The Future of the Australasian Marketing Academy: Challenges and Priorities

In this introduction to the special section on the future of the Australasian marketing academy, we reflect on the rapidly changing academic environment and the challenges and priorities this raises for the marketing discipline. Specifically, we consider the value of marketing education and research to stakeholders, how marketing can contribute to emerging challenges across business and society, how the marketing academy can amplify marginalised voices and be more inclusive, and the health and wellbeing of marketing academics. Next, we present key findings from research we conducted to examine issues of equity, inclusion and wellbeing within the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) member environment. We highlight which problems persist and where change is needed to challenge exclusionary dynamics and foster a more inclusive academy. To unpack and draw further attention to these issues, we then introduce the six papers that comprise the special section. Collectively, these papers present provocations on the future of the Australasian marketing academy and invite you to consider where we should be headed and what actions must be taken.