Maria Balta

Dr Maria Balta is a Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at Kent Business School, University of Kent. She serves as the Departmental Research and Innovation Lead and has held leadership roles including Director of the MSc in Human Resource Management, TEF Coordinator, and Chief Examiner.

• PhD in Management Studies (Brunel University London, funded by Leventis Foundation)
• MSc in Human Resources and Employment Relations (Brunel University London)

Maria Balta’s research focuses on digital technologies in business model pivoting, human resource management systems, climate change adaptation, and leadership styles in supply chain management. Her work aims to develop organizational resilience and effective crisis response strategies through empirical studies in diverse sectors.

Her recent publications highlight trends in supply chain agility amid geopolitical shocks, digital transformation in SMEs during crises, and the role of big data analytics in sustainability. She has secured significant funding from organizations like ESRC, Innovate UK, and the European Commission.

• Graduate and Researcher College Prize for Programme Academic Lead (University of Kent, 2023)
• Nominated for Brilliant Research-Based Education Award (Kent Union, 2023)

Maria supervises PhD students in topics spanning organizational change, entrepreneurship, talent management, and supply chain dynamics. She has acted as an external examiner for PhD/DBA programs at King’s College London, Brunel University, and others.