Francis Farrelly

Professor Francis Farrelly's interest is in consumer insights, marketing strategy, qualitative research, teaching, and having impact in Industry.

As a Professor of Marketing at RMIT University, I am the Director of the Bachelor of Business Honours Program. My approach to teaching marketing and carrying out research has always been to merge theory and practice.

I have been fortunate to be mentored by exceptional Professors. Most particularly Emeritus Professor Stephen Greyser of the Harvard Business School who emphasised the need to do research that had practical relevance.

With that in mind, during my career i have carried out research with a practical focus and that, coupled with work at high levels industry that has also continued throughout my career, has enabled me to bring rich context and practical examples to my teaching.

I have also sought to do research that interests me, that includes for example work in the surf, car, fashion, music and sport industries on topics such as branding, new product development, and innovation. I have also sought to develop research and work in industry that has national and international relevance. For example work that i have completed on sports fans and building sports brands, I presented to Marketing directors and CEO's of sports organisation such as the NBA, the Olympics, The NFL, the NHL, and the NBL and with other brands involved in sport and recreation, such as Nike and Rip Curl.

My PhD (in the area of sport sponsorship) was funded by the Australian Football League.

Industry experience:
Francis has worked with industry for over twenty years carrying out consumer and managerial research and developing marketing strategy, communications and providing other marketing related services for organisations ranging from the Australian Football League and various professional sports clubs nationally and internationally, and organisations such as the ANZ, Telstra, the NBL, the TAC, Rip Curl, Westpac, Telstra and firms such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Herbert Smith Freehills, and Jaguar Landrover based on his work with the Destination Group of Companies. Francis has also worked on major international projects, for example in the case of major sponsors (Coca Cola, Lloyds Bank) of the London Olympics. He has also carried out research and written whitepapers as part of the Prime Ministers taskforce on Innovation, involving business capability building, branding, and the Place brand. It also included evaluating major multi-million investments to grow the Australian artisanal food sector.

Awards:
2019:
-Best Paper of the Year Award (2019), RMIT, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing
-National Award for Excellence (2019): Industry Contribution: Innovation and Impact. The Australian Marketing Institute.

2009:
The Pearson Australia and New Zealand Distinguished Marketing Educator of the Year (2009). This was awarded for research-led teaching.

Other:
-Inaugural Deans Award for Teaching Excellence , Research-Led Teaching, Monash University
-Vice Chancellors Commendation for Excellence in Research-Led Teaching
-Faculty of Business and Economics Researcher of the Year Award