Professor of Enterprise Dynamics at Adelaide University · Former at University of South Australia (UniSA)
Allan O'Connor is Professor of Enterprise Dynamics in the School of Management at Adelaide University and co-director (industry ecosystems) of the Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economies (C-EDGE). His research looks at how entrepreneurship and innovation shape economic and regional development. The Australian named him the country's leading researcher in entrepreneurship and innovation in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
He came to academia after training as a mechanical engineer, working as a professional musician and holding sales engineering and management roles. He completed a PhD at Swinburne University of Technology and from 2008 to 2016 was academic director of postgraduate innovation and entrepreneurship programs at the University of Adelaide.
On Day One's History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem series, he discussed whether startup careers are viable.
3 episodes
Start hereAllan O’Connor discusses the viability of startup careersHis full interview on startup careers.
Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem With Mark Pesce, Hayden Williams, Evan Thornley, Tim Fung, Trevor Folsom, Peter Davison, Pete Lead, Terry Hilsberg, Matt Bullock, Rachael Neumann, Maxine Sherrin, Malcolm Turnbull, James Alexander, Alan Jones, Paul Bassat, Hamish Hawthorn, Alfred Lo, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Cameron Adams, Bruce Tulloch, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick
Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem With Leslie Delaforce, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Wayne Gerard, Nicole O'Brien, Alex Carpenter, Evan Thornley, Baden U'Ren, Tim Fung, Trevor Folsom, Peter Davison, Craig Swann, Moira Were, Colette Grgic, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Brendan Hill, Aaron Birkby, Malcolm Turnbull, Jodie Fox, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Yolanda Redrup, Andrew Nunn, Melissa Widner, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak
The History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series Recorded as Co-Executive Director, Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economies, University of South Australia
Key moments from Allan O’Connor discusses the viability of startup careers.
“Anyone can position themselves to be an entrepreneur, but the key is the awareness that you're not likely to be doing this alone.”
Professor of Enterprise Dynamics · Adelaide University
Co-Executive Director, Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economies · University of South Australia (UniSA)
Sources: dayone.fm
Adelaide University is a South Australian public university formed by merging the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia (UniSA).
4 people · 7 episodes
Adam SpencerHost, Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem 
Mark PesceFuturist & Host, The Next Billion Seconds 
Hayden WilliamsGroup Product Manager, MYOB 
Evan ThornleyCo-Founder & CEO, LongView 
Tim FungFounder & CEO, Airtasker 
Trevor FolsomCo-Founder and Chairman, Investible 
Peter DavisonCo-founder, Fishburners 
Pete LeadCoach, Scalable Leaders Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026
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