Professor Aaron Smith

Professor Aaron Smith

Aaron pursues research interests in the management of psychological, organisational and policy change in sport, business, health, religion and society.

Within an industrial specialty of sport business, Aaron’s work considers the intersections between sport’s economic and social dividends, seeking to reveal the mechanisms governing its transformation from community participation to hyper-commercial juggernaut. In the context of sport’s immense commercial footprint, Aaron’s research highlights social inclusion and exclusion within sport’s structures, cultures and business models. Aaron has authored 24 books and over 100 academic articles on these topics in a diverse range of journals, from the British Medical Journal to the Journal of Sport Management.

Aaron’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) and two doctorates, the first in change management, and the second in cognitive science. Aaron has consulted extensively in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and the Middle East to more than 150 clients including multi-national corporations, professional sporting clubs, national and state sport associations, media and technology companies, sport and entertainment facilities and events, and government.

Academic background

Aaron was previously at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, where he was the Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor at its College of Business and part of the RMIT Graduate School of Business and Law. Prior to RMIT he was Head of Department and Chair of Sport Management at Melbourne’s La Trobe University.

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