Christiane Barz is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Zurich's Institute for Business Administration since 2016. Previously, she held academic roles at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the Chicago Booth School of Business, and the Technical University (TU) Berlin. Her research focuses on stochastic dynamic systems, Markov decision processes, and their applications in revenue management. She emphasizes making mathematical tools accessible and practical for real-world problem-solving, particularly in optimizing decision-making under uncertainty. Education includes a degree in industrial engineering and a doctorate from the University of Karlsruhe (TH), Germany. Her career path includes postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and roles as an Assistant Professor at UCLA. She combines academic excellence with balancing family life, advocating for gender equity in STEM fields. Her research explores risk-sensitive decision-making frameworks, dynamic pricing models for transportation and healthcare, and optimizing resource allocation in complex systems. Recent work includes applications in FlixBus, air cargo networks, and improving patient admission scheduling in hospitals. Barz's teaching philosophy prioritizes demystifying mathematics for students, encouraging critical engagement rather than fear of complexity. She collaborates with industry partners to apply operations research methods to real-world challenges, emphasizing both theoretical rigor and practical relevance.
Dr. Michael Gyensare is a Lecturer in the Department of Leadership and Management at the University of Kent. His research focuses on entrepreneurship, organizational behavior, and leadership dynamics, with particular emphasis on expatriate thriving, psychological contracts, and sustainable HRM practices in both global and African contexts. His scholarly work spans topics like entrepreneurial phronesis, cultural intelligence in international assignments, and polychronicity in venture performance. Recent publications examine green HRM strategies, frugal innovation in emerging markets, and the impact of chronic health challenges on entrepreneurial outcomes. His 2025-2024 publications reveal trends in entrepreneurial cognition, cross-cultural management, and resilience-building in volatile environments. Awards: No specific honors identified in the provided text.
Prof. Dr. Michael Gielnik is a Professor of Psychology, specializing in Entrepreneurship at Leuphana University of Lüneburg's Institute for Management & Organization (IMO), within the Faculty of Management and Technology. His research focuses on action-oriented entrepreneurship training, sustainable entrepreneurial behavior, and entrepreneurship in developing countries. He holds a PhD from Leuphana University (2010) and a Diplom in Psychology from Justus Liebig University Giessen (2005). His work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Applied Psychology and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice . Key research interests include entrepreneurial processes, training methodologies, and cross-cultural entrepreneurship. He leads the STEP Entrepreneurship Training Program and collaborates internationally on initiatives like the DAAD-funded International Joint Master’s in Work and Organizational Psychology. Awards include the 2024 Impact Award (shared), 2014 FGF Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research Award, and recognition for his 2011 doctoral dissertation. He has held visiting fellowships at institutions like the National University of Singapore and the University of Sydney. Teaching focuses on entrepreneurship, business psychology, and innovation management. He advises on projects addressing social innovation, circular economy (e.g., MEHRCE), and inclusive workplaces. Active in academic governance, he serves on editorial boards, including as Field Editor for Journal of Business Venturing .
Ruth Kanfer is a Professor of Psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Psychology, specializing in adult learning, motivation, and career development. Her research addresses the impacts of technological advancements, demographic shifts, and global economic changes on work and career trajectories. She co-directs the PARK Lab, focusing on topics such as self-regulation in job search, motivational dynamics, and the psychology of workplace environments. Dr. Kanfer holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Arizona State University and has contributed to seminal works on aging and workforce diversity. She is a Fellow of prominent organizations including the Academy of Management and the American Psychological Association, and has received prestigious awards such as the SIOP's William R. Owens Scholarly Achievement Award. Her research employs mixed-methods approaches, including experimental studies and large-scale field research. Key themes include adult learning efficacy, team-based motivation, and the design of workspaces to enhance employee well-being. Dr. Kanfer has led projects funded by the Sloan Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Notable contributions include studies on the future of work, the role of future time perspective in career decisions, and the application of a 'whole-person' framework to adult learning. Her work has been published in journals like Journal of Applied Psychology and American Psychologist . She actively participates in professional committees, including the Sloan Research Network on Aging and Work and the National Academy of Sciences' How People Learn II initiative.
Professor John Piggott AO FASSA is Scientia Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales, where he serves as Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR). He has held significant leadership roles at UNSW including three terms as Head of School of Economics, Associate Dean Research for the Business Faculty for 7 years, and Interim Dean of the Faculty. His expertise spans retirement economics, pension systems, and population ageing issues, with particular focus on Asia-Pacific region. His educational background includes: BA from University of Sydney MSc from London School of Economics PhD from University of London Professor Piggott's research focuses on retirement and pension economics, population ageing, and public finance. His work examines pension system designs across different countries, with particular emphasis on emerging Asian economies. He has conducted extensive research on retirement income systems, long-term care financing, and the economic implications of demographic change. His research has significant policy relevance, having informed government reviews and international organizations' work on ageing populations. He has published widely in leading international economics and actuarial academic journals, with recent work analyzing pension reforms in Indonesia, Thailand, and China. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on population ageing in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly examining pension systems and long-term care in emerging economies. His work bridges economics, public policy, and health services research, with increasing attention to the interconnections between demographic change, economic development, and social policy in aging societies. His research has directly influenced policy discussions through participation in the Henry Tax Review and Australian Ministerial Superannuation Advisory Committee. Professor Piggott has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (1992) Scientia Professor at UNSW (2011-present) ARC Australian Professorial Fellow (2011-2015) UNSW Business School's Staff Excellence Global Impact Award (2020) Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) (2020) Professor Piggott has supervised numerous PhD students including Rafal Chomik, Hoang Hoyen, and T Le Trang. He has secured substantial research funding including multiple ARC grants totaling over $27 million for the CEPAR Centre, Japan Economic and Social Research Institute projects, and Rockefeller Foundation support. His research has directly informed policy discussions through participation in the Henry Tax Review and Australian Ministerial Superannuation Advisory Committee, and he was appointed co-chair of the Think20 Task Force on Aging Population during Japan's G20 Presidency. As Director of CEPAR, Professor Piggott leads a major research center focused on population ageing research, bringing together interdisciplinary expertise to address the challenges of aging societies. The center collaborates with international partners including the US National Academy of Medicine and OECD, and has played a key role in establishing the International Pension Research Association. His work has significant real-world impact, with his research on JobKeeper transition proposals during the COVID-19 pandemic receiving widespread media attention.
Kevin Banks is an Associate Professor of Law at Queen's University and the Director of the Queen's Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace. He holds appointments as Associate Dean (Faculty and Academic Policy) and Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal . His research focuses on labour arbitration efficiency, globalization's impact on workplace law, and the intersection of international trade agreements with labour standards. He is a part-time member of the Ontario Grievance Settlement Board and has served on dispute panels for trade agreements like the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and Canada-EU CETA. Education: S.J.D., Harvard Law School (2003) LL.B., University of Toronto (1989) B.A. (Economics), University of Toronto (1986) Research Interests: Banks explores constitutional collective bargaining rights, gaps in disability accommodation at work, and the enforcement of employment standards. He critiques trade agreement labour chapters and examines third-party liability for wage violations. His work bridges domestic law with global economic policies, emphasizing equitable labour practices in transnational contexts. Professional Achievements: He chaired the first-ever labour rights dispute arbitration panel under a free trade agreement (US-Central America FTA) and advised Ontario’s Changing Workplaces Review. His edited casebook, Labour and Employment Law , is Canada’s leading text in the field. Labs/Teams: Director of the Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace, coordinating interdisciplinary research on modern workplace legal challenges.
Daniel J McAllister is an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore Business School , Department of Management and Organisation. His research explores interpersonal relationships in organizations , with particular emphasis on social emotions , trust dynamics , and their implications for organizational citizenship behavior and ethical leadership . He has published extensively in top-tier journals such as Academy of Management Review, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Academy of Management Journal. Academic Focus: Organizational Behavior, Trust/Distrust, Workplace Emotions Teaching Interests: Technical Knowledge, Practical Application, Ethical Decision-Making Key Courses: MNO2007 (Undergraduate), BMA5004A (MBA), MNO6012A (PhD) McAllister's research spans workplace underdog trajectories, awe in leadership, abusive supervision, and cross-cultural management in China. His work examines how emotions like contempt, envy, and schadenfreude influence organizational outcomes. He emphasizes creating a safe learning environment that integrates theoretical knowledge ( technical ), real-world application ( practical ), and ethical judgment ( wisdom ). McAllister has received consistently positive student feedback for his engaging teaching style , with recent evaluations highlighting improvements in time management and practical relevance. He distributes course materials post-class and avoids rote memorization, prioritizing conceptual understanding. His 2025 work on workplace underdogs and awe-driven leadership continues to shape contemporary organizational theory.
Marina Romeo Delgado is a Full Professor at the Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, University of Barcelona. She directs the UB-ADECCO Chair for Labour Integration of People with Disabilities and leads the Consolidated Teaching Innovation Group GIDC-CAV. As Internal Coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Work, Organizational and Personal Psychology (WOP-P) Master's program, she collaborates with universities in Bologna, Coimbra, and Valencia. She also coordinates the Interuniversity Doctorate in Psychology of Communication and Change. Her research focuses on psychosocial risks, organizational communication, and employee well-being with emphasis on disability inclusion in workplaces. She has led projects like 'Implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Psychology and Education Programs' (2022-2024) and 'Realizing Potential of EU Staff Mobility' (2016-2019). Awarded EuroPsy Specialist certification in Work and Organisational Psychology, she has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles on telework motivation, job crafting effects, and disability employment policies. Her work bridges academic research with practical interventions through international collaborations and institutional initiatives.
Martha C. Tompson is Associate Professor and Clinical Program Director in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Boston University. She earned her PhD from UCLA and directs the Family Development and Treatment Lab. Her research examines family processes in mental health, with focus on depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia interventions. Key research areas include: Family-focused treatments for childhood depression Impact of maternal depression on child development Family psychoeducation for bipolar disorder Dr. Tompson has developed novel family-based interventions for preadolescent depression and studied transgenerational transmission of depression vulnerability. Her work emphasizes culturally responsive treatments and includes randomized trials demonstrating treatment efficacy. She mentors clinical psychology students and teaches evidence-based intervention strategies.
Zoran Kalinic serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, where he teaches Electronic Business since October 2012. Previously, he worked at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac from 1996 to 2005, and joined the Faculty of Economics in February 2005 as an assistant in Information Systems, later teaching Information Technology and Electronic Business from 2009 onward. Doctorate (2012): Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, specializing in information systems development and mobile communications Postgraduate studies: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac (completed with average grade of 10) Bachelor's degree: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac (1996, average grade 9.43) Professor Kalinic's research focuses on digital transformation and its economic implications, with particular expertise in mobile commerce, electronic business systems, digital payment technologies, and consumer behavior in online environments. His work frequently employs advanced analytical methods including artificial neural networks, structural equation modeling, and hybrid analytical approaches to investigate technology adoption patterns and digital marketplace dynamics. He has conducted extensive research on Serbian digital markets, including studies on mobile payment systems, e-commerce development barriers, and real estate price prediction using AI techniques. His publication record demonstrates a clear progression from foundational technology acceptance research toward more complex analyses of digital ecosystems, with recent work examining influencer marketing effects on TikTok, biometric payment systems, and gig economy measurement in Serbia. The integration of artificial intelligence methodologies with traditional consumer behavior theories represents a distinctive feature of his scholarly approach. Professor Kalinic maintains active international academic engagement through short study visits to institutions including the University of Udine, Vienna University of Economics, University of Maribor, Krakow University of Economics, Coventry University, Polytechnic of Turin, and Comenius University in Bratislava. He spent six weeks at the University of Maribor in 2007 through a Tempus IMG grant and served as a visiting lecturer at the Krakow University of Economics in 2012. Author/co-author of over 60 papers in international and domestic journals and conferences Participant in multiple scientific research and professional projects Recipient of academic awards during studies from University, Faculty, Ministry of Science and Technology of Serbia, Embassy of Norway, WUS-Austria, Zastava-Yugo Automobiles, and Kragujevac City Assembly His professional development includes a month-long visit to the Faculty of Informatics at the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian (2004) and ongoing collaboration with regional and European academic institutions. Professor Kalinic's research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in the Serbian and Western Balkan digital economy context.
Professor Anne Burmeister is a full Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of Cologne, Faculty of Management, Economics, and Social Sciences. She specializes in knowledge transfer, age diversity, inclusion, and interpersonal dynamics in workplaces. Her research bridges organizational psychology with practical applications in aging and diverse teams. Education: PhD in Psychology (summa cum laude), Leuphana University of Lueneburg (2016) MSc in Management and Organizational Analysis, Warwick Business School (2011) BSc in Business Psychology, Leuphana University of Lueneburg (2010) Research Interests: Her work focuses on work and aging, age diversity, inclusion, knowledge transfer, and workplace friendships. She investigates how social interactions influence productivity and organizational health, particularly in multigenerational environments. Recent Trends: Recent publications analyze DEI initiative responses, knowledge sharing dynamics, and interventions for aging workforces. Themes include cognitive load theory, intergenerational collaboration, and ambivalent employee reactions to diversity policies. Scientific Recognition: Awarded 40 leading HR minds 2025 by HR magazine Contact: Email: burmeister@wiso.uni-koeln.de Phone: +49 221-470-5887
Thomas Hansen is a Research Professor at the Department of Mental Health within the Norwegian Institute of Public Health . His work focuses on subjective well-being , loneliness , aging , informal caregiving , and active aging , combining quantitative research and systematic reviews to address critical public health challenges. Key research areas: Loneliness trajectories, caregiving impacts, digital interventions for social connection Active in longitudinal studies (e.g., HUNT, SHARE) and cross-sectional analyses Collaborates with institutions in Norway and internationally His recent publications span gerontology , mental health interventions , and social epidemiology , emphasizing population-level well-being and policy recommendations . No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned. Thomas Hansen actively contributes to understanding social determinants of health in aging populations, advocating for evidence-based strategies to improve psychosocial outcomes through interventions targeting loneliness and caregiver support .
Dr. Barbara Polivka is the Associate Dean for Research and Professor at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. She holds a BSN and MSN from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health, and a PhD in Nursing from The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on environmental health (e.g., lead poisoning prevention, asthma triggers) and health services research (e.g., public health nursing standards, nursing workforce challenges). She has secured NIH, NIOSH, and AHRQ funding for projects addressing home safety hazards and asthma management in older adults. Professional Affiliations include the American Academy of Nursing (Fellow), American Public Health Association, and Midwest Nursing Research Society. Key grants include current NIEHS funding for real-time asthma exposure monitoring and prior NIOSH support for virtual home safety training. Awards include the Ruth B. Freeman Award (APHA) and Ohio Healthy Homes Achievement Award. Teaching spans undergraduate through doctoral levels, with emphasis on community/public health nursing. Mentored numerous PhD/DNP students in environmental health and health disparities. Current work explores口罩使用对哮喘患者的影响, pandemic-related disinfectant exposure risks, and medication literacy in aging populations.
Ulla-Mari Kinnunen is a Professor of Health and Human Services Informatics at the University of Eastern Finland's Department of Health and Social Management, within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. She also holds the title of Adjunct Professor in Evidence-Based Research and Development. Her research focuses on health informatics, digitalization in healthcare and social services, evidence-based practices, and informatics competencies for professionals and citizens. She chairs the Finnish nursing terminology (FinCC) and serves on the IMIA Nursing Informatics Board and the Finnish Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care. She supervises 16 doctoral students and coordinates the Health and Human Services Informatics (HHSI) Master’s program. She is a member of the Finnish Publication Forum (Panel 14) and the Editorial Board of JMIR Nursing. In 2021, she was awarded the IMIA fellowship as a Fellow of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics. Her research interests include structured data systems, classifications in electronic health records (EHR), and organizational factors influencing digitalization. Key projects include the 'FinCC' research group for nursing terminology and the 'House of Effectiveness' initiative. Her work emphasizes improving healthcare quality through informatics and evidence-based practices. Recent publications highlight studies on information systems implementation, digitalization challenges, and the role of informatics in interprofessional collaboration. She actively contributes to international health informatics education and policy, including the European Summer School in Health Informatics and the TIGER Initiative for workforce development. Grants and Projects: Research Project on Data Resources for Fire Investigation (2023–2025), IMIA Fellowship, and EU-funded initiatives like eHealth4all@eu. Labs/Teams: Health and Human Services Informatics Research Group, FinCC Research Group, and the Finnish Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care.
Sara Zaniboni is an Associate Professor in Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Bologna's Department of Psychology 'Renzo Canestrari'. Her research focuses on workplace diversity, age-related issues, and organizational inclusion. She holds a PhD and has led international research initiatives, including the 'Age in the Workplace Meeting' conference. Her work bridges psychological theory with practical applications, addressing challenges like age discrimination, mental health, and work design. She has contributed to EU and national grants (e.g., PRIN, PNRR), and serves on editorial boards such as Work, Aging and Retirement . Awards include the 2015 outstanding paper award and 2018 outstanding author contribution award. She has held visiting roles at institutions like ETH Zurich and the University of Essex, emphasizing global collaboration. Her research explores how organizational policies can enhance diversity outcomes, reduce stereotypes, and support older workers. Key areas include uncertainty mindset development, workaholism effects, and workplace accommodations for people with mental health challenges. She advocates for policies promoting sustainable careers and inclusive work environments. Key Projects: LeverAge (EU network), Age in the Workplace Meeting Grants: PRIN, PNRR, EU grants International Collaboration: Visiting positions at 6+ universities, including ETH Zurich Editorial Roles: Work, Aging and Retirement , among others
