MrMike Bengough

It has often been said that before we can find our true purpose in life, we have to 'live' through the rich tapestry of personal and professional experiences that come our way.  The pathway to my current role as an Education Focused Academic in the Deakin Business School has been somewhat unconventional but exceptionally rewarding. 

As an elite junior tennis player, my ambitions were curtailed through injury and this saw me complete a Bachelor's Degree (Accounting) prior to joining the National Australia Bank (NAB). Over a 20-year career at NAB, including five years as a Senior Manager and Associate Director, I worked across Corporate and Institutional Banking, Business Banking, Payments and Transactional Banking, and Major Projects.

During my time at the NAB, which was characterised by high pressure, excitement and many fruitful transactions, two recurrent themes were etched indelibly into my psyche; your customers are always your number one priority and the value of human connection must never be underestimated. 

So why did I make the transition to academia? As an Associate Director in Transactional Banking and Payments, I decided to complete a Master's degree (Electronic Commerce) at Deakin to augment my banking knowledge and experience.  During my studies I was asked to deliver several seminars to post-graduate students which I found rewarding and energising and that sparked a passion for teaching.  After graduating there was an opportunity to join the Business School as a lecturer and this has been extremely satisfying.

My teaching philosophy focuses on the intersection between academic theory and real-world experience so that my undergraduate and post graduate students can generate optimal value for their current and future organisations.  My role as a Deakin Business School Industry Champion underpins my teaching philosophy by connecting alumni, senior executives and their organisations with my students through guest lectures, networking opportunities and business events.  I am closely affiliated with several peak industry bodies including the Institute of Management Consultants, the Change Management Institute and the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management to ensure that my teaching reflects current and likely future trends.

I am also passionate about promoting collaborative online international learning (COIL) projects with university partners so that students can undertake a rich, cross-cultural virtual learning experience. As we enter an age of unprecedented and volatile change and uncertainty, (particularly due to AI) it is paramount that my teaching continues to be informed by robust dialogue between academia and industry, to ensure that my students have the best possible foundation for commercial and personal success.