Kaoru Nabeshima is a Professor at the Faculty of International Research and Education, Waseda University. With a PhD and MA in Economics from the University of California at Davis, their research focuses on International Trade, Development Economics, and Economic Policy, particularly analyzing regulatory impacts on global trade dynamics and sustainability. Key research projects include empirical studies on non-tariff measures (NTMs) and their effects on trade, funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Recent work explores de jure and defacto approaches to sustainability, regulatory compliance costs, and knowledge network formation in East Asia. Education: PhD & MA in Economics, University of California at Davis. Current Roles: Concurrent Researcher at Waseda Center for a Carbon Neutral Society (2024–2029); Director of Vietnam Research Institute. Research Grants: Multiple JSPS grants (2015–2030) on NTMs, product safety regulations, and trade liberalization.
Sandra Ajaps is a Lecturer in Education at the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE), University of Manchester, with a strong research focus on sustainability education, critical pedagogy, and decolonising education. She actively contributes to the academic community through teaching, research, and leadership in specialized research groups. Her educational background includes: PhD in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University (awarded 2021) MPhil in Psychology and Education from the University of Cambridge (2014) BSc(Ed) in Geography Education from the University of Nigeria (2010) Ajaps' research interests center on transforming educational approaches to address environmental challenges through decolonial frameworks. Her work explores how indigenous knowledge systems can inform sustainability education, particularly in Nigerian contexts, while examining the intersections of civic engagement, environmental conservation, and critical pedagogy. She investigates how educational institutions can better integrate place-based knowledge and decolonial methodologies to address climate change and sustainability challenges. Her research output reveals a strong trajectory in examining sustainable development through decolonial lenses, with particular emphasis on indigenous knowledge systems, environmental education, and civic engagement in Nigeria. Her publications demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach that bridges education, environmental science, and social justice. Her notable awards include: New York University Steinhardt PhD Fellowship (2015-2019) New York University Doctoral Research Grant (2018) Simms Prize for best results in Education, University of Cambridge (2014) Cambridge Assessment and Santander Award for Master's Program (2013-2014) University of Nigeria's Prizes for top graduating student in both the Faculty of Education and Department of Social Science Education (2010) Ajaps supervises graduate students, including ten MA students and two PhD students as co-supervisor during the 2021/2022 academic year. She teaches across multiple programs including International Education, Education for a Sustainable Environment, and Sustainability Education on the BSc Education programme. Her research is closely tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to quality education and sustainable communities. Within the Manchester Institute of Education, she is an active member of both the Green Research in Education Group (GRiEG) and the Power, Inequality, and Activism research group, contributing to collaborative research initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and social justice in educational contexts.
Professor Hilary Bambrick is a distinguished environmental epidemiologist and anthropologist at the Australian National University (ANU), leading the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. She specializes in climate change and health, focusing on adaptation strategies, vector-borne diseases, and urban resilience. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice, with significant contributions to global health initiatives like the WHO and UNDP. Bambrick has over 180 publications and $11M in research funding, addressing climate impacts on vulnerable populations, including First Nations communities and Pacific Island nations. She serves on the Climate Council of Australia and the Australia Institute, advocating for evidence-based climate policies. Her research integrates epidemiology, anthropology, and environmental science to enhance health resilience in changing climates. Education: PhD (ANU, 2003), BA (Hons), BSc, Grad Cert Higher Ed. Key Research Focus: Climate change health impacts, adaptation strategies, vector-borne diseases, urban design, and health equity. She leads interdisciplinary projects on climate litigation, heatwaves, and infectious disease forecasting. Grants & Funding: Over $11 million in research grants, including projects on bushfire preparedness, dengue transmission modeling, and climate-sensitive disease surveillance. Labs/Teams: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (ANU), collaborating with global networks like the Lancet Countdown and MJA-Lancet Countdown.
Brent Doberstein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo, Faculty of Environment. His research and teaching focus on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable resource management, particularly in developing countries across Asia and in Canada. His research interests include: Hazards and disaster risk reduction Climate change adaptation and managed retreat Post-disaster reconstruction and institutional capacity building Sustainable resource and environmental management Parks and protected areas Over the next five years, he is particularly interested in supervising graduate students in themes related to disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and managed retreat. His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on community resilience, policy evaluation, and cross-national comparisons, especially in Southeast Asia and Canada. Key trends in his work include the integration of local knowledge, social equity in disaster recovery, and innovative frameworks like the PARA model for flood risk management. His scientific contributions are recognized through publications in leading journals such as International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction , Climate and Development , and Disasters . Dr. Doberstein actively supervises graduate students, many of whom are co-authors on his recent publications. He has taught courses including GEOG101, GEOG306, GEOG356, and led field research in Indonesia. He has also been involved in research projects related to flood recovery in Canada and post-disaster adaptations in countries like the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Thailand. He leads research initiatives centered on post-disaster adaptations at individual, community, and national levels, often working with interdisciplinary teams and international collaborators. His work contributes significantly to policy development and community resilience planning in vulnerable regions.
Mikko Kurimo is a Full Professor at Aalto University's Department of Information and Communications Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering. He earned his M.Sc., Lic.Tech., and D.Sc.(Tech.) from Helsinki University of Technology (1992, 1994, 1997) and pioneered neural networks for automatic speech recognition (ASR) in his PhD thesis. After research roles at IDIAP (Swiss AI center) and visiting positions at University of Colorado, Edinburgh, SRI, ICSI, and Nitech, he leads Aalto's ASR group since 2000. His work focuses on unsupervised subword modeling for morphologically complex languages (Finnish, Estonian, Turkish, Arabic) and large speech foundation models. PhD in Neural ASR (Helsinki University of Technology, 1997) Research Scientist at IDIAP (Switzerland) Visiting Fellow at University of Colorado, Edinburgh, SRI, ICSI, Nitech Head of Aalto ASR Group (2000-present) His research spans deep learning for ASR, spoken language modeling , and low-resource language solutions . Recent work explores continued pre-training of self-supervised models, multimodal emotion recognition, and pronunciation assessment using LLMs. He led the winning team in the 2017 Multi-Genre Broadcast challenge and secured competitive funding in Tekes Challenge Finland and EC's H2020-ICT-2017. Key article trends include: Advancements in children's speech recognition and dysarthric speech processing Integration of generative AI for language learning feedback Specialization in low-resource Uralic languages (Finnish, Northern Sámi) Development of robust ASR systems for complex phonetic environments Scientific Awards ACM Multimedia 2023 Computational Paralinguistics Challenge Prize First place in MGB3 2017 Arabic ASR Challenge ISCA Best Student Paper Award (2011) Professeur Invité at Université de Saint-Etienne (2005-2006) Royal Society International Short Visit Fellowship (2004) Professor Kurimo leads the Speech Recognition Group at Aalto, collaborating with COIN (Centre of Excellence in Computational Inference) and AIRC (Adaptive Informatics Research Centre). His projects like CaptainA mobile app demonstrate practical applications of ASR in language education. He has supervised numerous publications with co-authors in domains spanning bandwidth extension, stuttering detection, and speech sound disorder assessment.
Ben Halpern is a Professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at UC Santa Barbara. He holds a PhD in Ecology from UCSB and a BA in Biology from Carleton College. His research focuses on marine ecology and conservation planning, with expertise in cumulative impact assessments, marine reserves, and the Ocean Health Index. He has led global projects on ocean health, biodiversity threats, and sustainable aquaculture, collaborating with institutions worldwide. Notable roles include co-founding the Conservation Aquaculture Research Team (CART) and serving as a part-time Chair in Marine Conservation at Imperial College London (2013–2018). Research interests span marine biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and the integration of ecological and social data into policy. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address environmental challenges, such as mapping wastewater impacts, evaluating aquaculture sustainability, and developing tools for marine spatial planning. Awards include the Smith Fellowship Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy) during his postdoctoral work. He teaches Bren School courses, mentors graduate students, and leads collaborative research teams. Current projects include analyzing climate change effects on aquaculture and advancing the Ocean Health Index framework to support global conservation efforts.
Professor Victor Callan AM is Professor of Leadership and Organisational Change at the University of Queensland Business School within the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. With over 300 publications to his name, including 179 journal articles, 60 conference publications, and 17 books, he is one of Australia's most recognized researchers in organizational change, leadership performance, and employee training. His influential work has shaped public policy in workforce development, vocational education, and organizational change management. Education: Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, University of New South Wales Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University Professor Callan's research focuses on two primary areas: organizational change and leadership, with special interest in employees' and leaders' experiences with large-scale change; and employee skills, capabilities and training, examining effective responses to skills development and shortages. His work explores adaptation levels, personal capabilities, communication dynamics, and team processes during organizational transitions. He has pioneered research on maverickism in organizations, investigating how positively deviant change agents drive radical organizational transformations. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward gender equality research, Indigenous knowledge integration, and maverick leadership. These works span multiple disciplines including organizational behavior, human resource management, vocational education, and leadership studies. His research on workplace gender inequality employs wicked problems frameworks, while his work on Indigenous knowledge holders emphasizes co-creation and positioning as expert researchers. Major Awards and Recognition: Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to higher education University's Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision Two UQ Excellence in Leadership Awards Professor Callan has supervised numerous PhD students across diverse topics including leadership ascension, maverickism, CEO appointments, and organizational change. He has secured substantial research funding, including his 14th Australian Research Council project in 2025 focusing on Indigenous women environmental rangers. His advisory work spans over 100 projects for government departments and international organizations across South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Indonesia, Bhutan, Brunei, New Zealand, PNG, and South Pacific countries, addressing employee skills, vocational education, industry closures, and workforce development. He actively contributes to executive education for senior managers globally and has developed strong research, consulting, and industry partnerships. His current teaching focuses on MBA programs and the Bachelor of Advanced Business Honours program at UQ.
Delphine Allès is a University Professor at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, France, where she serves as Vice-President responsible for board of directors, organization and resources. She is a leading scholar in International Relations with a focus on Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and specializes in non-Western approaches to international relations, religion in global politics, and Indo-Pacific security dynamics. Her research interests span multiple interconnected domains: Religion and International Relations Non-Western Approaches to International Relations Diplomacy, Security and Multilateral Cooperation in Southeast Asia (Indonesia / Indo-Pacific) Civilizational Narratives Global International Relations and Area Studies Allès's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on decentralizing International Relations theory through empirical studies of Southeast Asian practices. Her recent publications examine the Indo-Pacific concept, religious diplomacy between Russia and Indonesia, and critiques of Western-centric security frameworks. She has pioneered research on how non-Western civilizations conceptualize international order, particularly through religious frameworks. Professor Allès serves on the editorial boards of multiple prestigious journals including European Journal of East Asian Affairs, Global: Jurnal politik internasional, and Archipel. She is also Scientific manager of the AMI-SHS DECRIPT program focused on crises and civilizational narratives. Her administrative leadership includes membership on the Scientific and Strategic Council of Pôle Asie (MEAE) and the board of the French Political Science Association. Previously, she directed the International Relations department at INALCO (2018-2023) and co-edited the journal Etudes internationales (2021-2024).
Yong-Bin Kang is a Senior Data Science Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society (ADM+S) at Swinburne University of Technology, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education. He holds a PhD in AI from Monash University and leads numerous transdisciplinary research projects applying artificial intelligence to address complex societal challenges. Education: PhD in Faculty of IT, Monash University, Australia Dr. Kang's research focuses on Responsible AI and Society, with specific interests in developing Societal-AI platforms that integrate social data with ethical principles. His work spans healthcare, humanitech, education, financial planning, environmental health, and justice domains. He investigates how AI can enhance decision-making processes while promoting societal well-being, with particular attention to ethical implementation and human-centered approaches. His expertise encompasses AI, natural language processing, machine learning, and decision-making optimization. Analysis of Dr. Kang's recent publications reveals a strong trajectory toward socially responsible AI applications across diverse domains. His work consistently bridges technical AI capabilities with social implications, particularly focusing on ethical frameworks, community-centered design, and addressing societal inequalities through technology. The publications demonstrate increasing collaboration across disciplines including criminology, environmental science, mental health, and education. Dr. Kang is actively involved in significant research funding initiatives, with multiple ongoing projects that address critical societal challenges through AI. His supervision availability includes Doctorate (PhD) candidates, indicating his commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers in AI and data science fields. Current Flagship Areas: Digital Capability Innovative Society Manufacturing Futures Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Well Being (SDG 3) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7)
Lynda Jessup is Professor of Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies in Film and Media at Queen's University's Faculty of Arts & Science. She currently serves as Vice Dean (2021-present), overseeing faculty relations across 30 departments, after previously holding Associate Dean (2014-2021) and Director of Cultural Studies (2009-2014) positions. Her research interrogates visual culture through exhibitions, museums, and art historiography, focusing on Canadian and Indigenous North American contexts within Western valuation systems. She critically examines "the national" as a category of cultural authority, with recent expansion into cultural diplomacy exploring art exhibitions' role in Canadian foreign policy. As Director of the North American Cultural Diplomacy Initiative (NACDI), she leads an international network connecting cultural practitioners with diplomacy scholars. Analysis of her publication trends reveals deep integration of art history with diplomatic studies, particularly through state-sponsored Canadian art exhibitions as instruments of international relations. Her collaborative work consistently bridges academic research and policy impact, with growing emphasis on decolonization, trust-building, and critical approaches to cultural exchange in global contexts. Dr. Jessup's scientific recognition includes: Universities Art Association of Canada Recognition Award (2018) Fulbright Scholar at Rockefeller Archive Center (2010–11) Queen’s University Graduate Supervision Excellence Award (2009) Queen’s University Teaching Excellence Award (1998) Massey College Visiting Scholarship (2019-20) National Gallery of Canada Research Fellowships (2002-03, 1994-95) Her funded research demonstrates sustained leadership in cultural diplomacy, including a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant (2019-25) for "The Cultural Relations Approach to Diplomacy" and MITACS Accelerate funding for Toronto's city diplomacy work. Major grants consistently address intersections of cultural policy, international relations, and visual representation through collaborative frameworks. Through NACDI, Jessup directs an international research network producing policy-shaping outputs like the "Cultural Diplomacy as Critical Practice" report series, fostering practitioner-scholar dialogue on decolonization and trust-building in global cultural relations.
Mapuana Antonio is an Associate Professor and head of the Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health Program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. A Native Hawaiian scholar, she conducts community-based participatory research with Native Hawaiian communities to improve holistic health and wellbeing through a focus on resilience and cultural alignment. Her educational background includes: DrPH in Community-Based and Translational Research from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Certificate in Measurement and Statistics (EDEP) from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa MA in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University BS in Psychology from Washington State University Dr. Antonio's research takes a strengths-based approach to enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual health of Native Hawaiians. She redefines health and resilience through Native Hawaiian worldviews, addressing structural and socio-cultural determinants. Her work emphasizes community-based participatory research, cultural practices, and the role of 'Āina (land) connectedness in fostering resilience and optimal wellbeing (Mauli Ola). Her recent publications (2017-2024) demonstrate a consistent focus on developing culturally grounded measures for Native Hawaiian health and resilience. Key projects include the Ke Ola O Ka ‘Āina study on 'Āina connectedness and the adaptation of historical loss scales. Her research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods, often co-developed with community partners, to address health disparities and promote culturally relevant interventions. Dr. Antonio has not been mentioned to have received specific scientific awards in the provided information. She secures significant research funding, including as PI for the Ola HAWAII and PIKO pilot studies and co-PI for Project Mōkiha funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her grants support community-driven initiatives in Indigenous health, resilience, and environmental restoration. She mentors students and community members through the NHIH Summer Health Academy and collaborative research projects. Dr. Antonio leads the Native Hawaiian and Indigenous Health Program and collaborates with community research groups such as the Pono Research Hui and Limu Hui. Her work is deeply embedded in partnerships with Native Hawaiian communities, ensuring that research is conducted with and for the community to restore cultural practices and health sovereignty.
Jonna Häkkilä is a Professor of Industrial Design at the Faculty of Art and Design, University of Lapland and serves as Vice Dean (Research). She holds a Docent title in Human-Computer Interaction and Computer Science from the University of Oulu (since 2011). Her primary research group is LUX (Lapland User Experience Design). Research focuses on user-centered design, wearable technology, cultural heritage digitization, and ethical technology integration with marginalized communities. She leads projects like the MAGICS National Infrastructure for Human in the Digital World and Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media. Awards include Best Demo Award at Pervasive Displays 2019 and Best Paper Award at MUM 2017. Active in organizing international conferences and supervising 3 doctoral works. Engaged in Arctic resilience initiatives through co-creative methodologies.
Tiago de Melo Cartaxo is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Law at the University of Exeter’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Cornwall Campus. He founded the Exeter Centre for Environmental Law (ExCEL) and is part of Law and Business Cornwall (LAB/C). Current roles include Associate Director for External Engagement at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) and former Director of Postgraduate Research for Humanities and Social Sciences. His research focuses on environmental rights, climate resilience justice, circular economy, energy transition, and international environmental law. He holds a European PhD in Law from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, with postdoctoral work at the University of Surrey. Tiago has advised governments and international bodies, including the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council, and chairs the World Public Sector Integrity Initiative (WPIEI). Education European PhD in Law, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2015–2020) LLM in Environmental Law and Planning, University of Coimbra (2012–2014) Licenciatura in Law, University of Lisbon (2000–2005) Research Interests He explores legal frameworks supporting sustainability transitions, including governance of single-use plastics, nature markets, and climate adaptation. His work bridges environmental law with social equity, focusing on resilience justice, circular economy policies, and EU environmental law. He emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches to address socio-ecological challenges in urban contexts. Notable Contributions Coordinated ESI-funded projects on regulatory frameworks for nature markets Developed academic partnerships with the Portuguese Environment Agency Chaired WPIEI during Portugal’s EU Presidency Advised on post-2011 Portuguese economic reforms Awards & Affiliations Fulbright Scholarship (USA) FCT Fellowships (Portugal) Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE Member of ILA Committees on Sustainable Development, SDGs, and ICC Environment Commission Advising & Grants Tiago welcomes PhD/Masters supervision in Environmental & Climate Law. His grants include ESI funding and collaborations with international institutions. He leads the NOVA Law Green Lab and has advised Portuguese and EU policymakers on environmental compliance and energy transitions. Labs & Networks Founder of ExCEL and NOVA Law Green Lab; collaborates with Exeter Biodiversity & People Network, Exeter Food Policy, and Environmental Intelligence initiatives.
Nicole Latulippe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Geography at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), with a cross-appointment in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences. She focuses on Indigenous environmental governance, anticolonial research methodologies, and relational geographies through community-engaged practices. Ph.D. in Geography from University of Toronto M.A. in Geography from University of Guelph B.A. (Hons) in Geography from Nipissing University Her research explores Indigenous knowledge systems in environmental governance, settler-Indigenous relations in urban spaces, and decolonizing methodologies. Current projects include land/water stewardship in Toronto, treaty citizenship, and pathways to just futures through Indigenous placemaking. Her recent publications emphasize fisheries policy alternatives rooted in Indigenous relationality, co-creative research with Toronto Islands communities, and Indigenous-led environmental governance frameworks. Themes include knowledge sovereignty, colonial-disruption strategies, and land-based relational ethics. Scientific Awards: Connaught New Researcher Award (2022), SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2021), SSHRC Connection Grant (2019) Community Collaborations: Nipissing First Nation fisheries stewardship, Indigenous Environmental Justice Project, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation partnerships
Dominik Roeser is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research Forests & Community Outreach at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Resources Management. With over 21 years of experience in forest research and innovation, he has built a comprehensive forest operations research program since joining UBC in 2018, following his tenure as Senior Director at FPInnovations where he managed multidisciplinary teams focused on improving forest sector competitiveness and wildfire management solutions in Western Canada. Professor Roeser's research interests center on sustainable forest management and the bioeconomy, with specific expertise in forest bioproduction, supply chain design, steep slope harvesting, and biomass operations. His work through the Forest Action Lab applies diverse research methods including productivity studies, field trials, and modeling to address sustainability challenges across different operational environments. His research portfolio spans sustainable forest biomass utilization, harvesting in difficult terrain, innovative forest planning tools, operational productivity, carbon management, and community sustainability impacts from reforestation. His publication record shows a strong focus on practical applications of forest science, with recent work emphasizing wildfire management, remote sensing technologies for precision forestry, biomass energy systems, and the socio-ecological dimensions of forest management. His research increasingly integrates advanced technologies like LiDAR and drone-based systems with traditional forest operations to address contemporary challenges in sustainable forest management. Roeser has received the Recognition Award from the Canadian Forest Service (2017) for his contributions to forest science and innovation. His work demonstrates significant impact on both academic understanding and practical implementation of sustainable forest operations across North America and Europe. As an educator, Professor Roeser teaches several key courses including FOPR 264 Introduction to Forest Operations, FOPR 362 Harvesting systems and forest access, FOPR 464 Operational planning and management, and FRST 452 Coastal field school. He considers educating the next generation of forestry professionals one of his passions, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical industry applications. The Forest Action Lab, led by Professor Roeser, represents a multidisciplinary research hub applying diverse methodologies to address forestry stakeholders' needs across British Columbia, Canada, and globally. The lab's work connects academic research with industry implementation, focusing on practical solutions for sustainable forest utilization in varied operational environments.
