Ben Farr-Wharton

Ben is an emerging researcher who has amassed considerable depth of experience in the field of regional development, entrepreneurial networks and arts management. Having previously worked to establish creative industry networks in South-East Queensland, Ben was awarded an industry scholarship and an Australian Postgraduate Award to undertake his doctoral studies exploring creative cluster development and its impact on employment conditions. Ben has collaborated on a number of notable research projects including a comparison of regional economic development policies between Italy and Australia, and the effectiveness of economic development officers in implementing regional development policies. In collaboration with researchers from Bocconi University, Italy, and the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, Ben is co-editing a book that provides a managerial framework for public policy implementation for regional development projects. He actively coordinated the Southern Gold Coast Music Hub cluster initiative (2011-12) and works in an advisory capacity for a number of creative industries micro-firms operating on the Gold Coast, Australia.