom
    2012 - 2012 Editor International Journal of Management Practice - Special Issue [Vol. 5(4)] Inderscience United Kingdom
    2010 - ongoing Member Journal of Family Business Strategy Editorial Board Elsevier United States
    2010 - ongoing Member Journal of Small Business Management Editorial Review Board Elsevier United States
    2008 - ongoing Member Family Business Review Editorial Board Family Firm Institute (USA) United States
  • Position: Associate Prof/Reader
  • Phone: 83137108
  • Email: christopher.r.graves@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83137108
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Nexus 10, floor 9
  • Org Unit: Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation, and Innovation Centre

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External Profiles