Kiwi born and bred, Chris’s interest in entrepreneurship and the small to medium business sector was sparked after working in Malawi as a small business advisor. Instead of catching malaria she caught the entrepreneur bug, becoming ‘hooked’ on the passion and energy that entrepreneurs bring to what they do. She has been involved with The Icehouse business growth programmes since their inception in 2001. Chris is also the Dame Theresa Gattung Chair for Women and Entrepreneurship in the Faculty of Business at the University of Auckland, and is the Director of the Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women.
Her research and teaching interests are focused on women and entrepreneurship, SME and family business, Māori entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship education. Her consultancy and advisory work is with SMEs, sports organisations, and charities.
MA
The University of Auckland
PhD
The University of Auckland
Professor, Department of Management, and International Business, The University of Auckland Business School
