David Xuefeng Shao

Dr David Xuefeng Shao is an Associate Professor in Management at The University of Newcastle, Australia, affiliated with the Newcastle Business School within the College of Human and Social Futures. He serves as Program Director of MBA (Global) and is a member of the Emerging Markets Research Group. Dr. Shao also holds editorial positions as associate editor for Nature: Humanities & Social Science Communication, Economic Analysis and Policy, and Journal of Organizational and End User Computing, and serves on the Editorial Review Board of Journal of International Management and Management and Organization Review.

Dr. Shao earned his Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Commerce (Extension), both from the University of New South Wales. Prior to joining The University of Newcastle in 2021, he held positions as an education-based lecturer at the University of Sydney and as a Research Fellow at University of Technology Sydney.

Dr. Shao's research focuses on the digital transformation of businesses in emerging economies, supply chain management under Industry 4.0, and renewable energy's role in achieving carbon neutrality. His work bridges international business, innovation management, and sustainability, with particular attention to how digital technologies and AI are reshaping global business practices and environmental outcomes. His research adopts both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including configurational approaches like fsQCA to understand complex causal relationships in business phenomena.

Dr. Shao's extensive publication record in high-impact journals demonstrates his expertise across multiple interconnected domains. His work shows a clear trajectory from traditional international business and supply chain topics toward increasingly integrating digital innovation, AI applications, and sustainability concerns. A significant portion of his recent work examines the intersection of artificial intelligence, carbon markets, and energy systems, reflecting the growing importance of technological solutions to environmental challenges.

Dr. Shao has received several prestigious recognitions for his scholarly contributions:

• Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in 2021
• Recipient of the Young Researcher Award from the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI) in 2022
• Ranked among Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% of Scientists globally for 2024

In addition to his research, Dr. Shao plays significant roles in academic leadership and service. As Program Director of MBA (Global), he shapes international business education, while his editorial positions allow him to influence scholarly discourse in his fields of expertise. His teaching portfolio includes courses on International Business Strategy, International Business Risk, and Globalization, reflecting his expertise in global business dynamics.

Dr. Shao is actively involved in the Emerging Markets Research Group at Newcastle, contributing to collaborative research on business practices in developing economies. His work often examines how firms from emerging markets navigate global competition through innovative strategies, with increasing attention to digital and sustainability dimensions.