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Icons of Change International Awards 2026
International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

AProf. Hayden McDonald
Director of Analytics Programs, Torrens University Australia
Fellow, CPA Australia

SDG Focus: Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
Changemaker for Innovative Education in Business Analytics, Workforce Upskilling, Immersive Learning for Social Impact, and Employee Wellbeing Research (Australia)

Associate Professor Hayden McDonald is an accomplished academic leader, researcher, and consultant whose pioneering work in curriculum innovation, industry partnerships, and evidence-based education has equipped thousands of students and professionals with the tools to drive ethical, data-informed decision-making and societal progress.

As Director of Analytics Programs at Torrens University Australia since January 2022 (and Associate Professor since February 2020), Hayden has led the conceptualization, development, accreditation, and delivery of award-winning business analytics programs within the Business Technology School. He spearheaded the introduction of the Master of Business Analytics, securing accreditation from the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and professional recognition from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). This forward-thinking program integrates real-world industry certifications, including a world-first subject embedding the IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis exam into summative assessments.

Hayden has forged strategic partnerships with global leaders such as AWS, Salesforce, SAS Institute, and IIBA, embedding cutting-edge technologies like SAP S/4HANA across multiple subjects in both analytics and accounting programs. He pioneered a university-first multi-disciplinary Capstone subject featuring real-world simulations and industry mentors, and developed a novel immersive pedagogical approach—placing students in internally operated projects for social enterprises and charities. This innovative model, presented at the 2022 Social Enterprise World Forum Academic Symposium, provides authentic experiential learning that bridges academic theory with tangible social impact.

His earlier research as a PhD candidate at Griffith University explored the role of management controls in the selection and implementation of employee wellbeing programs in Australian universities. The findings influenced mental health initiatives in the higher education sector and continue to inform his broader scholarship on business model transformation, performance management, inclusion, and social justice in organizational contexts.

Hayden's leadership has earned prestigious recognition, including:

- Academic Partner of the Year (Asia Pacific) 2024 from SAS, honoring excellence in building AI and technology-enabled workforces.
- Business Analysis Innovation of the Year 2023 from IIBA Australia Chapter, for commitment to industry integration and graduate employability.

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Transcript
00:01Hi, I'm Dr Hayden MacDonald. It's an incredible honour and privilege to receive the Global
00:07Icons of Change Award. As a researcher and practitioner, my mission is to mobilise alternative
00:13ideas about governance and business value by accounting for social justice issues. In
00:19this critical decade for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, it's important we move
00:23beyond viewing social impact as a nice to have, and instead embedded into the very DNA
00:28of modern business systems. As program director of the analytics degrees at Torrens University,
00:35I have translated this vision into a project-based learning model. Torrens University's analytics
00:41students master cutting-edge skills in visual analytics, machine learning, and generative
00:45AI, along with other emerging technologies. The students validate their expertise through
00:51industry certifications embedded directly into the program. But the real transformation happens
00:56when we map these skills that their students have required to projects that they are expected
01:02to undertake in collaboration with social enterprises and charities. Students are carefully selected
01:08to participate on projects and to deliver high-quality analytics outcomes that directly support the
01:14mission of social enterprises and charities. So this initiative advances SDG4 Quality Education
01:20health promotion and SDG17 partnerships for the goals. Shifting gears now, my research into health promotion
01:29has moved beyond commercially purchasable health promotion solutions to develop the HERA framework. This
01:36framework is focused on continuously improving the mix of health issues, health risks, and activities
01:41that organizations target to support their employees. This tool allows organizations to stocktake the
01:48health concerns that truly matter to employees, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease,
01:55and mental health. Organizations can then implement in-demand and evidence-based activities that support the
02:04whole person, not just the bottom line. So the HERA framework has supported several United Nations
02:13Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG3, Good Health and Wellbeing, and SDG8, Decent Work and Economic Growth.
02:23Parallel to health is the work of enacting cultural reconciliation through the efforts of diverse organizations.
02:29My research in this area has examined how organizational governance can progress emancipation by
02:35operationalizing new ideas about business value and accountability. I have explored how Indigenous
02:40and non-Indigenous organizations can move past tick-the-box targets by translating organizational
02:46purpose into meaningful action, ensuring that business deliverables never eclipse cultural aspirations.
02:55With only four years left until 2030, we must challenge the status quo. We need governance that allows
03:04employees to contribute new ideas and build accountable, resilient systems. Being recognized as an icon of change
03:11is a commitment to keep building a world where profit assumes a broader emancipatory role. Together we are recognizing value
03:21and empowering transformation for a more just and sustainable future. So I thank you again for this award and I
03:29encourage you all to keep striving for this goal.
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