Clinton Free

Clinton Free is a Professor of Accounting in the Discipline of Accounting, Governance and Regulation at the University of Sydney Business School. Appointed Deputy Dean and Head of School in 2021, he oversees the school's disciplines, academic research, resourcing, and development. Previously, he served as Academic Director of Executive Education, Professor of Accounting, and Program Director for the Global Executive MBA. Prior to joining the University of Sydney Business School, Free was Academic Director and Acting Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management. He has taught MBA courses at the University of Oxford, Cornell University, and Queen’s University in Canada. Free received his doctorate from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. His research expertise lies in white-collar crime, for which he has been featured in Australian true crime podcasts.

Free's academic interests encompass fraud, auditing, corporate governance, supply chain accounting, management control systems, and whistleblowing. Key publications include 'Looking through the fraud triangle: A review and call for new directions' (2015, cited by 329), 'The ties that bind: The decision to co-offend in fraud' (2015, cited by 271), 'Walking the talk? Supply chain accounting and trust among UK supermarkets and suppliers' (2008, cited by 275), 'Hybridized professional groups and institutional work: COSO and the rise of enterprise risk management' (2014, cited by 262), and 'The impact of financial incentives and perceptions of seriousness on whistleblowing intention' (2018, cited by 268). Recent works address algorithmic management, greenwashing, sustainability assurance, and artificial intelligence in accounting. With over 2,800 citations, his research influences discussions on fraud rationalization, ethical climates, and enterprise risk management. Free has won several teaching awards for undergraduate and postgraduate instruction and was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA) in 2021. He advocates for synergies between world-class research, experiential teaching, and partnerships with industry, government, and communities.

Professional Email: clinton.free@sydney.edu.au