Robert JOLIET is an Associate Professor of Finance at IÉSEG School of Management in France. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and Management from HEC-ULg Management School (Belgium) and has held various academic leadership roles, including Director of Academic Development and Academic Director of the PGE (MSc in Management). His research focuses on finance, portfolio management, SRI (Socially Responsible Investing), and corporate finance, with a particular emphasis on international expansion, capital structure, and sustainable investment strategies. Education: 2008: Ph.D. in Economics and Management, HEC-ULg Management School, Belgium 2004: Master of Advanced Studies (DEA), Management Sciences (Finance), University of Liège, Belgium 2002: Master of Science in Business Engineering (Finance), University of Liège, Belgium Research interests span SRI fund dynamics, corporate social responsibility valuation, international debt policies, and market liquidity. Notable contributions include analyzing the impact of SRI mutual funds on corporate governance and environmental practices, and exploring the stability of sovereign debt structures in the Eurozone. Awards include the 2005 FORTIS Award (Third Prize) and the 2003 E.G. de Barsy Doctoral Fellowship. He has published extensively in journals like Economics Letters and Journal of Banking & Finance . Academic leadership roles include directing programs and departments at IÉSEG, alongside coordinating the Finance Track and managing academic development initiatives. His teaching focuses on financial data analysis, active portfolio management, and investment strategies in capital markets. He is a member of the LEM (Laboratoire d'Économie Moderne) research group and contributes to interdisciplinary research in finance and economics.
Prof. Srdjan Capkun is a Full Professor in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich and Director of the Zurich Information Security and Privacy Center (ZISC). He holds a Dipl.Ing. from the University of Split (1998) and a Ph.D. from EPFL (2004). His research focuses on system and network security, including wireless security (e.g., secure positioning), trusted computing, blockchain technologies, and privacy-preserving systems. He co-founded 3db Access (acquired by Infineon) and Sound-Proof, addressing secure distance measurement and authentication. Notable achievements include an ERC Consolidator Grant (2016), ACM Fellowship, and IEEE Fellowship. Education: Dipl.Ing., Electrical Engineering / Computer Science, University of Split, 1998 Ph.D., Communication Systems, EPFL, 2004 Research Interests: Wireless security (e.g., UWB, GNSS, cellular) Trusted execution environments (TEEs) Blockchain and cryptocurrency systems Privacy-preserving technologies Awards & Grants: ERC Consolidator Grant (2016) ACM Fellow and IEEE Fellow Leadership of ZISC Advising & Labs: Leads the System Security Group at ETH Zurich Guided postdoctoral researchers and graduate students in security and privacy Companies: 3db Access (secure distance measurement) Futurae (online authentication)
Mohammad Saifur Rahman is the Daniels School Chair in Management and a Professor of Management Information Systems at the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue University. Previously, he was an Associate Professor at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. His academic journey includes significant leadership roles such as co-chairing the Conference on Information Systems and Technology (CIST) in 2013 and serving as president of the INFORMS eBusiness Society in 2014. Currently, he serves as an associate editor for both Management Science and Information Systems Research (ISR). Ph.D. in Management Information Systems, Krannert School of Management, Purdue University (2008) MBA in Management Information Systems, Southern Illinois University (2004) BS in Computer Science, Southern Illinois University (2002) Rahman's research primarily focuses on the economic implications of digital transformations. His work examines how digitization affects consumer behavior, market structures, and business strategies across various industries. He investigates the value of digital traces in driving consumer behavior and improving decision-making, particularly in omnichannel retail environments. His research on the sharing economy has revealed important insights about economic disparities, showing how platforms like Airbnb provide economic benefits to predominantly white neighborhoods while failing to generate similar spillover effects in predominantly Black or Hispanic neighborhoods. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the intersection of technology, economics, and social impact. Rahman's work frequently examines how local market structures interact with digital platforms to create or exacerbate economic inequalities. His research spans multiple disciplines including information systems, economics, marketing, and operations management, with a particular emphasis on empirical studies using real-world data from major companies like Walmart and Cisco. CICP Faculty Commercialization Award (2020) INFORMS Sandy Slaughter Early Career Award (2018) World's Top 40 Business School Professors Under 40 by Poets and Quants (2017) Jay N. Ross Young Faculty Scholar Award (2015) Dean's Award for Outstanding Research Achievement (University of Calgary, 2014) Rahman has secured substantial research funding from organizations including Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Adobe Systems ($50,000 grants in 2017 and 2020), Trask Innovation Fund ($21,218), and NSF I-Corps ($50,000). He has advised numerous PhD students and collaborated with industry partners to translate research into practical applications. Rahman co-founded RightFit Analytics, a precision health analytics solution that utilizes AI to learn success patterns in healthcare. He has organized significant academic events including the Krannert-Walmart Data Dive (believed to be the first data dive on a college campus) and the Dawn or Doom Data Dive in cooperation with Cisco. Rahman actively engages with industry through consulting and collaborative research projects. His work with Walmart, Cisco, and other major corporations demonstrates his ability to bridge academic research with practical business applications. He has been particularly active in studying how AI and big data analytics can be leveraged to improve business decision-making while addressing potential negative consequences like algorithmic bias and economic inequality.
Samir Dani is a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at Keele University’s Keele Business School. He holds Chartered Manager status and is a Fellow of multiple professional bodies, including the Higher Education Academy and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. Prior to academia, he worked in India’s automotive industry. His research focuses on supply chain resilience, sustainability, food logistics, and Industry 4.0 technologies like AI and Blockchain. Affiliations: Keele University (current), University of Huddersfield (2014–2019), Loughborough University (2005–2008) Leadership: Former Head of Logistics, Marketing, Hospitality, and Analytics Department at University of Huddersfield Industry Engagement: £5M Leeds City Region LEP Supply Chain Program, UK-India trade advisory roles Research Interests: Supply chain risk and resilience Food supply chain sustainability AI, IoT, and Blockchain applications Industry 4.0 transformations Recent Article Trends: Focus on climate action impacts, blockchain trust mechanisms, and SME net-zero strategies. His work bridges academic theory with industry challenges, emphasizing technology adoption and sustainability. Awards: Prix des Associations (2015), UK Top 100 Logistics Professional (2017/18) Grants: £800K+ from EPSRC, IMCRC, and KTP Advisory Roles: Editorial Board member of Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, Academic Review Board member of International Journal of Operations and Production Management.
David A. Hsieh is the Bank of America Professor of Finance at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. Previously, he served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business from 1981-1989. His extensive research has significantly contributed to the understanding of hedge funds, financial risk management, and nonlinear dynamics in financial markets. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D. in Economics, 1981 Yale University, B.S. in Economics and Mathematics, 1976 (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) Phillips Academy, Andover, 1972 (Cum Laude) Dr. Hsieh's research primarily focuses on the dynamics of asset prices and their implications for financial risk management. He has made significant contributions to understanding risk and return characteristics in hedge funds and commodity funds, pioneering work on nonlinear dynamics applications to financial markets. His research has evolved from early work on exchange rates and volatility modeling to more recent comprehensive analyses of hedge fund strategies, performance measurement, and industry structure. Hsieh's publication history reveals a clear progression from foundational work on nonlinear dynamics in financial markets to increasingly sophisticated analyses of hedge fund strategies and risk characteristics. His recent work, often in collaboration with William Fung and other prominent finance researchers, has focused on mega hedge fund firms, franchise value in the industry, and the evolution of hedge fund strategies toward more index-like products. The research consistently combines rigorous theoretical frameworks with robust empirical analyses across diverse market conditions. CAIA Award for Excellence in Alternative Investment Research (2015) CFA Institute Graham and Dodd Award of Excellence (2004) Bank of America Faculty Award (2002) Duke Cross-Continent Executive MBA Teaching Excellence Award (2002) Fischer Black Memorial Foundation Robert J. Schwartz Memorial Prize (1999) Smith Breeden First Prize (1990) Yale Science and Engineering Association High Scholarship Award (1976) Russell Henry Chittenden Prize (1976) Dr. Hsieh has served as a consultant for the International Monetary Fund (2007-2016) and the Bank for International Settlements (1998), and as a Visiting Scholar at both the International Monetary Fund and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. His editorial service includes Finance Editor for Management Science (2003-2009) and Associate Editor roles for several leading finance journals. He has developed extensive research resources including a Hedge Fund Data Library that has become widely used in academic and industry research.
Patrick Metze is Professor of Law at Texas Tech University School of Law, where he has served since 2008. He initially joined as an adjunct professor teaching the criminal defense clinic in 2007 and became a full-time Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinics in May 2008. He was promoted to Professor of Law with tenure in September 2012. Professor Metze has established several groundbreaking clinical programs including the Capital Punishment Clinic (2010), the Caprock Regional Public Defender Office and Clinic (2010) - the first full-time public defender office operated from within a law school, and the Texas Tech School of Law Innocence Clinic (2016). Professor Metze earned his B.A. from Texas Tech University in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Houston in 1973. Before joining academia, he maintained a private law practice in Levelland and Lubbock, Texas for over 30 years, initially handling general practice including banking, collections, corporate law, and oil and gas matters, but shifting focus to criminal and family law following the 1986 oil industry collapse in West Texas. He was one of only 14 attorneys qualified for appointment as first chair in Capital Murder cases in the 9th Administrative Judicial Region. Professor Metze's research focuses on criminal law and procedure, with particular emphasis on capital punishment, innocence projects, and the school-to-prison pipeline. His publications reveal a consistent concern with constitutional protections, ethical obligations of courts and practitioners, and systemic reforms in criminal justice. His work spans both theoretical analysis of legal principles and practical guidance for criminal defense attorneys. Among his professional recognitions, Professor Metze is a Life Fellow of The Texas Bar Foundation and maintains membership in The Pro Bono College of the State of Texas. His presentations at numerous professional seminars demonstrate his active engagement with the criminal defense bar and commitment to advancing legal practice. Professor Metze has served on various committees including the Criminal Justice Council of the State Bar of Texas, the Advisory Committee to the Lubbock Special Needs Defenders Office, and as a former board member of the Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (where he served as President) and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
Deval Desai serves as Reader in International Economic Law at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Law School, a position he has held since 2020 after serving as Lecturer from 2020-2023. His academic career includes research positions at Harvard Law School and the Geneva Graduate Institute. Dr. Desai also brings extensive practical experience from a decade working with the World Bank on rule of law and governance in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as advising the United Nations on rule of law issues. Dr. Desai's educational background includes an MA in History and French Literature from Oxford University, followed by legal training at City University/BPP Law School (PGDipL and PGDipLP), and advanced law degrees (LLM and SJD) from Harvard Law School. At Harvard, he held prestigious fellowships including the Byse Fellowship, Program on Negotiation Next Generation Fellowship, and Institute for Global Law and Policy Fellowship. MA (Oxon), History and French Literature PGDipL, PGDipLP, City University/BPP Law School LLM, Harvard Law School SJD, Harvard Law School Dr. Desai's research centers on law and development, administrative law and regulation, theories of the state, and patterns of knowledge and authority across the Global North and South. His work examines institutional reform processes, particularly how expertise and knowledge operate within rule of law initiatives. His interdisciplinary approach draws from legal and social theory, development studies, international relations, and performance studies, as evidenced in his monograph Expert Ignorance (Cambridge University Press). His recent work focuses on fiscal sociology, administrative law in the Global South, and the politics of social welfare provision. Dr. Desai's publications span leading journals in law, political science, and development studies, revealing a consistent focus on the intersections between legal institutions, governance, and development. His work demonstrates increasing engagement with comparative methodologies and critical perspectives on knowledge production in global governance. Recent articles show particular attention to fiscal policy, welfare systems, and responses to global crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, with comparative studies between India and European contexts. Dame Muriel Spark Medal (2024, Royal Society of Edinburgh) Chancellor's 'Rising Star' Award (2023, University of Edinburgh) Member of the Young Academy of Scotland Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe Dr. Desai has secured significant research funding from diverse international sources, including a £2.1 million Swiss National Science Foundation Sinergia grant titled 'Reversing the Gaze: Towards Post-Comparative Area Studies' where he serves as PI. He also leads projects funded by the British Academy, University of Edinburgh's Big Ideas Accelerator, Scottish Funding Council, and Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. His commitment to mentoring is evident through his recognition with the Susan Manning Award for Inspiring Mentor and his leadership in establishing programs like the Global Scholars' Academy at the Geneva Graduate Institute and the Global Justice summer school at CEU. As editor-in-chief of the Cambridge University Press book series 'Elements in Legal Theory and the Global South' and serving on multiple editorial boards, Dr. Desai plays a significant role in shaping scholarly discourse. His current research projects examine 'loss' in legal institutions guiding transitional processes, constitutional implications of fiscal arrangements in fragile contexts, and social welfare provision in India and Italy.
Konstantinos Drakos is a Professor at the Department of Accounting and Finance, Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). Previously, he served as Assistant Professor at AUEB (2009–2012), Assistant Professor at the University of Patras (2003–2008), and Lecturer at the University of Essex (2001–2002). He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Essex, preceded by an MSc and undergraduate studies in Economics at the University of Athens. His research focuses on Applied Financial Economics and the Economics of Security, with recent work analyzing hedge fund leverage, geopolitical risk impacts, cryptocurrency markets, and green banking. Teaching responsibilities include Macroeconomic Theory, Finance for Banking, and Risk Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Drakos' publications span over two decades, addressing topics such as terrorism's economic effects, bank lending behavior, and investment under uncertainty. His recent articles (2022–2025) emphasize cryptocurrency dynamics, geopolitical risk interactions, and financial stability in green banking. Notable themes include market volatility, capital allocation under uncertainty, and policy responses to systemic risks. No scientific awards are listed in the provided materials. His research has explored structural shifts in financial risk, macroeconomic sentiment, and cross-market linkages following major global events like 9/11 and the 2008 crisis. Drakos has advised on policy-related topics related to financial markets and regulatory frameworks, though specific grants or lab affiliations are not detailed here.
Pawan Adhikari is a Professor of Accounting at Essex Business School, University of Essex , where he serves as Director of Impact and Enterprise and Director of Essex Accounting Centre . He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management and a Executive Board Member of the Comparative International Governmental Accounting Research Network (CIGAR) . Previously, he led accounting reforms at Nepal’s Accounting and Auditing Standards Board and lectured at Nord University, Norway. PhD, Nord University Business School Fellow of the Higher Education Academy His research focuses on public sector accounting in developing countries, particularly accounting reforms , public value creation , and climate accountability . He explores how accrual accounting and participatory budgeting can enhance transparency in South Asian and African contexts. His work has influenced policy-making in Nepal and is recognized with the 2023 Best International Research Impact award by the University of Essex. Recent publications analyze wellbeing economies (2025), NGO accountability in disasters (2024), and climate budgeting (2023). He collaborates with institutions like the World Bank , European Commission , and British Academy , focusing on projects related to financial resilience , circular economy , and health sector accountability . Supervising 8 current PhD students, his advisees have produced work on topics like accrual accounting in Bangladesh and NGO accountability in Palestine . World Bank/PEFA Research Award African Accounting and Financial Association (AAFA) Award ESRC IIA Impact Fund GCRF and SeNSS Grants 2019 Best Postgraduate Supervisor (Essex)
Dr. Livia Pancotto is a Senior Lecturer in Banking at the Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Strathclyde. She serves as Director of the MSc in International Banking and Finance and Deputy Director of the Responsible Business Institute (ReBI). She holds a PhD and MSc from Bangor University and degrees from Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on European banking regulation, financial stability, and gender diversity's impact on climate finance. She chairs the International Accounting & Finance Doctoral Symposium and edits The European Journal of Finance. Awards include the 2014 Best Banking and Finance Master’s dissertation. She leads research on negative interest rates, non-performing loans, and green lending through EU-funded projects. Education: PhD Banking & Finance (Bangor), MSc (Sapienza), BSc (Sapienza) Research explores empirical banking dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable finance. Key topics include EU banking union evolution, climate change mitigation via gender-diverse bank boards, and market reactions to policy shocks. Recent work analyzes negative interest rate impacts on bank efficiency and Italy's NPL crisis. She has secured £153k in research funding (2023-2025). Grants: Research Excellence Awards (Strathclyde SRSS) Led workshops on Responsible Business and AI, presented at FSB Financial Innovation Network, and peer-reviewed for top journals. Supervises doctoral candidates through IAFDS. Active in editorial and advisory roles enhancing academic rigor in finance disciplines.
José F. Martínez holds the Lee Teng-hui Professorship of Engineering at Cornell University's College of Engineering, where he leads research in computer architecture and systems. His roles include Vice Chair of ACM SIGARCH, IEEE Fellow, and past leadership roles in ISCA, MICRO, and IEEE Computer Society journals. He has received prestigious awards such as the NSF CAREER Award, IBM/Qualcomm Faculty Awards, and multiple teaching accolades including Tau Beta Pi Professor of the Year (2011). Education: Licenciado en Informática de Sistemas (1996), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia M.S. (1999) and Ph.D. (2002) in Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign His research focuses on computer architecture , including microprocessors, multiprocessors, memory subsystems, embedded systems, and processing-in-memory (PIM) innovations. He co-leads the DARPA/SRC ACE Center for Evolvable Computing and NSF's CROPPS Center, and previously co-founded Cornell's Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA). His work bridges hardware-software co-design and sustainable computing. Key Contributions: Advancing energy-efficient multiprocessor architectures Developing PIM frameworks like PUMICE and Membrane Market-based resource allocation systems (e.g., XChange, ReBudget) His advising spans over 15 graduate students and has guided Merrill Presidential Scholars. Current research explores evolvable computing paradigms and AI hardware acceleration, reflecting his dual focus on foundational architecture and applied systems innovation.
David Martens is a Professor of Data Science at the University of Antwerp , where he directs the Applied Data Mining Research Group within the Faculty of Business and Economics . He also serves as Chair of the Department of Engineering Management and Director of the Antwerp Center on Responsible AI . His academic work spans data mining , interpretable machine learning , and the societal impact of AI . PhD in Applied Economic Sciences (KU Leuven, 2008) Director, Antwerp Center on Responsible AI Chair, Department of Engineering Management Martens' research focuses on responsible AI and data ethics , with applications in finance, public policy, and behavioral analysis. His recent publications emphasize counterfactual explanations , LLM interpretability , and privacy implications in AI systems. His articles reveal trends in Explainable AI (XAI) , including narrative-driven explanations , graph neural networks , and ethical challenges like monetization risks and algorithmic bias. Keywords span Computer Science , Artificial Intelligence , and Behavioral Data . Martens is a leading voice in data science ethics , authoring the book Data Science Ethics: Concepts, Techniques, and Cautionary Tales (Oxford University Press, 2022). He combines academic rigor with industry experience, having consulted for banks, telecom firms, and startups in fraud detection and digital advertising .
Dr. Ian Yi Han is an Assistant Professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore (NUS), and Co-Director of the Center for Health Intervention and Policy Evaluation Research (HIPER). His research focuses on evaluating community-based health interventions, telehealth programs, and the impact of built environments on health behaviors. He holds a Ph.D. in Behavioral Nutrition from Columbia University, an M.A. in Psychology in Education, and a B.Sc. in Neural Science & Psychology from New York University. Key research areas include programme evaluation, population health, health services research, and dietary behaviors. He explores how interventions can improve patient experiences and population health outcomes, particularly through telemedicine and lifestyle modifications. His work has been published in journals like npj Digital Medicine, Metabolism, and the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Notable projects include studies on blood pressure telemonitoring, diabetes management during the pandemic, and supermarket intervention strategies for obesity prevention. Dr. Han has contributed to policy initiatives through roles such as Senior Research Fellow at the National University Health System and Lecturer at Columbia University. He advises on primary care research and collaborates on global health projects, emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions to public health challenges.
Professor Duc Duy (Louis) Nguyen is Professor in Finance at Durham University Business School. Previously, he was Associate Professor at King's College London and Assistant Professor at University of St Andrews. His research has been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and BBC. He holds a BSc in Computing from National University of Singapore, MSc in Accounting, Finance, and Management from University of Bristol, and PhD in Finance from University of Edinburgh. Research foci include: Climate risk integration in mortgage markets and corporate finance Impact of social policies (e.g., marriage equality) on credit access Corporate governance and misconduct prevention in banking Local information environments and fraud detection Cross-cultural dimensions of executive decision-making His publication portfolio demonstrates consistent examination of how institutional frameworks (regulation, culture, governance) shape financial behaviors and market outcomes, with recent emphasis on climate finance and social equity impacts. Awards include: David Hume Publication Prize (2015) Semi-finalist, FMA Europe Best Paper Award (2018) Finalist, FMA Asia/Pacific Best Paper Award (2019) Best Registered Report on "Politics and Corporate Power" Vietnam Symposium in Climate Transition Best Paper Award (2024) He currently supervises PhD candidates Bingzhi Zhang and Jing Wei. His externally funded research includes grants from British Academy/Leverhulme Trust and Carnegie UK Trust. He serves as Associate Editor for European Journal of Finance and British Accounting Review. As frequent speaker at central banks and policy forums (Federal Reserve Banks of New York & St. Louis), he translates research insights into regulatory practice and policy development.
Professor Kern Alexander is the Co-Director of the Oxford Bank Governance Programme at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School and holds the Chair in Law and Finance at the University of Zurich. His expertise lies in banking regulation, systemic financial risk, and environmental sustainability in financial markets. He advises global banks, governments, and international organizations on governance, risk management, and regulatory frameworks. His research focuses on integrating environmental risks into banking regulation, influencing debates on Basel III reforms and post-Brexit financial policies. He has authored influential works such as Principles of Banking Regulation (2019) and provided evidence to UK parliamentary committees on financial services and sustainability. Professor Alexander has advised the G20, United Nations, European Parliament, and European Commission on financial regulation and sustainability. He teaches executive education programs for major banks and serves as a Specialist Advisor to the UK Parliament's Financial Services Act 2012 Committee.
