Professor Victor Callan
Professor

Victor Callan

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+61 7 334 68013

Background

Victor Callan AM is Professor of Leadership and Organisational Change at the University of Queensland (UQ) Business School in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. His research investigates a variety of factors impacting on organisational change, leadership performance and employee training, and he is one of Australia's most recognised researchers in these fields.

In terms of recognition by external bodies, Victor has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for his significant service to higher education in the field of management as a researcher and adviser to Government and industry. Within UQ, Victor has been awarded the University's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision for the quality of outcomes associated with his PhD supervision. In addition, he is a recipient of two UQ Excellence in Leadership Awards for his roles in developing strong research, consulting and industry partnerships.

Victor is a regular contributor to executive education for senior managers and executives in the public and private sectors in Australia and internationally. He has completed over 100 projects as an adviser for Federal, State and local government departments including major reviews on employee skills, vocational education and training, major industry closures and workforce development. He has also completed organisational and workforce development projects internationally, including for governments and organisations in South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Indonesia, Bhutan, Brunei, New Zealand, PNG and for South Pacific countries.

Currently his major teaching activities at UQ are in courses associated with MBA students, and students in the Bachelor of Advanced Business Honours program. In 2025 as one of the four Chief Investigators, he has begun his 14th Australian Research Council (ARC) project, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Mimal Land Council, and Indigenous women’s groups across northern Australia.

Availability

Professor Victor Callan is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services Psychology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, University of New South Wales
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research interests

  • Organisational Change, Leadership and Skills Development

    1. Organisational Change and Leadership Special interest in employees' and leaders' experiences with large scale organisational change, examining their levels of adaptation, personal capabilities, as well as the communication and team dynamics. 2. Employee Skills, Capabilities and Training Examinations of effective responses to skills development and shortages, including strategies around recognition of prior learning, e-learning, new models of apprenticeships and strategies to assist displaced older workers, training and retraining including downsized employees, and the skills of leaders and chairpersons required of corporate boards.

Research impacts

Published reports for the National Centre for Vocational Education Research by Professor Callan are informing public policy in the areas of workforce development, apprenticeships, the application of e-learning in the workplace, and the development of improved pathways between the vocational education and higher education sectors. In addition, he has completed numerous evaluations of the effectiveness of State and Federal Government programs including evaluations of training programs in prisons; new models for the delivery of mental health services; programs to introduce more e-learning and e-assessment into workplaces; investigations into programs to assist employees impacted by large scale industry closures; and evaluations of various forms of apprenticeship models. His published academic work that consists of over 250 publications is presented into various executive education and middle manager programs for UQ, especially around applications for improved leadership, better communication, changes to workplace training and more successful change management.

Search Professor Victor Callan’s works on UQ eSpace

300 works between 1980 and 2025
All (300) Journal Article (178) Book Chapter (16) Conference Publication (60) Book (17) Other Outputs (29)

201 - 220 of 300 works

1992

Journal Article

The influence of applicant communication style and interviewer characteristics on hiring decisions

Gallois, C., Callan, V. J. and Palmer, J. M. (1992). The influence of applicant communication style and interviewer characteristics on hiring decisions. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 22 (13), 1041-1060. doi: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1992.tb00941.x

The influence of applicant communication style and interviewer characteristics on hiring decisions

1992

Conference Publication

Coping Strategies During Organizational-Change

Callan, VJ (1992). Coping Strategies During Organizational-Change. HOVE: PSYCHOLOGY PRESS.

Coping Strategies During Organizational-Change

1992

Conference Publication

Type of Organizational Event and National Culture as Determinants of Event Management Source Use

Smith, PB, Callan, V, Cho, NG, Jesuino, JC, Mortazawi, S, Radford, M and Savage, G (1992). Type of Organizational Event and National Culture as Determinants of Event Management Source Use. HOVE: PSYCHOLOGY PRESS.

Type of Organizational Event and National Culture as Determinants of Event Management Source Use

1992

Journal Article

Young-Adult Drinking Behavior - a Comparison of Diary and Quantity-Frequency Measures

Ocallaghan, FV and Callan, VJ (1992). Young-Adult Drinking Behavior - a Comparison of Diary and Quantity-Frequency Measures. British Journal of Addiction, 87 (5), 723-732. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1992.tb02718.x

Young-Adult Drinking Behavior - a Comparison of Diary and Quantity-Frequency Measures

1992

Journal Article

Alcoholism and family interaction

Schweitzer, R., Wilks, J. and Callan, V. J. (1992). Alcoholism and family interaction. Drug and Alcohol Review, 11 (1), 31-34. doi: 10.1080/09595239200185051

Alcoholism and family interaction

1992

Journal Article

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adolescents

Schweitzer, RD, Sethsmith, M and Callan, V (1992). The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 15 (1), 83-97. doi: 10.1016/0140-1971(92)90067-F

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Psychological Adjustment in Young Adolescents

1992

Conference Publication

Communication accommodation between Chinese and Australian students and lecturers

Gallois, C., Jones, E., Barker, M. and Callan, V. J. (1992). Communication accommodation between Chinese and Australian students and lecturers. XXV International Congress of Psychology, Brussels, 1992. Hove, England: Psychology Press.

Communication accommodation between Chinese and Australian students and lecturers

1992

Conference Publication

Intercultural Communication - Evaluations of Lecturers and Australian and Chinese Students

Gallois, C, Barker, M, Jones, E and Callan, VJ (1992). Intercultural Communication - Evaluations of Lecturers and Australian and Chinese Students. 10Th International Conf of the International Assoc for Cross-Cultural Psychology, Nara Japan, 1990. LISSE: SWETS AND ZEITLINGER B V.

Intercultural Communication - Evaluations of Lecturers and Australian and Chinese Students

1992

Journal Article

Effect of television advertising of alcohol on alcohol consumption and intentions to drive

Wilks, Jeffrey, Vardanega, Angelo T. and Callan, Victor J. (1992). Effect of television advertising of alcohol on alcohol consumption and intentions to drive. Drug and Alcohol Review, 11 (1), 15-21. doi: 10.1080/09595239200185031

Effect of television advertising of alcohol on alcohol consumption and intentions to drive

1992

Journal Article

Communication and the service encounter: the value of convergence

Sparks, Beverley and Callan, Victor J. (1992). Communication and the service encounter: the value of convergence. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 11 (3), 213-224. doi: 10.1016/0278-4319(92)90019-R

Communication and the service encounter: the value of convergence

1992

Book Chapter

Intercultural communication: Evaluations of lecturers and Australian and Chinese students

Gallois, C., Barker, M., Jones, E. and Callan, V. J. (1992). Intercultural communication: Evaluations of lecturers and Australian and Chinese students. Innovations in cross-cultural psychology. (pp. 86-102) edited by Iwawaki, S., Kashima, Y. and Leung, K.. Lisse, Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers.

Intercultural communication: Evaluations of lecturers and Australian and Chinese students

1991

Journal Article

Culture and Interpersonal-Communication - Gudykunst,wb, Tingtoomey,s, Chua,e

Callan, VJ (1991). Culture and Interpersonal-Communication - Gudykunst,wb, Tingtoomey,s, Chua,e. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 22 (4), 547-549. doi: 10.1177/0022022191224013

Culture and Interpersonal-Communication - Gudykunst,wb, Tingtoomey,s, Chua,e

1991

Journal Article

Difficulties of overseas students in social and academic situations

Barker, Michelle, Child, Christine, Gallois, Cynthia, Jones, Elizabeth and Callan, Victor J. (1991). Difficulties of overseas students in social and academic situations. Australian Journal of Psychology, 43 (2), 79-84. doi: 10.1080/00049539108259104

Difficulties of overseas students in social and academic situations

1991

Book

The adolescent and the family

Noller, Patricia and Callan, Victor J. (1991). The adolescent and the family. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.

The adolescent and the family

1991

Book

Social psychology

Callan, Victor J., Gallois, Cynthia , Noller, Patricia and Kashima, Yoshihisa (1991). Social psychology. 2nd ed. Sydney, Australia: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Social psychology

1991

Book Chapter

Interethnic accommodation: The role of norms

Gallois, C. and Callan, V. J. (1991). Interethnic accommodation: The role of norms. Contexts of accommodation: Developments in applied sociolinguistics. (pp. 245-269) edited by Giles, H., Coupland, J. and Coupland, N.. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Interethnic accommodation: The role of norms

1990

Journal Article

Adolescents Perceptions of the Nature of Their Communication with Parents

Noller, P and Callan, VJ (1990). Adolescents Perceptions of the Nature of Their Communication with Parents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 19 (4), 349-362. doi: 10.1007/BF01537077

Adolescents Perceptions of the Nature of Their Communication with Parents

1990

Journal Article

The long-term spectrum and perceived emotion

Pittam, J., Gallois, C. and Callan, V. J. (1990). The long-term spectrum and perceived emotion. Speech Communication, 9 (3), 177-187. doi: 10.1016/0167-6393(90)90055-E

The long-term spectrum and perceived emotion

1990

Book

Adolescence: an Australian perspective

Heaven, Patrick C. L. and Callan, Victor J. eds. (1990). Adolescence: an Australian perspective. Sydney, NSW Australia: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Adolescence: an Australian perspective

1990

Journal Article

A diary approach to analysing young adults' drinking events and motivations

WILKS J. and CALLAN V.J. (1990). A diary approach to analysing young adults' drinking events and motivations. Drug and Alcohol Review, 9 (1), 7-13. doi: 10.1080/09595239000185021

A diary approach to analysing young adults' drinking events and motivations

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Amplifying leadership and voices of Indigenous women environmental rangers
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2023
    Careers in everyday industries: Potential benefits of increased visibility (National Careers Institute Partnerships Grant)
    Federation University Australia
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2023
    Taylor Family Director (Chair) of The Centre for the Business and Economics of Health
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Managing Key Professional Transitions in the Health Sector
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Newcomer Socialisation: Testing a Human Resources Model
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Newcomer socialisation: Examining the processes predicting changes in organisational identification over time
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    Team processes, identification, and reliable performance: Implementing the Balanced Scorecard in health service teams
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    Coping with an Organizational Merger: A Longitudinal Study Investigating Changes in Social Identification Among Employees from High and Low Status Pre-Merger Organizations
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Identifying and Removing Boundaries to Effective Team Functioning and Communication
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2007
    Site-Level Community Engagement Processes in the Australian Minerals Industry: A Comparative Analysis
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    The Management of Information Technology Based Organisational Change
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Community Consultative Mechanisms in the Australian Minerals Industry: An Evaluation
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Employee adjustment to organisation change: applying social identity theory
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    Employee adjustment to organisational change: The role of communication and intergroup perceptions.
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    UQ - Wolston Park Hospital Collaboration Framework Agreement
    Wolston Park Hospital
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Employee Adjustment to Continue Organisational Change
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Employee adjustment to continued organisational change
    Department of Public Works & Housing
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2000
    Employee adjustment to continued organisational change (in kind contribution only - no cash)
    Princess Alexandra Hospital
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    Validation of a strategic organisational culture survey
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1997
    Communication and workplace diversity
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Victor Callan is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Asian-Australian Leaders' Ascension to Top Management Teams and their Contributon to Organisational Resilience

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ree Jordan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The role of maverickism in driving cultural transformation to achieve future workforce objectives

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ree Jordan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Asian-Australian Leaders' Ascension to Top Management Teams and their Contributon to Organisational Resilience

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Ree Jordan

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Victor Callan directly for media enquiries about:

  • Leadership
  • Organisational change
  • Training and skills - work
  • Work place communication

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