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John Cairney on Muck Rack

John Cairney

(He/Him)
Brisbane
As seen in: MSN, The Conversation, Yahoo Sports, The Courier-Mail, The Business Times (Singapore), Sportico, The Sport Journal, SportsPro, CEDA, D3PlayBook
Covers:  Sport, Leadership, Health

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John Cairney’s Biography

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Professor John Cairney, PhD, PGDipOL (Oxford), MBA (Sport Management) is a globally recognized leader in sport, health, and higher education. He is Head of School at the University of Queensland and Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Games Engagement, where he co-leads UQ’s strategic involvement in Brisbane 2032. With over 25 years’ experience, he has published 320+ peer-reviewed papers, secured over $55 million in research funding, and built international partnerships across academia, …

John Cairney’s Journalist Portfolio

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Why we need an industry database on sports leadership - SportsPro

Why we need an industry database on sports leadership - SportsPro

University of Queensland researchers John Cairney and Stephen Townsend reflect on the importance of leadershi…

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Mastering paradox: Leading sports organisations through uncertainty and innovation - SportsPro

Mastering paradox: Leading sports organisations through uncertainty and innovation - SportsPro

University of Queensland researchers John Cairney and Stephen Townsend outline the crucial role of paradoxica…

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Emotional intelligence and leadership in an exponentially changing world - SportsPro

Emotional intelligence and leadership in an exponentially changing world - SportsPro

University of Queensland researchers John Cairney and Veronique Richard explore how combining emotional intel…

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Cultivating a virtuous cycle of leadership and organisational resilience in sports - SportsPro

Cultivating a virtuous cycle of leadership and organisational resilience in sports - SportsPro

University of Queensland researchers John Cairney and Veronique Richard explore the meaning and importance of…

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'A moral imperative and a strategic advantage': Why we're promoting women in sports leadership - ...

'A moral imperative and a strategic advantage': Why we're promoting women in sports leadership - ...

Achieving gender equality in leadership roles is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage. …

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From the Dance Floor to the F1 Track: Rethinking Sport Leadership

From the Dance Floor to the F1 Track: Rethinking Sport Leadership

Business leadership today isn't just about shifting between big-picture and detailed thinking. It's about doi…

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Articles

World Cup paradox: Why sport thrives in an age of cultural fragmentation

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By John Cairney, Rick Burton
| SportsPro Verified
In its June 13–19 edition, The Economist published an article titled “A World Cup Paradox.” Despite the sport-centric headline, the article wasn’t really about soccer but more about media and culture. For much of the 20th century, American entertainment enjoyed unparalleled global influence. Hollywood studios, television networks and record labels produced cultural products consumed around the world.
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Title IX in the Age of House, NIL and Cash-Strapped Universities Original

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By John Cairney, Rick Burton
| Sportico Verified
Courtesy John Cairney and Rick Burton Today’s guest columnists are professors John Cairney and Rick Burton. As the 2025-26 NCAA sports calendar officially closed (with SEC powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas claiming championships in baseball and softball respectively), and with another anniversary (No. 54) of Title IX just passed, a familiar question resurfaces: Will financial proportionality in college sport ever improve?
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Why more training alone won’t advance women leaders

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By John Cairney, Sharon T Hinton
| SportsPro Verified
Over the past decade, women’s leadership programmes have become one of the sport industry’s most visible responses to the underrepresentation of women in leadership. The logic seems straightforward. If women are not advancing into senior roles at the same rate as men, perhaps they need more training, more confidence, or more leadership skills. But where does this assumption come from?
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes but a very, very long time ago.

How is social media changing news?

Creating noise, disinformation while creating unprecedented access and dissemination possibilities- it’s a paradox

What does it mean to be a journalist?

Being honest and reliable