Rob Lawson
Professor
BA (Manchester), MSc, (Newcastle), PhD (Sheffield)
Room 6.21
Tel 64 3 479 8158
Email rob.lawson@otago.ac.nz
Rob Lawson joined the Department in 1987, and was appointed Professor in 1995. He completed his first degree in geography at the University of Manchester and subsequently completed an MSc in Agricultural Marketing at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and a PhD at the University of Sheffield.
Rob's special area of expertise is in the study of consumer behaviour, though he also has interests in the development of marketing theory. Within consumer behaviour his research his research is currently focused on household energy use and wider issues in sustainability and consumer ethics. Previously he has led major projects researching both aspects of tourist behaviour and the values and lifestyles of NZ consumers.
Rob is currently the joint Principal Investigator with Dr Janet Stephenson on a large three year multidisciplinary project entitled Energy Cultures (http://www.csafe.org.nz/energy_cultures_2). This research aims to understand why the take up rate of energy efficient technologies and behaviours has been slow in New Zealand households with the ultimate goal of providing better insights for both policy and marketing strategies that will enhance the likelihood of more sustainable energy consumption.
Rob’s other current commitments involve ongoing work with Dr. Gretchen Larsen at Kings College, London (http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/management/people/academic/larsen.aspx) on the area of consumer rights and justice in the marketplace.
In recent years most of Rob’s teaching has been at the graduate level where he has taught the Marketing Theory paper with Ben Wooliscroft for a long time. Rob is also heavily involved with postgraduate supervision, including joint supervisions outside the Department of Marketing.
Rob has also worked as Head of Department for a total of seven years in three different spells since 1998 and he has held a number of other roles and positions in the University and wider academic community. He held a partial role as Research Dean for the School of Business for two years in 2005 and 2006 and he has acted as convenor of the Otago Energy Research Centre from 2008 to 2012 (http://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/). Outside the University he has served as the President of ANZMAC and as the New Zealand representative on the EMAC executive as well as being one of the national assessors for marketing and tourism on the business panel for the Performance Based Research Fund in 2003 and 2006.
Outside work, two of Rob’s great joys are growing his own organic fruit and vegetables and looking after his two crazy cross collie/labrador dogs. Rob is working on Research and Study leave in the second half of 2012.
Publications
Refereed Journal Articles
Refereed Conference Proceedings
Books
Book Chapters
Non-refereed Journal Articles & Reports
Teaching Responsibilities
MART431 Marketing Theory S1
Office Hours
Please contact christina.yeates@otago.ac.nz to arrange an appointment.