The Hal Kendig Prize for the Best CEPAR PhD Thesis in 2023 has been awarded to Dr Lucinda Iles for her PhD thesis on ‘An Investigation into the Organisational Challenges Associated with an Ageing and Age Diverse Workforce’, under the supervision of CEPAR’s Associate Investigator Dr Daniela Andrei and Chief Investigator Professor Sharon Parker.
Dr Iles’s thesis focuses on the challenges and opportunities that come with an ageing workforce. The collection of studies examines processes and outcomes related to inclusion of mature workers, individualised work design, and the integration of age diverse team members. The research makes theoretical and practical contributions to strategies for retaining and engaging mature workers.
“Dr Iles's dedication, innovative approach, and exemplary scholarship makes her a deserving recipient of the CEPAR PhD Prize,” says Dr Daniela Andrei.
The prize nomination noted that Dr Lucinda Iles has made, through her research, a substantial, original, and significant contribution to the field of ageing and age diversity within the workplace. Her PhD thesis impressed the examiners by the quality of the research conducted, in particular the clear and nuanced writing and the depth and breadth of approaches and methods used.
“I'm so grateful for all the support and opportunities CEPAR has given me over the course of my PhD, and I would like to thank my supervisors,” says Dr Lucinda Iles.
Dr Iles’s research focuses on the mature workforce, with a particular focus on the role of leaders in promoting successful outcomes for age diverse teams. Her research has been presented at prestigious international peer reviewed conferences such as the Congress of the European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology (EAWOP) and the Academy of Management (AOM). Work related to her PhD thesis has been published in the Journal Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
The Hal Kendig Prize is awarded annually in commemoration of the late Emeritus Professor Hal Kendig who was a CEPAR Chief Investigator and an important influence on the policy debate around ageing in Australia and internationally. Hal Kendig provided mentorship throughout his career and was especially active in mentoring PhD students.