About Me

Dr. (Mrs). Nirma Sadamali Jayawardena is an Assistant Professor in Marketing at University of Bradford, United Kingdom. She has work experience as a secondary school teacher, lecturer and as a researcher in Sri Lanka, Australia, and India.

Her research interests are in the areas of virtual reality advertising, 360-degree video advertising, consumer psychology, digital video advertising, experimental research, qualitative research, and consumer behaviour.  Her research work has been published in multiple international peer reviewed journals. She has also presented her research in several international and national level research conferences. Additionally, she has contributed to magazine articles, book chapters, books, and industry reports.

She served as a reviewer to several journals including International Journal of Information Management, Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Consumer Studies, Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Journal of Business Research, and IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Prior to obtaining the Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing from the Griffith University, Australia, she completed her BSc in Business Management (Hons) degree with a first-class honours specializing in Project Management from NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka. Additionally, she completed her MBA in International Business from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Further, she completed her Graduate Diploma in Research from Griffith University, Australia.   She started her career as a secondary school teacher which is the steppingstone leading to academia. She was able to improve teaching skills after working as a secondary school teacher in Business Studies and Accounting (English medium) in two reputed private secondary schools in Sri Lanka. She prepared students under the subject of Business Studies and Accounting for GCE Ordinary Level Examination in Sri Lanka.

She also served as a full-time lecturer in the Faculty of Business Management at ICBT campus, Sri Lanka. Further she worked as a research assistant in the Department of Marketing and in Accounting, Economics and Finance department of Griffith University, Australia.  She also worked as a Market Research Trainee at AEC Group LTD, Brisbane, Australia.

She has teaching experience for a diversified age groups including secondary schools, undergraduates, and post-graduates. During her PhD, she conducted several research training sessions to the South Pacific Central Banks conducted by Griffith Asia Institute.

She has research skills on various software including NVivo, Leximancer, SPSS, and Vos-Viewer. She has work experience on projects funded through several grants such as Griffith University Internal Grants, Central Bank of Solomon Islands and BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants Scheme by The British Academy. 

She has achieved several scholarships including Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship, Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and University of Tasmania, Tuition Fee scholarship for PhD in Education. She won several international and national levels awards including ‘Emerald Outstanding reviewer award’ from South Asian Journal of Marketing in year 2023; Emerging Scholar Award in Twenty-First International Conference on Knowledge, Culture, and Change in Organizations held in University of Auckland, New Zealand; Emerging Scholar Award in Twenty-eighth International Conference on Learning held in Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; Griffith University Academic Excellence award in year 2018; ‘Women Icon of the Year Award’ from Woman Icon organised by Times Woman with The Women Icon Organization in year 2021 and  lastly ‘Honourable Mention Research Award’ from Relationship Marketing for Impact Research Cluster at Griffith University in year 2021.

Education

2019-2022

PhD in Marketing

Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

2018- 2019

Graduate Diploma of Business Research

Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

2014 - 2016

Master of Business Administration in International Business

University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

2010-2014

Bsc in Business Management, Specializing in Project Management

NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka

Experience

2024

Assistant Professor in Marketing

University of Bradford, United Kingdom

2022-2023

Assistant Professor in Marketing

O P Jindal Global University, India

2019-2022

PhD student and Research Assistant  

Griffith University, Australia

2016-2017

Lecturer in Marketing

ICBT Campus, Sri Lanka

2015-2016

Secondary School Teacher in Business Studies and Accounting

Amal International School, Sri Lanka

2014-2015

Secondary School Teacher in Business Studies and Accounting

Vidura College, Sri Lanka

Short-Courses

2024

Certificate in Digital Marketing Strategy

Harvard Business School Online, United States

2010

Certificate in Business Accounting

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom

Membership

2018-2023

Member of Griffith University Relationship Marketing cluster

2023-2024

Member of Academy of International Business

2023- 2025

Associate Member of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing

2024 onwards

Advisory Council Member (opt-in membership) of Harvard Business Review

2024 onwards

Member of the Global and Sustainable Business Futures Research Cluster at the University of Bradford

2024 onwards

Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom

2024 onwards

Associate Editor for Electronic Commerce Research, Springer

2025 onwards

Associate Editor for Journal of Internet Commerce, Taylor and Francis

2024 onwards

Member of the Humane Technology and Innovation research cluster at University of Bradford

Community Welfare

2020

Conducted a research training seminar on Systematic Literature Review Method organized by Griffith Asia Institute and Central Bank of Solomon Islands

2022

Served as organizer and speaker at the research seminar “The Importance of Marketing Research in the 21st Century” hosted by O.P. Jindal Global University, India.

2023

Contributed as a session chair of “Diaspora Effects and Cross-Cultural Management” in AIB-South Asia conference organized by O P Jindal Global University, India

2023

Served as organizer and speaker at the research seminar “Positioning Future Marketing Strategies through Relationship Marketing Research” hosted by O.P. Jindal Global University, India.

2023

Served as the co-chair for the “Consumer Behaviour Session” at the 4th International Conference on Marketing Management, organized by SLIM Research Bureau and Emerald Publishers.

2023

Served as organizer and speaker at the research seminar “Organizing Today for the Digital Marketing of Tomorrow” conducted by O P Jindal Global University, India

2024

Conducted a ‘Literature Review Workshop’ for students and the faculty for Uva Wellassa University, Sri Lanka

2024

Contributed as a speaker on consumer visual memory of 360-degree and standard video advertisements at the International Knowledge Transfer Series by O.P. Jindal Global University, India.

2024

Contributed as a speaker on consumer visual memory of 360-degree and standard video advertisements at research excellence seminar series conducted by University of Bradford, UK

2024

Contributed as a guest speaker on the title of “Developing an understanding of the research methods” for students in Tribhuvan University, Nepal

2024

Conducted a guest lecture on the title of ‘Understanding the Essence of a Literature Review’ at University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

2025

Conducted a workshop on 'Content Creation for Startups' for NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka

2025

Served as independent assessor for PhD Marketing confirmation seminar of Mehak Rehman, Griffith University, Australia.

2025

Served as a guest lecturer for the 'Digital Marketing' module to international students during International Summer Week at Woxsen University, India (June 23–25, 2025).

2025

As the Head of Global and Sustainable Business Futures at the University of Bradford, we organized and served as the Co-Host of the Empowering Leaders for Global Contemporary Business Conference, held from 27–29 October 2025, in collaboration with the Centre for Leadership and Empowerment at the University of Greater Manchester and SheInspires: Empowering Women

2025

Contributed as a speaker for the ‘Global Dialogue on Future of Marketing in the Digital World’ conducted by the School of Business in Woxsen University, India

2025

Conducted a Guest Lecture session for KIU University Sri Lanka on “Preparing for Your Research Viva” on 19th of August 2025

2025

Conducted a guest lecture session for the FIIB, India titled Positioning in Practice: Lessons from the Market Frontlines on 13th of August

2025

Conducted a workshop session titled 'The connection between digital video advertising and consumer visual Memory' and served as the track chair on Fostering Creativity and Innovation in Global Contemporary Businesses for the Joint Conference held on 27-29 October 2025 titled Empowering Leaders for Global Contemporary Businesses at The University of Bolton

2025

Contributed as a session speaker for the for the 8th International Conference on Recent Trends in Multi-Disciplinary Research (ICRTMDR) at Saudi Arabia organized by IFERP Academy on 8th of November 2025​

2025

Contributed as a keynote speaker for the 4th International Marketing Symposium, hosted by Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University and the New Delhi Institute of Management on 14th of November 2025​

Connect with Me

Whether you’re interested in research collaboration, academic inquiries, or simply wish to exchange ideas, I’d be glad to hear from you. Feel free to reach out using the contact form or email provided.