Luisa Unda is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Accounting. Her main research interests are corporate governance in unique ownership structures, effect of board composition on firm performance, determinants of board effectiveness, board gender diversity, financial reporting quality and disclosure, gender differences on capital markets, cooperative institutions and microfinance, and accounting education. Her work has been published in various journals including: Journal of Banking & Finance, Accounting & Finance, Pacific-Basin Finance Journal.

Luisa is developing a research expertise on the role of ownership and governance in firm outcomes, and financial reporting quality. She is interested in unique governance structures, such as those with democratically-elected boards, internal stakeholders and volunteer directors. Her research explores whether distinctive governance mechanisms challenge the conventional wisdom (for shareholder-owned firms) on the relationship between board characteristics and firm performance.

Learn more about her research on the impact of board characteristics on credit union performance here.

Learn more about her research on determinants of board effectiveness in the school setting here.

Learn more about her research on gender trustworthiness and loan repayment in microfinance here.

Luisa's teaching experience includes conducting lectures and tutorials in financial accounting and auditing at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as, facilitating accounting and business ethics based workshops to high-school students. She has a strong teaching record in the following courses: Introduction to Financial Accounting, Accounting for Managers, Auditing and Assurance Service, Cost Accounting and Decision Making. Her teaching excellence has been recognised by outstanding teaching evaluations and teachign awards such as a Dean’s Commendation for Teaching Excellence and two Commendation Letters from the Vice Provost (Learning and Teaching) in 2016, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Education) for high unit evaluations.

In terms of academic citizenship and engagement, Luisa acted as an Early Career Research (ECR) representative in the Department of Accounting for two years – a role she performed well, implementing a number of initiatives that enhanced ECR engagement. More recently, Luisa was a coordinator of the Governance and Regulation Research Network (GARNET) at the Centre for Global Business, Monash Business School. Luisa regularly contributes to the accounting discipline through reviewing for quality journals and conferences and also acting as a discussant. 

Prior to becoming and academic, Luisa worked as a financial analyst in the banking industry and gained practice based experience surrounding matters such as financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, and risk management.

• Coordinator of the Governance and Regulation Research Network (GARNET) at the Centre for Global Business, Monash Business School (Aug 2019 - Mar 2020)
• ECR Representative (Financial Accounting & Auditing) at the Department of Accounting Research Committee (2016-2018).
• International Member of the Centre for Not-for-profit and Public-sector Research (CNPR) at Queen's Management School, Belfast.
• Affiliated Member of the Cooperative Research Group, University of Sydney.

ACF5950 Introductory Accounting (postgraduate course)

ACC5903 Accounting for Business (postgraduate course)

Teaching Excellence Awards:

- 2016 Department of Accounting's Teaching Award

- 2016 Monash Business School's Team Teaching Commendation