Who I am
Chris J. Jackson is Professor of Business Psychology in the School of Management and Governance at UNSW Business School in Sydney, a former Head of the School of Management, and President of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences. His research examines how biologically based personality traits are shaped by learning and cognition into functional or dysfunctional outcomes at work. He developed the hybrid model of learning in personality (2005) and the Jackson-5 scales of revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (2009), and worked with Hans Eysenck and Glenn Wilson on the Eysenck Personality Profiler.
He has published more than 120 journal articles, in outlets including Psychological Bulletin, Journal of Applied Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Review, The Leadership Quarterly and Journal of Personality. His work has attracted well over AU$1 million in research funding, including three Australian Research Council grants, and more than 9,000 citations. He has supervised more than 20 PhD students to completion, many of whom have gone on to successful academic careers.
A registered psychologist, Chris is associate editor of the Journal of Research in Personality and serves on the editorial board of Personality and Individual Differences. He has been involved in several business start-ups, is passionate about helping young entrepreneurs begin their journeys, and leads UNSW’s innovation and entrepreneurship research group, which runs an annual conference and research meetings throughout the year.
- President, International Society for the Study of Individual Differences
- Associate editor, Journal of Research in Personality
- 120+
- Journal articles
- 9,000+
- Citations
- 3
- ARC grants
- 20+
- PhD completions
Google Scholar, as at 1 October 2026
“Better decisions, healthier workplaces and more effective leadership.”
How my research has evolved
Measuring people
1992–2000
Gray's theory meets work
2001–2005
A model of learning in personality
2005–2012
Divergence and leadership
2012–2017
Evidence
2017–present
Career
- 2008–presentProfessor of Business Psychology
UNSW Business School - 2012–2015Head of School
UNSW - 2006–2008Associate Professor of Organisational Psychology
University of Queensland - 2000–2006Senior Lecturer in Psychology
University of Queensland - 1997–2000Lecturer in Psychology
University of Surrey - 1992–1997Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Postgraduate Course Director
London Guildhall University - 1991–1992Manager
Corporate Assessment - 1990–1991Psychologist
Ministry of Defence (UK)
Education
- 1984–1989MPhil and PhD
Coventry University (UK) - 1981–1984BSc (Honours) Psychology
University of Birmingham (UK)
Service and roles
- CurrentPresident
International Society for the Study of Individual Differences - CurrentAssociate editor
Journal of Research in Personality - CurrentEditorial board member
Personality and Individual Differences - CurrentLeader
UNSW - Founding course director
London Guildhall University - CurrentRegistered Psychologist
New South Wales - CurrentMember
Australian Psychological Society - CurrentAssociate Fellow
British Psychological Society
Research funding
Well over AU$1 million in research funding, including three Australian Research Council grants.
| Year | Funder | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) | Evidence review for a leadership capability framework for the Queensland public sector With Hastings, Chanin, Gary, Anseel | AU$100,000 |
| 2014–2017 | Australian Research Council Linkage LP140100838 (partners: GE Capital and Pitcher Partners) | Innovation in Australian mid-market firms: The critical role of leader cognition With Lui, Shinkle, Ozdemir | AU$347,000 |
| 2011–2013 | Australian Research Council Discovery DP110100989 | A longitudinal study into the development of personal vulnerabilities and well-being in adolescence With Ciarrochi, Heaven, Johnstone, Leeson, Caltabiano | AU$250,000 |
| 2006 | Education Queensland | Research project With Mills, Goos | AU$213,000 |
| 2004 | Australian Research Council Discovery DP0559227 | Leaders as motivators: A test of an integrated theory of leadership and motivation to predict employees' psychological health and productivity (2005–2007) With Martin, Jimmieson | AU$225,000 |
Other grants, awards and consultancies (20)
| 2026 | UNSW | Impact Maker Grant | AU$10,000 |
| 2023–2024 | UNSW | Management innovation conference | AU$20,000 total |
| 2021–2022 | UNSW | Simple rules in strategy | AU$20,000 total |
| 2021 | UNSW | Matriarchal leadership | AU$6,000 |
| 2020 | UNSW | Health research | AU$29,200 total |
| 2017–2020 | UNSW | Innovation Research Network | AU$175,000 total |
| 2016–2018 | UNSW Scientia | Three PhD scholarships | about AU$360,000 |
| 2016 | UNSW Brain Sciences | Seed grant | AU$10,000 |
| 2015 | UNSW | Design and implementation of an entrepreneurship MOOC | about AU$100,000 |
| 2015 | UNSW | Peter Farrell Cup | about AU$80,000 |
| 2008–2010 | UNSW | Research and teaching awards | AU$34,000 total |
| 2005 | NHMRC infrastructure fund and UQ major equipment award | Computer-based research in psychology | AU$28,000 |
| 2002–2003 | Group 4 Correction Services | Consultancy | AU$36,700 total |
| 2002 | Canadian military | Two research projects | CA$37,000 total |
| 2001–2003 | University of Queensland and ARC | Internal research awards | AU$44,685 total |
| 1999 | ESRC | Two PhD studentships | £50,000 total |
| 1992–1997 | London Guildhall University and Commonwealth | Internal awards | £90,000 total |
| 1996 | Royal Air Force | A guide to conducting surveys in the RAF | £12,000 |
| 1994 | Royal Air Force | A measure of RAF job satisfaction | £25,000 |
| 1987 | Royal Air Force | Developing the RAF officer interview | £36,000 |
Recognition
- 2023Exemplary Teaching Award
- 2022Teaching award (highly commended)
- 2021International Chinese Conference best paper
with Luhua Wang - 2021UNSW Values in Action Award
- 2021HDR Collaboration Award (highly commended)
- 2021Teaching award (highly commended)
- 2020Teaching Quality Award
- 2018ANZAM best paper
with Luhua Wang - 2011Best leadership paper of the year, European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology
Hobman, Jackson, Jimmieson & Martin
Beyond the university
Chris has been involved in several business start-ups and is passionate about helping young entrepreneurs get started. He is a keen public speaker.
- 2023Annual innovation and entrepreneurship research conference
UNSW innovation and entrepreneurship research group - 2020Mavericks: the champions of isolation
UNSOMNIA, UNSW Centre for Ideas and UNSW Grand Challenges - 2019Festive gestures: What the gifts you give say about you
UNSW BusinessThink (with N. Garg) - 2019Master of Ceremonies, Peter Farrell Cup
UNSW student entrepreneurship competition - 2018Personality meta-theories and survivalist leaders
Australian Conference on Personality and Individual Differences, Bond University - 2018How survivalist leaders present a toxic danger
UNSW BusinessThink - 2017Articles for The Conversation
The Conversation - 2014Laughing at yourself: when it helps and when it doesn't
ANZAM Conference, University of Technology Sydney - 2009Using the hybrid model of learning in personality to predict performance in the workplace
8th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference, Manly