Professor Lorelle Frazer joined the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2018 as Dean, School of Business and Creative Industries. She previously held academic appointments at Griffith University, University of Southern Queensland and the University of Queensland. She was the Dean, Learning & Teaching of the Griffith Business School from 2006 to 2014.
Professor Frazer was the first person in Australia to be awarded a PhD in franchising, pioneering the development of franchising as an academic discipline. In 2010, she was honoured with the Contribution to Franchising Award by the Franchise Council of Australia for her ‘significant contributions to the education of the Australian franchise community’.
Attracting more than A$2 million in research grants, Professor Frazer is regarded as one of the country’s leading franchising experts and scholars. Professor Frazer has co-authored the biennial Franchising Australia surveys since 1998 and Franchising New Zealand since 2010. She served as a Board member of the International Society of Franchising from 2014 to 2017 and as a member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Small Business and Franchising Consultative Committee from 2006 to 2015.
In 2010, Professor Frazer was appointed as a Global Facilitator for AACSB International to facilitate Assurance of Learning seminars in Australia and internationally.
Professional memberships
- Secretary, Australian Business Deans Council [ABDC] (since 2019)
- Member, International Society of Franchising (Board Member 2014 to 2017)
- Member, ACCC Small Business and Franchising Consultative Committee (2006-2015, 2018-2019)
- Secretary, Australian Business Deans Council [ABDC] (since 2019)
- Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors (since 2016)
Awards
- Pro-Vice Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award 2013 for Individual Research Leadership (Griffith University)
- Contribution to Franchising award 2010 – for ‘significant contributions to the education of the Australian franchise community’ (Franchise Council of Australia)
- Leadership Award 2008 – in ‘recognition of outstanding leadership within the Griffith Business School’ (Griffith University)
Potential research projects for HDR and Honours students
- Franchising and small business topics including: franchising relationships, conflict, due diligence, success factors, international expansion
- Social enterprise: including social franchising and Indigenous small business and franchising
Research grants
| Grant / Project | Investigators | Funding Body | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploration of the Adaptation of the Franchise Model to Discrete Communities in Queensland | Lorelle Frazer Kerry Miles |
Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training A$75,350 | 2018-2019 |
| Franchising Model Evaluation and Pilot Program for the Advancing Indigenous Business Initiative | Lorelle Frazer Scott Weaven Kerry Miles |
Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training A$252,838 | 2018-2020 |
| Empowering Indigenous businesses through improved financial literacy | Kerry Bodle Lorelle Frazer Scott Weaven Mark Brimble |
ARC Discovery Indigenous A$320,249 |
2018-2021 |
| Introduction of the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Act | Lorelle Frazer Ashlea Kellner Kerry Miles |
Fair Work Ombudsman A$60,000 |
2017 |
| Franchising New Zealand 2010, 2012, 2017 | Susan Flint-Hartle Lorelle Frazer Scott Weaven Anthony Grace |
Franchise Association of New Zealand NZ$130,000 |
2010-2017 |
| Franchising Australia 1998 to 2016 | Lorelle Frazer Scott Weaven et al. |
Franchise Council of Australia A$460,000 |
1998-2016 |
| The effectiveness of undertaking due diligence prior to starting up or purchasing a small business or franchise | Lorelle Frazer Jenny Buchan Scott Weaven Binh Tran-Nam |
CPA Australia A$18,000 |
2015 |
| Franchisors in administration: Profiles, factors and impacts | Jenny Buchan Lorelle Frazer Charles Qu |
Chartered Accountants A$10,000 |
2012 |
| Effectiveness of pre-entry franchise education | Lorelle Frazer Scott Weaven Debra Grace Jeff Giddings |
Australian Treasury A$210,000 |
2011 |
| Survival of the fittest: The performance of franchised versus independent small business during economic uncertainty and recovery | Lorelle Frazer Scott Weaven Debra Grace |
ARC Linkage Project (with Australian Treasury and Franchise Council of Australia) A$292,000 |
2009-2010 |
|
Towards resolution of franchising conflict |
Lorelle Frazer Jeff Giddings Scott Weaven |
ARC Linkage Project (with ACCC) A$222,000 |
2007-2008 |
|
International franchising success factors – a guide for Australian franchise systems |
Lorelle Frazer Bill Merrilees |
ARC Linkage Project (with Australian Trade Commission) A$120,000 |
2005-2006 |
Research areas
- Franchising and small business
- Entrepreneurship
Teaching areas
- Franchising
Professor Lorelle Frazer’s specialist areas of knowledge include: franchising, marketing channels, Indigenous small business.