Rory Padfield

Dr Rory Padfield is an Associate Professor in Sustainability and Business at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. His interdisciplinary research bridges supply chain governance, corporate sustainability, and environmental policy in Global South contexts, with a focus on Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. He co-leads the Business and Organisations for Sustainable Societies (BOSS) research group and serves as Programme Leader for the MSc Sustainability & Business.

• PhD in Geography (Newcastle University)
• MSc in Environmental Engineering (Newcastle University)
• BSc in Geography (Newcastle University)

Rory applies political ecology frameworks to analyze corporate sustainability practices, particularly in palm oil supply chains and water governance. Current projects include: examining Sabah's sustainable palm oil policy impacts, tracing flex crop sustainability in UK university supply chains, and exploring sustainability communication in creative industries. He has supervised extensive fieldwork across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Zambia.

His expertise spans environmental governance, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability policy analysis. Teaching responsibilities include modules on the Environment and Business BA program, MSc Sustainability and Consultancy, and MSc Sustainability and Business.

• Co-Research Lead, Business and Organisations for Sustainable Societies (BOSS)
• Former lecturer at Malaysia Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia