Gilbert Fridgen is Full Professor in Digital Financial Services and holder of the PayPal-FNR PEARL Chair at the University of Luxembourg's Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT). He leads the FINATRAX research group focusing on blockchain, digital identity, and sustainable digital solutions. His research explores decentralized technologies in finance, energy systems, and public administration. Current projects investigate blockchain applications in industrial demand response, NFT markets, EU digital identity wallets, and DeFi institutional adoption. Prof. Fridgen examines the intersection of technology with regulatory frameworks and user behavior in energy and financial systems. He collaborates extensively with industry partners including PayPal and Spuerkeess. Prof. Fridgen actively contributes to EU digital policy discussions, particularly regarding the European Digital Identity Wallet framework and decentralized finance governance.
Dr Luke Garrod is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Loughborough University's Loughborough Business School. He holds a PhD, MPhil, and BA from the University of East Anglia. His research focuses on industrial organization, competition policy, consumer policy, and behavioral economics, with a particular emphasis on modeling firm incentives in imperfectly competitive markets. He received the International Journal of Industrial Organization Best Theoretical Paper Award 2019 for his work on collusion mechanisms. His book on hub-and-spoke cartels provides critical insights into antitrust enforcement strategies. Teaching responsibilities include Principles of Microeconomics (ECA002) and Industrial Economics (ECC005). He serves as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of the Economics of Business and contributes to economic consultancy through his role at Economic Insight. His research has explored topics such as cartel damages quantification, digital market regulation, and the interplay between consumer protection and competition policies. Key awards include the 2019 Best Theoretical Paper Award, reflecting his contributions to advancing antitrust and competition policy frameworks. His work bridges theoretical economic modeling with practical regulatory applications, addressing emerging challenges in global competition dynamics and digital economy policies.
University of Applied Sciences and Arts LucerneSwitzerland
Prof. Dr. Frank Ulbrich is a Lecturer and Programme Director for the BSc Business Administration at the Lucerne School of Business (HSLU). He holds a PhD in Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics. His academic career spans roles at universities in Sweden, the UK, Canada, and Switzerland, alongside IT & Management consulting experience. Research focuses on management education, project management, information management, and organizational change. He has published extensively in areas like shared services, digital transformation, and curriculum development. Notable awards include multiple Emerald Literati Awards and a Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy. Education: PhD in Business Administration (Stockholm School of Economics) Affiliations: Institute of Business and Regional Economics at HSLU Teaching Subjects: Academic Methods, Higher Education Management, Project Management, Digital Transformation Recent presentations include discussions on bridging academia-industry gaps, curriculum integration of SDGs, and data-driven learning strategies. His work emphasizes aligning education with labor market needs and advancing evidence-based teaching practices.
Dr. Juan Manuel Berbel Pineda is a full Professor at the Department of Business Organization and Marketing at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain. His academic work focuses on tourism economics, sustainable tourism practices, and international business strategies, particularly within the hotel industry and textile sector. Key research areas: Tourism Economics, Sustainable Tourism, International Business Strategy Affiliated with IMEGS (Innovation and Marketing for a Sustainable Global Environment) research group Doctoral Programs: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Family Business His research explores tourism competitiveness and internationalization patterns through empirical studies on hotel chains in Latin America, fair trade impacts in emerging economies, and post-COVID-19 rural tourism development. Analysis of 15 recent publications reveals strong emphasis on structural equation modeling, cross-cultural comparisons, and market segmentation strategies. Current academic activity includes international collaborations with institutions like Massey University, Varna University of Management, and University of Mauritius. His 2020 work on Ecuadorian chia seed exports demonstrates methodology for EU market selection using 7-dimensional indicators, while his sustainable tourism studies provide frameworks for pandemic-era tourism revival through non-overcrowding strategies.
Samir Dani is a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at Keele University’s Keele Business School. He holds Chartered Manager status and is a Fellow of multiple professional bodies, including the Higher Education Academy and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Prior to academia, he worked in India’s automotive industry. His research focuses on supply chain resilience, sustainability, food logistics, and Industry 4.0 technologies like AI and Blockchain. Affiliations: Keele University (current), University of Huddersfield (2014–2019), Loughborough University (2005–2008) Leadership: Former Head of Logistics, Marketing, Hospitality, and Analytics Department at University of Huddersfield Industry Engagement: £5M Leeds City Region LEP Supply Chain Program, UK-India trade advisory roles Research Interests: Supply chain risk and resilience Food supply chain sustainability AI, IoT, and Blockchain applications Industry 4.0 transformations Recent Article Trends: Focus on climate action impacts, blockchain trust mechanisms, and SME net-zero strategies. His work bridges academic theory with industry challenges, emphasizing technology adoption and sustainability. Awards: Prix des Associations (2015), UK Top 100 Logistics Professional (2017/18) Grants: £800K+ from EPSRC, IMCRC, and KTP Advisory Roles: Editorial Board member of Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Academic Review Board member of International Journal of Operations and Production Management.
Zoe Lee is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Marketing at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University , and Programme Director for MSc Strategic & Digital Marketing. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Strategic Marketing and editorial board member for Journal of Business Research and Journal of Philanthropy & Marketing . Research Interests: Responsible Branding Brand Purpose & Activism Sustainability Communications in Fashion Nonprofit Marketing Strategy Digital Brand Management Recent Publications (2023-2025) examine brand activism in permacrisis, social media banter between brands, disability inclusion in luxury fashion, and sustainability communication strategies. Her work combines empirical studies with systematic literature reviews across Journal of Marketing Management , European Journal of Marketing , and Journal of Business Research . Scientific Awards: Outstanding Article in Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly (2018) Nominated for ESLA Awards (2021-2025) for teaching excellence Dean's Award for Citizenship (2017) Supervision: Currently supervising PhD students in corporate brand purpose, sustainability, and brand activism. Actively engaged in grant-funded projects including British Council research on inclusive policies and Hodge Foundation public value internships.
Professor Winston Hsu is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Taiwan University, where he has served as a full professor since 2015. He is the co-director of the Communications and Multimedia Laboratory (CMLab) and founder of the MiRA (Multimedia indexing, Retrieval, and Analysis) research group. Additionally, he serves as the Founding Director for NVIDIA AI Lab at NTU, the first such lab in Asia. Professor Hsu received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University in 2007 under the supervision of Professor Shih-Fu Chang. Prior to his academic career, he was a founding engineer and research manager at CyberLink Corp., now a public image/video software company. National Taiwan University (2007-Present): Professor (2015-Present), Assistant/Associate Professor (2007-2015) MobileDrive (2021-2024): CTO and Vice President (Joint Venture between Foxconn and Stellantis) IBM TJ Watson Research Center (2016-2017): Visiting Scientist Microsoft Research Redmond (2014): Visiting Researcher Columbia University (2007): Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering Professor Hsu's research focuses on machine learning, computer vision, large-scale image and video search and recognition, and embedded AI. His work spans from fundamental research in visual recognition to practical applications in automotive systems, medical imaging, and e-commerce. He has pioneered work in disguised face recognition, low-resolution face hallucination, 3D model search, and virtual try-on systems. His current research emphasizes Embodied AI, integrating perception, action, and learning technologies for applications in automotive and robotics domains. His research group has produced numerous influential publications, particularly in top computer vision and multimedia conferences like CVPR, where they won first place in the Disguised Face Recognition competition in 2018. Their work spans diverse application areas including security, medical diagnostics, automotive systems, and e-commerce solutions, demonstrating strong translation from academic research to real-world impact. IBM Research Pat Goldberg Memorial Best Paper Award (2018) First Place, IARPA Disguised Faces in the Wild Competition (CVPR 2018) Best Brave New Idea Paper Award, ACM Multimedia 2017 NVIDIA AI LAB Award (First in Asia, 2016) First Place, MSR-Bing Image Retrieval Challenge (2013) World's Top 2% Scientists (2023) Professor Hsu actively mentors students and researchers, with his group consistently recruiting PhD students, postdocs, and research assistants. He has successfully bridged academia and industry through multiple collaborations, including his role as CTO at MobileDrive (a joint venture between Foxconn and Stellantis) from 2021-2024. His research has been supported by significant industry partnerships with Microsoft, IBM, and NVIDIA, as well as government grants from Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology. His laboratory, the Communications and Multimedia Laboratory (CMLab), maintains strong industry connections and focuses on cutting-edge research in visual AI. The lab has produced numerous award-winning projects and maintains active collaborations with global technology companies, particularly in the automotive and consumer electronics sectors.
Dr. Kenan Arifoglu is an Associate Professor at the UCL School of Management. He previously held a postdoctoral position at the Ross Business School, University of Michigan (2008–2012). His education includes a PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University (2012), two MSc degrees from Northwestern University (2008) and Koç University (2007), and a BSc from Koç University (2005). His research focuses on behavioral motivations in healthcare, supply chains, pricing, and entrepreneurial operations. Key projects include analyzing inefficiencies in flu vaccine supply chains and developing frameworks for high-growth startups. His work bridges operations management with practical challenges in healthcare, retail, and entrepreneurship. Recent publications address topics such as luxury brand licensing dynamics, incentive programs in healthcare systems, and the theoretical foundations of lean startup methodologies. These contributions span disciplines like marketing, operations research, and public health, emphasizing cross-sectoral applications. Dr. Arifoglu’s advising and grant activities are not detailed here. He is affiliated with the UCL School of Management and actively contributes to academic discourse through his research and teaching roles.
Dr. Livia Pancotto is a Senior Lecturer in Banking at the Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Strathclyde. She serves as Director of the MSc in International Banking and Finance and Deputy Director of the Responsible Business Institute (ReBI). She holds a PhD and MSc from Bangor University and degrees from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on European banking regulation, financial stability, and gender diversity's impact on climate finance. She chairs the International Accounting & Finance Doctoral Symposium and edits The European Journal of Finance. Awards include the 2014 Best Banking and Finance Master’s dissertation. She leads research on negative interest rates, non-performing loans, and green lending through EU-funded projects. Education: PhD Banking & Finance (Bangor), MSc (Sapienza), BSc (Sapienza) Research explores empirical banking dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable finance. Key topics include EU banking union evolution, climate change mitigation via gender-diverse bank boards, and market reactions to policy shocks. Recent work analyzes negative interest rate impacts on bank efficiency and Italy's NPL crisis. She has secured £153k in research funding (2023-2025). Grants: Research Excellence Awards (Strathclyde SRSS) Led workshops on Responsible Business and AI, presented at FSB Financial Innovation Network, and peer-reviewed for top journals. Supervises doctoral candidates through IAFDS. Active in editorial and advisory roles enhancing academic rigor in finance disciplines.
Dr. Paola Madini serves as Senior Lecturer in Accounting within the Department for Accounting and Finance at Kent Business School, University of Kent. Holding a PhD from Bocconi University and PGCHE from Kent, she specializes in management control systems with prior academic appointments at ESADE and SDA Bocconi School of Management. Education: PhD in Business Administration and Management (Accounting and Control specialization), Bocconi University PGCHE, University of Kent Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Her research examines management control systems (MCS) design and behavioral implications, focusing on budgeting processes, performance measurement, and inter-organizational relationships. Using field-based case studies and surveys with finance professionals, she bridges academic theory with practical applications in accounting management. Recent work investigates pandemic impacts on UK healthcare organizations' MCS and explores management accounting education through participative teaching methodologies and flipped learning approaches. Publication analysis reveals consistent contributions to management accounting literature, with recurring themes in MCS configurations (coercive, enabling, diagnostic, interactive), budgetary design, and industry-specific applications in fashion/retail sectors. Her work demonstrates evolving focus from traditional budgeting processes toward contemporary challenges like emerging market dividend policies and pandemic-driven organizational adaptations. Scientific Awards: Distinguished Reviewer Award 2017 (Journal of Management Control) Runner up reviewer 2015 (Journal of Management Control) She actively supervises postgraduate research including six Master's theses on managerial reporting systems in retail, fashion company accounting implementations, and neo-colonial accounting education frameworks. Industry collaborations include IBM Italy (integrative finance organizations), DocFlow (document management systems), and CIMA (fashion company accounting systems), with current projects examining pandemic impacts on UK healthcare management control systems. As member of the McGraw Hill Higher Education Advisory Board and conference committees (Socialising Business Research, AAA Annual Meeting), she contributes to academic community development while advising publishers on management accounting textbook development and portfolio strategies.
Teresa Scassa is a Full Professor in the Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law and holds the Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy. She is affiliated with the Centre for Law, Technology and Society and cross-appointed to the School of Information Studies. Dr. Scassa earned her LL.B. from McGill University and LL.M. and SJD from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on law and technology intersections, including AI regulation, data governance, privacy law, and intellectual property. She has authored influential books like Artificial Intelligence and the Law in Canada and Canadian Trademark Law . Scassa advises Canadian government bodies, including the Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence and Ontario’s Law Commission. She has contributed to privacy law debates through high-profile cases like Clearview AI litigation and public sector data governance challenges. Her work bridges legal frameworks with emerging technologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Recent publications address facial recognition surveillance, data privacy enforcement, and ethical challenges in AI. Scassa’s academic leadership includes roles on data policy working groups and international collaborations, reflecting her role as a leading voice in information law policy.
Hakan Berument is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey, where he has been teaching since 1995. His academic career spans over 25 years with progressive appointments from Assistant Professor to full Professor. He has also served as Director of the Bilkent Energy Policy Research Center (2018-2019) and Advisor/Director of Energy Studies at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (2020-2022). Berument received his PhD in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994, following an M.S. in Economics from the University of Kentucky (1989) and a B.S. in Economics from Middle East Technical University (1987). His research focuses on Monetary Economics, Macroeconomics, Time Series Analysis, and Econometrics, with particular emphasis on energy economics, oil price dynamics, and monetary policy effectiveness. Berument has made significant contributions to understanding the relationships between oil prices, exchange rates, and economic performance, especially in emerging markets and Turkey. His work frequently examines asymmetric price effects, market structures, and policy impacts across various energy sectors. Berument's recent publications reveal a strong focus on energy economics, particularly oil and electricity markets. His research employs advanced econometric techniques to analyze time series data, with growing attention to cross-border energy trade, price transmission mechanisms, and the interplay between financial markets and energy commodities. The breadth of his work spans from micro-level consumer behavior to macroeconomic policy implications. Ranked #1 among Turkish academic economists on supervising PhD dissertations (1990-2011) Ranked #4 among Turkish academic economists based on international publications (1999-2003) Parlar Foundation Young Investigator Award (2003) Turkish Social Sciences Association Young Social Scientist Promotion Award (2002) Research Fellow to Economic Research Forum (2005-Present) Vice-president, Econometric Research Association (2005-Present) Berument has supervised numerous graduate students, including over 15 Master's theses and several PhD dissertations. His research has been supported by various funding agencies including TUBITAK and the Economic Research Forum. He has served on editorial boards of multiple economics journals and contributed to policy discussions through his work with the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey and other institutions. He has advised on energy policy through his directorship roles and frequent participation in policy discussions. While not explicitly mentioned as leading a specific research lab, Berument has been instrumental in establishing academic initiatives including Pazar11 meetings among economists. His contributions to energy policy research through the Bilkent Energy Policy Research Center have shaped discussions on Turkish energy markets and policy frameworks.
Xavier Brusset is a Professor in Supply Chain at SKEMA Business School since 2016, where he also serves as Director of the PRISM Research Center since 2017. Previously, he held professorial positions at Toulouse Business School (2015-2016) and ESSCA School of Management (2009-2015), where he was responsible for the Master 2 in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management program. His academic journey includes a PhD in Management Sciences from Université Catholique de Louvain (2010) and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense (2016). His research spans multiple critical areas in supply chain management, with particular focus on supply chain resilience, blockchain applications, weather risk management, and pandemic impacts on supply chains. Brusset has developed innovative approaches to understanding how supply chain partners interact, how information affects their behavior, and how external disruptions like weather anomalies and pandemics impact operational efficiency. His work bridges theoretical models with practical applications, often developing decision-support tools for managers facing complex supply chain challenges. Brusset's publication record shows a clear evolution of research interests, beginning with foundational work on supply chain contracts and information sharing, then expanding to weather risk management, and most recently focusing on pandemic disruptions and blockchain applications. His 15 most recent publications (2018-2025) demonstrate increasing sophistication in modeling complex supply chain phenomena, with particular emphasis on network effects, ripple effects, and multi-echelon optimization under disruption scenarios. Editorial board member of Logistics Research Editor of International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management (2022-2023) Recognized EU expert for CINEA research projects evaluation Organizer of the Colloquium on European Research in Retailing (CERR) Reviewer for multiple top journals including International Journal of Production Economics As an advisor, Brusset has supervised doctoral students including R. Alkhudary (co-director, Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas) and V. Capocasale (rapporteur). His professional experience extends beyond academia to include industry roles in financial markets and logistics technology, having co-founded WebLogistix, a platform for sharing logistics information in Argentina. His research has practical applications across multiple sectors, particularly in retail, food supply chains, and manufacturing, where he develops tools to help managers mitigate risks and optimize operations under uncertainty.
Dr Isik Akin is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Bath Spa University and leads the Accounting Pathway. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Corporate Financial Management, and Quantitative Research Methods. Education: PhD in Accounting and Finance (Bath Spa University), PhD in Economics and Finance (Istanbul Gelisim University), MSc in Finance (University of the West of England), BSc in Mathematics (Trakya University) Professional Qualifications: Fellowship in Higher Education Academy, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) His research focuses on Behavioral Finance , FinTech , Credit Risk Management , and Sustainable Finance . Recent publications analyze: Enterprise valuation dynamics (FTSE 100) Metaverse asset valuation frameworks Interconnected financial markets (stocks, commodities, crypto) Green investments in real estate He has secured significant international funding including the Connect4Innovation UK-Turkey partnership grant (2021-2022, £50,000) and coordinated EU projects like the Life-Long Learning Programme (2016-2017). Scientific Awards & Roles: Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) certified Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Advisory Board Member: Izlek Academic Journal, Metropolitan Business Review Editorial Board Member: International Journal of Economics and Financial Research His career spans multiple institutions including Worcester University and University of Arts London, with expertise in international finance, quantitative methods, and financial globalization.
Kusum L. Ailawadi is the Charles Jordan 1911 TU'12 Professor of Marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She has established herself as a leading expert in marketing channel strategy, brand equity, and multi-channel distribution systems. Her research examines the strategic interaction and distribution of power between manufacturers and their distribution channel partners, with particular focus on how store brands, promotions, and brand equity affect performance. Education: PhD, University of Virginia, 1991 MBA, Indian Institute of Management, 1984 BSc (Honors), St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, 1982 Professor Ailawadi's research spans two primary streams: the first focuses on manufacturer-retailer relationships and channel strategy, examining how power dynamics affect brand performance; the second investigates how marketing actions influence consumers' health status and the nutritional quality of grocery shopping. She has pioneered research showing how warehouse club shopping affects consumer behavior, revealing that club store shoppers spend more, shop more frequently, and consume more calories than non-club shoppers. Her work on multi-channel distribution has been synthesized in her influential 2020 book Getting Multi-Channel Distribution Right , which provides practical guidance for managing brands across physical and digital channels. Her extensive publication record in top marketing journals like Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Marketing Science demonstrates consistent scholarly impact. Analysis of her recent work shows a strong focus on the evolving retail landscape, with particular attention to private label brands, multi-channel strategies, and the behavioral economics of consumer shopping patterns. Her research increasingly bridges marketing theory with practical applications in retail strategy and consumer health. Notable Awards: Winner, Paul H. Root Award for Significant Contribution to the Advancement of the Practice of Marketing (2018) Distinguished Alumni Award, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (2020) Winner, John D.C. Little Best Paper Award, Marketing Science (2005) Winner, First William Davidson Award for Best Contribution to Theory and Practice in Retail Marketing (1997) Multiple finalist positions for Paul E. Green Award across various years Professor Ailawadi serves as president of the INFORMS Society for Marketing Science and has held editorial positions at major marketing journals including Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , and Marketing Science . She teaches the highly regarded MBA elective on Multi-Channel Routes to Market and has consulted with companies across consumer goods, retailing, consulting, and financial services sectors. Her expertise has also been sought in legal cases related to distribution, brand equity, and promotions, where she has served as both consulting and testifying expert. Her research has been widely covered in media outlets including Harvard Business Review , Wall Street Journal , Forbes , and Advertising Age , demonstrating the practical relevance of her academic work. Her TEDx talk 'Outsmarting the Marketers' further illustrates her ability to translate complex marketing concepts for broader audiences.
-726x726.jpg)
