Family Business Education and Research Group (FBERG)
Family Business Education and Research Group (FBERG) is Australia’s leading university-based group furthering family enterprise research, education, and engagement worldwide.
The Adelaide Business School has a strategic partnership with the Family Business Association (FBA) to collaborate in family business education, research, and engagement. The strategic partnership with FBA is accredited under the Adelaide Business School’s ISO 44001 Certification.
FBERG’s mission is to advance the growth and performance of the family business field through its education programs developed in partnership with industry and its relevant thought-leading research.
FBERG’s vision is for the University of Adelaide to be known as Australia’s leading university in furthering family enterprise research, education, and engagement worldwide.
Key contact
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Advisory board
Richard Boyce
Richard is a family enterprise specialist with a unique blend of experience gained over 30 years, being a practising chartered accountant, tax agent, company director and 5th generation member of a family that owns businesses across Australia, NZ and UK. Richard has worked as specialist family business and family office advisor with many leading global business families to develop their generational family enterprise model and is a former Partner of EY Global Business Centre of Excellence.
Richard is also an academic faculty member of the global Family Firm Institute (FFI), a strategic consultant to Family Business Association in Australian & NZ (FBA), Advisor to University of Adelaide Family Business Education & Research Group (FBERG), and an independent board member to a number of generational family businesses. Richard’s passion is family enterprises and providing the support structures and mentoring to see generational families succeed for future generations.
Dr Michael Browne
Andrew Cooper
Andrew has over 18 years business experience in domestic and international markets, having lived and worked across Australia and APAC based in Singapore. He has performed roles across commercial, sales and marketing with experience gained in world leading liquor businesses Diageo and Pernod Ricard, and investment bank at Macquarie Bank. Andrew holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Economics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Today Andrew is a 6th generation custodian of Coopers Brewery and has a passion for business culture and performance, people leadership, Australian brand stories and quality products.
Zoe Detmold
Zoe Detmold is CEO of Detmold Ventures and a third-generation family member of the Detmold Group. Initially, Zoe’s career within Detpak, one of the Group’s companies, spanned Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia, focusing on driving growth across different markets and customer channels. Looking for a change of pace, Zoe launched Detmold Ventures to pioneer new entrepreneurial ventures outside the Detmold Group. This has become a vehicle for innovation, with start-up Cup & Carry launched in 2021.
Andrew Eastwood
Andrew Eastwood is the General Manager of Business Banking at Bendigo Bank, based in the Greater Melbourne Area. With an extensive background in financial services across both Australia and the UK, Andrew has held senior leadership roles focusing on people management, sales, business strategy, marketing, and product development. He leads all business customer-facing teams nationally at Bendigo Bank, driving business strategy, transformation, and performance.
Andrew Eastwood’s experience in the UK, particularly his senior roles at Barclays Bank, significantly shaped his career by providing him with broad leadership responsibilities and exposure to complex business environments.
Aubrey Stillwell
Aubrey Stillwell is Executive Director of the Stillwell Family Office and a third-generation leader committed to preserving and growing her family’s legacy. She provides strategic investment oversight and fosters unity across generations. Aubrey also serves on the boards of the Stillwell Family and Family Business Association, where she supports education, succession, and connection among family businesses.
With an AAICD, a Bachelor’s in Business Management, and an MBA, she is passionate about empowering Next Generation family business members to lead with purpose and sustain long-term success.
Dr Jill Thomas
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FBERG members
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HDR students and research topics
- Gary He (The role of identity in transgenerational entrepreneurship of family businesses)
- Joy Zhou (Strategic responses of Chinese family firms during times of external disruption: Examining family involvement and dynamic capabilities)
- Lyndie Van Orsouw (Governing the family enterprise: Models, practices and outcomes)
- Mark Evans (Tax policies supporting small business development in Australia: Encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth)
- Markus Troschke (Business succession and retirement planning for small business in Australia? Are the current small business tax concessions sufficient for small businesses to adequately retire and businesses succession?)
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Research
Industry and partner-based research
The FBERG team have been conducting relevant family enterprise industry-based research, such as that listed below:
1. Research into Australian Family Offices (Partners: Mutual Trust and the Government of South Australia)
- Phase 1 Report: Insights From Research and Family Enterprise Advisors
- Phase 2 Report: Insights From Family Enterprise Leaders
2. Research into the Australian Family Business Sector (Partners: Family Business Australia and KPMG Australia)
3. Research into the use of Family Trusts (Partner: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman)
4. Research into the resilience of MSMEs in Times of a Crisis (Partner: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman)
5. Research into the use of private equity financing by family businesses (Partners: CPA Australia; KPMG International)
Academic research
The FBERG team publish scholarly research in leading international journals on various family business issues, such as strategy, governance, next-gen development, succession, transgenerational entrepreneurship, family business branding, and performance. For more information about this published research, please click on the names of our FBERG team members under FBERG members.
Current research projects
- Digital transformation and family business ESG performance.
- Family business successors and export margins: A gendered perspective.
- Intergenerational succession and strategic renewal of family firms in legacy-driven industries.
- Financial literacy in Australian family businesses.
- Entrepreneurial orientation in family firm debt financing: The moderating effect of socioemotional wealth.
- Wealth concentration and entrepreneurial orientation in family firms: The moderating role of independent boards.
- The role of governance in aligning family investment practices in family enterprises.
- Identity development of the next generation and its impact on succession commitment.
- Dark side of socioemotional wealth and its impact on psychological wellbeing.
- Examining the effects of person-environment fit and gender on next-generation family members’ succession intentions.
- Foundations of responsible leadership in family firms Education.
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Education
- Family Business Fundamentals
- The purpose of this course is to enhance students' understanding of the characteristics, contributions, and issues unique to family businesses. Topics include the uniqueness and importance of family business, family governance, transgenerational entrepreneurship, professionalization, as well as succession and strategic planning. Key theories used in the family business field will also be introduced and applied in the course, such as systems theory, agency and stewardship theory, the resource-based view, and the socio-emotional wealth perspective. This course utilises a case study method where students are taught how to analyse, develop and deliver recommendations on real family business cases using the theoretical frameworks covered. By design, Family Business Fundamentals is a foundational course for those seeking to be a professional advisor to or leader of family businesses. The course will appeal to those who are interested in succeeding or starting their own family business, as well as those interacting with family businesses as advisors, managers, or policy-makers.
- The purpose of this course is to enhance students' understanding of the characteristics, contributions, and issues unique to family businesses. Topics include the uniqueness and importance of family business, family governance, transgenerational entrepreneurship, professionalization, as well as succession and strategic planning. Key theories used in the family business field will also be introduced and applied in the course, such as systems theory, agency and stewardship theory, the resource-based view, and the socio-emotional wealth perspective. This course utilises a case study method where students are taught how to analyse, develop and deliver recommendations on real family business cases using the theoretical frameworks covered. By design, Family Business Fundamentals is a foundational course for those seeking to be a professional advisor to or leader of family businesses. The course will appeal to those who are interested in succeeding or starting their own family business, as well as those interacting with family businesses as advisors, managers, or policy-makers.
- Family Business Advisor Accreditation Program
- Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition (SG-FECC)
- Each year, the Adelaide Business School mentors a student team for the Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition, held annually in January at the University of Vermont, Burlington, USA. This prestigious competition offers an unparalleled opportunity for students interested in family business leadership, consulting, and entrepreneurship to hone their skills. Over four days, our team competes with global university peers, analysing complex family business cases and presenting recommendations to a panel of judges. By applying classroom knowledge and expertise, participants gain critical insights into the unique challenges of family enterprises.
In January 2025, the Adelaide Business School sent a team of three MBA students [Simmonette Duggin, Benjamin Lewis, Caroline Nankivell (nee Auricht)] with coach Assoc. Prof. Chris Graves to compete in the annual SG-FECC in Vermont, USA. Competing over four days, the team won third prize in the postgraduate division. Special thanks to Victoria Madison, our team ambassador (winner of the best ambassador award), and FBERG members Gary He, James Davidson, and Michael Browne, who assisted in coaching the team.
- NextGen Family Business Network
- Family Business Fundamentals