Teachers with solid industry and practical business experience are what many students are looking for when they study at CQUniversity.

So says Sydney Campus lecturer Andy Kelly, who is a great believer that sharing business 'know-how' with his students is a good way to improve their learning.

Andy Kelly ... passing on experiences

Story by Chris Keane....

"You can study a textbook", he says, "but you won't get all the answers and it can't compensate for the practical realities of the commercial world".

After all, Andy should know what he is talking about. He comes to CQUniversity with extensive business experience in manufacturing, wholesale and retail markets.

Andy has worked in the USA, New Zealand and Australia and is aware that the macro environment doesn't remain constant for long. He says that there are always tough decisions to be made about a firm's production costs, sales and the deployment of human resources.

"There are no substitutes for the harsh lessons taught by the reality of the market place," is his favourite saying.

Managing diverse people performing different functions in a business organisation is what it's all about.

Andy notes that it doesn't matter whether people are production engineers, finance analysts or front line sales staff. It mostly requires a "hands on" approach which is not easily derived from theoretical management models.

Restructuring a business due to adverse economic forces can sometimes lead to unpleasant consequences and "you have to learn to live with them", he comments.

Andy points to the practical difficulties facing businesses due to the imminent introduction of an emissions trading system.

He notes that the challenges of adapting to this new regulatory regime are formidable and that many big companies will face a raft of new compliance legislation and accounting procedures which will all add to the transaction costs of doing business.

Andy Kelly is an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management as well as an academic member of the National Institute of Accountants. He has an MBA from Pepperdine University in the State of California and has worked at a number of universities including Charles Sturt. He was former Director of Operations for Campus Group Holdings at the New Zealand International Campus.

Outside of his everyday work commitments, Andy is a keen photographer and has developed a particular interest in macro photography. He has also been known to put the skis on to partake in his favourite pastime, snow skiing.

Andy is currently teaching a range of business courses at Sydney Campus in the management and accounting areas.