Dr. Somakanthie Pillay
Associate Professor, Management
Campus
Biography
An accomplished academic and leader, Soma Pillay brings extensive expertise in governance, ethics, cross-cultural management, feminist studies and work-life research. She is an experienced educator, teaching in the areas of management and human resource management, and is recognised for her engaging and impactful pedagogy. Her excellence in teaching has been acknowledged through a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Learning and Teaching, reflecting her commitment to student success and innovative practice.
Soma serves on the editorial boards of several highly ranked journals in management education, underscoring her influence in shaping scholarship and advancing the field. She also contributes beyond academia as Board Director for Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health, providing strategic leadership and advocacy for vulnerable communities. In addition, she is a member of the Institute of Company Directors, demonstrating her strong engagement with governance at a professional level.
A sought-after guest editor for special issues in leading journals, Soma curates impactful research on contemporary global challenges. Her publication record includes several books and numerous peer-reviewed articles in high-ranking journals, addressing governance, ethics, diversity and work-life integration, bridging research, teaching and practice.
More about Soma
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Public Administration)
- Master of Public Administration
- Honours (Management)
- Bachelor of Public Administration
Areas of interest
- Feminism and gender studies
- Governance (including corruption and whistleblowing)
- Ethics
- Work-life
- Cross cultural management
- Management studies
- Management education
Grants
- 2021 Porter, JE. Prokopiv, V. Barbagallo, M. James, M. Dabkowski, E. Pillay, S. Health Innovation Project. Latrobe Valley Authority ($149,100)
- 2021 Porter, J.E, Barbagallo, M. James, M. Prokopiv, V. Pillay, S and Greenhill, A. Evaluation of the My Food Swap program. The Latrobe Health Assembly. DHHS ($114,000)
- 2019 ‘Public Sector Governance’, DUT Consultancy Grant ($1,834.94)
- 2017 ‘Governance and Multiculturalism’, DUT Consultancy Grant ($8,302.35)
- 2015 Pillay, S. “Examining the Institutionalisation of Ethics”, FBS Research Grant ($4,000)
- 2014 Examining Ethics, DUT Consultancy ($1,906)
- 2013 Pillay, S. Governance Matters, Monash BusEco Grant ($2,500)
- 2012 Pillay, S. Monash BusEco Research Grant ($10,000)
- 2011 Pillay, S. Introducing Blended Learning and Teaching Methods to extend and enrich the learning experience of management students in a cross-cultural context. Swinburne FBE Teaching and Learning Innovation Grant ($10,000)
- 2011 Pillay, S and Cuganesan, S. Investigating drivers of ethical behaviour, potential risk areas for Department of Transport and perceptions of existing control. Department of Transport and Swinburne University ($15,000)
- 2010 Pillay, S., Abhayawansa, S, and Kluvers, R. Cultures Consequence on Work Life Interface: A Cross-Cultural Perspective, Swinburne FBE-RDS Grant ($7,500)
- 2010 Pillay, S., Whistle Blowing, Swinburne FBE Seed Grant ($3,000)
- 2008 Abhawayansa, S., Tempone, I., and Pillay, S. 2008, Evidence based research to support curriculum development for Higher Education and TAFE in Accounting and Finance, AFAANZ Research Grant ($3,595.43)
- Management
- Contemporary human resource management
- Leadership and change
- Human resource management, practice and strategy
- Capstone-Business
Specialist roles
- Associate Professor (Management)
- Publications
Understanding attributional antecedents towards institutionalizing ethics
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1108/BL-01-2025-0014