Mattia Anesa

My research draws on sociological theories to examine how organizations and their leaders justify controversial practices, engage with stakeholders, and respond to scandals both rhetorically and with practical actions. This work falls under the theoretical umbrella of organizational legitimacy and helps understanding how business ethics practices evolve over time. Empirically, my areas of interest span a wide variety of contexts, from the emergence of responsible taxation to the implementation of ethics management systems, from the integration of Indigenous values in Western management thinking to the protection of not-for-profits from trust failures, and from the governance of sport organizations to the evolution of ESG reporting. My approach to research is quite eclectic, including qualitative, quantitative, and conceptual work, yet I rely primarily on qualitative methodologies: chiefly interviews, archival material. and observations. Conducting this type of research has taken me across many countries including, Australia, Europe, China, the US, and Madagascar. Ultimately my work is aimed at providing guidance on how organizations can keep pace with the evolution of societal norms and stakeholder expectations.

My work has published in a variety of top journals including Journal of Management Studies (on how corporate leaders respond and adapt to critique during crises), Journal of Business Ethics (on the successes and failures of ethics control systems), Accounting, Organizations and Society (on changes of stakeholder expectations with regards to corporate taxation). These and other pieces have received multiple international recognitions, among others the R. Edward Freeman Journal of Business Ethics Philosophy in Practice Best Paper, the Amartya Sen Essay Prize by Academics Stand Against Poverty, and the Academy of Management Carolyn Dexter Award.

In teaching, I am best known for delivering courses in critical thinking, ethics, philosophy, leadership, sustainability, anthropology, and for integrating Indigenous knowledge. My teaching experience spans across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a decade of involvement in MBA and executive education programs. My passion for teaching was recognised with the student-nominated 2024 Beta Gamma Sigma Academic of the Year Award.

Before joining UQ, I was lecturer and then senior lecturer at the School of Strategy, Innovation, and Technology at the University of Sydney Business School. Prior to academia, I spent a decade working in the sport event management industry as a consultant. I also worked at the United Nations Global Compact in New York focusing on sustainability and anti-corruption practices. and in my family business as taxation and labour consultant.