TEACHING
Teaching
Why I love it as much as research
People sometimes assume a researcher’s heart is only in research.
Mine isn’t. I love research deeply, and I love teaching just as
much. For me the two are not rivals; they feed each other. What I
discover in my research I carry into the classroom, and my
students’ questions send me back to my work, seeing it afresh.
So when I was nominated for Macquarie University’s
Students’ Choice Award for Outstanding Contributions to
Education and the Student Experience, I was genuinely moved, because
the nomination came from students. There is no recognition I value
more than that.
My teaching philosophy
My philosophy is simple: create an engaging, inclusive and
intellectually stimulating space where students grow into
independent, lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and thoughtful
contributors to society. As an organisational psychologist, I teach
in a student-centred way, adapting to different learning styles, and
I draw on years of managerial experience across different countries
and continents to bring theory to life through case studies and
real-world examples.
I care that every student feels valued and heard, and that feedback
is timely and personal. Having taught adult learners in industry and
online for years, I work to make learning genuinely engaging, in the
classroom and on screen, and to send students out not only with
knowledge, but with the curiosity, confidence and problem-solving
skills they will carry into their careers.
Over the years I have taught Strategic Management, Leadership,
Organisational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Managing for
Impact, and Managing in the Global Environment, at Macquarie Business
School, Macquarie University, and Western Sydney University.
In their words: selected testimonials
“I would like to nominate this individual because of the
exceptional impact they have had on both learning and engagement,
consistently going beyond simply delivering content, instead
creating an environment that was fun, interactive, and
intellectually stimulating. Their ability to align theory with
practical business scenarios brought real-world relevance to every
lesson, ensuring that the material was not only understood but also
applied in meaningful ways. A key strength was her wealth of
knowledge, which was communicated with clarity and enthusiasm,
encouraging us to think critically by introducing diverse
perspectives and challenging us to see issues from multiple angles.
This approach deepened our understanding of business contexts while
broadening our awareness of cultural, social, and professional
considerations. This individual profoundly influenced my academic
path by showing how crucial managing within organisations truly is.
Their insights, drawn from past professional experiences,
highlighted the importance of people, culture, and leadership
beyond theory. Because of this, I am now inspired to pursue further
study in organisational psychology after my undergraduate degree, a
direction I hadn’t previously considered.”
Anonymous student (Students’ Choice Award nomination)Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
SELECTED TESTIMONIALS
“I would just like to thank you for an amazing semester in your Friday morning tutorial class. Your engagement and enthusiasm resulted in an extremely enjoyable class. Your way of making my group think critically and always dive deeper into the subjects we were discussing was a great tool that I will use for the rest of my academic career. Thank you!”
J.Third-year student, Strategic Management, June 2025, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
“Thank you very much for the semester. Something that especially resonated with me, which I think you said informally in a class, was about your career in aged care recruiting, specifically the strategy you used to mitigate high churn rates at the facility you were recruiting for. This stuck with me as I am currently working as a concierge in a retirement village and see this problem first hand. The insight you shared really highlighted the depth of the industry and opened my eyes to career avenues I may like to take in the future. Enjoy your break.”
S.Third-year student, Bachelor of Management, June 2026, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
“This was one of my most memorable units of my business degree. I enjoyed every single tutorial I managed to attend. Your knowledge and insights about the industry have inspired me to consider organisational psychology for my masters. Thank you for your time and patience!”
A.Third-year student, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Psychology, July 2026, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
“I really enjoyed studying under the subject coordinator. She has very clear instructions for assignments. I hope I have her again. She provided great advice and demonstrates empathy and care for students. Thank you.”
Student feedback surveyManaging in the Global Environment, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
“The staff member is incredibly enthusiastic and supportive in our discussions.”
Student feedback surveyHuman Resource Management, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
“We have worked together across multiple teaching periods now, and I am still impressed by your subject knowledge and the way you work to engage students in learning. You have a warm and approachable communication style, and express this through your regular discussion-board posts and other communications with students. Thank you!”
L.Subject Coordinator, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
“Your posts on the discussion boards this teaching period have been outstanding. You are really doing an excellent job in upskilling your first-year students in areas critical to their future university success, particularly research skills and essay writing. You use an engaging combination of quotes, videos, news articles and references to share information with students, and you encourage them to think for themselves and to figure out how and where to find the answers they need.”
L.Subject Coordinator, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
“You have so much experience and knowledge to offer our students, and it is a pleasure to work with you. You have been proactive in your engagement with students and consistent in your efforts to engage them on the discussion boards.”
L.Subject Coordinator, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
“Liza has provided excellent feedback, and the marks are consistent with the rubric and the standard for a level 3 subject.”
L.Director of Academic Program, Human Resources & Management, School of Business, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia