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)

101 - 120 of 300 works

2005

Journal Article

Job uncertainty and personal control during downsizing: A comparison of survivors and victims

Paulsen, N., Callan, V. J., Grice, T. A., Rooney, D., Gallois, C., Jones, E., Jimmieson, N. L. and Bordia, P. (2005). Job uncertainty and personal control during downsizing: A comparison of survivors and victims. Human Relations, 58 (4), 463-496. doi: 10.1177/0018726705055033

Job uncertainty and personal control during downsizing: A comparison of survivors and victims

2005

Conference Publication

Support mobilisation: Facilitators and barriers in a nursing context

Lawrence, S. A., Pisarski, A. and Callan, V. J. (2005). Support mobilisation: Facilitators and barriers in a nursing context. 19th ANZAM Conference, Canberra, Australia, 7-10 December 2005. Canberra, Australia: ANZAM.

Support mobilisation: Facilitators and barriers in a nursing context

2005

Conference Publication

The effects of employee group memberships on organisational communication during organisational change

Grice, T, Gallois, C, Jones, E, Callan, V and Paulsen, N (2005). The effects of employee group memberships on organisational communication during organisational change. CARLTON: AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL SOC.

The effects of employee group memberships on organisational communication during organisational change

2005

Conference Publication

Affective climate and reactions to conflict in culturally heterogeneous workgroups

Ayoko, O. B., Hartel, C. and Callan, V. J. (2005). Affective climate and reactions to conflict in culturally heterogeneous workgroups. Academy of Management 2005 Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, 5-10 August, 2005. Hawaii: Academy of Management.

Affective climate and reactions to conflict in culturally heterogeneous workgroups

2005

Conference Publication

A longitudinal study investigating employees' coping with an organisational merger

Amiot, C. E., Terry, D. J., Jimmieson, N. L. and Callan, V. J. (2005). A longitudinal study investigating employees' coping with an organisational merger. 6th Industrial and Organizational Psychological Conference 2005, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, 30 June - 3 July, 2005. Melbourne: Australian Psychological Society.

A longitudinal study investigating employees' coping with an organisational merger

2005

Conference Publication

Sensemaking in difficult times: Experiences of employees in Asia-Pacific hospitals

Arnold, S. L., Boyle, M. V. and Callan, V. J. (2005). Sensemaking in difficult times: Experiences of employees in Asia-Pacific hospitals. 2005 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Honolulu, Hawaii, 5-10 August, 2005. Hawaii: Academy of Management.

Sensemaking in difficult times: Experiences of employees in Asia-Pacific hospitals

2005

Conference Publication

Engaging on the ground: Site-level community engagement practices in the Australian minerals industry

Brereton, D. J., Beach, R., Callan, V. J., Cheshire, L. A., McKenna, B., Paulsen, N. and Parsons, D.E.R. (2005). Engaging on the ground: Site-level community engagement practices in the Australian minerals industry. Sustainable Development Conference 2005 (SD05), Alice Springs, NT, 31 October - 4 November 2005. Kingston, ACT: Minerals Council of Australia.

Engaging on the ground: Site-level community engagement practices in the Australian minerals industry

2005

Conference Publication

An integrative model of the role of perceived available support in coping with organizational interpersonal conflict

Lawrence, S. A., Pisarski, A. and Callan, V. J. (2005). An integrative model of the role of perceived available support in coping with organizational interpersonal conflict. British Academy of Management Annual Conference, Oxford, UK, 13-15 September, 2005.

An integrative model of the role of perceived available support in coping with organizational interpersonal conflict

2005

Other Outputs

Why do students leave? Leaving vocational education and training with no recorded achievement

Callan, V. J. (2005). Why do students leave? Leaving vocational education and training with no recorded achievement. Adelaide, SA: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Why do students leave? Leaving vocational education and training with no recorded achievement

2005

Conference Publication

Measuring Community Engagement Through Sense of Place and Identity

McKenna, B. J., Beach, R., Brereton, D. and Callan, V. J. (2005). Measuring Community Engagement Through Sense of Place and Identity. IAP2 Conference: Risks and Rewards in Public Participation, Sydney, 6-8 March, 2005.

Measuring Community Engagement Through Sense of Place and Identity

2005

Journal Article

The role of psychological climate in facilitating employee adjustment during organizational change

Martin, AJ, Jones, ES and Callan, VJ (2005). The role of psychological climate in facilitating employee adjustment during organizational change. European Journal of Work And Organizational Psychology, 14 (3), 263-289. doi: 10.1080/13594320500141228

The role of psychological climate in facilitating employee adjustment during organizational change

2005

Conference Publication

Stress and coping with organisational change: Recent findings and implications

Callan, V. J., Lawrence, S. A. and Martin, A. (2005). Stress and coping with organisational change: Recent findings and implications. Industrial and Organizational Psychological Conference 2005, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, 30 June - 3 July, 2005. Melbourne: Australian Psychological Society.

Stress and coping with organisational change: Recent findings and implications

2005

Conference Publication

Stress and coping with organisational change: Recent findings and implications

Callan, V.J., Lawrence, S. and Martin, A. (2005). Stress and coping with organisational change: Recent findings and implications. 6th Australian Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference, Surfers Paradise, QLD Australia, 30 June − 3 July 2005. Abingdon, Oxon United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.1080/00049530600940008

Stress and coping with organisational change: Recent findings and implications

2005

Conference Publication

Investigating IT change: A social identity perspective

Watson, B. M., Schwarz, G. M., Whitehouse, J. and Callan, V. J. (2005). Investigating IT change: A social identity perspective. Industrial and Organizational Psychological Conference 2005, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, 30 June - 3 July, 2005. Melbourne: Australian Psychological Society. doi: 10.1080/00049530600940008

Investigating IT change: A social identity perspective

2005

Book Chapter

Organizations as intergroup contexts: Communication, discourse, and identification

Paulsen, N., Jones, E. L., Graham, P. W., Callan, V. J. and Gallois, C. (2005). Organizations as intergroup contexts: Communication, discourse, and identification. Intergroup Communication: Multiple Perspectives. (pp. 165-188) edited by J. Harwood and H. Giles. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

Organizations as intergroup contexts: Communication, discourse, and identification

2005

Other Outputs

Vocational education and training provision and recidivism in Queensland correctional institutions

Callan, V. J. and Gardner, M.J. (2005). Vocational education and training provision and recidivism in Queensland correctional institutions. Adelaide, SA: National Centre for Voctaional Education Research (NCVER).

Vocational education and training provision and recidivism in Queensland correctional institutions

2005

Other Outputs

Future directions project: Building staff capability TAFE Queensland

Callan, V. J. (2005). Future directions project: Building staff capability TAFE Queensland. Qld: Queensland Government Department of Employment and Training.

Future directions project: Building staff capability TAFE Queensland

2004

Journal Article

Uncertainty during organizational change: Types, consequences, and management strategies

Bordia, P., Hobman, E. V., Jones, E., Gallois, C. and Callan, V. J. (2004). Uncertainty during organizational change: Types, consequences, and management strategies. Journal of Business And Psychology, 18 (4), 507-532. doi: 10.1023/B:JOBU.0000028449.99127.f7

Uncertainty during organizational change: Types, consequences, and management strategies

2004

Journal Article

A longitudinal study of employee adaptation to organizational change: The role of change-related information and change-related self-efficacy

Jimmieson, Nerina L., Terry, Deborah J. and Callan, Victor J. (2004). A longitudinal study of employee adaptation to organizational change: The role of change-related information and change-related self-efficacy. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 9 (1), 11-27. doi: 10.1037/1076-8998.9.1.11

A longitudinal study of employee adaptation to organizational change: The role of change-related information and change-related self-efficacy

2004

Conference Publication

Perceived available support and the effects of organizational downsizing

Lawrence, S. A., Callan, V. J. and Pisarski, A. (2004). Perceived available support and the effects of organizational downsizing. The Academy of Management 64th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, 6-11 August, 2004. Rowan University,m Glassboro, NJ: Academy of Management.

Perceived available support and the effects of organizational downsizing

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

    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

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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