Dr Samira Nazar

Samira-Nazar

RSM

Research School of Management

Position
Lecturer in Entrepreneurship
Email
samira.nazar@anu.edu.au
Office
Room 1079, Level 1, LF Crisp Building 26
Link
https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/samira-nazar
Research areas
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Marginalized Entrepreneurship
  • Fragile, extreme, adverse, hostile contexts
  • Resources and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Biography

Samira Nazar is Assistant Professor (Lecturer) of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Research School of Management at The Australian National University. Her research explores how marginalized entrepreneurs thrive in hostile environments that are typically war-torn, where entrepreneurial ecosystems become fragmented and non-inclusive.

Samira received her PhD from the University of Queensland's Business School for her work on women's entrepreneurship in Afghanistan. Prior to commencing her PhD studies, Samira held a master's degree in Business with a focus on Sustainability and Social Impact and a graduate diploma in Technology and Innovation Management from the University of Queensland as well as a bachelor's degree in Business Consultancy from the University of Applied Sciences in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Before commencing her master's degree, she worked for multinational and global IT companies, such as, A1 Telekom Austria, Microsoft, and Fujitsu.  

Samira's research and Teaching has received domestic and international recognition by the Academy of Management, Society for Business Ethics, as well as The Australian National University's College of Business and Economics Teaching Excellence Award (Early Career) in 2024, the Vice Chancellor Award for Teaching Excellence (Early Career) and the Vice Chancellor's Award for Educational Excellence in 2025.

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    Research publications

    Gabriel, C. A., Nazar, S., Zhu, D., & Kirkwood, J. (2019). Performance beyond economic growth: Alternatives from growth-averse enterprises in the global south. Alternatives, 44(2-4): 119-137. 

    Nazar, S. (2025) Book Review: The Stigma Matrix. Organization Studies 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01708406251400479

     

    Selected conference papers

    Nazar, S., & Burgers, H., & von Briel, F. (2024, June 5-8). Contesting and shaping entrepreneurial ecosystems: learning from marginalized entrepreneurs in adverse contexts. Paper presented at Babson College Entrepreneurship Conference (BCERC), Munich, Germany 

    Nazar, S., Von Briel, F., & Burgers, H. (2023, August 4-8). Women Entrepreneurs’ Resource Mobilization in Fragile Contexts. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2023, No. 1, p. 12003), Boston, USA https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.113bp  (All-Academy Best Paper)

    Nazar, S., Burgers, H. & Von Briel, F. (2023, August 4-8). Entrepreneurs: navigate, develop, and transform entrepreneurial ecosystems. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2023, No. 1, p. 12012), Boston, USA https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.12012abstract

    Nazar, S. & Burgers, H. (2021, June 8-9). Women entrepreneurship in fragile contexts: resource mobilization. Paper presented at Babson College Entrepreneurship Conference (BCERC) (Online)

    Nazar, S. (2020, February 4-7). Mediating mechanisms enabling Entrepreneurs and SMEs using digital technologies: A systematic review. Paper presented at the Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange Conference (ACERE), Adelaide, Australia

    Meath, C., Gonzalez, C., Navarrete, R. C. M, Nazar, S., & Griffiths, A. (2020, July 2-4). I’m sustainable too! Evidence of isomorphic behaviour following implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Paper presented at European Group for Organization Studies (EGOS), Hamburg, Germany.

    Nazar, S., Meath, C., & Griffiths, A. (2018, July 5-7). Achieving legitimacy through organizational values discourse in annual reports – a comparative analysis. Paper presented at European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS), Tallinn, Estonia

     

    Research grants and awards

    AWARDED BY THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

    • The Vice Chancellor's Award for Educational Excellence 2025 This award recognises the University’s most outstanding educators in their fields, who have made a broad and deep contribution to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching in higher education at ANU. Dr Nazar was chosen as the recipient of this award from the awardees of the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Education.
    • The Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence (Early Career) 2025
    • College of Business and Economics Award for Teaching Excellence (Early Career) 2024
    • ANU Future Scheme 2.0. The ANU Futures Scheme 2.0 is a core element of the University’s strategy to promote excellence in research, by prioritising the attraction of the best global research talent to the ANU, through the provision of attractive start-up packages and associated support.

    AWARDED BY THE ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT 

    • Best paper AOM 2023
    • Finalist of the 2023 all-Academy Carolyn B. Dexter Award (Sole nominee from the Entrepreneurship Division): The Carolyn Dexter Award is an all-Academy award given to the paper that best meets the objective of internationalizing the Academy of Management. Each of the Academy's Divisions & Interest Groups nominates one annual meeting submission for this prestigious award each year; up to three of these nominations may be selected to receive the award. Each paper nominated for the Carolyn Dexter Award is designated as such on the program.​​​​​​​
    • Academy of Management Best Reviewer Award 2021 (Entrepreneurship Division)

    AWARDED BY THE SOCIETY FOR BUSINESS ETHICS

    • Best Dissertation Award 2024 The purpose of the award is to recognize the dissertation that most clearly demonstrates the potential to contribute to substantial advances in business ethics research and practice.​​​​​​​

    AWARDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

    • Nominated for Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses 2023
    • Research and Training Scholarship for the PhD program. 2019
    • Dean’s Honour Roll 2016. The Dean's Honour Roll is awarded to the top 10% of students graduating from eligible Business, Economics and Law programs.
    • UQ Future Leader Class of 2016. This is an elite program for the most dedicated and outstanding new graduates who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to leadership, academic achievement, and service to the UQ community. Only 5 percent of the 10,000 new alumni each year are recognized as Future Leaders.
    • Dean's Commendation for Academic Excellence for a GPA of 6.75 and 6.80 (on a 7-point scale) respectively.

    Research engagement and outreach

    2025: “Fragile ground and a glass ceiling: how women entrepreneurs defy the odds” Featured by ANU Reporter: https://reporter.anu.edu.au/all-stories/fragile-ground-and-a-glass-ceiling-how-women-entrepreneurs-defy-the-odds  

    2025: Pursuing safety and wellbeing for all women and girls on the occasion of International Women’s Day featured in CBE Communication: https://cbe.anu.edu.au/news/2025/pursuing-safety-and-wellbeing-all-women-and-girls  

    2023: “Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation program gains expert in specialised field” featured in CBE Communication: https://cbe.anu.edu.au/news/2023/master-entrepreneurship-and-innovation-program-gains-expert-specialised-field  

     

    Teaching

    • MGMT8015 Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Semester 1 only)
    • MGM7161 New Venture Creation