Dr. Upamali Amarakoon
PhD in Business; MBA in Human Resource Management; B.Sc. (Hons) in Industrial Management
Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management
School of Business and Law
Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains
- u.amarakoon@cqu.edu.au
- ORCID: 0000-0003-4567-751X
- (02) 9324 5015
-
Sydney
400, Kent Street - Level 6
Sydney, NSW, 2000
About Me
I am a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at CQUniversity Australia, specialising in strategic human resource management, workforce innovation, and sustainable workforce development. My research examines how people management practices can enhance organisational capability, strengthen employee wellbeing, and support long-term organisational success, particularly within regional communities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Drawing on more than two decades of experience in higher education across Australia and Sri Lanka, I combine academic expertise with practical insights gained through industry engagement and policy collaboration. Before joining academia, I worked in human resource management roles in the private sector and contributed to national policy initiatives through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka, developing expertise in stakeholder engagement and workforce-related policy issues.
I hold a PhD in Human Resource Management from the University of Queensland, where my doctoral research on human resource management innovation and competitive advantage received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis. I also hold an MBA in Human Resource Management, completed with three Gold Medals, and a First Class Honours degree in Industrial Management.
Through my research, teaching, and industry partnerships, I seek to generate evidence-based solutions to workforce challenges facing contemporary organisations. My work focuses on employee attraction and retention, workforce capability development, organisational support, and innovative people management practices that help regional businesses and SMEs build resilient, productive, and sustainable workforces.
General
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.
Editor
Associate Editor - South Asian Journal of Human Resource Management
Consultancy Work
Apr – Sep 2006 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka
Research Supervision
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 3505 Human resources and industrial relations
Current Capacity
Current Supervision
Research Interests
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
