An expert in organisational psychology has been appointed to the new position of Woodside Chair in Leadership and Management at The University of Western Australia.

Professor Gillian Yeo from UWA Business School conducts research in the fields of organisational psychology and organisational behaviour, examining self-regulation in the workplace including how people motivate themselves, as well as how they feel, think and behave, in order to develop skills and optimise workplace performance and well-being. 

Image: The new Woodside Chair in Leadership and Management at UWA, Professor Gillian Yeo.

Her research informs training and development, job design, performance management and health and safety practices in a variety of work settings. 

“I am honoured to take on this role and grateful to Woodside for their commitment to, and support of, research and industry engagement in our community,” she said. 

"UWA is an outstanding university that I am proud to be part of. I am passionate about building research capacity and look forward to working with colleagues and industry partners to further strengthen UWA's external engagement and impact via collaborative research."

Professor Gillian Yeo

“UWA is an outstanding university that I am proud to be part of. I am passionate about building research capacity and look forward to working with colleagues and industry partners to further strengthen UWA’s external engagement and impact via collaborative research.” 

In her long-standing work in the safety-critical training sector, Professor Yeo has led a team to identify the patterns of team leader behaviour associated with the most effective management of critical incidents, research that directly informs the continuous improvement of training and performance management initiatives in the industry. 

She has also led a long-term health and well-being project that has provided more than 500 professionals the opportunity to identify activities likely to help them recover from work-related stressors while still maintaining productivity. 

Professor Yeo’s research is published in premier journals, and she recently accepted the prestigious role of associate editor at the Journal of Applied Psychology, the top organisational psychology outlet and among the Financial Times list of top 50 management journals. 

Professor Yeo completed her PhD in 2003 at the University of Queensland and spent two years as a postdoctoral research fellow and three years as a lecturer in organisational psychology at UQ before moving to UWA, where she has held leadership roles including deputy head and head of department. 

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said Professor Yeo’s appointment would help boost research capacity in the Business School and foster further industry engagement, an area critical to the school’s success.

“The new Woodside Chair will provide leadership and promote excellence in the Business School’s teaching, research and industry and community engagement; particularly in areas related to leadership and management,” Professor Chakma said.

“Our graduates enter a variety of roles and industries, including senior management and leadership positions in key organisations in Australia and around the world. They will all benefit from Professor Yeo’s expertise.

“I would like to thank Woodside for leading the way with its ongoing commitment to the educational and business future of Western Australia and for maintaining the strong links between the business and university sectors.”