Doctor Michelle Cull

Associate Dean, Engagement,
Dean's Unit, School of Business

Senior Lecturer,
Accounting

Biography
Contact
Publications
Projects
Supervision
Teaching
Media

Biography

Dr. Michelle Cull is the Associate Dean, Engagement in the School of Business at Western Sydney University where she uses her strong relationships with industry and community partners to further the School’s mission to produce graduates who are prepared for enterprise futures. Michelle has held numerous leadership positions at the university including Director of Academic Program, Head of Program and Academic Course Advisor (International).

Michelle is a leading academic in financial planning, with her research cited in the media. Michelle completed her PhD on the role of trust in financial planning and has published a range of academic papers, practitioner magazines, textbooks and book chapters in the areas of ethics, financial literacy, financial planning and financial planning education, with her work used for compulsory education of financial advisers. In addition to volunteering her time as a reviewer for numerous ABDC ranked publications, Michelle is co-editor of the Financial Planning Research Journal and Vice President, International Relations for the Academy of Financial Services (United States).

Michelle’s research has included leading the development of the WalletSmart App, available on Android and IOS, which aims to build the financial capability of university students. She is also co-founder of Western Sydney University Tax Clinic. Michelle’s latest research examines the moral development of financial advisers in Australia and the impact of substantial regulatory change aimed at lifting the educational, ethical and professional standards of advisers. Michelle supervises 10 PhD students and 4 MRes students.

Michelle has taught accounting and financial planning for over 20 years in face-to-face, blended and fully online modes across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. She has a proactive approach to her teaching as she considers the demands of the profession, employers, and new technologies. Michelle encourages students to take advantage of workplace opportunities with a view to improving their learning experience and to actively engage with the community through volunteering.

Prior to becoming a full-time academic, Michelle worked for 15 years in various accounting and finance roles at ASX-100 listed companies.

Michelle has also worked as a consultant and has volunteered her time as Chair of the Macarthur Advisory Council for the Salvation Army, NSW Divisional Councillor and Deputy President for CPA Australia, Board member of the Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce and as academic staff representative for the UniSuper Consultative Committee.

This information has been contributed by Doctor Cull.

Qualifications

PhD University of Western Sydney
BCom (Acctg) University of Western Sydney

Professional Memberships

Financial Planning Association (2017)
CPA Australia (1997)
AFAANZ (2017)
Association of Financial Services (2019)
Financial Planning Academic Forum (2015)

Awards

Academic Leadership Certificate 2010-09-21
Research Impact Competition Finalist 2015-10-27
Recognition of Contribution Award 2014-12-11
SEAANZ Best Paper Award 2021 2021-11-30
Western Sydney Women Educator of the Year 2021 - Winner 2021-11-30
FPRJ/AFS Early Career Researcher Award 2019-09-17
FPRJ/AFS Conference Travel Award 2019-09-17
Research Impact Competition Finalist 2021-10-26

Interests

Corporate Social Responsibility
Ethics
Financial Literacy
Financial Planning
Trust Models
Higher Education
Management Accounting
Soft Skills

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Dean's Unit, School of Business
Accounting

Committees

School Workload Committee
School Academic Committee
School Executive Committee
School Indigenous Communities Working Group
Badugulang Fellow, Centre for teaching and learning excellence

Contact

Email:	M.Cull@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:	(02) 4620 3519
Mobile:
Location:	22.2.22 Campbelltown

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

200101 Accounting Information for Managers, 2012
200101 Accounting Information for Managers, 2016
200399 Information Systems for Accountants, 2018
200821 Financial Reports for Decision Making, 2020
200866 Principles of Financial Planning, 2015
200866 Principles of Financial Planning, 2016
200866 Principles of Financial Planning, 2017
200870 Insurance and Risk Management, 2016
200871 Planning for Retirement, 2017
200899 Retirement and Succession Planning, 2017
200899 Retirement and Succession Planning, 2021
CO309A Insurance and Risk Management, 2014
CO801A Principles of Financial Planning, 2012
CO801A Principles of Financial Planning, 2014
CO806A Current Issues in Financial Planning, 2013
FINC3014 Retirement and Succession Planning, 2022

Publications

Books

Cull, M., Miller, M., Bruhn, A. and Skultety, C. (2021), 'Ethics and Professional Practice in Financial Planning', : LexisNexis 9780409353204.

Chapters in Books

Cull, M. (2022), 'The growing role of FinTech and robo-advisors', De Gruyter Handbook of Personal Finance, Walter De Gruyter 9783110727494.
Cull, M., Burton, S. and Lam, R. (2021), 'Ethics in financial products marketing', The SAGE Handbook of Marketing Ethics, SAGE 9781529709292.
Cull, M. (2017), 'Cash flow, budgeting and managing credit', Financial Planning in Australia, LexiNexis Butterworths 9780409342536.
Cull, M. (2017), 'Direct investing', Financial Planning in Australia, LexisNexis Butterworths 9780409342536.
Cull, M. (2017), 'Securing and managing credit', Financial Planning in Australia: Advice and Wealth Management, Reed International Books Australia 9780409347609.
Cull, M. (2017), 'Investing in property and collectables', Financial Planning in Australia: Advice and Wealth Management, Reed International Books Australia 9780409347609.
Cull, M. (2016), 'Investing in property and collectables', Financial Planning in Australia: Advice and Wealth Management, LexisNexis Butterworths 9780409341775.
Cull, M. (2016), 'Securing and managing credit', Financial Planning in Australia: Advice and Wealth Management, LexisNexis Butterworths 9780409341775.
Cull, M. (2015), 'Securing and managing credit', Financial Planning in Australia: Advice and Wealth Management, LexisNexis 9780409339376.
Cull, M. (2015), 'Investing in property and collectables', Financial Planning in Australia: Advice and Wealth Management, Lexis Nexis 9780409339376.
Cull, M. (2011), 'Investing in Property and Collectables ', Financial Planning in Australia, Lexis Nexis Butterworths 9780409327250.
Cull, M. (2011), 'Personal Credit, Debt and Lending', Financial Planning in Australia, Lexis Nexis Butterworths 9780409327250.

Journal Articles

Han, W. and Cull, M. (2022), 'Auditor independence in post-reform China : a neo-Durkheimian approach', Corporate Governance and Sustainability Review, vol 6, no 3 , pp 15 - 27.
Cull, M., Skultety, C. and Kumar, R. (2022), 'Factors influencing the motivation to pursue a career in financial planning', Financial Planning Research Journal, vol 8, no 1 , pp 40 - 78.
Morgan, A., Freudenberg, B., Kayis-Kumar, A., Le, V., Whait, R., Cull, M., Castelyn, D. and Vitale, C. (2022), 'Pro bono tax clinics : aiding Australia's tax administration and developing students' self-efficacy', Journal of Australian Taxation, vol 24 , pp 76 - 111.
Cull, M., McLaren, J., Freudenberg, B., Vitale, C., Castelyn, D., Whait, R., Kayis-Kumar, A., Le, V. and Morgan, A. (2022), 'Work-integrated learning for international students : developing self-efficacy through the Australian National Tax Clinic Program', Journal of the Australasian Tax Teachers Association, vol 17, no 1 , pp 22 - 56.
West, T., Cull, M. and Johnson, D. (2021), 'Income more important than financial literacy for improving wellbeing', Financial Services Review, vol 29, no 3 , pp 187 - 207.
West, T. and Cull, M. (2020), 'Future expectations and financial satisfaction', Economic Papers, vol 39, no 4 , pp 318 - 335.
Vitale, C. and Cull, M. (2020), '2019 National Tax Clinic Pilot project : Western Sydney University', Journal of Australian Taxation, vol 22, no 2 , pp 116 - 136.
Cull, M., Davis, G. and Cull, M. (2019), 'Learning to produce a financial plan : student perceptions of integrating knowledge and skills', Financial Planning Research Journal, vol 5, no 1 , pp 29 - 54.
Cull, M., Davis, G. and Cull, M. (2019), 'Learning to produce a financial plan : student perceptions of integrating knowledge and skills', Financial Planning Research Journal, vol 5, no 1 , pp 29 - 54.
Cull, M. and Melville, B. (2018), 'A review of ethics education in financial planning courses in Australia', Financial Planning Research Journal, vol 4, no 1 , pp 11 - 32.
Cull, M. and Melville, B. (2018), 'Ethics education in financial planning courses', Money & Life Magazine, , pp 38 - 38.
Vitale, C. and Cull, M. (2018), 'Modelling the influence of CEO values and leadership styles on financial decision making', Journal of New Business Ideas and Trends, vol 16, no 1 , pp 16 - 30.
Cull, M. (2018), 'Ethics : what ought one do?', Money & Life: The Magazine for Financial Planning Professionals, vol 30, no 6 , pp 34 - 37.
Cull, M. and Sloan, T. (2017), 'Characteristics of trust', Financial Planning, vol 29, no 7 , pp 23 - .
Cull, M. and Bowyer, D. (2017), 'Ethics in financial planning : myth, fact or rhetoric paradox?', e-Journal of Social and Behavioural Research in Business, vol 8, no 2 , pp 56 - 69.
Cull, M. and Sloan, T. (2016), 'Characteristics of trust in personal financial planning', Financial Planning Research Journal, vol 2, no 1 , pp 12 - 35.
Cull, M. and Davis, G. (2013), 'Students' perceptions of a scaffolded approach to learning financial planning : an empirical study', Accounting Education: An International Journal, vol 22, no 2 , pp 125 - 146.
Cull, M. and Whitton, D. (2011), 'University students' financial literacy levels : obstacles and aids', Economic and Labour Relations Review, vol 22, no 1 , pp 99 - 114.
Cull, M. (2009), 'The rise of the financial planning industry', The Australasian Accounting Business and Finance Journal, vol 3, no 1 , pp 26 - 37.

Conference Papers

Cull, M. and Parry, K. (2017), 'The cost of organised sport : increasing sport participation in NSW', Sport Management Association of australia and New Zealand. Conference, Gold Coast, Qld..
Cull, M., Davis, G. and Walker, L. (2006), 'Educational Tools for Effectively Teaching and Assessing a Core Financial Planning Unit in an Undergraduate Degree', Proceedings of the 2006 annual Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) conference, Wellington, New Zealand..

Other Publications

2021, 'Improving Financial Capability Among University Students Using a Mobile App: Wallet$mart Project Evaluation', Report
2020, 'Financial Planning Education and Regulatory Requirements: A Cross Country Comparison between Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and United States of America', Report
2020, 'Mountains, Molehills and Milestones: Participant Experiences from the WSU Mentoring Programs', Report

Dr Michelle Cull is currently leading the following research projects:

Ethics education in financial planning;
Antecedents of trust in personal financial planning;
The cost of sport participation in NSW, Australia and a cross country comparison;
The moral development of financial advisers in Australia.

Journal Reviewer

Accounting Research Journal

Australasian Accounting, Finance and Business Journal

Corporate Governance and Sustainability Review

Economic Papers

Financial Planning Research Journal

Financial Services Review

Journal of Financial Services Marketing

Journal of Management

Scientific Journal of Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW - European Policies, Finance and Marketing

Qualitative Research in Financial Markets

Editorial Board