Dr. Upamali Amarakoon
PhD in Business; MBA in Human Resource Management; B.Sc. (Hons) in Industrial ManagementSenior Lecturer in Human Resource Management
School of Business and Law
Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains
400, Kent Street - Level 6
Sydney, NSW, 2000
I bring 13+ years of extensive teaching experience, including over eight years in teaching-focused roles in universities in Sri Lanka and Australia.
I completed my Bachelor of Science Honours degree (with first class) in 2005. My passion and interest for HRM made me complete my Master of Business Administration degree in HRM in 2009 (with three gold medals) and PhD in HRM at University of Queensland in 2014 (with Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis).
I also have two years of experience working in private sector organisations in human resource management (HRM) related roles in Sri Lanka and India. My tenure at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka, sharpened my competencies in collaborating with multiple stakeholders for national-level policy planning.
I am currently teaching Human Resource Management related units at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. While leading a stakeholder engagement project funded by Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, I am also continuing multiple research projects on HRM innovation and regional HRM challenges.
Universities Studied At
PhD in Human Resource Management in 2014- The University of Queensland, Australia
Thesis Title: The Role of Human Resource Innovation in Firms’ Competitive Advantage in Australian Manufacturing and Service Firms
Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management in 2009 - University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Thesis Title: The Impact of Work-Life Balance on Employee Engagement
Bachelor of Science (Hons) First Class in 2005 - University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Main subjects: Industrial Management (major), Operations Research & Information Technology
Universities Worked At
Senior Lecturer/Lecturer Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka
Feb 2015 to May 2016 & Mar 2007 – May 2010
Visiting Lecturer Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Colombo Sri Lanka
Nov 2015 to May 2016
Research Assistant The University of Queensland - Business School Australia
Jul 2010- Jan 2015
Tutor The University of Sydney - Business School Australia
Aug 2013 – Nov 2013
Tutor The University of Queensland - Business School Australia
Feb 2011 – Jun 2013
Course Module Writer The University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka
Apr 2007 – Mar 2008
Assistant Lecturer Department of Industrial Management, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka
Sep 2006 – Mar 2007
Awards
People's Choice Award and Arts, Humanities, Business, and Law stream award winner of CQUniversity 5 minute Research Pitch (5RP) 2019 competition.
CQ University Students' Voice Commendations in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Vice Chancellor’s Award – 2015, in appreciation of the honour bought to The University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
Deans Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis – 2014, The University of Queensland Graduate School, Brisbane, Australia.
Outstanding Reviewer – Southern Management Association Annual Conference – November 2013 - Louisiana, USA.
Best Research Student Paper award – Human Resource Management and Professional Development Conference – July 2013, Singapore.
Highly Commended Research – Research Colloquium 2011, The University of Queensland Business School, Brisbane, Australia.
Recipient of,
The University of Queensland International Student Scholarship
The University of Queensland Research Scholarship
The University of Queensland Business School Top-up Scholarship
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Program of the University of Colombo in 2009;
Gold Medal for the Highest Marks in Thesis
Gold Medal for Operations Management
Gold Medal for Business Statistics
Media Citations
HRM Innovation: An Overlooked Opportunity
http://www.dailymirror.lk/77537/hrm-innovation-exploiting-overlooked-opportunity
Deans Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis – 2014
http://www.dailymirror.lk/70485/upamali-amarakoon-wins-uq-dean-s-award
https://www.business.uq.edu.au/news/phd-recipient-receives-deans-award-research-excellence
Publication of HR Challenge
http://www.ft.lk/article/158746/HR-challenge
Professional Experience
Management Trainee Featherlite Products (PVT) Ltd India
May 2005 –Jan 2006
Management Trainee Coca Cola Beverages Ltd Sri Lanka
Nov 2003 –Mar 2004
Professional Memberships
Professional Member (MAHRI) - Australian Human Resource Institute (AHRI)
Member - Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM)
Computer Software
Proficient in IBM SPSS and AMOS
Industry Reports
Amarakoon, U., Bird, S., Liang, C., & Pearson, D. - Enhancing Volunteer Engagement: Pilot Project at Foodbank Victoria – ISSBN 978-1-921047-47-3 – CQUniversity, Sydney Australia.
Colley, L., Amarakoon, U., Stewart, G., & Franettovich, M., - Human Resource Management in Regional Australia- A case study of (de-identified) Group – ISSBN 978-1-921047-82-4 – CQUniversity, Brisbane Australia.
Consultancy Work
Apr – Sep 2006 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3505 Human resources and industrial relations
At the level of Principal Supervisor
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Business and Management - Human Resources Management
Managing volunteers.
My current research project focuses on managing volunteers at Foodbank Australia.
Business and Management - Human Resources Management
Addressing regional staffing challenges.
We are currently carrying out a pilot project.
Business and Management - Human Resources Management
Strategic HRM and HRM innovation
