Rehema White is a Senior Lecturer at the University of St Andrews' School of Geography & Sustainable Development, actively contributing to research on sustainable development, biodiversity conflicts, and biosecurity. Her work bridges natural and social sciences through interdisciplinary knowledge production and exchange. Education: University of Aberdeen (Agriculture) University of Manitoba (MSc in Animal Science) Australian National University (PhD in Endocrinology & Reproductive Ecology) Rhodes University (Postdoctoral Fellowship) Her research focuses on integrating biodiversity conservation with development goals, multi-level natural resource governance, and sustainability in practice (e.g., golf, tree health). Recent projects include SCALE and BRIGIT , addressing sustainable forest management and plant biosecurity. Scientific Awards: No specific awards mentioned in the text. She coordinates interdisciplinary research groups and has led 12 projects funded by entities like the Scottish Funding Council and European Commission, emphasizing community-scale sustainability solutions and UN SDGs. Her team collaborates with academics, practitioners, and policymakers to address climate change, ecological transitions, and sustainable livelihoods across Scotland, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Titilayo Adebola is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen School of Law , where she serves as Theme Coordinator for International Intellectual Property and Information Law and Director of the Centre for Commercial Law. An interdisciplinary scholar, her work bridges international economic law and international intellectual property law , with a focus on food security , agricultural innovation , environmental governance , creative industries , and emerging technologies in African and global contexts. Director, Centre for Commercial Law, University of Aberdeen Co-organizer, Global South Law Research Network Research Interests : Dr Adebola’s research examines the intersection of law, economics, and social equity, particularly in global regimes for plant variety protection , geographical indications , and farmers’ rights . She explores how legal frameworks can empower marginalized communities in Africa through climate adaptation , IP reform , and technology transfer . Publication Trends : Her recent work spans AI regulation, sustainable agriculture, and GI branding, reflecting a commitment to SDG-aligned legal scholarship . Key themes include decolonization of IP systems and equitable governance in the Global South. Awards and Affiliations : Fellow, Advance HE (FHEA) Senior Advisor to UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food Chair, Advisory Board, African International Economic Law Network Collaborator, Open AIR African Innovation Research Teaching : She teaches International Intellectual Property Law , International Food Law , and Cybersecurity Law , among others.
Elisa Becker is a postdoctoral researcher at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. Her work focuses on behavior change interventions to reduce meat consumption, combining psychological mechanisms with public health strategies. Education: PhD in Psychology (University of Exeter), MSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (Newcastle University), BSc in Biology (Humboldt University Berlin) Becker's research emphasizes the emotional processing of meat, particularly disgust, and its role in dietary behavior. She investigates how interventions can leverage these mechanisms to drive sustainable consumption patterns. Recent publications analyze meat avoidance psychology and rail commuter demand shifting, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Her work spans cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, with applications in public health and transportation policy.
Dr. Bo Guan is a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. His academic career spans both financial research and public health analysis, with significant contributions to empirical asset pricing, volatility spillovers across financial markets, exchange-traded funds, and forecasting methodologies. Dr. Guan earned his PhD in Business Management (Accounting and Finance) from Cardiff Business School in 2021, following an MSc in Social Science Research Methods from Cardiff University and an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His undergraduate degree is a Bachelor's in Accounting and Finance (First Class Honours) from Cardiff University. His primary research interests focus on financial econometrics, particularly in volatility spillovers between different asset classes, forecasting methodologies for tourism demand and agricultural commodities, and financing patterns in high-tech enterprises. Additionally, he has made significant contributions to public health research through the National Violence Surveillance Network, analyzing violence patterns in England and Wales using emergency department data. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary capabilities, bridging finance, economics, and public health surveillance. Dr. Guan's research has been published in high-impact journals including Annals of Tourism Research (ABS 4), Energy Economics (ABS 3), and Journal of Forecasting, with his 2020 paper being recognized as the top-cited paper in the Journal of Forecasting for 2020/2021. He serves as a reviewer for numerous prestigious finance journals including Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money and European Journal of Finance. As an educator, Dr. Guan has taught across multiple undergraduate and postgraduate modules at Cardiff Business School, including Financial Derivatives, Quantitative Methods in Finance, and Big Data Analytics in Finance. His leadership of the BST950 Accounting and Finance in Context module in 2024/25 achieved 94.15% positive student feedback. He supervises PhD students and serves on the School Research Ethics Committees. Dr. Guan is an active member of several research groups at Cardiff University, including the Cardiff Sustainable Finance Research Group, Cardiff Corporate Governance Research Group, and the National Violence Surveillance Network. His research on violence patterns has received media coverage from BBC News and was featured in the Office for Statistics Regulation report.
Debra Lilley is a Senior Lecturer in Design at Loughborough Design School, part of Loughborough University. Her work focuses on sustainable design, particularly the intersection of material change and behavior change within the circular economy. She holds an MRes in Innovative Manufacturing, Sustainability and Design and completed the UK's first PhD in Design for Sustainable Behaviour. Her research explores how material aging and user-product interactions impact environmental and social outcomes. Key areas include reducing waste in airline catering, promoting sustainable consumer behavior through appliance design, and addressing cosmetic obsolescence in digital products. She has overseen numerous projects on reducing electronic waste and improving renewable energy adoption in social housing. Debra's teaching and supervision emphasize ethical design practices, with contributions to design education through courses integrating sustainable behavior strategies. Her interdisciplinary approach has led to collaborations across material science, consumer psychology, and policy frameworks. She is affiliated with the Responsible Design research group at Loughborough Design School.
Toby Williams is a Lecturer in Mechatronics at Loughborough University's Wolfson School, specializing in interdisciplinary systems integration. He co-founded the university spin-out company Aftrak, developing solar-powered agricultural solutions for sub-Saharan Africa. He holds a PhD (2022) and MEng (2017) in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University. His PhD focused on medical mechatronics involving multifrequency electrical impedance tomography for sub-dural haematomas detection. Research areas: Mechatronic systems, biomedical engineering, sustainable agriculture tech, and automated manufacturing Prior roles include Research Fellow/Associate positions (2020–present) across diverse projects: industrial textile dyeing optimization, train cleanliness analysis, wireless EV charging systems, compartment syndrome detection, and automated textile assembly. Awards & Recognition 2023: $1M Milken-Motsepe Green Energy Prize 2024: Engineer C2I Grand Prix & Energy/Environment Awards 2024: IET Power & Energy Innovation Award 2024: Loughborough VC's Collaborative Research Award 2024: AgriTech Innovation of the Year (Africa) Key Projects Aftrak's solar-powered deep-bed tilling system addresses agricultural challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. His work spans medical device development (cranial haematoma detection systems), sustainable transport infrastructure (wireless EV charging), and industrial automation solutions.
Myriam Dell'Olio is a Lecturer in Primary Care at the University of Hull, affiliated with the Hull York Medical School. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences (2021) from the Hull York Medical School, following a Master's in Health and Society (Wageningen University, 2014) and a Bachelor's in Speech and Language Therapy (2012). Her research focuses on epistemic reciprocity in clinical consultations, primary care models, and qualitative methodologies. She leads the Optimal TIMES project examining knowledge integration in clinical practice and previously evaluated the CATALYST program for GP training. She teaches qualitative methods to medical students and contributes to workforce development initiatives. Education: Bachelor's Degree in Speech and Language Therapy (2012) Master's Degree in Health and Society, Wageningen University & Research (2014) PhD in Medical Sciences, Hull York Medical School (2017–2021) Research Interests: Primary care knowledge work and person-centered models Epistemic justice in healthcare GP workforce and education Qualitative methodologies including phenomenology and narrative analysis Current Projects: Optimal TIMES: Analyzing clinical knowledge integration Former CATALYST evaluation (advanced generalist practice) Teaching: Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Healthcare at Hull York Medical School. Affiliations: Institute for Clinical and Applied Health Research (ICAHR), Hull York Medical School.
Professor Michael Bourlakis is a Chair in Logistics, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management at Cranfield School of Management. He serves as Director of Research and Director of the Centre for Logistics, Procurement & Supply Chain Management. With over 20 years of academic leadership, he has held roles at Brunel, Kent, Newcastle, and Oxford universities. His research focuses on sustainable and resilient supply chains, blockchain integration, and circular economy principles in food and retail sectors. He has secured over £27.5M in research funding and published 250+ papers. A prolific editor and reviewer for top journals, he advises global bodies like the European Commission and collaborates with leading firms like Tesco and Knight Frank. Education & Leadership: Extensive leadership across UK/EU institutions, including Directorships in Postgraduate Studies and Research Centres. PhD supervision across Europe, leading Doctoral Workshops in logistics and supply chain management. Research Interests: Interdisciplinary studies on technology-enabled supply chains, sustainability, and circular economy. Active in food sector challenges, including redistribution networks for disadvantaged communities and blockchain applications in pharmaceutical and food supply chains. Grants & Impact: Over 25 funded projects from EPSRC, EU Horizon 2020, and industry partners. Media engagement includes BBC News, Wall Street Journal, and parliamentary inquiries on retail innovation. Labs/Teams: Leads Cranfield's logistics research centre, collaborating with global industry partners. Visiting Professor roles at Grenoble Ecole de Management and University of Lorraine.
Dr. Samuel Fosu is an Associate Professor in Accounting and Finance at the University of Sussex Business School. His research focuses on corporate finance, banking, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and corporate reporting. PhD in Economics from University of Leicester MSc in Banking and Finance (with distinction) from University of Leicester Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from University of Birmingham BA (First Class) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana ACCA Professional Qualification His research explores the interplay between financial systems and corporate decision-making, particularly in developing economies. Key themes include credit information sharing, environmental performance, and governance structures. Samuel has published in leading journals such as The Financial Review , Abacus , and Journal of Financial Stability . His work addresses issues like financial constraints in emerging markets, dividend policy impacts, and cashew contract farming outcomes in Ghana. Scientific Awards and Professional Recognition Fellow, Higher Education Academy (UK) Member, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Samuel has served as Associate Editor for the African Accounting and Finance Journal , a guest editor for the International Journal of Management Practice , and reviewer for journals including Journal of Banking and Finance and Business Strategy and the Environment . He was an external examiner for BSc Accounting and Finance at Bournemouth University (UK) and an external reviewer for Coventry University's International Banking and Finance Programme.
Rachael Durrant is a Senior Research Fellow at SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit) within the University of Sussex Business School, where she has been based since 2010. Her research focuses on societal transformations toward sustainability, with particular attention to food and land-use systems, civil society roles, and eco-feminist perspectives on land-based labor. Education: DPhil in Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, University of Sussex (2010-2014) MA in Sustainable Development Advocacy, University of Worcester (2007-2008) MA in Geography, University of Cambridge (2003-2006) Durrant's research explores how people and organizations guide transformations toward greener, fairer societal systems through socio-technological, ecological, psycho-social, and cultural lenses. Her current Leverhulme-funded project investigates women's increasing participation in land-based work (farming, forestry, conservation) in 21st century Britain through an eco-feminist perspective. She has developed expertise in community-engaged research methods, including participatory observation, co-designing research with non-academic beneficiaries, and using visual methods like graphic journaling and ethnographic filmmaking. Her publication record reveals consistent focus on sustainability transitions across multiple domains. Early work examined civil society roles in sustainable food systems, followed by research on urban sustainability transitions in European cities, community-connected pastoral agriculture, rewilding, and social innovation in energy systems. More recently, her work has increasingly integrated gender perspectives, particularly exploring women's relationships with land-based work. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges Science, Technology and Innovation Studies with Gender Studies, Cultural Geography, and Rural Studies. Scientific Recognition: Enabling Impact Award from University of Sussex's Vice Chancellor for Research (2015) Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (2021-2026) Durrant has secured significant research funding including her current Leverhulme Fellowship 'Eco-Rural Feminism: a new generation of women heading back to the land' and participation in the EU-funded SONNET project on social innovation in energy transitions. She has advised on Master's dissertations, including work on gender-responsive climate financing in South Africa. Her professional activities include committee membership with the Brighton and Sussex Universities Food Network and service on the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation's Food Strand panel. Her collaborative approach extends to building special interest networks like the Brighton and Sussex Universities Food Network (BSUFN) and working with diverse organizations including Unilever's Sustainable Agriculture team, Heineken NV, the Guardian Hay Festival, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and the Food Ethics Council.
Jamie Skye Bianco is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University's Steinhardt School. As Director of the MCC MediaLab, she combines activist, artistic, and academic practices focusing on digital media theory and environmental sustainability. Her work integrates still images, sound, video, and computational methods into immersive installations and web-based projects. Her research explores toxic landscapes through decade-long ecological investigations and current projects addressing climate adaptation technologies, agriculture innovation, and food production systems. Bianco's practice-based approach blends theoretical frameworks with experiential artwork creation. No specific scientific awards or grants are listed in the provided information. She advises no formally listed students but leads the MCC MediaLab research team. Her current research trajectories emphasize interdisciplinary environmental technology and digital media's role in societal adaptation.
Alexander Papadopulos is a Senior Lecturer and Reader in Molecular Ecology and Genomics at Bangor University's School of Environmental & Natural Sciences. His research focuses on evolutionary biology, specifically studying the genetics of adaptation and speciation in island plants and animals. He leads the Molecular Ecology and Evolution research group (MEFGL) and contributes to modules such as BSX-3139 (Molecular Ecology and Evolution) and BSX-3150 (Life in a Changing Climate). He is affiliated with the Labadopulos lab and actively collaborates on projects like the PANDORA initiative. His work integrates genetics, genomics, and ecological experiments to understand adaptation to environmental pressures, with a particular interest in speciation processes in island systems. He has contributed to over 40 research outputs since 2009, including studies on palm domestication, genomic responses to metal contamination, and biogeographic reconstructions in regions like Wallacea and Madagascar. Dr. Papadopulos serves on editorial boards for journals such as Plant Ecology & Diversity and the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , and participates in NERC peer review activities. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to biodiversity conservation and climate action. He supervises PhD students exploring topics like rapid adaptation in the Anthropocene and biodiversity forecasting in Wallacea. His recent projects include nanopore sequencing applications in fisheries management and chromosome-level genome studies in Mongolian gerbils.
Professor John Humphrey is an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Sussex Business School's Strategy and Marketing department. He is affiliated with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), contributing to research on global economic dynamics. His work focuses on global value chains, international business governance, and the impact of private standards in agri-food systems. Humphrey's research bridges theory and practice, addressing issues like supply chain resilience, sustainability, and developing country integration into global markets. Key research interests include analyzing governance structures in global value chains, the role of multinational firms versus domestic players, and the implications of private standards for smallholder farmers. His recent work explores disruptions caused by events like the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving automotive industry trends toward electric and autonomous vehicles. He also examines trade policies and their socio-economic impacts, particularly in East Asia and Africa. Humphrey’s publications highlight trends such as the convergence of internalization theory with global value chain analysis, the strategic adaptation of firms to geopolitical shifts, and the need for inclusive market policies to enhance nutrition through agri-food chains. His research often emphasizes the interplay between private and public regulatory frameworks, advocating for equitable global trade practices. No formal awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided texts, though his extensive publication record reflects recognition in academic circles. His advisory activities are not detailed here, but his work suggests involvement in policy dialogues related to trade, sustainability, and development. Humphrey collaborates with institutions like IDS and international organizations, contributing to frameworks for understanding complex global economic challenges.
Professor Geoff Simmons is a faculty member at the Department of Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management within the Ulster University Business School, based at the Coleraine campus in Room L214. His research focuses on marketing strategies in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly in agri-food industries, exploring the integration of market intelligence and big data to enhance business performance. He also examines consumer behavior, brand governance, and the impact of strategic orientation on innovation and new product development. His work frequently bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in e-commerce adoption and the application of digital tools like loyalty card data in SME marketing. Professor Simmons has received notable recognition for his research, including the Best Paper in Conference Award at the Emerging Themes in Business Research Conference (2014) and the Best Paper Award-Research Methodology at the Irish Academy of Management Conference (2012). He has supervised three doctoral students, contributing to their research on topics such as marketing capability development and brand governance in digital environments. His research narrative highlights a commitment to advancing marketing practices in SMEs through strategic insights and data-driven approaches. He has collaborated on interdisciplinary projects within the Business and Management Research team at Ulster University, exploring themes like urban governance and innovation adoption in emerging markets. Professor Simmons is actively involved in academic communities, presenting at conferences like the Academy of Marketing Science and European Institute of Retailing and Services Studies. His work often emphasizes the interplay between technological advancements and traditional marketing frameworks, advocating for adaptive strategies in evolving business landscapes.
Dr. Julia Casperd is a Senior Lecturer in Conservation Biology at Harper Adams University's Department of Agriculture and Environment. She specializes in wildlife conservation, land management, and sustainable ecosystems. Her research focuses on behavioral ecology, landscape resilience, and biodiversity monitoring, particularly involving birds and mammals. She leads the Harper Adams University Field Group (HAUFG) to enhance student ecological skills. Key projects include the £5M Natural England Paludiculture Innovation Project (PIP) and the £3.1M Environment Agency Patchy Peat Solutions Project (PPS), where she served as Principal Investigator. She collaborates with organizations like CIEEM, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, and the National Trust on initiatives such as the Meres and Mosses Nature Recovery Project. She teaches modules like Vertebrate Biology, Behavioural Ecology, and Applied Ecology, and supervises Honours, Masters, and self-funded PhD projects. Her professional affiliations include MCIEEM membership and active participation in research groups like Soil and Water Science and Agroecology for Sustainable Food Systems. Contact: jcasperd@harper-adams.ac.uk or +447375862004 (Office: Tudor Lodge).
