Overview
Background
Ree's research focuses on organisational outliers (exceptions to the norm) and headliners (sources of disproportionate influence), exploring the people, communities, behaviours, decisions, and emerging technologies that challenge prevailing assumptions and exert influence beyond what might ordinarily be expected.
Her research encompasses workplace mavericks, beneficial non-conformity and positive deviance; Indigenous leadership and resilient communities; high-impact leadership behaviours, both constructive and destructive; and judgement and decision-making in complex and extreme contexts, including the interaction of heuristics and agentic/generative AI.
Collectively, this work seeks to understand how exceptional forms of influence can drive innovation, resilience, adaptation, disruption, and change.
Drawing on more than 20 years of professional experience in leadership and organisational change, Ree combines rigorous scholarship with practical application. Her research is characterised by strong engagement with industry, government, Indigenous communities, and not-for-profit organisations, ensuring that academic insights are translated into meaningful outcomes for organisations and communities.
Availability
- Dr Ree Jordan is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate, University of Melbourne
- Bachelor, Griffith University
- Masters (Research), Monash University
- Postgraduate Diploma, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Workplace Mavericks, Beneficial Non-Conformity and Positive Deviance
Research examining individuals who constructively challenge conventional thinking and practice within organisations. This work explores workplace mavericks, beneficial non-conformity, positive deviance, innovation, entrepreneurship, and game-changing behaviour, with a focus on how organisations can harness unconventional perspectives to enhance adaptation, innovation, and performance.
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Leadership, Influence and Organisational Impact
Research exploring how leadership behaviours and influence shape organisational outcomes. This includes both constructive and destructive leadership, leadership power and influence, organisational politics, group dynamics, and the conditions under which high-impact behaviours contribute to innovation, adaptation, disruption, or failure.
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Indigenous Leadership and Resilient Communities
Research examining the leadership, influence, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, particularly Indigenous women, in building resilient communities. This work explores leadership practices, community resilience, collective action, Indigenous knowledge systems, and the factors that support positive social, environmental, and organisational outcomes.
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Judgement, Decision-Making and Emerging Technologies
Research exploring judgement and decision-making in complex and extreme contexts. Areas of interest include heuristics, high-consequence decision-making, human judgement, and the interaction between people and emerging technologies, including agentic and generative artificial intelligence.
Works
Search Professor Ree Jordan’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Co-creating impact: positioning Indigenous knowledge holders as expert researchers
Fitzsimmons, Terrance, Yates, Miriam S., Jordan, Ree and Callan, Victor J. (2026). Co-creating impact: positioning Indigenous knowledge holders as expert researchers. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 45 (3), 538-553. doi: 10.1108/edi-09-2023-0315
Featured
2025
Journal Article
The maverick factor: the role of positively deviant change agents in radical organizational change
Jordan, Ree, Fitzsimmons, Terrance W. and Callan, Victor J. (2025). The maverick factor: the role of positively deviant change agents in radical organizational change. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 38 (8), 30-49. doi: 10.1108/jocm-05-2024-0241
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Positively deviant: new evidence for the beneficial capital of maverickism to organizations
Jordan, Ree, Fitzsimmons, Terrance W. and Callan, Victor J. (2023). Positively deviant: new evidence for the beneficial capital of maverickism to organizations. Group and Organization Management, 48 (5) 10596011221102297, 1254-1305. doi: 10.1177/10596011221102297
Featured
2021
Book Chapter
Fear not your mavericks! Their bounded non-conformity and positive deviance helps organizations drive change and innovation
Jordan, Ree, Fitzsimmons, Terrance W. and Callan, Victor J. (2021). Fear not your mavericks! Their bounded non-conformity and positive deviance helps organizations drive change and innovation. Strategic responses for a sustainable future: new research in international management. (pp. 123-146) edited by Torben Juul Andersen. Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing. doi: 10.1108/978-1-80071-929-320214006
2026
Journal Article
The intersection between mining and tourism: Indigenous power and decolonising futures
Connors, Alexandra, Ruhanen, Lisa, Whitford, Michelle and Jordan, Ree (2026). The intersection between mining and tourism: Indigenous power and decolonising futures. Extractive Industries and Society, 28 102032, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2026.102032
2026
Conference Publication
Enacting generative AI in literary communities of practice to raise public awareness of social issues
Yudiarti, Andina, Intezari, Ali, Jordan, Ree and Bremhorst, Mark (2026). Enacting generative AI in literary communities of practice to raise public awareness of social issues. Alliance for Social Impact Annual Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 4-6 November 2026.
2026
Conference Publication
Learning and sharing knowledge beyond the knowledge domain: how non-healthcare communities of practice shape public awareness of health issues
Yudiarti, Andina, Intezari, Ali, Bremhorst, Mark and Jordan, Ree (2026). Learning and sharing knowledge beyond the knowledge domain: how non-healthcare communities of practice shape public awareness of health issues. British Academy of Management, London, United Kingdom, 7-11 September 2026.
2026
Journal Article
Generative AI and Australian First Nations Representation: : Ethical Concerns and Cultural Implications
Mcmaster, Natalie, Morrison, Renee, Jordan, Ree and O'Chin, Hope (2026). Generative AI and Australian First Nations Representation: : Ethical Concerns and Cultural Implications. Australasian Journal of Technology Education, 11. doi: 10.15663/ajte.v11.122
2026
Conference Publication
Social Maverickism – Creatively dealing with change through social practices
O'Quinn, Richard and Jordan, Ree (2026). Social Maverickism – Creatively dealing with change through social practices. European Academy of Management, Kristiansand, Norway, 16-19 June 2026.
2026
Conference Publication
How tacit knowledge can mediate human-IT relationships: new rules for a digital world
Bremhorst, Mark, Jordan, Ree and Intezari, Ali (2026). How tacit knowledge can mediate human-IT relationships: new rules for a digital world. European Academy of Management, Kristiansand, Norway, 16-19 June 2026.
2026
Conference Publication
Combatting the undead through wise leadership practice: the generative cauldron of grey leadership
Jordan, Ree, Brienza, Justin and O'Quinn, Richard (2026). Combatting the undead through wise leadership practice: the generative cauldron of grey leadership. Dracula Conference: Exploring the shadows of leadership, Brașov, Romania, 3-5 June 2026.
2025
Conference Publication
Heuristics and out-of-the-loop decision making: a comparative study of experts
Bremhorst, Mark, Jordan, Ree, Intezari, Ali and Yates, Miriam (2025). Heuristics and out-of-the-loop decision making: a comparative study of experts. Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS), Petrie, QLD, Australia, 3 - 5 December 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Storytelling as a bridge between worlds
Jordan, Ree and Virta, Sari (2025). Storytelling as a bridge between worlds. Tourism Cases tourism202500052, 1-11. doi: 10.1079/tourism.2025.0052
2025
Newspaper Article
Your guide to becoming a great manager
Jordan, Ree (2025, 08 28). Your guide to becoming a great manager UQ Contact magazine
2025
Conference Publication
Defying the status quo: Harnessing maverick talent for innovation and organizational change
Jordan, Ree, Fitzsimmons, Terrance W. and Callan, Victor James (2025). Defying the status quo: Harnessing maverick talent for innovation and organizational change. 85th Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, 25-29 July 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Defying the Status Quo: Harnessing Maverick Talent for Innovation and Organizational
Jordan, Ree, Fitzsimmons, Terrance William and Callan, Victor J. (2025). Defying the Status Quo: Harnessing Maverick Talent for Innovation and Organizational. Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark, 25-29 July 2025. Briarcliff Manor, NY United States: Academy of Management. doi: 10.5465/amproc.2025.10456abstract
2025
Book Chapter
UQ Business School Indigenising curriculum with technology
Jordan, Ree, Axelsen, Micheal, Matook, Sabine, Bremhorst, Mark, Burton-Jones, Andrew, Callan, Victor, Ferris, Louise, Karanasios, Stan, Mylonas, Aliisa, O’Quinn, Richard and Ashil Ranpara (2025). UQ Business School Indigenising curriculum with technology. Indigenising curriculum at The University of Queensland: a handbook. (pp. 212-227) edited by Tracey Bunda, Katelyn Barney, Levon Blue and Laura Deane. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2025
Conference Publication
Understanding maverick talent: leveraging unique potential for purposeful organisational change
Jordan, Ree, Fitzsimmons, Terrance W. and Callan, Victor James (2025). Understanding maverick talent: leveraging unique potential for purposeful organisational change. European Academy of Management 25th Annual Conference, Florence, Italy, 22-25 June 2025.
2024
Conference Publication
The maverick organisation: An initial practice theory analysis of the field and valued capital in a defence organisation
Van de Paverd, Amanda, Jordan, Ree and Callan, Victor (2024). The maverick organisation: An initial practice theory analysis of the field and valued capital in a defence organisation. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, Woollongong, NSW, Australia, 2-5 December 2024.
2024
Book Chapter
Don't ever tell
Jordan, Ree (2024). Don't ever tell. Storying the archive: Evoking the Fryer Library Indigenous Collection. (pp. 62-65) edited by Tracey Bunda and Laura Deane. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Ree Jordan is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of leader storytelling in organisational change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard O'Quinn
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Doctor Philosophy
Asian-Australian Leaders' Ascension to Top Management Teams and their Contributon to Organisational Resilience
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Victor Callan
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Doctor Philosophy
Beyond mining: Exploring Indigenous communities transiton to the tourism sector
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lisa Ruhanen
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Doctor Philosophy
Interconnectedness and Complexity of Value Creation with Dialogical-Paradoxical Transformation: Festival Literacy in Australia and Indonesia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ali Intezari
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Doctor Philosophy
Is AI Really Sharing Knowledge? A Look into Human-Machine Interaction
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Ali Intezari
Completed supervision
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Breaking from bureaucracy: Building maverick public sector organisations for innovation and adaptability in VUCA environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Victor Callan
Media
Enquiries
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