Biography

Dr.Sumedha Weerasekara a passionate early-career academic and educator with a focus on entrepreneurship, organisational behaviour, and strategic management. Currently teaching at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University, she specialises in creating engaging, technology-enhanced learning environments for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. She holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship from Charles Sturt University, where her award-winning research explored the impact of entrepreneurial ecosystems on SME performance in Australia. Her academic work has been recognised through several awards, including the Best Paper Award in the Entrepreneurship track at the Academy of Management Annual Conference in 2020. With teaching experience spanning institutions across Australia and Asia including the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Torrens University, and the University of Moratuwa, she has developed and delivered courses in entrepreneurship, innovation, human resource management, change management, and organisational behaviour. Her approach combines contemporary teaching methods with practical industry insights, fostering student engagement and professional development. An active researcher, Dr. Weerasekara has published in leading Q1 journals such as the Journal of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Economies and the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. She regularly presents at international conferences including the Academy of Management, British Academy of Management, and European Academy of Management, and serves as a reviewer for top-tier journals and conferences in her field. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Weerasekara has entrepreneurial experience as the founder and managing director of consultancy firms in Sri Lanka and Brunei, specialising in human resource and entrepreneurial planning. She remains engaged with the professional community as a member of several academic and industry associations, including the Australian Computer Society and IEEE Computer Society. Committed to bridging theory and practice, Dr. Weerasekara continues to inspire students and contribute to research that advances understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems, SME performance, and the future of work in a digitally evolving economy.