Martie-Louise Verreynne

Martie-Louise Verreynne is a Professor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Deputy Head of School at the University of Queensland Business School in Brisbane, Australia. Her research in small firm innovation and resilience focuses on how these firms leverage capabilities and networks to gain a competitive edge. A current ARC Discovery grant broadens this to look at the processes and technologies of open innovation. Martie-Louise has published in leading entrepreneurship and strategy journals; interdisciplinary journals, as well as the three main small business journals. She currently serves as Associate Editor to the prominent Journal of Small Business Management. She is a recipient of the prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council citation for contribution to student learning based on her work in the area of commercialisation of high-tech start-ups and leads the development of the MicroMasters in Corporate Innovation. Martie-Louise actively works with industry, for example with UniQuest and CSIRO on research commercialisation, with the Sustainable Minerals Institute on the ability of resilient small firms exposed to mining and oil and gas resource cycles to rebound, and with Queensland and Federal governments, Brisbane City Council, Horticulture Innovation Australia and a range of other industry bodies on innovation.

Research interests

Growing Australian Small Firms This project investigates the growth paths as well as those factors that nurture growth in small firms in Australia. It forms part of an international comparative study which partners with Cambridge University and the University of Auckland.

Innovation in nonprofit and public sector firms This research investigates the innovation processes of nonprofit and public sector firms. It uses a case study design to build theory in areas such as strategic entrepreneurship and opportunity recognition.

Strategy-making processes This research models the role of a number of strategic processes, strategies, entrepreneurial orientation, their interaction with each other and the internal and external environment on the performance of small firms.