Marketta Kyttä is a Professor of Land Use Planning at Aalto University's Department of Built Environment. She holds a PhD in Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology (2004) and leads the Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering Master’s program. Research Interests: Child- and age-friendly urban environments SoftGIS methodology for participatory mapping Social sustainability and urban health Public participation in planning Activity space modeling Scientific Awards: Lea Pulkkinen award Tapio Nummenmaa award Geospatial World Forum's WebGIS Innovation Award (2010) Oskari Vilamo award (2020) Oppikirja-palkinto for urban planning literature Methodological Contributions: SoftGIS (PPGIS innovation) Commercialization as Maptionnaire software International Collaborations: Affiliated with universities in Italy, Australia, and the US. Her work spans 80+ countries through Maptionnaire’s global adoption.
Dr. Mbita Mbao is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Salem State University, where she teaches courses including SWK 700 (Human Behavior), SWK 704/705 (Social Work Practice), and aging-focused courses like SWK 871. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential learning and valuing student experiences. Dr. Mbao's research focuses on behavioral health, aging populations, workforce development, and immigrant issues. She actively works to expand aging-related curriculum and services through her involvement with the Older Adults Behavioral Health Network and Salem for All Ages initiative. Her education includes a BSW from Bowling Green State University, MSW from Rhode Island College, and PhD from Simmons University. As a Licensed Clinical Independent Social Worker, she maintains a clinical practice providing in-home therapy to older adults. Honors include: 2025 North Star Collective Fellow 2019 AGESW Pre-Dissertation Fellow 2021 GSA MCDTAW Early Career Diversity Fellow
FOONG Pin Sym is a Senior Research Fellow at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore. She leads the Telehealth Core, a research center focused on developing and studying eHealth projects. Her academic background includes a Master's in Human Computer Interaction Design and a PhD in Interactive Media. Her research emphasizes patient-centered technologies, with a focus on chronic disease prevention, caregiver support, and mobile health applications. Her work addresses challenges in healthcare decision-making, end-of-life care, and lifestyle interventions. Notable projects include developing digital tools for diabetes risk communication, caregiver decision support systems, and studies on telehealth during the pandemic. She teaches courses in Human-Computer Interaction, Mobile Interaction Design, and Technology for Older Adults. Her research spans qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including randomized controlled trials and participatory action research. She actively participates in interdisciplinary collaborations across health, technology, and design sectors to improve patient and caregiver outcomes. Education: PhD in Interactive Media, Master's in Human Computer Interaction Design Labs/Teams: Leads the Telehealth Core research team Grants/Projects: SMART-GDM Study, Vita project for dementia care
Atreyi Kankanhalli is a Professor at the National University of Singapore, specializing in Information Systems with a focus on knowledge management, healthcare IT, and digital innovation. Their research spans over three decades, with prolific contributions in top journals like MIS Quarterly, Journal of AIS, and Information & Management. They have co-authored over 150 papers addressing topics such as crowdsourcing, online communities, and the impact of AI on scholarly practices. Notable work includes studies on user adherence to health apps, innovation in public sector data utilization, and the ethical challenges of generative AI in peer review. Kankanhalli has also led research on global virtual teams and digital technologies' role in social justice, reflecting a commitment to both technical and societal dimensions of information systems. Education & Background: While specific degree details are not provided, their extensive publication history and academic roles imply advanced qualifications in Information Systems or related fields. They have collaborated with global researchers across institutions like NUS, University of Illinois, and Singapore Management University. Research Themes: Core areas include digital health interventions (e.g., fitness app adherence), organizational innovation via open data and crowdsourcing, and the socio-technical challenges of AI in academia. Their work often bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications, such as healthcare decision support systems and policy-driven technology adoption. Impact & Influence: As an editorial board member and frequent conference contributor (e.g., ICIS, PACIS), Kankanhalli shapes the field's research agenda. Their recent focus on generative AI's implications highlights proactive engagement with emerging technologies' ethical and methodological challenges.
Mel Ainscow is a Professor in Education at the University of Glasgow and holds adjunct and emeritus roles at Queensland University of Technology and the University of Manchester. He is recognized globally for his work on inclusion and equity in education, particularly through systemic reforms and collaborative research with schools. His career includes roles as a head teacher, adviser, and researcher, emphasizing strategies to make schools effective for all students. Key projects include leading the Greater Manchester Challenge (a £50M initiative for school improvement) and Schools Challenge Cymru (a Welsh Government program focusing on disadvantaged students). He advises UNESCO and the Organization of American States on equity in education. His research focuses on systemic change, policy analysis, and inclusive practices, with over 90 publications including books like Struggles for Equity in Education and articles in journals like Journal of Educational Change and Prospects . Dr. Ainscow's awards include a CBE for services to education (2012). His work bridges theory and practice, advocating for equity through collaboration, ethical leadership, and evidence-based strategies. He has collaborated with international networks in Australia, Portugal, Spain, and Latin America, emphasizing global approaches to educational challenges.
Steve Mann is a Professor in Applied Linguistics at the University of Warwick, where he has been affiliated since 2007. His work focuses on English Language Teacher Education (ELTE), teacher development, and qualitative research methodologies. He holds a PGCE from the University of Warwick (1984) and has extensive experience in ELT across Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe. Mann’s research group investigates reflective practice, teacher beliefs, mentoring, and technology integration in education. Notable contributions include co-editing the Routledge Handbook of English Language Teacher Education (2019) and pioneering studies on video-based teacher reflection. He has supervised numerous PhD students exploring aspects of teacher development, though he is currently not accepting new PhD candidates. Education: PGCE, University of Warwick (1984) Pre-service teaching in English and Drama in England (1980s) British Council Teaching Scheme in Hong Kong (1980s) Research Interests: Teacher education, reflective practice, qualitative interview methodologies, and the role of technology in professional development. His work emphasizes bridging theory and practice in ELT, particularly through collaborative dialogue and action research. Grants & Projects: Supporting Sustainable English Teacher Professional Development in Yunnan Province (British Council, 2022–2023) China Course Research: Postgraduate Curriculum Design (2019–2022) Video in Language Teacher Education (British Council, 2016–2018) Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on teacher development, mentoring, and blended learning strategies. Collaborates with institutions like the British Council on global teacher education initiatives.
Prof. Dr. Johannes Sauer is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), holding dual affiliations with the TUM School of Management and the TUM School of Life Sciences . His academic focus is on production and resource economics, with expertise in agricultural sustainability, policy evaluation, and circular economy strategies in Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s in Agricultural Economics from Universities of Tübingen, Hamburg, and Imperial College London. Doctorate (summa cum laude) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn (2004). Research Interests: Prof. Sauer’s work spans productivity and resilience in agricultural systems, adoption of sustainable technologies, water resource valuation, and bioeconomic trends. He emphasizes smart technologies and circular economy applications in developing regions. His research employs econometric methods to analyze policy impacts and environmental-economic trade-offs. Key Trends in Publications: Recent articles highlight climate-smart agriculture, ICT adoption in rural China, and agroforestry’s role in reducing ecological-economic trade-offs. He explores behavioral drivers of policy participation and innovative tools like the IoFarm decision support system. Awards: 2021 Honorary Professorship at ANU OECD Fellow Awards (2010, 2016) Best Paper Awards (2008–2015) Consulting & Roles: OECD and Asian Development Bank consultant, ESRC Peer Review College member, and liaison lecturer for the German National Academic Foundation. He advises on agri-environmental policies and international development. Labs/Teams: Active in collaborative projects such as PONDERFUL Framework and IPM Popilia , focusing on nexus research and pest management strategies.
Arjan F. Kirkels is an Assistant Professor and University Lecturer in the Department of Technology, Innovation & Society within the School of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His work focuses on sustainability assessments, decision-making in transitions, and interdisciplinary education for sustainable innovation. His research interests include Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA), sustainability transitions, industrial ecology, and systems engineering. He applies these to emerging technologies such as batteries, hydrogen systems, and heat pumps, with a strong emphasis on integrating stakeholder values and addressing deep uncertainties in sustainability decisions. The recent articles highlight a consistent focus on assessing emerging technologies, particularly in renewable energy and circular economy applications. Trends include prospective LCA, experience curves in solar technology, socio-technical impact assessment, and educational innovations in sustainability. His work bridges technical analysis with social and governance dimensions of sustainability transitions. Best Teacher Award, 1st year Bachelor Sustainable Innovation, for course 0SV20 'Industrial Ecology' (2013) Best Teacher Award, 1st year Bachelor Sustainable Innovation, for course 0SV20 'Industrial Ecology' (2018) Best Teacher Award, 1st year Bachelor Sustainable Innovation, for course 0SV20 'Industrial Ecology' (2020) Educational award nomination, bachelor Sustainable Innovation, course 0SK30 Inter-University Sustainability Challenge (2023) Education Award 2024 - master Innovation Sciences (2025) Arjan F. Kirkels has supervised over 100 thesis students and more than 100 interdisciplinary student groups. He has developed and taught over 20 courses and co-authored 4 textbooks and 7 publications on educational innovation. He is currently supervising four researchers: Huiying Liu, Prapti Maharjan, Rishi Bhatnagar, and Seyed Mousavi. His research is supported by projects such as the EU-funded cVPP (Community-based Virtual Power Plant) and studies on Dutch sustainability transitions. He is actively involved in educational initiatives, including MOOC development and challenge-based learning, and contributes to public discourse through media appearances and workshops on sustainability education and systems thinking.
Ezequiel Reficco is an Associate Professor at ESCP Business School's Madrid campus, specializing in Management. Previously, he served as Associate Professor at EGADE Business School (Tecnológico de Monterrey) and Chair of the Strategy Department at Universidad de Los Andes School of Management (Bogotá, Colombia). His academic journey includes a post-doctoral fellowship and Senior Researcher role at Harvard Business School (2001–2008). He co-authored books with Harvard University Press and published extensively in journals like the Journal of Business Ethics and Harvard Business Review . He is recognized globally for his research output, ranking among the top 10% of SSRN authors and #108 in Colombia's most cited researchers (2015). His research focuses on responsible management education, corporate social responsibility (CSR), inclusive business models, and strategic cross-sector partnerships. Key areas include leveraging business strategies to address poverty (BoP markets), fostering sustainability through innovation, and redesigning educational curricula for ethical leadership. His work bridges theory and practice, with consulting engagements for multilateral organizations and corporations like Inditex (owner of Zara). Notable achievements include awards from Universidad de Los Andes and Tecnológico de Monterrey for research excellence. He actively contributes to policy debates on social entrepreneurship and global development, emphasizing Latin American contexts. His recent articles highlight trends toward integrating CSR into core business operations and rethinking educational frameworks to address global challenges. Professional roles beyond academia include membership in Inditex's Social Council, advising on ethical practices and sustainability initiatives. His career reflects a commitment to aligning business strategies with societal impact, particularly in underserved markets and developing regions.
Masood Masoodian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Media at Aalto University, Finland. He leads the Visual Communication Design research group, focusing on interactive visualization for health, energy, and sustainability contexts. Previously, he held roles at the University of Waikato (2000-2016), University of Southern Denmark, and Massey University. Education: Doctoral degree in Other disciplines from the University of Waikato (1999) Research interests include design thinking, visualization of complex data, and creative aging interventions. Notable projects include the EU-funded INT-ACT initiative (2024-2026) addressing intangible cultural heritage. He has received an award for collaborative work on video game ludonarrative analysis (2019). Recent activities include organizing workshops on map-based interfaces, co-creating cultural heritage methods, and delivering public talks on digital design. Supervised two theses and contributed to 131 peer-reviewed outputs, emphasizing human-centered design and sustainability. Grants: Principal investigator for multiple EU projects totaling over 3 years of active funding. Awards: Prize for 'Comedy in the Ludonarrative of Video Games' (2019). Labs/Teams: Visual Communication Design group, collaborating internationally on projects like INT-ACT's cultural heritage mapping.
Ian Ewart is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading's School of the Built Environment, serving as Head of Construction and Engineering Management and Research Group Lead for Organisation, People and Technology. He chairs the Research Ethics Committee since 2016 and supervises undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations. His academic journey spans engineering and anthropology: DPhil Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2007-2012) MSc Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2006-2007) BA (Hons) Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College (2003-2006) Diploma in Management Studies, University of the West of England (1990-1994) BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Staffordshire University (1983-1987) Ewart's research integrates ethnographic methods with digital technology studies, examining human-technology interactions in construction and domestic settings. His work bridges engineering practice and social anthropology, focusing on skill transmission, sustainable design, and multisensory experiences in virtual environments. Publications from 2025-2013 reveal a dominant trajectory in digital twins for socio-ecological sustainability, VR-based occupant behavior prediction, and HBIM for heritage conservation. The corpus demonstrates consistent cross-disciplinary innovation, merging archaeological reconstructions with healthcare applications while maintaining anthropological rigor. Key recognition: ESRC Future Research Leader fellowship (2013) for Designing Healthy Homes project He supervises PhD candidates like Afolabi Dania (Nigerian sustainable construction) and Joanna Hull (Heritage BIM), leveraging ESRC funding for ethnography-VR health studies. His grants emphasize participatory design and real-world impact assessment in built environments. Leaders the Organisation, People and Technology research group, developing multisensory Roman town reconstructions with sound/smell integration to advance archaeological and architectural experience modeling.
Anna Grigolon is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente , Netherlands, affiliated with the Transport Engineering and Management Research Group . Her research focuses on sustainable urban mobility , user-centric transport solutions , and travel behavior analysis using tools like discrete choice modeling , spatial analysis , and social psychology theories . Research Interests : Sustainable Urban Mobility Accessibility Modeling Travel Behavior Discrete Choice and Latent Class Modeling Spatial Analysis and GIS Shared Micromobility and Mobility Hubs Equity in Transport Planning Article Trends : Anna’s recent work (2025–2024) emphasizes mobility justice , 15-minute city transitions, and equity in transport access , particularly for marginalized communities like São Paulo favelas. She integrates digital tools (e.g., serious games, kiosks) and space-time metrics to evaluate mobility solutions. Projects : She currently leads the SmartHubs project and contributes to DREAMS and R-map , focusing on smart, equitable mobility systems in Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Prof. Dagmar Haase is a Full Professor in Landscape and Urban Ecology at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, serving as Deputy Director of the Geographical Institute. She holds affiliations with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and has earned honorary professorships in Sweden and Romania. Her academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Leipzig (1999) and Habilitation from Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (2009). Her research focuses on urban ecosystem services, social-ecological systems, and nature-based solutions to urban challenges. Key projects include EU-funded initiatives on green infrastructure (e.g., Horizon Europe’s NaturaConnect) and climate resilience. Awards include the AXA Research Fund Award (2014) and Honorary Wallenberg Professorship (2016). Haase’s work integrates remote sensing, citizen science, and participatory modeling to address urban sustainability. Over 250+ publications and an h-index of 77 reflect her prolific contributions. She advises numerous PhD candidates exploring urban dynamics, biodiversity, and governance. Current grants span climate adaptation, urban densification, and ecological networks.
Dr. Alister Smith is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Geotechnics at Loughborough University, where he directs the £1M National Engineered Slope Simulator (NESS) – the world’s first climate-controlled facility testing clay slope deterioration. His £6.7M research portfolio addresses geotechnical infrastructure resilience under climate change. Innovations include acoustic emission (AE) landslide early warning systems deployed across five continents, with the Community Slope SAFE project recognized in REF2021. Current work includes the RAINDROP doctoral training cluster on infrastructure prognosis and the £4.9M EPSRC ACHILLES programme on climate impacts. Awards: Philip Leverhulme Prize, ICE Thomas Telford Premium (twice), and Hawley Award for Engineering Innovation. He serves on the Lilly Fellows Program Board and edits for the International Journal of Christianity and Education.
Dr. Farzana Aman Tanima is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School’s Accounting, Governance, and Regulation department. She previously held roles at the University of Wollongong (2017–2023). Her research focuses on critical and dialogic accounting, social justice, and challenging neoliberal frameworks through participatory approaches. Born in Bangladesh, she earned her PhD in 2015 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, with a thesis on dialogic accounting practices for marginalized women. Education: PhD in Accounting, Victoria University of Wellington, 2015 Undergraduate Honours Degree, Victoria University of Wellington Research Interests: Dr. Tanima’s work centers on dialogic accounting to democratize accounting practices, with focus on NGOs, microfinance, Indigenous education, and race. She employs participatory action research and autoethnography to address systemic inequalities. Key areas include: Accounting’s role in empowerment and development Decolonizing accounting education through Jindaola Critical race theory and counter-accounting Awards: 2024 Mary Parker Follet Award (AAAJ Journal) 2020 VC OCTAL Teaching Award 2015 AFAANZ Best PhD Award Teaching & Mentorship: She leads pedagogical initiatives embedding Indigenous perspectives into curricula and fosters dialogic learning. Supervised two completed PhDs, with co-authored publications. Active in mentoring early-career researchers through invited talks and workshops. Labs/Teams: Part of the Alternative Accounting Research Network and editorial boards for CPA Journal and Financial Accountability & Management . Co-leads special issues on critical dialogics and publicness in accounting.
