Gary Hancock

Gary Hancock

Adelaide Business School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Gary is lecturer and undergraduate program director for the Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation, and Innovation Centre in The University of Adelaide.

From an academic perspective, he has taught and developed courses in the areas of small business management, new venture creation, business consulting, and entrepreneurship (both face to face and on-line education modes). He has experience in designing and delivering an undergraduate program, the Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship which included coordinating the development and delivery of all the courses in the program. The program is delivered both in Australia and in Singapore.

He has taught at the University of South Australia, for private training institutions, community education, and now at The University of Adelaide. His academic experience includes teaching, course development, administration, leadership, student supervision, and student mentoring. Gary holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing.

At The University of Adelaide, Gary is involved in the e-Challenge competition, Commercialisation Accelerator Program, and ThincLab, the University's business incubator.

From a hands-on business perspective, Gary has worked in a large telecommunications organisation both in a technical and senior management role. He spent over sixteen years starting, operating, and harvesting growth-oriented ventures in franchise and non-franchise environments. These businesses have been in the entertainment, telecommunications, business consulting, vocational education, and child care industries. Gary also assisted in developing the Innovation Foundation Program, a joint project between the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the City of Salisbury, and UniSA.

From a community perspective, Gary provides mentor support and advice to young entrepreneurs via the South Australian Young Entrepreneur Scheme (SAYES). He has developed and run courses about planning and starting a business for Business SA (the South Australian Chamber of Commerce) and for a local not-for-profit education organisation (WEA), and is the past President and Chair of the Board of the WEA.

Gary's research is in the field of early stage business financing and start-up. He is interested in the phenomenon of how and why people engage in new venture formation.

Gary's research interests includes business incubation, financing start-up ventures, Regional entrepreneurship and innovation, and education in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Gary's PhD examined early stage venture financing. He is interested in the phenomenon of how and why investors invest in new ventures started by entrepreneurs with whom they have a prior relationship.

Current research projects include:

  • Regional Urban Renewal; developing methodologies that enable an urban space and planning approach combined with innovation and entrepreneurship in order to positively impact on renewal.
  • Innovative learning and teaching; Action research and case study approaches to examining the breaking down of educational barriers between levels of education (High School/TAFE/University/Industry).

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2015 - ongoing Academic Director, The Australian eChallenge program The University of Adelaide
    2007 - ongoing Academic Director, Undergraduate Program The University of Adelaide

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2012 Cert IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110) WEA SA Australia
  • $1.2M Project through the Regional Development Innovation Fund for establishing the eChallenge in the Riverland. Total $1.2M project, of which $532,000 is cash contribution and the remainder in kind from local business, community and The University of Adelaide.
  • $25,000 Project in conjunction with the RDA Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, and Kangaroo Island delivering a Value Chain Workshop program to small and medium enterprises in the region.
  • $15,000 University Grant for interdisciplinary research on "Public space, social complexity, and sustainable urban regeneration in Poer Augusta"

Gary's principle teaching interest is in entrepreneurship. He is particularly interested in the connection and relevance of entrepreneurship education at academic, business and community levels. Gary has also taught management to both business and engineering students. He has also developed and taught courses in small business management, new venture creation, and entrepreneurship. He has developed course content at community, undergraduate, and postgraduate level.

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2017 Principal Supervisor The Influence and Role of Social Capital in Managing Technological Change in Industry Contexts Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lina Landinez Gomez
    2015 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Exploring Immigrant and Transnational Entrepreneurship in the Australia and China Context Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yu Chen

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2003 - ongoing Member Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneuship Australia
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