Research | GCWAL

What is WAL Practitioner Research?

The term "practitioner researchers" refers to managers and professionals who conduct research in the workplace to improve the quality of their practice, to engage in organisational improvement or other change, to create knowledge — and to make the results of their research known to relevant stakeholders through oral presentations, written reports, dissertations, articles, or books.

Practitioner research at GCWAL uses the Work-Applied Learning (WAL) model, grounded in Action Research, Action Learning, and Reflective Practice. Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham and the GCWAL team have used the WAL model to develop practitioner researchers over 40 years — chief executives, senior and middle-level managers across private, public, and community organisations, working on individual, team, and organisational change.

Research at a Glance

40+

Years of Practitioner Research

Journal of Work-Applied Management (JWAM) Volumes

Research Focus Areas

Organisational change through the WAL change model
Action Research methodology and design
Organisational learning and knowledge management
Reflective practice in professional contexts
Leadership development
Application of AI in practitioner research
WAL programme quality and development

Leading the Research Direction

GCWAL's research is led by practitioners with deep field experience. Our research fellows work directly with the WAL model in applied settings — bridging methodology and real-world organisational change.

Senior Research Fellow

Dr Alan Barnes

Dr Barnes is a former senior lecturer and research fellow at the University of South Australia, holding a PhD in Mathematical Physics. He brings extensive experience in research management, learning technologies, quantitative methods, and the application of cognitive technologies to learning environments.

He currently leads GCWAL's research into the application of Artificial Intelligence within organisational adaptation, practitioner research, and research management — connecting emerging technologies directly to the WAL change model and ensuring the methodology remains at the frontier of applied practice.

Emeritus Prof Jonathan Garnett

Thought Leader — Work-Based Learning

Former Director of the Institute for Work-Based Learning at Middlesex University. Over 21 years at the leading edge of WBL partnerships at higher education level, overseeing academic standards and research at GCWAL.

Dr Carmel Taddeo

Research Fellow

Director of CMT Accessible Research and senior lecturer at the University of South Australia. Over three decades as educator, researcher, and change analyst. Expertise across quantitative and qualitative methodologies including survey design, path modelling, and policy-informed research.

Dr Juhani Tuovinen

Research Fellow

Former Professor and Dean of Education at Sheridan Institute of Higher Education. Research focus on the cognitive aspects of learning and practical methods for improving learning in practitioner development.

Emeritus Prof Rod Oxenberry

Programme Advisor & Research Fellow

Education and management consultant specialising in leadership mentoring, management development, and higher education recognition. Has supervised PhD and DBA candidates in leadership and strategic management.

Brig Gen Dato' Dr A Halim Basari

Programme Advisor & Research Fellow

Former Brigadier General in the Malaysian Armed Forces and pioneer of military pharmacy in Malaysia. PhD in Healthcare Supply Chain Management from AIB. Graduate Diploma in Logistics Science (Distinction), Anglia Polytechnic University.

Dr Joseph Khan

Programme Advisor & Research Fellow

World-class project management facilitator and practitioner with 20 years of consulting experience across Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, and Suriname. DBA from the Australian School of Business, Adelaide. PMP® and Certified Scrum Master.

Dr Lisa Mohammed

Programme Advisor & Research Fellow

OHSE consultant for over 15 years across the oil and gas sector in Trinidad and Tobago. DBA research focused on change management using a Work-Applied Learning approach.

Emeritus Prof Selva Abraham

Founder Chairman

Founder of GCWAL and pioneer of the WAL change model. Over 40 years of practitioner research in Work-Based Management Learning, developing and refining the WAL methodology across organisations in Australia and internationally.

Dr Param Abraham

Managing Principal & Director

Her doctoral research investigated the Work-Applied Learning model in developing quality assurance processes in higher education. Over 21 years leading accreditation and quality assurance at AIB.

Collaborative Research & Development

GCWAL collaborates with higher education institutions, organisations, and subject experts to conduct research in Work-Applied Learning. Collaboration and dissemination of ideas are at the core of GCWAL's success.

Co-design Practitioner Research

Partner with GCWAL to co-design practitioner research programmes with higher education institutions and organisations.

Publish Practitioner Findings

Contribute findings to the Journal of Work-Applied Management and other WAL research publications.

Expand WAL Reach

Help expand Work-Applied Learning into new sectors, regions, or professional communities through joint initiatives.

Action Learning Action Research Association

1991

Founded

World Congresses

20+

Conferences

Strategic Alliance

GCWAL–ALARA

ALARA — the Action Learning, Action Research Association Ltd — was established in 1991 as the world's earliest action research professional association, with 9 World Congresses and over 20 Australasian conferences to its name.

GCWAL and ALARA have a strategic alliance whereby we collaborate in undertaking WAL-ALARA research projects in organisational change. We also co-brand conferences on organisational change and management development using Action Learning and Action Research, and explore ways to help promote each other's journal.

WAL Publications

Browse the books, journal articles, conference papers, and doctoral theses that form the evidence base of the WAL change model.

View Publications