Ian Williamson

Ian O. Williamson is the Dean of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. Prior to joining the Merage School, he served as the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Wellington School of Business and Government at Victoria University of Wellington. He has also served on the faculties of the Melbourne Business School, Rutgers Business School, the Zurich Institute of Business Education, the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and Institut Teknologi Bandung. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in business from Miami University).

Williamson is a globally recognized expert in the area of human resource management. His research examines the impact of “talent pipelines” on organizational and community outcomes. In particular, his research focuses on how human and social capital influences firm operational and financial outcomes, talent management in the context of new ventures and growth-oriented firms, the role of human resource practices in driving firm innovation, and the impact of social issues on firm outcomes. Prof. Williamson’s research has been published in several leading academic journals, has won numerous international awards, and has been covered by several leading media outlets across the world.

A passionate educator, Professor Williamson has received several awards for his innovative approaches to business education. In 2019, Williamson was inducted into the Ph.D. Project Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the academy and his efforts to support the success of underrepresented minority scholars.

Williamson has provided consulting services to leading organizations in over 20 countries across six continents in the areas of enhancing organizational innovation, navigating change, managing diverse workforces, and enhancing operational and financial performance. His clients have included firms such as Accenture, ANZ, Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), BDO, Bunnings, BHP, CBRE Clemenger, CSR, Etihad Airlines, King & Wood Malleson, Kiwi Bank, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Lockheed Martin, Ngāi Tahu Holdings, Nestle, Orang Tua Group, Petronas, SEEK, Sussan Corporation, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Vision Australia and Urbis.