Simon Pawson

Background

About Simon Pawson

Leadership in today’s world is an activity that has become over theorised, complex and often laden with multiple swings, roundabouts and slippery dips. I excel at making practical sense of the multiple leadership approaches and applying them to achieve effective solutions and results for the ever changing higher education environment. I am passionate by both the theory and practice of leadership, particularly leadership across generations, empowerment, reflective and adaptive leadership, and leading with a higher purpose. Drawing from my own experiences, I also greatly enjoy mentoring others on their leadership journey. Leadership is fundamentally about yourself, others and the environments you operate in. I have spent a lifetime in ‘people’ environments. Growing up on my family’s zoo, I then spent 17 years with leading five star hotel brands in Australia and since 2004 in higher education. My current leadership role involves a substantive portfolio in a rapidly growing university specifically focused on the successful operation of the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School. My key priorities revolve around quality management, retention, progression, student experience, industry engagement, professional development, curriculum & product development, organisational alignment across domestic & international campuses, financial performance, operations and championing change & agility. I am also interested in environmental and social justice, and how sustainable outcomes of tourism can positively contribute to the protection of endangered species, minority communities and associated cultural heritage. Since 2003 my research has specifically focused on tourism development in Cambodia. As a cultural anthropologist, I am particularly interested in the triangle of tourism / communities and community development / built and intangible heritage and culture. My PhD and subsequent research has focused on the community and temple at Banteay Chhmar (Northwest Cambodia). My areas of teaching are social and environmental justice, community-based tourism, responsible and sustainable tourism, tourism and species conservation, strategic management, destination marketing, cultural and heritage tourism, antiquities theft, destination management, leadership, organisational behaviour.