ProfessorFara Azmat

I have a strong passion for sustainability and social inclusion, which drive my research endeavours within the broader realm of social responsibility. These core values shape my vision and efforts towards creating a sustainable and inclusive world.

In 2016, I undertook the exciting role of the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) portfolio, which further honed my focus on the interconnected themes of sustainability, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and social inclusion, aligning with Deakin University's core values on sustainability. As the PRME Director, my contributions have led to Deakin Business School being recognized as a PRME Champion for the fourth consecutive cycle in 2024-25 and receiving the UN Sharing of Information Progress (SIP) excellence award for reporting in 2020. I value the collaborations and networks I have established and utilized over the years including my active leadership in in the ANZ-PRME Chapter Steering Group, ABDC-PRME Climate Working Group and PRME Champion networks globally. As part of the Climate working Group, I have conducted Carbon literacy training (CLT) for staff and professionals nationally and internationally.

Over the years, I have secured more than Aud 350,000 in funding from DFAT, Department of Home Affairs and Government of Bangladesh, and facilitated capacity building of senior public officials from Bangladesh.

I take great pride in my South Asian roots and have the honour of being a founding member of the South Asian Network of Public Administration (SANPA)- a thinktank to foster research on emerging policy issues in South Asia. This network aligns with my commitment to contributing to the region's sustainable growth and solidifies my position as a respected voice in my field, resonating with scholars across the region.

Within the broader domain of social responsibility, I am known for my research nationally and internationally in the following three interrelated streams:

• Investigating how small businesses perceive and embed social responsibility and extending this focus to developing economies
• Examining social inclusion of marginalized communities and potential of social entrepreneurship in promoting sustainable development and social inclusion; and
• Exploring the embedding of SDGs in business school curricula for responsible management education, with a particular emphasis on enhancing climate literacy and fostering climate action among future business leaders.

Although distinct, these research streams involve cross- fertilizations and are inter-related through their underlying link of social responsibility and sustainable development.