Family Enterprise Group

Advancing family enterprise leadership across Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific

Family Enterprise Group (FEG) advances the leadership, success, and longevity of family enterprises through research, education, and engagement. Recognised for its leadership in family enterprise scholarship across Australia and New Zealand, FEG draws on expertise from across Adelaide University to support business families, advisors, and policymakers in navigating the unique opportunities and challenges of family enterprise.

FEG’s work spans five interconnected areas. Through academic research, the group contributes to global scholarship and develops new insights into governance, leadership, succession, and long-term value creation. Industry and policy research translates these insights into practical frameworks and tools that inform advisors and policymakers. Through university education, we help develop the next generation of family enterprise leaders and advisors by integrating family enterprise into undergraduate and postgraduate programs and supporting student participation in global family enterprise case competitions, where students build leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Through executive education, FEG collaborates with Adelaide University’s Centre for Business Growth to deliver practical programs for family enterprise leaders and next-generation family members. In partnership with the Family Business Association and the University’s Learning Futures unit, we also provide specialised programs that support the development of professional advisors working with business families. Finally, FEG develops research-informed advisory frameworks and tools that help business families and advisors address complex strategic and governance challenges.

Building on its established leadership in Australia and New Zealand, we are expanding our engagement across the Asia-Pacific region, developing partnerships with universities, industry organisations, and professional networks to advance scholarship and strengthen the practice of family enterprise. FEG maintains a strategic partnership with Family Business Association (FBA), the peak body representing family businesses in Australia and New Zealand, to deliver an accredited advisor program.

FEG has also accepted an invitation to join the prestigious, invitation-only Stichting STEP Project Global Consortium (SPGC) as the exclusive representative for Oceania. This membership provides FEG access to SPGC’s global dataset on family firms—widely used in high-impact publications—and connects FEG to a global network of nearly 50 leading universities with a focus on family enterprises. The partnership offers significant opportunities for international collaboration, and regional leadership to advance family enterprise scholarship in APAC.

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Academic research

Advancing world-class scholarship that deepens understanding of family enterprise and informs better leadership, governance, competitiveness, and long-term success.

Industry & policy research

Generating practical insights and research-informed tools that support family businesses, advisors, and policymakers in addressing real-world challenges.

University education (Award programs)

Equipping the next generation of leaders with the knowledge and skills to navigate the unique opportunities and challenges of family enterprise.

Executive education (Non-award programs)

Delivering practical programs and workshops for family business owners, next-generation leaders, and advisors seeking to strengthen leadership, governance, and succession planning.

Advisory frameworks & tools

Developing research-informed frameworks, processes, and tools that help business families and advisors navigate complex decisions and build enduring enterprises.

Explore our research and education initiatives

Research initiatives 1
Education initiatives 2
Our people 3
Partner with us to advance family enterprise 4

Academic research

FEG contributes to global scholarship on family enterprise through research published in leading international journals. Our research explores critical issues including strategy, governance, succession, next-generation development, transgenerational entrepreneurship, family enterprise branding and performance, as well as the growing role of family offices in supporting business families.

Current research projects

Digital transformation and family business ESG performance.
Family business successors and export margins: A gendered perspective.
Intergenerational succession and strategic renewal of family firms in legacy-driven industries.
Financial literacy in Australian family businesses.
Entrepreneurial orientation in family firm debt financing: The moderating effect of socioemotional wealth.
Wealth concentration and entrepreneurial orientation in family firms: The moderating role of independent boards.
The role of governance in aligning family investment practices in family enterprises.
Identity development of the next generation and its impact on succession commitment.
Dark side of socioemotional wealth and its impact on psychological wellbeing.
Examining the effects of person-environment fit and gender on next-generation family members’ succession intentions.
Foundations of responsible leadership in family firms.

Industry & policy research

Through partnerships with leading organisations—including CPA Australia, the Family Business Association, KPMG Australia, Mutual Trust, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Government of South Australia, and the Australian Small and Family Business Ombudsman— we produce industry reports that provide practical insights for family enterprises, advisors, and policymakers.

The Use of Family Trusts In Small Business and Family Enterprise

Crises Events Report

Global research collaboration

FEG is a member of the STEP Project Global Consortium (SPGC), a global network of leading universities conducting research on family enterprise and transgenerational entrepreneurship. As the Oceania Lead, FEG contributes to international comparative studies and brings global insights to family enterprises across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region.

University education (Award programs)

Through our award programs, we help develop the next generation of family enterprise leaders and advisors. Family enterprise topics are integrated into undergraduate and postgraduate programs, providing students with insights into governance, succession, leadership, and long-term value creation. Students also have opportunities to participate in global family enterprise case competitions, where they develop leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Consider undertaking one of these courses at Adelaide University

Undergraduate course: Family Business Management - Family businesses contribute significantly to economies and communities, but face distinctive opportunities and challenges that set them apart from other firms. This course introduces students to their unique characteristics and complexities while developing analytical and problem-solving skills to address them.
Postgraduate course: Leading the Family Enterprise - Family enterprises, —including family-owned businesses as well as broader wealth, governance, and entrepreneurial activities—are central to economies worldwide. This course provides an advanced understanding of their distinctiveness, equipping students to critically evaluate complex issues and strategies for their long-term continuity.
Family Enterprise Case Competition: Each year, we mentor a student team for the Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition, held in January at the University of Vermont in Burlington, USA.

This prestigious competition offers an unparalleled opportunity for students interested in family business leadership, consulting, and entrepreneurship to hone their skills. Over four days, our team competes with global university peers, analysing complex family business cases and presenting recommendations to a panel of judges. By applying classroom knowledge and expertise, participants gain critical insights into the unique challenges of family enterprises.

Executive Education (Non-award programs)

We deliver practical executive education programs for family enterprise leaders, next-generation family members, and professional advisors. In collaboration with Adelaide University’s Centre for Business Growth and in partnership with the Family Business Association and the University’s Learning Futures unit, these programs provide practical insights and tools to help families and advisors navigate complex governance, succession, and leadership challenges.

Consider undertaking one of these courses at Adelaide University

Family Business Advisor Accreditation Program: For advisors to family enterprises, our advisor program is accredited by and developed in partnership with the Family Business Association. This program enables you to upskill and differentiate yourself as a trusted family business advisor. Delivered in two parts, this program equips you with the essential knowledge, skills, and practical tools to confidently support family businesses navigating growth, succession, and complex family dynamics.
Australian Centre for Business Growth: For family enterprise leaders, consider taking one of the ACBG’s programs to grow your business. ACBG delivers world-class business growth programs that provide business owners, CEOs, Managing Directors and their executive team members with the knowledge and skills they need to grow their companies. The structured programs are taught by Growth Experts, former CEOs or Managing Directors who have started, grown, and exited their own companies.

Members

Associate Professor Chris Graves
Dr Henry Shi
Dr Jill Thomas
Dr Adam Steen
Dr Ayoosha Saleem
Associate Professor Sylvia Villios
Dr Mark Giancaspro
Associate Professor Danny Soetanto
Associate Professor Graciela Corral de Zubielqui
Associate Professor Shruti Sardeshmukh
Professor Paul Steffens
Associate Professor Chee Cheong
Manjula Dissanayake

FEG advisory board

Richard Boyce
Dr Michael Browne
Andrew Cooper
Zoe Detmold
Andrew Eastwood
Dr Chris Graves
Dr Henry Shi
Aubrey Stillwell
Dr Jill Thomas

HDR students and research topics

Gary He (The role of identity in transgenerational entrepreneurship of family businesses)
Lyndie Van Orsouw (Governing the family enterprise: Models, practices and outcomes)

FEG works with business families, advisors, industry organisations, and philanthropic supporters to strengthen family enterprises across generations. Drawing on expertise from across Adelaide University, our partnerships support research, leadership development, and practical initiatives that benefit family enterprises across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region.

We maintain a strategic partnership with the Family Business Association, the peak body representing family enterprises across Australia and New Zealand. Together we contribute to education programs, thought leadership, and professional development initiatives that support both business families and the advisors who work with them.

The impact of your support

Support from partners and philanthropic donors enables FEG to expand research, develop future leaders, and generate practical insights that strengthen family enterprises across generations. Through scholarships, research initiatives, leadership programs, and mentoring opportunities, supporters help shape the future of family enterprise across Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Ways to support FEG

Family Enterprise Leadership Fund - Support applied research and thought leadership addressing key challenges facing family enterprises.
Family Enterprise Research Scholarships - Fund PhD scholarships and help guide research that advances understanding of the key challenges facing family enterprises.
NextGen Leadership Scholarships - Provide scholarships and travel support for students participating in initiatives such as the Global Family Enterprise Case Competition.
Leadership and Education Programs - Support programs that develop family enterprise leaders and professional advisors.
Mentoring Future Leaders - Share experience and insights by mentoring emerging family enterprise leaders and students involved in our programs.

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