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Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

Professor Shirley Leitch

Academic publications

Professor Shirley Leitch's research work during the past 20 years has focused on public communication, particularly in relation to controversial science and technology. Her areas of academic expertise include politics, philosophy and political communications. She has more than 110 published works.


Refereed journal articles accepted and awaiting publication

  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. Corporate identity as an enabler and constraint on the pursuit of corporate objectives. European Journal of Marketing.

Articles in refereed journals

  • Leitch, S., & Palmer, I. (2010). Analyzing Texts in Context: Current Practices and New Protocols for Critical Discourse Analysis in Organization Studies, Journal of Management Studies, 47(6), 1194-1212.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2009). The transformational potential of public policy discourse. Organization Studies, 30(10), 1045-1063.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2009) We Are What We Grow: The Discursive Strategies of Pro- and Anti-GE Factions Regarding the Future of Agriculture in New Zealand. European Planning Studies, 17(7), 943-961.
  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2008). Corporate brands and social brands: Co-branding GM-free and UK supermarkets. International Studies in Management and Organisation, 37(4), 45-63.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2008). The multiple discourses of science-society engagement. Australian Journal of Communication, 35(3), 29-40.
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (2007). Retooling the corporate brand: A Foucauldian perspective on normalisation and differentiation. The Journal of Brand Management, 15(1), 71-80.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2007). A toolbox for public relations: The oeuvre of Michel Foucault. Public Relations Review, 33 (3), 263-268.
  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2007). Strategic ambiguity as a discourse practice: the role of keywords in the discourse on sustainable biotechnology. Discourse Studies, 9(1), 43-61.
  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2006). Talking with the silent majority: An Interest-Identity Framework. Public Relations Review, 32(1), 71-73.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2005). Circuits of Power in Practice: Strategic Ambiguity as Delegation of Authority. Organization Studies, 26(11), 1603-1623.
  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2005). The Politics of discourse: Marketization of the New Zealand Science and Innovation system. Human Relations. 58(7), 891-912.
  • Davenport, S., & Leitch, S. (2005). Agoras, ancient and modern, and a framework for science-society debate. Science and Public Policy. 32(2), 137-153.
  • Leitch, S., & Richardson, N. (2003). Corporate branding in the new economy. European Journal of Marketing. 37(7/8), 1065-1079.
  • Motion, J., Leitch, S., & Brodie, R. (2003). Equity in corporate co-branding: The case of adidas and the All Blacks. European Journal of Marketing. 37(7/8), 1080-1094.
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (2003). Public-private partnerships: Consultation, cooperation and collusion. Journal of Public Affairs, 3(3). 225-231.
  • Davenport, S., Leitch, S., & Rip, A. (2003). The 'user' in research funding negotiation processes. Science and Public Policy. 30(4), 239-250.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2002). The technologies of corporate identity. International Studies in Management and Organisation, 32(3), 45-64.
  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2002). Strategic ambiguity in communicating public sector change. Journal of Communication Management. 7(2), 129-139.
  • Motion, J. & Leitch, S. (2000). Courting the lost consumer: Corporate identity, corporate brands, and the New Zealand Insurance Industry. Asia-Pacific Public Relations Journal. 2(2), 59-72.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2000). The truth games of public relations politics. Australian Journal of Communication. 27(2), 65-80.
  • Leitch, S. (1999). From logo-centrism to corporate branding? The (r)evolution in organisational identity. Australian Journal of Communication. 26(3), 1-8.
  • Leitch, S, & Motion, J. (1999). Multiplicity in corporate identity strategy. Corporate Communications: An International Journal. 4(4), 193-199.
  • Motion, J. & Leitch, S. (1999). Against grand narratives: Localised knowledges of public relations practice. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Relations. 1(1). [ranked B in ABDC rankings]
  • Leitch, S., & Roper, J. (1999). Ad wars: Adversarial Advertising by interest groups in a New Zealand general election. Media International Australia. 92, 103-116.
  • Richards, P., Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (1998). Shifting Disciplines: Communication, discourses and identities. Australian Journal of Communication. 25(3), 1-8.
  • Leitch, S., & Roper, J. (1998). Genre colonisation as a public relations strategy: A framework for research and analysis. Public Relations Review, 24 (2). [ranked A in ABDC rankings]
  • Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (1998). Public relations on the edge of puzzlement: A defence of scholarly research. Australian Journal of Communication, 25 (2), 161-170.
  • Leitch, S., & Neilson, D. (1997). Reframing public relations: New directions for theory and practice. Australian Journal of Communication. 24 (2), 17-32.
  • Leitch, S., & Walker, G. (1997) Public relations on the edge. Australian Journal of Communication. (Editors' foreword). 24 (2).
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (1996). A discursive perspective from New Zealand: Another world view. Public Relations Review. 22 (3), 297-309.
  • Roper, J., & Leitch S. (1995). The electoral reform campaigns in New Zealand: A political communication case study. Australian Journal of Communication. 22 (1), 123-135.
  • Leitch S. (1995) Professionalism in New Zealand public relations: The Florence Nightingale Concept. International Public Relations Review, 18 (3), 24-31.
  • Leitch, S. (1991). Restructuring the Public Sector: A case study of the discourse of the New Zealand news media. Political Science.43 (1), 20-29.
  • Leitch, S. (1991). New Skills, New Power: Sub-editors and Direct Editorial Input. New Zealand Sociology. 6 (2), 20-37.
    Encyclopedia Entries
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (2005). Discourse Theory. In R. Heath. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
  • Motion, J. & Leitch, S. (2005). Practice of public relations in Australia and New Zealand. In R. Heath. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Book chapters (refereed)

  • Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (2010). Publics and public relations: Effecting Change. In R. Heath (Ed.). The Sage Handbook of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
  • Heath, R., Motion, J. & Leitch, S. (2010). Power and public relations: Paradoxes and programmatic thoughts. In R. Heath (Ed.). The Sage Handbook of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2010). The role of boundary organizations in maintaining separation in the triple helix. In R. Viale and H. Etzkovitz. (Eds.). The Capitalization of Knowledge: A Triple Helix of University-Industry-Government. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
  • Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (2009). Risk Communication and Biotechnology: A Discourse Perspective. In R. Heath and D. O'Hair (Eds.). Handbook of Risk and Crisis Communication. New York: Routledge.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2009). On Foucault: A Toolbox for Public Relations. In O. Ihlen, B. van Ruler & M. Fredriksson. (Eds.) Public Relations and Social Theory. New York: Routledge.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2009). Public Relations in Australasia: Friendly rivalry, Cultural diversity and a Global focus. In K. Sriramesh and D. Vercic. (Eds.) The Global Public Relations Handbook, Theory, Research, and Practice, Expanded and Revised Edition. New York: Routledge.
  • Motion, J., Leitch, S. & Cliffe, S. (2003). Public relations in Australasia: Friendly rivalry, cultural diversity, and global focus. In K. Sriramesh & D. Vercic (Eds.). The Global Public Relations Handbook. London: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Leitch, S., & Neilson, D. (2001). Bringing publics into public relations: New theoretical frameworks for practice. In R. Heath. (Ed.) Handbook of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
  • Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2000). New Zealand perspectives on public relations. In R. Heath. (Ed.) Handbook of Public Relations. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
  • Richards, P., Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (2000). Shifting Disciplines: Communication, discourses and identities. In J. DeVito & S. O'Rourke. Human Communication. (7th Ed.) Auckland: Addison Wesley Longman.
  • Leitch, S. (1995). The new team member. In B. Gatenby & D. Jones. (Eds.). Case studies in Communication. Longman Paul.
  • Leitch S. (1994). Media and Business. In J. Deeks & P. Enderwick (eds.). Business and Society. Longman.
  • Leitch, S. (1992). The mass media election? In B. Ticehurst (Ed.). Communication Australia: A search for meaning in changing times. Griffin Publications.
  • Leitch, S. (1992). Media and Politics. In H. Gold (Ed.). New Zealand Politics in Perspective. Longman Paul.
  • Leitch, S. (1992). Sources of Discontent. In M. Comrie & J. McGregor. (Eds.).Whose News? Dunmore Press.
  • Leitch, S. (1992). The Neutered Male: The Language of the Daily Press. In S. Olssen. Gender Issues in Organisations. Dunmore Press.

Keynote and invited presentations

  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (November 2010), Discourse journeys in innovation territory, Keynote presentation to the Organizational Discourse, Strategy and Change Group Annual Workshop, University of Sydney.
  • Leitch, S & Motion, J. (June 2008). Challenging and changing institutions through public policy discourse. Invited presentation at the Challenging Institutions Research Workshop on Institutional theory, University of New South Wales.
  • Leitch, S. (October 2007). Engaging across boundaries: Consultation, collaboration and resistance. Keynote presentation at the Royal Society Symposium 'Working across boundaries: Science industry in society', Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (December 2005). Responding to identity-based stakeholders. Keynote at the Symposium sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology on Talking Biotechnology: Reflecting on science in society, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Davenport, S., & Leitch, S. (December 2005). To GE or not to GE? Narrative contests in the struggle for New Zealand's agricultural future. Keynote at the Symposium sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology on Talking Biotechnology: Reflecting on science in society, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Motion, J., Davenport S., Leitch, S., & Weaver, K. (June 2004) Popularising an Unpopular Science: Life After the GM Moratorium. Keynote at Science Communicator's Conference, Auckland.
  • Motion, J., Davenport, S., Leitch, S. & Doolin, B. (April 2003) Socially and culturally sustainable biotechnology in New Zealand. Mini-Symposium on Biotechnology and the Social Sciences, Akaroa, New Zealand.
  • Leitch, S. & Richardson, N. (2000). Corporate identity in cyberspace. Keynote address at the sixth annual Corporate Identity Symposium, University of Bradford, UK.
  • Leitch, S. (1999). From logo-centrism to corporate branding? The (r)evolution in organisational identity. Keynote address at the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference, Sydney Australia.

Conference presentations and proceedings

  • Renton, M., Davenport, S., Bryson, J., Daellenbach, U., Leitch, S., Scott, S., & Motion, J. (2010). "We must be more productive": Global discourse strategies. Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference, Adelaide.
  • Leitch, S., Davenport, S., Motion, J. & Renton, M. (2010) The 'Truth' of science and the branding of food products and organizations. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Conference, Lisbon.
  • Motion, J., Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2010). Global Network facilitators, entrepreneurial mavericks and deal makers. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Conference, Lisbon.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2009). Organizing ambiguity: Intent and choice in sensemaking. International Process Symposium, Cyprus.
  • Pratt, S. & Leitch, S. (2009). Re-imagining Management Education through Digital Storytelling. Global Forum: Business as an Agent of World Benefit Conference. Case Western Reserve University, UN Global Compact and Academy of Management, Cleveland Ohio.
  • Davenport, S., Leitch, S., Motion, J., & Renton, M. (2009). Mobilizing scientific discourse to rebrand organizational identity. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Conference, Barcelona.
  • Haar, J., Motion, J. & Leitch, S. (2009). The politics of idea work: An indigenous perspective. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Conference, Barcelona.
  • Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (2008). The discourse strategies of resistance. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Conference, Amsterdam.
  • Leitch, S., J. Motion and S. Davenport. (2008). Community Engagement and Resistance: A Discourse Perspective. Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference, Auckland.
  • Leitch, S. R. & Davenport, S. (2007) No past - No future: The political advantages of an ever-present organizational identity. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Philadelphia.
  • Motion, J., Leitch, S., & Davenport, S. (2007). Political power plays and purse power: resistance and rebellion as reverse colonization. Paper presented at the European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Conference, Vienna, Austria.
  • Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (2007). Retooling the corporate brand: A Foucauldian perspective on normalisation and differentiation. International Corporate Identity Group Conference, Scotland.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. R. (2006). Pragmatically Understanding Stakeholder Relationships and Action. Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference, Central Queensland University: Queensland.
  • Motion, J., Leitch, S. (2006). Public policy and identity work: Legitimation, normalization or power play? International Communication Association Conference, Dresden, Germany.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2005). What Makes a Stakeholder Act: Adding the Issue into Stakeholder Mobilization Theory. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Hawaii.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2005). Sustainable Ambiguity, Enabling Stakeholder Interaction Through Multiple Sustainability Discourses. (Part of Showcase Symposium, Competing Claims: Critical Perspectives on 'Sustainability' and Biotechnology.) Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Hawaii.
  • Leitch, S., Davenport, S., & Motion, J. (2005). Issues, Interests and Identity: Communicating Biotechnology. Technology, Between Enthusiasm and Resistance. TEER Conference, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
  • Leitch, S. & Davenport, S. (2005). Keeping Our Distance: The Role of Front Organizations in Achieving Societal Change. Paper presented at the Critical Management Studies Conference, Cambridge.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2005). Articulating Past Glories: Discursive Struggle for New Zealand's Agricultural Future. Paper presented at European Group for Organization Studies Conference, Berlin. (note: also stream convenor).
  • Davenport S. & Leitch, S. (2005).The Role of Boundary Organisations in Maintaining Separation in the Triple Helix, Paper presented at the Triple Helix 5 Conference, Turin, Italy.
  • Leitch, S. & Davenport, S. (2004). Creating controversy through consultation. Paper presented at the 4S and EASST joint conference, Paris, France.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2004). We are what we grow: discursive strategies of organic and GE food production systems. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, New Orleans, USA.
  • Davenport, S., Leitch, S., & Daellenbach, U. (2004). Balancing interest and identity: adding the issue into stakeholder mobilization theory. Annual International Conference of the Strategic Management Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
    Motion, J., & Leitch, S. (2004). Public Policy as an instrument of discourse: Reframing Biotechnology. International Conference on Critical Discourse Analysis, Valencia, Spain.
  • Leitch, S. & Davenport, S. (2003). Changing organizations, changing discourses: The transformation of the NZ science and innovation system. 19th European Group for Organizational Studies Conference, Copenhagen.
  • Leitch, S. & Davenport, S. (2003).Designing discourses to effect organizational and stakeholder change. the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference, Brisbane, Australia.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2003). Agoral gatherings, ELSI-fication and genetic modification. 4S (Social Studies of Science and Society) conference, Atlanta.
  • Leitch, S. & Davenport, S. (2002). Strategic ambiguity and the transformation on the New Zealand Innovation System. Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
    Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2002). Ideographs and narrative themes in the negotiation of technological choices. European Group for Organizational Studies, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2002). Strategic ambiguity and public sector management. IFSAM conference, Gold Coast, Australia.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2002). The "user‟ ideograph in triple helix negotiation processes. Triple Helix Conference, Copenhagen.
  • Leitch, S., Richardson, N., & Motion, J. (2001). Networked reputations: The strategic creation of value and meaning in a brand web context. International Conference on Corporate Reputation, Identity, and Competitiveness, Paris, France.
  • Davenport, S. & Leitch, S. (2001). Managing scientific stakeholders with strategic ambiguity. European Group for Organizational Studies Conference, Lyon, France.
  • Leitch, S. & Richardson, N. (2000). Corporate identity in cyberspace. Keynote address at the sixth annual Corporate Identity Symposium, University of Bradford, UK.
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (2000). Branding the All Blacks. Invited paper at the sixth annual Corporate Identity Symposium, University of Bradford, UK.
  • Leitch, S. & Richardson, N. (2000). Co-branding organisations: The communication of multiple corporate identities in the age of electronic commerce. Paper presented at the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference, Ballina, Australia.
  • Leitch, S. (1999). From logo-centrism to corporate branding? The (r)evolution in organisational identity. Keynote address at the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference, Sydney Australia.
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (1999). The truth games of corporate identity. Keynote address at the fifth annual Corporate Identity Symposium, University of Strathclyde, Scotland.
  • Leitch, S., & Motion, J. (1998). Against grand narratives: Thinking differently about public relations from a New Zealand Perspective. Paper presented at the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference, University of Waikato, Hamilton.
  • Leitch & Motion, J. (1998). "Freight Trekking" in New Zealand: Consistency and Multiplicity in Corporate Identity Strategy. Paper presented at the Corporate Reputation, Identity and Competitiveness Conference, Amsterdam.
    Motion, J. & Leitch, S. (1998). The Lost Consumer: Feminising the New Zealand Insurance Industry. Paper presented at the Corporate Reputation, Identity and Competitiveness Conference, Amsterdam.
  • Leitch, S. & Neilson, D. (1997). Public Relations: A Private Practice. Paper presented to the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (1997). Managing corporate identity: The case of Mainfreight. Paper presented at the international Association of Business Communication, Waikato.
  • Leitch, S. (1997). Norman Fairclough: The relevance of his work for the theory and practice of public relations. Paper presented to the Australia and New Zealand Communication Association Conference at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Leitch, S. & Roper, J. (1997). Adversarial advertising by interest groups: The New Zealand experience in a new electoral environment. Plenary Paper at the: Images of Politics: History and Development of Political Communication on Television at the Felix Meritis in Amsterdam.
  • Leitch, S. & Roper, J. (1996) Adtalk: Genre colonisation during the New Zealand electoral reform referendum. Paper presented to the International Association of Mass Communication Research, Sydney.
  • Leitch, S. & Motion, J. (1996). Public relations practitioners as discourse technologists. Paper presented to the Australia and New Zealand Communication Assoc. Conference at QUT in Brisbane, Australia.
  • Leitch, S. (1995). Public Relations: An education in citizenship. Paper presented at Vox Pop 95: PRIA & PRINZ Conference, Sydney.
  • Leitch, S. (1994). The Florence Nightingale complex: Professionalism and ethics in New Zealand Public relations. Paper presented to the Australia & NZ Communication Association Conference, Sydney.
  • Leitch S. & Bethune, G. (1994). The NZ Government's 1993 health services information campaign. Paper presented to the Australia & NZ Communication Association Conference, Sydney, Australia.
  • Leitch, S. (1993). Media as business, business in the media: Public relations, advertising and the New Zealand media. Proceedings of the Speech Communication Association Conference, Miami.
  • Leitch, S. (1992). Public Relations in the 1990s: Leading edge or thin end of the wedge. Proceedings of the Australian Communication Association Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

Books

  • Leitch, S. (1990). News Talk. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.

Edited works

  • Davenport, S., Motion, J., and Leitch, S. (Eds.). (2008). Royal Society of New Zealand Symposium. Working Across Boundaries – Science Industry in Society. Wellington: Royal Society of New Zealand.