Dr Kumi Heenetigala

Kumi is a research fellow in Governance Research Program at College of Law and Justice.

She started her career as an accountant in Sri Lanka where she worked as the Chief accountant at the Rural Development Program at Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka. Kumi continued her accountancy work in Australia for the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, Amcor Australasia and TR corporation. 

In 2008, she joined the Centre for Corporate Governance at Victoria University as a research fellow to pursue research in the area of corporate governance.

Recent publications

Refereed journal articles

De Silva Lokuwaduge, C.S and Heenetigala, K (2016) Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure for a Sustainable Development: An Australian Study Business Strategy and the Environment journal,  Dec 2016, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bse.1927/epdf

Heenetigala, K (2016) Community Development as a CSR Strategy for Sri Lanka, Journal of Law and Governance, Volume 11 (1 ), p38-49

Heenetigala, K., et.al (2015) An Investigation of Environmental, Social and Governance Measures of Listed Mining Sector Companies in Australia, Journal of Law and Governance, Volume 10, issue 4 (1-17)

Heenetigala, K (2014) Development of Women’s Rights as Human Rights, Journal of the Certified Professional Managers, Volume 1 (6-10)

Heenetigala, K & De Silva Lokuwaduge, C.S (2013) Directors Duties and Responsibilities towards other Stakeholders: A Discussion of Case Studies on Corporate Disasters, Journal of Business Systems Governance and Ethics, Volume 8 (1) P18-25

Books

Heenetigala, K, Armstrong, A, Lokuwaduge, CS, Ediriweera, A (2016) Investigation of Criteria used for Assurance Practices of Sustainability Reporting in Australian Listed Companies, Victoria University, Melbourne. ISBN 978-1-86272-710-6

Dussuyer, I., Armstrong, A, Heenetigala, K. and Smith, R (2016) Preventing Victimisation of Whistleblowers, Victoria University, Melbourne. ISBN 978-1-86272-712-0

Armstrong, A., Clarke, A., Li, Y., Heenetigala, K et al. (2011) Developing a Responsive Regulatory System for Australia's Small Corporations, Victoria University, Melbourne. ISBN 978-1-86272-692-5

Armstrong, A, Heenetigala, K et al. (2010) The Use of Internet Reporting for Small Business and Accountants, Victoria University. ISBN  978-1-86272-689-5

Refereed chapters

Heenetigala. K, Armstrong A, Ediriweera A, Lokuwaduge CS (2017)  In CSR, Sustainability and Leadership.   Editors: Eweje G, Bathurst R .   172-198 . Taylor and Francis, New York 10 Feb 2017

Conference presentations

Heenetigala,K.,Lokuwaduge, C.D. and Ediriweera, A. (2016) Investigation of Assurance Practices of Sustainability Reporting in Australian Listed Companies, Second Governance and Law Conference: Across all Border, 28-29 April, Victoria University, Australia.

Heenetigala,K.,Lokuwaduge, C.D., Armstrong, A. and Ediriweera, A., (2015) Independent Assurance of Sustainability Reports of Mining Sector Companies in Australia, 12th International Conference on Business Management 7-8 December , Colombo, Sri Lanka

Heenetigala, K. and C. De Silva, Armstrong, A & Ediriweera, A (2015) An Investigation of Environmental, Social and Governance Measures of Listed Mining Sector Companies in Australia. 2015 International Business & Education Conference, London, UK, 8-10 June 2015

Heenetigala, K & De Silva Lokuwaduge (2013) Implications of Corporate Disasters on Duties and Responsibilities of Directors’ and Officers’ towards other Stakeholders", 27th ANZAM Conference 2013, Hobart Tasmania, 4-6 Dec

Heenetigala, K and Armstrong, A (2011) The Value of Corporate Governance to Small Businesses in Australia, 25th ANZAM conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 7-9 December 2011

Invited address

Heenetigala, K (2012) Corporate Governance and Performance of Listed Companies in Sri Lanka, Seminar conducted by Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka, JAIC Hilton, Colombo, 10 February 2012.

Heenetigala, K (2012) Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector, Seminar conducted  by Bank of Ceylon, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9 February 2012.

Heenetigala, K (2012) Corporate Governance in a Nutshell, Victorian Association  of Chinese PhD Students and Scholars Research Workshop, Victoria University, 6th October 2012

Workshops

Heenetigala, K., Li, Y and Con Foo, R. (2011) Challenges Facing Small Businesses in Australia, 25th ANZAM conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 7-9 December 2011.

Keynote speaker

Heenetigala, K (2012) Corporate Governance in a Nutshell, Victorian Association of Chinese PhD Students and Scholars Research Workshop, Victoria University, 6 October 2012

Invited speaker

Heenetigala, K (2012) Corporate Governance and Performance of Listed Companies in Sri Lanka, Seminar conducted by Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka, JAIC Hilton, Colombo, 10 February 2012.

Heenetigala, K (2012) Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector, Seminar conducted by Bank of Ceylon, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9 February 2012.

Heenetigala, K (2011) Adaptation to Cross-Cultural Environment, Workshop on "Issues Related to Women in Migration", International Women's Day 2011, Victoria, 14 May 2011

Heenetigala, K (2010) Migrant Women and Employment, International Womens Day 2010, Panel Discussion on the topic of "Empowering Women within and across borders", Victoria, 20 March 2010

Teaching responsibilities

Postgraduate research students and fellows

Current supervision

Principal supervision of 2 PhD students,  co-supervision of 3 PhD students.

Completions

Co-supervisor of 3 PhD students.

Research grants

2014 - 2015: Australian Institute of Criminology for Preventing Victimisation of whistle-blowers in the private sector, totalling $25,841.81.

2015: Central Research Grant Scheme Victoria University - Early Career Research Award for Investigation of criteria used for assurance practices of sustainability reporting in Australian Listed companies, totalling $12,150.00

2014: Internal Research Grant funded by College of Law & Justice and College of Business (Victoria University), on An Investigation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Measures of Listed Mining Sector Companies in Australia in 2014 Totalling $10,000.00

2009: Competitive Research Grant, National Institute of Accountants (Currently  Institute of Public Accountants)  to research on Internet Reporting for Small Business and Accountants, totalling $ 16,000.00

2008 - 2011: ARC Linkage Grant, Developing a Responsive Regulatory System for Australia’s Small Corporations: Governance for Small Business, $335,600.00.

Professional membership

• Member of the Institute of Public Accountants (MIPA)
• Member of Australian Institute of Management (AIMM)
• Fellow of Certified Practicing Manager of Sri Lanka (FCPM)
• Member of the (International Corporate Governance Network) ICGN

Industry experience

Worked as an Accountant from 1988 – 2008 in Sri Lanka and Australia.