Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership

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Potential PhD research areas

We welcome PhD students who would like to study ethical leadership within NZ organisations in line with the research focus of the Chair.

Find details about applying for a PhD from the Wellington School of Business and Government.

The Chair’s research focus is on ethical leadership, ethics management, and ethical culture within public and private sector organisations, with the aim to provide evidence-based information and share international best knowledge and practices for New Zealand public, private, and community sectors.


The following are three closely intertwined research programs:

Ethical Leadership: Opportunities and Challenges for Aotearoa New Zealand

This research program investigates the practice of ethical leadership and its role in addressing ethical issues in New Zealand organisations. The importance of ethical leadership for business is further explored through a series of case studies from New Zealand companies.

Ethics at Work: Survey of Employees in New Zealand

In 2018, the Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership became the national partner for New Zealand for the Institute of Business Ethics’ global employee survey about ethics and conducted the first survey among New Zealand employees.

The facts and figures in the report Ethics at Work: 2018 Survey of Employees—New Zealand give important insights into employees’ attitudes and views on workplace ethics in New Zealand and are key to facilitating a transparent and ethically sound business sector. Additionally, a comparative report was published that compares the New Zealand findings with Australia and the United Kingdom.

In 2021, the survey has been conducted for the second time in New Zealand, providing additional insights about ethics at work over time, including perceptions of employees about the way Covid-19 pandemic affects their work. The resulting dataset is used for in-depth analysis and scientific publication.

The Work Ethic of the Young New Zealand Workforce

The Brian Picot Chair in Ethical Leadership is welcoming research into the ethical work profiles and ethical leadership potential of the young New Zealand workforce.

Previous research suggests that millennial generations have low trust in traditional institutions and are sceptical about businesses’ motives. Ethics, sustainability, and social responsibility are important to them, and they expect organisations to align with their values or they are quick to leave their jobs. However, prior international academic research has also revealed contradictory findings about the work ethic of Gen Y and even less is known about Gen Z from a New Zealand perspective. This is even more the case with the current COVID-19 pandemic that especially disrupts young people’s lives and impacts their aspirations towards work and career.

A contemporary and more transparent picture of their work ethic—their values, beliefs, and attitudes towards work—is critical for business and government to be able to understand the young workforce, to attract and retain young talent and to build a resilient workforce for future challenges.