Ace Simpson

Visiting Professor, Management & Marketing

Dr. Ace Simpson is a scholar and educator in organizational behavior, human resource management, and organizational compassion. He has held senior academic leadership roles, including Director of Undergraduate Programs, HRM Program Lead, and Chair of the Board of Academic Studies, contributing to curriculum development and program excellence. His research focuses on positive organizational behavior and the role of leadership in fostering human flourishing and well-being in organizational contexts.

Dr. Simpson has worked in business schools across Australia, the UK, and the US, bringing a global perspective to his teaching and research. A dedicated educator, he is known for his engaging and impactful teaching, earning strong student evaluations.

Education

Ph.D. (Management) (UTS Business School, Sydney Australia)

Courses Taught

  • MGMT 201: Introduction to Management
  • MGMT 321: Career Management
  • Research

    Dr. Ace V. Simpson's research explores both positive and dark organizational practices, with a particular focus on workplace compassion. He also studies power, paradox, bullying, humble leadership, and destructive leadership. He serves on the editorial board of the British Journal of Healthcare Management and is a research advisor to the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan and the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University. He has collaborated with healthcare organizations, including the UK's National Health Service, to enhance leadership and compassion capabilities.

    Ace’s work has been published in leading journals, including the Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Learning & Education, and Journal of Management. He is the author of Leadership Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita (Sage, 2020; Bloomsbury, 2024) and co-author of Organizational Compassion: A Relational Approach (Routledge, 2024), The Elgar Introduction to Organizational Paradox Theory (Edward Elgar, 2021), and Positive Organizational Behavior (Routledge, 2020). His book, Dark Triad in Leaders: A Critical Approach (Edward Elgar, 2025), is part of the New Horizons in Management series.

  • Publications and Scholarly Activities

    Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

    Cunha, M. P. E., Clegg, S., Rego, A., & Simpson, A. V. (2024). Drawing on the Dark Triad to teach effective leadership is dangerous, irresponsible, and bad theory. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 23(4), 626–651.

    Toroghi, H. H., Denney, F., & Simpson, A. V. (2024). Cultivating staff equality, diversity, and inclusion in higher education in the post-pandemic era: An organizational compassion perspective. Frontiers in Sociology. (In press).

    Rego, A., Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M. P., Silard, T., & Silva Oliveira, E. A. (2024). How leaders’ strength of heart and strength of will enhance team performance. Journal of Human Performance. (In press).

    Simpson, A. V., Panayiotou, A., Berti, M., Cunha, M. P., Kanji, S., & Clegg, S. (2022). Pandemic, power, and paradox: Improvising as the new normal during the COVID-19 crisis. Management Learning, 54(1), 3–13.

    Cunha, M. P. E., Rego, A., & Simpson, A. V. (2022). Team ground rules: Their nature and functions. Organizational Dynamics, 51(4), Article 100933.

    Simpson, A. V., Rego, A., Berti, M., Clegg, S., & Cunha, M. P. (2022). Theorizing compassionate leadership from the case of Jacinda Ardern: Legitimacy, paradox, and resource conservation. Leadership, 18(3), 337–358.

    Milton, D. S., Cunha, M. P., Simpson, A. V., Giustiniano, L., Rego, A., & Clegg, S. (2022). Servus or Pater? How paradoxical intent can qualify leadership—Indications from the Kingdom of Bhutan. Journal of Change Management, 22(3), 321–353.

    Cunha, M. P. E., Simpson, A. V., Rego, A., & Clegg, S. R. (2022). Non-naïve organizational positivity through a generative paradox pedagogy. Management Learning, 53(1), 15–32.

    Berti, M., & Simpson, A. V. (2021). On the practicality of resisting pragmatic paradoxes. Academy of Management Review, 46(2), 409–412.

    Berti, M., & Simpson, A. V. (2021). The dark side of organizational paradoxes: The dynamics of disempowerment. Academy of Management Review, 46(2), 252–274.

    Simpson, A. V. (2021). Rooting compassionate leadership in the NHS context. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 27(8), 1–2.

    Simpson, T. and Simpson, AV. (2021). Emphasising compassion for co-workers in medical school training and healthcare organization to address bullying. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 82,(8), 1-3.

    Simpson, A. V., & Cunha, M. P. (2021). A Bhagavad Gita-inspired linked leadership model. Journal of Leadership Studies, 15(3), 1–6.

    Simpson, A. V., Berti, M., Cunha, M. P., & Clegg, S. R. (2021). Art, culture, and paradox pedagogy in management learning: The case of Portuguese fado. Management Learning, 52(5), 630–651.

    Cunha, M. P., Clegg, S., Berti, M., Rego, A., & Simpson, A. V. (2021). Fully embracing the paradoxical condition: Banksy to organization theory. Organizational Aesthetics, 10(2), 50–67.

    Simpson, A. V., & Berti, M. (2020). Transcending paradoxes of organizational compassion by enacting wise compassion courageously. Journal of Management Inquiry, 12(1), 16–39.

    Giustiniano, L., Cunha, M. P., Simpson, A. V., Rego, A., & Clegg, S. (2020). Resilient leadership as paradox work: Notes from COVID-19. Management and Organization Review, 16(5), 971–975.

    Simpson, A. V., Reddy, P., & Farr-Wharton, B. (2020). Cultivating organizational compassion in healthcare. Journal of Management and Organizations, 26(3), 340–354.

    Rego, A., Owens, B., Yam, K. C., Bluhm, D., Cunha, M. P., Silard, A., Gonçalves, L., Martins, M., Simpson, A. V., & Liu, W. (2019). Leader humility and team performance: Exploring the mechanisms of team PsyCap and task allocation effectiveness. Journal of Management, 45(3), 1009–1033.

    Cunha, M. P. E., Simpson, A. V., Clegg, S., & Rego, A. (2019). Speak! Paradoxical effects of a managerial culture of 'speaking up'. British Journal of Management, 30(4), 829–846.

    Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M. P., & Rego, A. (2015). Compassion in the context of capitalistic organizations: Evidence from the 2011 Brisbane floods. Journal of Business Ethics, 130(3), 683–703.

    Simpson, A. V., Clegg, S., & Pitsis, T. (2014). “I used to care but things have changed”: A genealogy of compassion in organizational theory. Journal of Management Inquiry, 23(4), 347–359.

    Simpson, A. V. (2010). What is the best treatment for Nancy in Aotearoa, New Zealand? Australian Journal of Counselling Psychology, 10(2), 3–8.

     

    Books

    Simpson, A. V. (2024). Leadership lessons from the Bhagavad Gita (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury.

    Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M. P., Rego, A., Berti, M., & Clegg, S. (2024). Organizational compassion: A relational approach. Routledge.

    Berti, M., Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M., & Clegg, S. (2021). Elgar introduction to organizational paradox theory. Edward Elgar.

    Cunha, M. P., Rego, A., Simpson, A. V., & Clegg, S. R. (2020). Positive organizational behaviour: A reflective approach. Routledge.

    Simpson, A. V. (2020). Leadership lessons from the Bhagavad Gita. Sage.

    Pitsis, T., Simpson, A. V., & Dehlin, E. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of organizational and managerial innovation. Edward Elgar.

    Book Chapters

    Cunha, M. P., Simpson, A. V., Rego, A., & Berti, M. (2024). Destructive leadership paradoxes. In B. Schyns, P. Neves, & K. Breevaart (Eds.), Research handbook on destructive leadership: Forms, context, and boundary conditions (pp. 278–298). Edward Elgar.

    Toroghi, H. H., Denney, F., & Simpson, A. V. (2024). A more compassionate mode of university leadership. In C. Yalkin & M. F. Ozbilgin (Eds.), Care and compassion in capitalism. Emerald.

    Clegg, S., Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M. P., & Rego, A. (2023). From ‘leadership’ to ‘leading': Power relations, projects, and digital democratization. In O. Epitropaki, M. Larson, D. Schedlitzki, B. Carroll, & M. Bligh (Eds.), Sage handbook of leadership (2nd ed.). Sage.

    Simpson, A. V., & Clegg, S. (2023). Improvisational preparedness, synergy, and effective organizational improvisation. In M. P. Cunha, D. Vera, A. Abrantes, & A. Miner (Eds.), Routledge companion to improvisation in organizations. Routledge.

    Simpson, A. V., Simpson, T., & Hendy, J. (2023). Organizing compassionate care with compassionate leadership. In G. Samoutis, T. Kyprianou, A. Samoutis, & N. Stylianou (Eds.), The art of compassionate care: Good practice handbook. Springer.

    Clegg, S. R., Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M., & Rego, A. (2020). Hope in business organizing for societal progress: Three narratives. In D. Ericsson & M. Kostera (Eds.), Organizing goodness and hope: Narratives beyond interregnum. Edward Elgar.

    Clegg, S. R., Berti, M., Simpson, A. V., & Cunha, M. (2020). Artificial intelligence and the future of management. In B. Schwartz, C. Bernacchio, C. González-Cantón, & A. Robson (Eds.), Handbook of practical wisdom in business and management. Springer.

    Simpson, A. V., Farr-Wharton, B., Cunha, M. P., & Reddy, P. (2019). Organizing organizational compassion subprocesses and mechanisms: A practical model. In L. Galiana & N. N. Sansó (Eds.), The power of compassion (pp. 339–358). Nova.

    Refereed Conference Presentations

    Amar, A. D., & Simpson, A. V. (2024, August). Training and learning to supplement empirical facts with insights from the arts, metaphor, and ancient wisdom. Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

    Amar, A. D., Dhiman, S., Mishra, R. K., Sarkar, S., Chow, C., Sethi, P., Simpson, A. V., Passerini, K., Saxena, A., & Bastani, B. (2024, August). Managing for uncertain endeavors: Employing the lesser-practiced knowledge for radical innovation. Symposium presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

    Simpson, A. V. (2023, August). How bullying may promote compassion. In P. D'Cruz, J. Kanov, A. V. Simpson, E. Noronha, S. Dodson, E. P. J. Chen, & R. Livne-Tarandach (Panel presentation), Leveraging compassion to address inequality at work. Academy of Management, Boston, MA.

    Simpson, A. V., Berti, M., Rego, A., Clegg, S., & Cunha, M. P. (2022, June). Conceptualizing organizational compassion as a co-constructed communicative process. Paper presented at the 10th Biennial POS Research Conference, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

    Rego, A., Simpson, A. V., & Cunha, M. P. (2022, June). Are morally courageous and respectful leaders more effective? Paper presented at the European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference, Zurich, Switzerland.

    Simpson, A. V., Farr-Wharton, B., & Reddy, P. (2020, September). How workplace harassment impacts organizational compassion: A multilevel study from the healthcare context. Paper presented at the British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference, Virtual.

    Simpson, A. V., & Berti, M. (2019, August). Exploring the potential of AI-assisted organizational compassion. Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

    Simpson, A. V., & Farr-Wharton, B. (2019, June). Workplace compassion, psychological safety, and bullying: A correlational study within the healthcare context. Paper presented at the European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference, Lisbon, Portugal.

    Berti, M., & Simpson, A. V. (2018, July). The dark side of organizational paradoxes: Pragmatic paradoxes and the production of absurdity. Paper presented at the European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium, Tallinn, Estonia.

    Simpson, A. V. (2015, August). Navigating dilemmas of organizational compassion by cultivating complementary virtues of wisdom and power. Paper presented at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Vancouver, Canada.

    Simpson, A. V., & Miguel, E. (2013, June). The mediating effects of organizational compassion in reducing antisocial withdrawal and promoting prosocial behavior in crisis. Paper presented at the European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference, Istanbul, Turkey.

  • Professional Experience and Memberships

    Affiliations

    2022–Present

    • Research Advisor, Compassion Shift Research Council, Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

    2021–Present

    • Editorial Board Member, British Journal of Healthcare Management.
    • Editorial Board Member, Economic Outlook, University of Pristina Faculty of Economics.

    2018–Present

    • Research Advisory Board Member, Center for Positive Organizations, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.
    • Collaborator, Nova School of Business and Economics Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal.

    2018–2019

    • Lead Researcher, WellCom (Wellbeing and Compassion Research Network), UTS Centre for Business and Social Innovation (CBSI).

    2018

    • Visiting Scholar, Center for Positive Organizations, University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

    2023–2024

    • Member, Epidemiology of Compassion Advisory Committee, Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA.

    Professional Associations & Accreditations

    2014–Present

    • Member, Academy of Management (AOM).
    • Member, CompassionLab, Center for Positive Organizations, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business.

    2014–2022

    • Member, Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM).
    • Member, European Group of Organizational Scholars (EGOS).

    2020–2022

    • Academic Fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

    2008–Present

    • Restricted Psychological Test Administrator (Levels A, B, Csp, and C), NZCER Psychological Test Centre.
  • Honors, Awards, and Grants

    Research Grants

    2023-2024

    • £6,000 from Central and North West NHS Trust for the continuation of the 21st Century Leadership Evaluation project.

    2022-2023

    • £11,000 from CBASS funding for the development of the Center for Compassionate and Inclusive Leadership, Brunel Business School.
    • £16,000 from Central and North West NHS Trust for a project titled 21st Century Leadership Evaluation.

    2020

    • $50,000 from New Horizons for a project titled Enriching Workplace Compassion.
    • $72,000 from the Lower North Shore Health District (Sydney, NSW) for The Compassion Project, aimed at addressing workplace bullying by enhancing organizational compassion.

    2019

    • $20,000 from LiveBetter for a project titled Cultivating Workplace Compassion.

    2018

    • CBSI grant of $8,000 for the development of WellCom (Wellbeing and Compassion Research Network).
    • $25,000 from Sydney Water to complete a project on developing effective well-being metrics.

    2017

    • $12,050 from the UTS Business School Research Grants Scheme for a research project titled Addressing Workplace Bullying Through Organizational Compassion (with Dr. Far-Wharton).

    2015

    • $8,922 from the MDG Research Development Grant for a research project titled Virtues of Finance.

    2014

    • $9,750 from the MDG Research Development Grant for a research project titled Management/Governance by Design (with Dr. Berti).
    • $9,330 from the MDG Research Development Grant for a research project titled Architectural Design as an Instrument of Change Management (with Dr. Berti).
    • $136,000 from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for a research project titled Australian Leadership Capability Standard (with Professor Jusserand et al.).
    • $9,580 from the UTS Business School Research Grants Scheme for a research project titled Virtues in Finance (with Dr. Logue).

    Awards & Recognitions

    Best Awards

    2022

    • EURAM Best Book Award (Runner-Up) for Elgar Introduction to Organizational Paradox Theory (with Berti, M., Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M. P., & Clegg, S. R.), Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

    2021

    • Prof. Gisela Alves Best Conference Paper Award for Compassionate Love in Leaders and Team Performance (with Rego, A., Simpson, A. V., Cunha, M., & Oliveira, E.), 14th Annual Conference of EuroMed Academy of Business.

    2014

    • Best Paper Award for When the Feeling of Being Humble is Not Humble: Exploring (Im)modesty Effects on Leaders (with Rego, A., Cunha, M. P., & Simpson, A. V.), International Conference on Business and Information (BAI), Osaka, Japan.

    Recognition & Scholarships

    2022-2023

    • Research on compassionate leadership in healthcare cited in the UK House of Lords Public Services Committee report Fit for Future?

    2021, 2023

    • Recognition from Brunel Business School Dean for exemplary teaching, receiving some of the highest student feedback ratings among business school faculty.

    2014, 2016, 2017, 2019

    • Citations by the UTS Business School Dean of Teaching and Learning for outstanding teaching results, receiving some of the highest student feedback ratings among business school faculty.

    2010-2013

    • Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) Scholarship.

    2008-2009

    • AUT Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Scholarship, Auckland, New Zealand.