Colourful pencils

NICE aims to discuss and highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by the Australian service sector within the context of growing numbers of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) customers and employees as Australian society becomes more multicultural.

We engage with multicultural communities and organisations to explore and understand the capabilities and level of readiness of service ecosystems to engage with persons from CaLD backgrounds and navigate through intercultural experiences in a more effective manner.

Our activities include seminars, workshops, special sessions, publications and special issues, social media campaigns, industry and community engagement, student internships, research projects, and curricula development, among others.

Navigating Inter-Cultural Experiences (NICE) Symposium

3rd Navigating Intercultural Experiences [NICE] Symposium, 20 Feb 2026

This symposium was held on the Curtin Bentley campus on 20 February, 2026 to bring together community thought leaders, practitioners and researchers to address the question “How can we better support health and ageing in Australia’s multicultural communities?”

We began with a Welcome to Country by Barry McGuire, Co-Chair – Spear Foundation, Managing Director – Redspear Safety and a Balladong, Yued, Wadjuk Nyungar who is highly regarded as a public speaker, facilitator and negotiator. This was followed by an Introduction by MC Julia Richardson, Head of School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University and Opening Remarks by Vanessa Chang, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Curtin University.

Next, the NICE team led by Associate Professor Russel Kingshott and John Curtin Distinguished Professor Piyush Sharma along with their collaborators Professor Amy Tian and Dr Sandra Martain from the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University provided an overview of their following Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery and Linkage Projects:

DP240102996: “Optimizing benefits of cultural diversity in Australian healthcare sector” (AUD 434,425).

LP230200961: “Optimising cost-effective services to the aged CaLD community” (AUD 105,665)

This was followed by a Keynote speech by Mr Borhan Milani, CEO, Umbrella Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc. and Group Discussions and Presentations on the following eight topics related to the theme of this symposium:

  1. Workforce as Bridge How can health and ageing organizations better use their multicultural staff to connect with and design services for culturally diverse communities?
  2. From Policy to Practice What turns diversity and inclusion strategies from documents into real, visible improvements for both staff and the communities they serve?
  3. Supporting Leaders What support do managers and team leaders need to successfully lead culturally diverse teams in health and aged care settings?
  4. Communication Across Cultures How can health services ensure older people from multicultural backgrounds understand health information and feel comfortable asking questions?
  5. Trust and Access What stops some multicultural communities from accessing health and aged care services, and how can organizations build trust?
  6. Family and Community Connections How can health services better work with families and community networks that are central to care in many cultures?
  7. Designing Inclusive Services What does culturally appropriate aged care actually look like in practice? (Think: food, activities, spiritual care, communication styles)
  8. Measuring What Matters How do we know if our efforts to improve multicultural health and ageing outcomes are actually working? What should we measure?

Our PhD students presented their work using Posters during the lunch and this was followed by a Panel Discussion hosted by Professor Julia Richardson with the following participants:

  • Katie Ellis – Professor in Residence – Inclusive Design Collective, Curtin University
  • Adrian Munro – CEO, RichMind Mental Health Services WA
  • Jaya Duntas – Professor of International Health, Curtin University
  • Daniel Jones – CEO, St Basil’s Aged Care

We concluded this symposium with closing remarks by Professor Harlene Hayne CNZM, Vice Chancellor, Curtin University, Hon. Dr Anne Aly MP and Hon. Pierre Yang MLC, followed by Wrap-up by Professor Julia Richardson.

Major Publications

  1. Davcik, N., P. Sharma, and S. Markovic (2025). “Ethical ramifications of the dark side of business practices in international business.” Business Ethics, the Environment and Responsibility 34 (4): 1966-1972.
  2. Pillai, K. G., S. Jha, P. Sharma, R. Chakraborty, and P. Dobson (2025) “How come they know? The Effects of Social Comparison on Value Consciousness and Price Mavenism.” Journal of Consumer Behaviour 24 (3): 1327-1339.
  3. Frensel, A. M., E. Landmann, M. Schönitz, F. U. Siems, and P. Sharma (2025). “Influence of shame on young consumers’ purchase intentions: A social sustainability perspective.” Young Consumers 26 (7): 126-141.
  4. Ling, X., T. Min, P. Sharma, D. Wang, and S. Yan (2025). “Can frugal innovations trigger corporate innovation? The dockless bike-sharing services experience in China.” Technovation (148)
  5. Ling, X., P. Sharma, and S. Yan (2025). “Decentralised Autonomous Organisations: The marketing perspective of Tokenomics.” European Journal of Marketing 59 (9): 2244-2271.
  6. Villegas-Pinuer, F., S. Markovic, C. Sancha, N. Davcik, P. Sharma, and J. Llonch (2025). “Circular Economy: The key link between learning orientations and competitive advantage in Chilean small and medium-sized enterprises.” Business Strategy and the Environment 35 (1): 848-862.
  7. Wang, Y., M. Zhong, P. Sharma, and D. -. F. Niu (2025). “The impact of human-centered artificial intelligence on firms’ workforce demand in Industry 5.0 transition.” Enterprise Information Systems 20 (2): 121-143.
  8. Gaur, S. S., P. Sharma, and S. F. Yap (2025). “It takes two to Tango! Interactive impact of service provider behaviours and customer characteristics on key service outcomes.” International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing
  9. Sharma, P. and Tak Yan Leung (2024), “How to Manage and Survive during a Global Crisis Lessons for Managers from the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Routledge, Singapore. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/ mono/10.4324/9781003227113/manage-survive-global-crisis-piyush-sharma-tak-yan-leung
  10. Sharma, P. (2024), “Intercultural service encounters in the post-COVID-19 world: a research agenda”, in Furrer, Olivier, Mikèle Landry, Chloé Baillod, and Jie Y. Kerguignas (Eds.), A Research Agenda for Service Marketing, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
  11. Sharma, P., and G. Malik. 2024. “Co-Creating Innovative Tourist Experiences: Towards an Integrative Framework.” Tourism Analysis 29 (3)
  12. Chan, R. Y. K., P. Sharma, A. Alqahtani, T. Y. Leung, and A. Malik. 2024. “Mediating role of cultural values in the impact of ethical ideologies on consumers’ ethical judgments.” Journal of Business Ethics 191 (4): 865-884.
  13. Nguyen, M., P. Sharma, and A. Malik. 2024. “Leadership styles and employee creativity: the interactive impact of online knowledge sharing and organizational innovation.” Journal of Knowledge Management 28 (3): 631-650.
  14. Nguyen, T. M., and P. Sharma. 2024. “Interactive impact of transformational leadership and organizational innovation on online knowledge sharing: A knowledge management perspective.” Journal of Knowledge Management 28 (4): 1164-1182.
  15. Malik, G., P. Sharma, R. Kingshott, T. Y. Leung, and D. Abdolrazagh. 2024. “Technological sensing and response capabilities as drivers for radical innovation in the context of apocalyptic uncertainty.” R and D Management 54 (3): 525-541.
  16. He, L., L. J. Zheng, P. Sharma, and T. Y. Leung. 2024. “Entrepreneurship education and established business activities: An international perspective.” The International Journal of Management Education 22 (1)
  17. Nguyen, M., A. Malik, P. Sharma, R. Kingshott, and R. Gugnani. 2024. “High involvement work system and organizational and employee resilience: Impact of digitalisation in crisis situations.” Technological Forecasting and Social Change 205
  18. Malik, G., P. Sharma, and D. Pradhan. 2024. “Leveraging gamification for tourism marketing activities: Towards a comprehensive conceptual model.” Journal of Vacation Marketing 32 (1): 147-167.
  19. Kingshott, R., and P. Sharma. 2024. “Navigating inter-cultural experiences [NICE] in B2B relationships: New insights and future research directions.” Industrial Marketing Management 121: A3-A6.
  20. Malik, A., P. Sharma, R. Kingshott, and B. Laker (2022), “Leveraging cultural and relational capabilities for business model innovation: The case of a digital media EMMNE”, Journal of Business Research, 149(October), 270-282.
  21. Sharma, P., R. Y. K. Chan, N. Davcik, and A. Ueno (2022), “Cultural Differences in Deliberate Counterfeit Purchase Behavior”, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 40(1), 121-137.
  22. Lee, Liane W.Y., Sharma, P. & Barnes, B.R. (2022), “Adopting big data to create an “outside-in” global perspective of guanxi”, Journal of Business Research. 139(February), 614-628.
  23. Kingshott, R.P.J., Chung, H., Putranta, M.P., Sharma, P., & Sima, H. (2021). Religiousity and psychological contracts in Asian B2B service relationships. Industrial Marketing Management. 98(October), 138-148.
  24. Kingshott, R.P.J., Sharma, P., Sima, H., & Wong, D. (2020). The impact of psychological contract breaches within East-West buyer-supplier relationships. Industrial Marketing Management. 89(August), 220-231.
  25. Sharma, P., Leung, Y.K., Kingshott, R.P.J., Davcik, N. & Cardinali, S. (2020). Managing uncertainty during a global pandemic: An international business perspective. Journal of Business Research. 116(August), 188-192.
  26. Ho, M.H.W., Chung, H. Kingshott, R.P.J. & Chiu, C.C. (2020). Customer engagement, consumption and firm performance in a multi-actor service ecosystem: The moderating role of network coordination. Journal of Business Research. 121 (December), 557-566.
  27. Gaur, S., Kingshott, R.P.J., & Sharma, P., (2019). Managing customer relationships in emerging markets: Focal roles of relationship comfort and relationship proneness. Journal of Service Theory & Practice. 29(5/5), 592-609.
  28. Kingshott, R.P.J., Sharma, P., Hosie, P. & Davcik, N. (2019). Interactive impact of ethnic distance and cultural familiarity on the perceived effects of free trade agreements. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 36(1), 1‐49.

Research Grants

  1. Kingshott, Russel P.J., Sharma, Piyush, Tian, Amy and Martain, Sandra (2024), Optimising cost-effective services to the aged CaLD community, Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant in association with Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc. [$105,665 cash]
  2. Sharma, P., Kingshott, R., Tian, A., & Backmann, J. (2024). Optimizing Benefits of Cultural Diversity in Australian Healthcare Sector. Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project. [$434,425 cash].
  3. Kingshott, R. (2022/2023). The Role Successful Australian Islamic Women Play in Helping Shape Broader Community Attitudes Towards the Islamic Community. Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) Grant. [$12,960 cash].
  4. Kingshott, R., Dantas, R.J., Sharma, P., Nau, Z.S., & Loh, C. (2023). Profiling well-being services available to CaLD students in Western Australia. FBL Collaborative Start-up Grant, Curtin University. [$5,000 cash].
  5. Kingshott, R., Sharma, P. & Tian, A. (2023). Identifying and Costing Effective Services to Elderly CaLD Customers. HAAS Scheme, Curtin University. [$5,000 cash].
  6. Kingshott, R. & Sharma, P. (2021). Navigating Inter-Cultural Encounters [NICE] in the Provision of Professional Services in the Not-for-Profit [NFP] Sector in WA, HAAS Grant Funding, Curtin University. [$5,000 cash].
  7. Daneshfar, Z., Kingshott, R. & Sharma, P. (2020). Contextualising Multicultural Readiness Instruments for the Royal Life Saving WA (RLSWA). ROC HDR Internship Grant, Curtin University]. In conjunction with Royal Life Saving Western Australia (RLSWA) [$3,000]. HDR placement.
  8. Jones, K., Kingshott, R. & Sharma, P. (2020). Understanding How to Navigate Intercultural Experiences to Improve Community Based Services, ROC HDR Internship Grant, Curtin University]. In conjunction with Richmond Wellbeing [$3,000]. HDR placement.

Research Students [Current]

[PhD]: Jade Whiting, Enhancing Operational Efficacy in Community-Based Aged Care Services for CALD Populations in Western Australia. [Supervisors: Kingshott, Russel P.J. & Sharma, Piyush]

[PhD]: Chaithra Y.C., Coaching for Student Flourishing and Academic Buoyancy. [Supervisors: Piyush Sharma, Farveh Farivar & Sagi Mathews]

[PhD]: Tegar Satya Putra, Impact of Team Multicultural Readiness on Organisational Outcomes: A Team Perspective [Supervisors: Kingshott, Russel P.J. & Sharma, Piyush]

[PhD]: Priya Bhardwaj, Understanding the linkages between loneliness, impulse purchase, and consumer well-being. [Supervisors: Piyush Sharma & Marcela Moraes]

[PhD]: Reshma Sandeep Kumar Dey, Feeling the change: A study on employee eco-emotions in forestry and tourism. [Supervisors: Piyush Sharma, Julie Napoli & Robyn Ouschan]

[PhD]: Biswadeep Tamang, Demystifying constant connectivity and its impact on employee well-being. [Supervisors: Jaya Dantas & Sharma, Piyush]

[PhD]: Fotios Phillip Lambou. The Impact of Workplace Leadership Development Programs in Delivering Services to CaLD Persons. [Supervisors: Kingshott, Russel P.J. & Sharma, Piyush]

[DBA]: Dmytro Pichugin. The Role of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Customers’ Experiences in Multi-Cultural Service Encounters (MCSE). [Supervisors: Kingshott, Russel P.J. & Sharma, Piyush].

[DBA]: Kelly Smith. Challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous students in Study Abroad programs. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & McKenna, Stephen].

[DBA]: Nigel de Silva. Critical success factors for international higher education partnerships: A study of collaborations among universities in Australia and India. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush, McKenna, Stephen & Kingshott, Russel P.J.].

[DBA]: Kent Matla. Emergence of Chinese Private Companies as Global Innovation Leaders in the Technology Sector : Towards a Holistic Innovation Conceptual Model. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Ananthram, Subra].

[DBA]: Dianoush Abdolrazagh. SME resilience: Towards a comprehensive conceptual definition and operationalization. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Potdar, Vidy].

Research Students [Past]

[PhD]: Apoorva Goel. Contemporary work characteristics, employee work continuity and wellbeing. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Dayaram, Kantha].

[DBA]: Benny Hutahayan. Impacts of business obstacles, regional characteristics, and top management gender diversity on corrupt business practices in emerging economies: Indonesian example. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush, Cao, June & Leung, Tak Yan].

[PhD]: Brillyanes Sanawiri. Exploring The impact of business continuity capabilities and business model innovation on smes performance in a turbulent external environment. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.].

[DBA]: Fabian Agnelo Redden. Demystifying the impact of service climate and internal service quality on managerial outcomes: Interactive effects of role stressors and management levels. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.].

[PhD]: Dr. Abdulaziz Salem M Alqahtani. Interactive Impact of Message Characteristics and Format on EWOM Evaluation and Online Brand Engagement: Towards an Integrative Framework. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.] – Assistant Professor, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

[PhD]: Dr. Hariharan Thangatur Sukumar. Counter Intuitive Results and their impacts in Decision Making. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Potdar, Vidy] – Assistant Professor, Bharathidasan Institute of Management, India.

[PhD]: Dr. Rofia Ramesh. Enhancing Individual Decision Making Through Mindfulness Training. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Ananthram, Subra]. – Management Consulting Analyst, Accenture India.

[PhD]: Dr. Zahra Daneshfar. Multicultural Readiness Index (MRI): Conceptualisation and Validation. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.] – Insights analyst, Demant Denmark

[MPhil]: Katheryn Jane Jones. Marketing’s Footprint in the Boardroom: Antecedents and Outcomes. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.] – Enrolled in PhD program with Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia.

[PhD]: Dr. Claire Loh. The Focal role of Emotional well-being in Student-University Interactions: A relationship marketing approach. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Shanka, Tekle] – Project Coordinator, Faculty of Humanities, Curtin University, Australia.

[PhD]: Dr. Faranita Masduki. The consumers’ value on luxury brand equity and purchase intention: case of the middle class woman in Indonesia. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush, Alexander, Paul & Hynes, Niki] – Lecturer, Binus University, Indonesia.

[PhD]: Dr. Aswathy Asokan Ajitha. Mediating role of customer well-being in the influence of customer participation on service outcomes. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.] – Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Management Amritsar, India.

[MPhil]: Ms. Yoyinsola Onasanya. Does Social Media User Engagement Impact Brand Preference? Exploring the Interactive Roles of Self-Brand Congruence and Perceived Social Approval. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Rabbanee, Fazlul].

[PhD]: Dr. Fayrene Chieng. The tie that binds: The impact of self-congruity and brand experience on brand attachment. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Kingshott, Russel P.J.] – Discipline Lead (Marketing), Curtin Malaysia.

[PhD]: Dr. Mary Anthony Philomena (2016). Women and leadership in a policing context. [Supervisors: Sharma, Piyush & Soontiens, Werner] – Senior Lecturer, The University of Notre Dame, Freemantle, Australia. 

Research Students [External]

[PhD]: Dr. Subhojit Sengupta (2022). Political Communication at the Base of Pyramid. IIT Kharagpur. [External Advisors: Sharma, Piyush & Wolff, Katharina] – Assistant Professor, IMT Ghaziabad, India.

[PhD]: Dr. Subhalakshmi Bezbaruah (2022). Integrating Digital Advertising with Branded Content for Generation Y: An Indian Perspective. MICA, Ahmedabad, India. [External Advisor: Sharma, Piyush]

[PhD]: Dr. Arusa Khalid (2021). That extra mile is too crowded: An empirical investigation of the antecedents and the effects of perceived crowding on marketing outcomes. University of Faisalabad, Pakistan. [External Advisor: Sharma, Piyush] – Assistant Professor, SZABIST University, Faisalabad.

[PhD]: Dr. Kalpak Kulkarni (2020). The Interactive Effects of Tie strength and Self?construal on Intention to Share Viral Material on Social Media. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India. [External Advisor: Sharma, Piyush] – Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India.

[PhD]: Dr. Loh Huey Shee (2019). Connecting with the brand to combat loneliness. Sunway University, Malaysia. [External Advisor: Sharma, Piyush] – Lecturer of marketing, Sunway University, Malaysia.

[PhD]: Dr. Kuldeep Brahmbhatt (2018). Role of consumers’ brand association on brand personality of regional brands. MICA, Ahmedabad, India. [External Advisor: Sharma, Piyush] – Assistant Professor, Symbiosis Institute of Media And Communication, Pune.