UNSW appoints Paul Andon Dean of UNSW Business School

The highly accomplished academic leader begins his role on 20 April.

Professor Paul Andon has been appointed Dean of UNSW Business School from a stellar list of international applicants representing the world’s top business schools.

Prof. Andon is a highly accomplished academic leader with more than 25 years of experience driving program innovation, curriculum development and educational strategies at the UNSW Business School. He has held key leadership roles, including Senior Deputy Dean (Education and Student Experience), Head of School for Accounting, Auditing & Taxation, and, most recently, interim Co-Dean of the Business School.

UNSW Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs congratulated Prof. Andon on his appointment and highlighted his strong leadership track record.

“Paul is a distinguished academic leader and educator, with deep institutional knowledge and extensive UNSW leadership experience,” Prof. Brungs said. “Across various leadership roles at the University, he has had an impressive impact in developing impactful research programs, driving innovation in education and forging strong industry partnerships. 

“I congratulate Paul on his appointment as Dean, and I am confident the UNSW Business School will continue to enhance its reputation in business research, education and entrepreneurship under his leadership, advancing progress for all.”

Prof. Andon said he was honoured to step into the role of Dean and reaffirmed his commitment to growing the impact of UNSW Business School.

“It’s a privilege to lead a tremendous business faculty at a time of significant change across higher education and the business world,” Prof. Andon said. “As a world-leading business school, we are responsible for shaping better practices and informing policy from the classroom to the C-suite.

“This requires transforming ambition into action by working with colleagues and industry to reimagine business education for a rapidly evolving economy and to deliver practical policy impact.

“I look forward to working with our outstanding team of researchers, professional staff, educators and partners to develop innovative ideas that promote positive change and prepare our graduates for rewarding careers of influence that shape the future of business and society.”

Prof. Brungs also congratulated Scientia Professor Richard Holden, who served as Interim Co-Dean alongside Prof. Andon, on his new appointment as Vice-Chancellor's Professor and Chief Societal Economist. In his new role, Prof. Holden will provide senior intellectual leadership on the economic aspects of UNSW's strategy, with a focus on societal impact, public policy and evidence-based debate.

Shaping business education and leadership

Prof. Andon is a proud UNSW alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), a Master of Commerce (Hons) and a PhD in Accounting and Business Management from the University. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

At UNSW, Prof. Andon has led major educational and curricular innovations across the Business School and spearheaded initiatives such as integrating artificial intelligence into business education and expanding the UNSW Tax Clinic into a comprehensive Tax and Business Advisory service with a focus on societal impact and social justice.

Prof. Andon’s research on accounting as a social and organisational practice has been widely published in leading international academic journals and has made a significant contribution to the field, particularly in assurance practices, organisational misconduct and professional governance. He has received numerous teaching and research awards for his work, particularly on the future of the accounting profession and innovative methods that enable students to apply accounting knowledge to manage successful businesses.

As Dean, Prof. Andon will continue to lead efforts to shape the future of work and business education in response to the rapidly advancing impact of AI. A priority will be preparing business leaders and students to make sound decisions and create value responsibly.

“A key focus will be ensuring our research and degrees stay ahead of today’s environment of technological disruption and global uncertainty,” Prof. Andon said. “That means developing researchers and graduates who can think with and beyond AI, step confidently into higher-order responsibility and shape better outcomes for the world.”