Trudie Murray | Entrepreneurship Education | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Trudie Murray | Entrepreneurship Education | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer | Munster Technological University | Ireland

Dr. Trudie Murray is an accomplished academic and researcher in the field of entrepreneurship education, currently contributing to the Department of Management and Enterprise at Munster Technological University. Her research focuses on entrepreneurial and regenerative education, sustainability, biomimicry, and the integration of creativity and playfulness in pedagogy. She has developed a distinctive scholarly identity around exploring how entrepreneurial thinking can be nurtured from early childhood through to higher education, using constructivist and artistic inquiry methods. Dr. Murray’s work critically examines the human dimensions of entrepreneurship education, promoting reflective, inclusive, and responsible approaches to teaching and learning. Her publications and conference contributions span themes such as early entrepreneurial education, self-dialogical practice in educator development, and regenerative futures in enterprise learning. As a co-editor and collaborator on international research projects, she engages in interdisciplinary initiatives advancing educational innovation, sustainability, and community impact. Professionally, she combines academic leadership, programme direction, and pedagogical development, supporting curriculum design and research mentoring across disciplines. Her engagement with European networks and scholarly communities such as ECSB, ISBE, INTRE, and EEUK positions her as an influential voice in shaping policy and practice for entrepreneurship education. Through funded research projects, keynote contributions, and collaborative networks, she continues to advocate for transformative educational models that link creativity, empathy, and sustainability with enterprise and social responsibility, making significant contributions to the evolution of entrepreneurship as a force for inclusive and regenerative change.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Murray, T. (2026). FoxLodge – A subconscious journey into early entrepreneurial education. In Reimagining education through entrepreneurship: An international showcase of leadership and collaboration to education for a sustainable future.

Murray, T., & Higgins, D. (2023). Introduction – Learning to see nothing but seeking to gain everything: Entrepreneurship research as an artistic process of inquiry. In Nurturing modalities of inquiry in entrepreneurship research: Seeing the world through the eyes of those who research.

Higgins, D., & Murray, T. (2025, November 7). Expressing inner dialogues of teaching experience: Writing as a path to emancipation and growth. Innovations in Education and Teaching International.

Murray, T., Jalbert, S., & Nagel, S. (2025, May). Democratising entrepreneurial education – Leveraging familiar pedagogical approaches to empower preschool, primary, and secondary (K-12) school teachers. Paper presented at the 3E Conference.

Murray, T., & Higgins, D. (2024, November). Writing out of darkness… finding light and emancipation through entrepreneurship educator self-dialogical practice. Paper presented at the RENT Conference.

David Higgins | Entrepreneurship | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. David Higgins | Entrepreneurship | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer | University of Liverpool | United Kingdom

Dr. David Higgins is a distinguished academic and thought leader in the fields of entrepreneurship, executive education, and management. His research explores innovative pedagogical practices, narrative inquiry, and action learning to enhance entrepreneurship and management education, promoting critical reflection, inclusivity, and sustainability. He has authored numerous scholarly works, including journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes, with publications appearing in leading international journals. His academic contributions challenge conventional paradigms, fostering deeper engagement between theory and practice in entrepreneurial learning. As an Associate Editor and guest editor for multiple international journals, he has influenced contemporary debates on management education and research methods. Dr. Higgins has also played a pivotal role in developing and delivering academic programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, mentoring a significant number of doctoral researchers to completion. His leadership extends to professional and academic networks, where he has served as a board member, vice president, and conference chair for major scholarly associations. Recognised for his scholarly excellence and pedagogical innovation, he has received multiple awards for research, teaching, and peer reviewing. Beyond academia, he actively engages with industry partners to integrate practical insights into enterprise education and leadership development. Through his editorial work, mentorship, and thought-provoking scholarship, Dr. Higgins continues to shape the global discourse on entrepreneurship education, contributing to a more reflexive, engaged, and sustainable approach to management learning and research.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Higgins, D. (2025). Entrepreneurship educators in an age of climate and ecological breakdown. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy.

Higgins, D. (2025). Developing the future scholarship of entrepreneurship education: Exploring educator authenticity through practice and identity—celebrating 10 years of the 3E conference. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research.

Higgins, D. (2025). Editorial: Learning from management education researchers.

Higgins, D. (2025). Twenty years of action learning: Research and practice.

Sayuri Wijekoon | Entrepreneurship | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sayuri Wijekoon | Entrepreneurship | Best Researcher Award

Academic | Macquarie University | Australia

Sayuri Wijekoon is an emerging scholar in marketing strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with a strong academic and research background spanning doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate studies in business and management. Her doctoral research focuses on customer involvement in new product development and marketing in new ventures, building on her earlier work that examined entrepreneurial marketing, brand awareness, and brand image. She has held academic roles in Australia and Sri Lanka, teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate levels in areas such as marketing strategy, technologies, media insights, sales, entrepreneurial marketing, and value creation. Alongside teaching, she has contributed as a research assistant, conducting literature reviews, data analysis, and project reporting. Her research has appeared in high-impact journals including the Journal of Business Research and the European Journal of Marketing, with additional work under review in top-tier outlets such as the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. She has presented at international conferences including the Academy of Marketing Science and the Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange, highlighting her commitment to advancing scholarly dialogue. Recognized with awards for academic excellence, international scholarships, and gold medals for top performance, she has demonstrated consistent distinction throughout her academic journey. In addition to research and teaching, she has contributed to academic communities as a graduate student representative and as part of organizing committees for seminars and reading clubs. Her professional development extends to training in pedagogy, communication, and programming, reflecting a multidisciplinary and innovative approach to her career. Collectively, her work integrates research, teaching, and leadership, positioning her as a promising researcher and educator in the fields of marketing, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Profile: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Wijekoon, S. P., O’Cass, A., & Vesal, M. (2024). The impact of entrepreneurial marketing on new venture brand image and performance: A capability perspective. European Journal of Marketing, 58(6), 1463–1492.

Wijekoon, S. P., Fernando, I. (2020). Mediatory role of brand love in the relationship between brand experiences and brand loyalty: Special reference to FMCG sector in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 10(2), 12–21.

Wijekoon, S. P. (2022). Creating brand awareness and brand image in new ventures: The role of entrepreneurial marketing. Macquarie University [Doctoral dissertation / research work].

Wijekoon, S. P., Vesal, M., & O’Cass, A. (2025). A configurational approach to strategic entrepreneurship: Unlocking customer success in new ventures in emerging economies. Journal of Business Research, 201, 115689.

Wijekoon, P. I. N. F. W. M. S. P. (2019). Mediatory role of brand love in the relationship between brand experiences and brand loyalty: Special reference to FMCG sector in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 10(2), 12–20.