Prof Robert Spillane
Professor of Management, Expert in Philosophy & Psychology in Leadership
Professor Robert Spillane is an expert in philosophy and psychology applied to management and leadership. Former Dean of Macquarie Graduate School of Management, author of eleven books, and recipient of the International Thomas S. Szasz Award, he inspires audiences to lead with insight, accountability and clarity.
Quick Contact
Professor Robert Spillane is a renowned educator, author and thought leader in the fields of philosophy, psychology and their practical application to management and leadership. With extensive experience in both corporate and academic environments, he draws on decades of insight to help leaders think critically, manage effectively and foster personal and organisational accountability.
After eight years with BP and Philips, Robert joined Macquarie University in 1972 in the School of Behavioural Sciences. He transferred to the Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) in 1976 and was appointed to a Chair in Management in 1990. From 1989 to 1991, he served as Dean of MGSM, which was later ranked No. 1 in Australia for Executive Education Public Programs in 2008 and 2009 by the Financial Times.
In the 1970s, Professor Spillane trained with American psychologist Dr Albert Ellis, and since the 1980s he has worked closely with psychiatrist Professor Thomas Szasz. He practised psychotherapy in Sydney for 25 years, specialising in occupational stress, and has applied these insights to leadership, management and personal development.
Robert has authored over 130 professional articles and eleven books, including Questionable Behaviour: Psychology’s Undermining of Personal Responsibility (2009), An Eye for an I: Living Philosophy (2007), The Management Contradictionary (2006), and Personality & Performance: Foundations for Managerial Psychology (2005). He also wrote the play Entertaining Executives, first performed at the Mermaid Theatre, London, in 2006.
An international educator, Professor Spillane has taught at London Business School, the University of NSW (AGSM), the Centre for Working Life in Stockholm, and the ABCOR Institute in Germany. Between 2003 and 2009, he delivered more than 100 lectures on philosophy and psychology for the Art Gallery Society of NSW.
In 2006, Professor Spillane received the International Thomas S. Szasz Award from the Center for Independent Thought in New York, recognising his contributions to human liberty. His presentations combine rigorous scholarship, practical insight and a thought-provoking approach that challenges leaders to rethink conventional wisdom and make more informed, ethical decisions.
