Professor Michael Powell is Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) at Griffith University. Previous to this appointment he held the position of Dean of Griffith Business School, having joined Griffith in early 2005 from the University of Auckland. His current portfolio includes leadership of the University's Business Group, and associated Research Centres and Academic Departments.

In addition to his role as Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) at Griffith University, Michael is President of the Australian Business Deans' Council which represents university business schools across the country. He is also immediate past Chair of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative and a member of the Continuous Improvement Review Committee of AACSB International.

Professor Powell graduated from the University of Auckland with B Arts and M Arts (Hons) degrees in History, and with a PhD in Organisational Sociology from the University of Chicago. After an initial appointment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Michael returned to New Zealand to take up a position at the University of Auckland Business School as Senior Lecturer in Organisation Studies. Subsequently, he was appointed Associate Professor of Public Sector Management, and then Professor of Health Management before taking on the role of Deputy Dean of the Business School.