Ali Esfahbodi

Dr Ali Esfahbodi is an Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Operations Management and Sustainability at the Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. He serves as the Business School Director of MSc Programmes across the UK, Dubai, and Singapore campuses, reflecting his leadership in postgraduate education.

His educational background includes a PhD and MSc in Management and Engineering Management from the University of Birmingham, and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Science and Research Tehran. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), underscoring his commitment to teaching excellence.

Ali’s research is centered on sustainable and digital transformation in supply chains. His focus areas include SCM 4.0, big data analytics, blockchain, AI, IoT, Digital Twin, and GS1 standards, all in the context of enhancing sustainability performance. He investigates how emerging technologies can reconcile economic goals with environmental protection, particularly in manufacturing firms. His recent publications highlight themes such as green information systems, corporate social responsibility, team dynamics in sourcing, and consumer adoption of blockchain in e-commerce.

He has won multiple awards, including Best Paper Awards during his doctoral studies and a Silver Prize Medal for Sustainable Design from Expo Milano. He has contributed to EU-funded projects like the EC-HVEN, fostering Europe-China collaboration in sustainable engineering.

• Best Paper Award at the 9th International Symposium on Global Manufacturing and China (2014)
• Outstanding Paper Award at the Midland Regional Doctoral Colloquium (2013)
• Silver Prize Medal for ‘Sustainable Design’ from Expo Milano

Ali actively supervises PhD candidates in operations and supply chain management and serves on the editorial boards of leading journals such as International Journal of Production Economics, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Sustainability. He is a member of professional associations including EUROMA, CIPS, and CSCMP. His teaching spans undergraduate to PhD levels, covering operations, strategy, and supply chain modules in the UK, Dubai, and Singapore.

He leads a robust research agenda focused on the intersection of digital innovation and sustainability, positioning him as a key contributor to the evolving discourse on Industry 4.0 and sustainable operations.