Mark CHRISTENSEN is a Professor in the Accounting and Management Control Department at ESSEC Business School, Singapore , where he has worked since 2016. His career spans academia, public sector work, and consultancy. Holding a PhD from The University of Adelaide and a BA (Hons) from Macquarie University , his research explores accounting as a socio-technical construction , with a focus on public sector accrual accounting , performance reporting , and consultancy roles in accounting change . He has held academic appointments at institutions including the University of New South Wales, Copenhagen Business School, and Hokkaido University, and has been a visiting scholar at the University of Nordland and Nanzan University. Research Interests include public sector accounting reforms , environmental sustainability in accounting , and audit as an instrument of blame . His work addresses global accounting trends , epistemic communities , and power dynamics in budget processes , often through comparative international studies . Recent publications examine animal welfare accounting , neocolonial research practices , and accountants’ portrayals in popular culture . Professional Contributions include serving on the editorial boards of the Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal and Financial Accountability and Management , organizing conferences like the 10th Australia-Pacific Colloquium on Qualitative Research Methods , and delivering keynotes at international events such as the 15th International Conference on Business & Management . He has reviewed for over 15 journals and participated in global research networks.
Susan Scott is an Associate Professor in the Information Systems and Innovation Group at the Department of Management of The London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research focuses on the intersection of digital innovation and organizational change, particularly examining how information systems reshape work practices and risk management in financial services, travel, and publishing sectors. Education : PhD in Management Studies (University of Cambridge, 1993-1998), MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems (LSE, 1991-1992), BA in History and Politics (SOAS, 1987-1990) Research Interests Digital Innovation Work Practices and Organizational Structuring Organizational Technologies Strategy, Structures, and Information Infrastructures Managing Change Materiality and Practice Research Her recent publications analyze the materiality of digital systems through case studies in book publishing and travel , while historical studies trace the evolution of financial infrastructure like SWIFT . She explores how metadata, software standards, and social media reshape organizational accountability and risk practices. Scientific Awards ICIS Best Paper in Field Award (2007) Nordic Exchange Scholarship (2000-2001) ESRC PhD Scholarship (1993-1996) Best Paper Nominations (Academy of Management, ECIS, ICIS) Selected for European Research Paper of the Year (2014, 2015) Grants and Professional Roles Recipient of grants from SWIFT , British Academy , and HEFCE . She has served on editorial boards of Information and Organization and Organization Science , and co-chaired conferences like IFIP 8.2 and ICIS .
Professor Mehmet Demirbag serves as Deputy Dean of Essex Business School and Professor of International Business at the University of Essex. Previously, he held significant leadership roles including Vice Dean (Internationalisation) and Head of Department of Strategy and Organisation at Strathclyde Business School, and Chair in International Business at the University of Sheffield Management School. His extensive academic career spans over a decade in UK higher education institutions with specialized expertise in international business strategy. Dr. Demirbag completed his Master's degree in Business Analysis at the University of Leicester and earned his PhD at the University of Bradford Management School. His educational background established the foundation for his research focus on international business phenomena, particularly regarding emerging economies and multinational enterprises. His research interests center around internationalisation of R&D activities, offshore R&D, FDI location choice, product and regional diversification strategies of MNEs, multinationals from emerging countries, international mergers and acquisitions, and reverse knowledge transfer by emerging country MNEs. These interconnected research streams examine how firms navigate global markets, particularly focusing on the strategic behavior of emerging market multinationals and their interactions with developed economies. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic patterns across international business, strategic management, and human resource management domains. His work demonstrates particular emphasis on emerging market multinationals, cross-border knowledge transfer mechanisms, international strategic decision-making in uncertain environments, and the institutional contexts shaping multinational enterprise behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of his research bridges theoretical frameworks from international business, strategic management, and organizational studies. Professor Demirbag maintains active editorial roles as consulting editor of the Journal of International Management and advisory editor of Eurasian Business Review. He has co-guest edited special issues for numerous prestigious journals including British Journal of Management, Human Resource Management, Journal of World Business, and International Business Review, among others. His editorial contributions span research areas related to emerging market MNEs, MNEs in emerging markets, transitional periphery contexts, and human resource management in uncertain environments. As an educator, Professor Demirbag teaches International Business and International Strategic Management at undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive levels. His supervision portfolio includes doctoral candidates such as Selman Alisan Gemuhluoglu and previously guided Koushik Das Sarma to completion of their PhD in Business Administration. His research has received funding from various sources including the European Commission, and his work on FDI and SMEs has contributed to REF impact cases at both the University of Bradford and the University of Sheffield.
Karen Barad is Distinguished Professor of History of Consciousness at the University of California, Santa Cruz, with joint appointments in Philosophy and Feminist Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from SUNY Stony Brook and previously held a tenured position in a physics department before transitioning to interdisciplinary work. At UCSC, she is affiliated with the Humanities Division and serves as faculty in the History of Consciousness Department and Philosophy Department. Barad earned her Ph.D. in Physics from SUNY Stony Brook, building a foundation in theoretical particle physics before moving toward more interdisciplinary work. Her unique trajectory from physics to philosophy and feminist studies has shaped her distinctive approach to questions of matter, meaning, and ethics. Barad's research spans multiple disciplines including science studies, multispecies studies, physics, nuclear studies, continental philosophy, epistemology, ontology, ethics, politics, and philosophy of physics. Her theoretical framework of "agential realism" has significantly influenced feminist theory, science studies, and philosophy. She approaches questions of matter, meaning, and ethics through the lens of quantum physics, developing concepts like intra-action, diffraction, and entanglement as philosophical tools. Her work challenges traditional boundaries between subject/object, nature/culture, and human/non-human. Her publications over the last two decades reveal a consistent engagement with the intersections of science, philosophy, and ethics, particularly focusing on how material-discursive practices shape reality. Barad's work increasingly addresses ecological concerns, nuclear legacies, and questions of justice, demonstrating how scientific concepts can inform ethical and political thought. Her writing moves fluidly between theoretical physics, feminist theory, and philosophical inquiry, creating new pathways for understanding the entanglement of matter and meaning. honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University Fulbright fellowship Kresge College Teaching Award Barad has received significant recognition for her scholarship and her research has been generously supported by major funding organizations including the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Hughes Foundation, the Irvine Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. As Co-Director of the Science & Justice Graduate Training Program at UCSC, Barad has mentored numerous graduate students and shaped interdisciplinary research connecting scientific inquiry with questions of social justice. Her collaborative work with scholars like Jenny Reardon has helped establish science & justice as a vital field of inquiry. Barad's approach to mentoring emphasizes the ethical responsibilities inherent in scientific and philosophical practices. Through her leadership in the Science & Justice Research Center, which she helped found, Barad has fostered innovative collaborations across disciplines, creating spaces where scientists, humanists, and social scientists can work together on pressing contemporary issues. Her work continues to influence multiple fields, with ongoing projects exploring nuclear colonialism, ecological ethics, and the material consequences of scientific practices.
Serge Belongie is a Professor at the Department of Computer Science (DIKU) at the University of Copenhagen, where he holds dual affiliations with the Pioneer AI research section and the Image Analysis, Computational Modelling, and Geometry section. His academic position places him at the forefront of interdisciplinary research connecting computer vision with language models, geospatial analysis, and cultural understanding. Professor Belongie's research program encompasses several critical domains in modern artificial intelligence: Advanced computer vision and image analysis techniques Vision-language model integration and multimodal systems 3D point cloud processing and semantic segmentation Geospatial representation learning for environmental applications Fine-grained object recognition and detection Cultural context understanding in AI systems His recent publication record reveals a sophisticated trajectory toward developing precise control mechanisms for vision-language models, with applications spanning forensic analysis, cultural heritage preservation, and social media understanding. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in handling cultural context and enabling fine-grained manipulation of visual content through natural language interfaces. Professor Belongie maintains an active research group producing significant scholarly output, with over 280 research publications documented in his academic profile. His work is supported by research funding that enables cutting-edge exploration in multimodal AI systems with practical societal impact. He plays a key role in the Pioneer AI center at the University of Copenhagen, which focuses on advancing artificial intelligence through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research approaches that bridge theoretical computer science with real-world applications.
Associate Professor Aditi Dey holds a conjoint appointment at the Sydney Medical School within the University of Sydney , and serves as Manager of Surveillance at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) . Her work focuses on immunization program evaluation, vaccine coverage analysis, and surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases and adverse events. She has extensive experience in public health research, spanning roles in Thailand and India prior to her current positions in Australia. Dr Dey completed an MBBS, followed by postgraduate qualifications including a DTM&H (Tropical Medicine & Hygiene), Grad Dip Applied Science (Health Information Management), MPH, and a PhD from the University of Sydney. Her research integrates epidemiological analysis with public health policy implementation, particularly addressing health disparities in vaccination access and outcomes among Indigenous populations and other underserved groups. Her research interests prominently feature vaccine safety , epidemiological trends of infectious diseases, and the impact of vaccination policies such as Australia’s “No Jab, No Pay” initiative. She also investigates the effectiveness of vaccination programs for diseases like rotavirus, HPV, and varicella-zoster virus, often analyzing large-scale national health datasets. Notable contributions include evaluations of Australia’s HPV vaccination program, analysis of rotavirus vaccine efficacy, and assessments of adverse events following immunization. Her work emphasizes improving immunization coverage through better data systems and healthcare provider education, particularly for at-risk populations. Dr Dey actively contributes to public health efforts through teaching and course coordination at the University of Sydney, and collaborates with institutions like the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute . Her expertise bridges clinical practice, research, and policy, driving evidence-based improvements in Australia’s immunization landscape.
Patrick J. Murphy is a full Professor and the Goodrich Entrepreneurship Chair at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), serving as Founding Director of the highly acclaimed Barefield Entrepreneurship Program (BEP). He holds editorial leadership roles as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development and former Editor-in-Chief of Management Decision . Dr. Murphy’s academic journey includes a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2004), complemented by extensive international experience, including Mandarin fluency and prior work in Beijing. His research focuses on entrepreneurship theory, social enterprise, and historical case studies, with notable contributions like the Heptalogical Model of Entrepreneurship and analyses of Antebellum social ventures. Awards include Techstars’ 'All Star Mentor' (2024) and recognition as Illinois’ 'Entrepreneurship Professor of the Year' (2017). The BEP, under his leadership, has achieved 378% enrollment growth (2020–2024) and secured over $7M in funding. Dr. Murphy’s professional activities span academic service (e.g., Academy of Management Historian), community engagement (former Chicago Cultural Alliance Board President), and entrepreneurial ventures in racehorse breeding. His work bridges historical insights with modern challenges, emphasizing institutional forces, ethical leadership, and cross-cultural entrepreneurship.
Professor Mohamed Naim is a distinguished academic at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, where he holds the position of Professor in Logistics and Operations Management. He has served in several leadership roles, including former Head of the Logistics and Operations Management Section and former Deputy Dean at the Business School. He was also the founding director of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Cardiff (CAMSAC). He is actively engaged in high-impact research and industrial collaboration, currently leading a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Tower Cold Chain Solutions Ltd. and contributing to major research programs such as ASTUTE, ASTUTE2020, and AFAIR. His research interests center on the development of business systems engineering approaches to resilient supply chains, with a focus on sustainability, circularity, and flexibility in lean and agile systems. He has made significant contributions to supply chain dynamics, particularly in engineer-to-order (ETO) sectors such as construction and shipbuilding. His recent work explores digital transformation in logistics, including 5G-enabled smart ports, building information modelling (BIM), and AI-driven decision-making. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research, integrating operations management with healthcare (trauma systems), digital technologies, and sustainable industrial practices. His work frequently employs system dynamics, simulation, and empirical case studies to address complex supply chain challenges. Scientific Awards: Institution of Electrical Engineers' Manufacturing Division Premium (1996) Royal Academy of Engineering Global Research Award (2003) Professor Naim is actively involved in research supervision and has contributed to two Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) impact cases on innovative procurement and financially sustainable supply chains. He is a founding member of the Logistics Systems Dynamics Group (LSDG) and has led and co-directed multiple large-scale research initiatives. His work is characterized by strong industry engagement, particularly through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and collaborations with public sector bodies like the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). Research Centers and Teams: Logistics and Operations Management Section, Cardiff Business School Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Cardiff (CAMSAC) Logistics Systems Dynamics Group (LSDG) ASTUTE / ASTUTE2020 / ASTUTE East programmes AFAIR project (Expert Advisor)
Théodora PSYCHOYOU is Professor at the Department of Music and Musicology of Sorbonne University and a permanent member of the Institute for Research in Musicology (IReMus – UMR 8223), which she directed from 2022 to 2024. She currently serves as Director of the Collegium Musicæ institute of the Sorbonne University alliance and is responsible for two Master's programs: Interpretation of Early Music - Baroque Music track, and the Franco-Italian Master's in Musicology Research in partnership with the University of Palermo. Her research focuses on the history and mechanisms of discourse on music in 17th and early 18th century France, the economy and status of musical and theoretical sources, and religious music in the 17th century, particularly the works of Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704). Her specialty areas include early music (Baroque), historically informed practice, history of musical theory, music and science in the 17th and 18th centuries, religious music in the modern era, study of sources, musical ecdotics, reception of antiquity and Hellenism, and the Ancients and Moderns debate. She has organized numerous research seminars and conferences on these topics, including the Hellenism seminar and the ANR Agon project. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of music with science, philosophy, and cultural history from the 17th century to contemporary times. She has made significant contributions to understanding the reception of ancient musical thought in modern contexts, the relationship between music and scientific developments, and the cultural significance of musical practices across different historical periods and geographical contexts. Her work spans historical musicology, theoretical approaches, and contemporary applications. Mention spéciale du Prix des Muses 2010 Prix des Muses 2007 dans la catégorie ouvrage collectif As an academic leader, she has directed major research initiatives including the Hellenism seminar, ANR Agon project, and Baroque XXI Praxis. She serves as Vice President of the International Musicological Society (2022-2027) and has held significant administrative roles including Director of IReMus (2022-2024) and Director of Collegium Musicæ (2023-present). Her collaborative work extends to international partnerships, particularly with Greek institutions, reflecting her interest in Hellenism and Mediterranean musical cultures. Her laboratory work focuses on critical musical editions, performance practices, history of musical theories, historiography, gender studies in music, music and religion, iconography, organology, and aesthetics. She leads research teams investigating the intersection of music with other disciplines, particularly through the Collegium Musicæ which connects music with sciences.
Christopher Cramer is a Professor in the Department of Development Studies at SOAS University of London. He joined SOAS part-time in 1993 and full-time in 1996 after teaching in Cambridge and Maputo, Mozambique. He has served as Head of the Department of Development Studies and is currently Co-Director of the Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD) at SOAS. He designed and launched the MSc Violence, Conflict and Development, which marked its 25th year in 2025. Cramer earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge in 1994 with a thesis titled The Political Economy of War in Angola and Mozambique . Before joining SOAS, he worked for the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and the Macroeconomic Research Group (MERG) in South Africa during its democratic transition. Professor Cramer's research focuses on structural change, high value agriculture, industrial policy, development strategy, extreme deprivation, war to peace transitions, and labor in value chains. His work primarily draws on field research in Southern Africa and Ethiopia, with additional projects in Colombia and Brazil. He has made significant contributions to understanding the political economy of violence and conflict in developing countries, challenging conventional wisdoms about economic performance in African contexts. His recent work has increasingly focused on high-value agricultural exports as pathways to structural transformation, particularly examining how classification systems affect production processes. His recent publications show a strong emphasis on African economic development, with particular attention to labor conditions in global value chains and innovative approaches to measuring extreme deprivation. Cramer's work often challenges mainstream development economics frameworks, especially through his critiques of the Lewis Model, while developing practical tools like the Extreme Deprivation Index for poverty measurement in rural contexts. Editorial Board Member, Journal of Southern African Studies (1996-present) Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (2016) Visiting Professor at University of Johannesburg (2020) Professor Cramer has supervised numerous PhD students working on diverse topics including coffee policy in Ethiopia, non-state security actors in Nigeria, rural labor regimes in Sudan, and labor retention in Ethiopia's apparel industry. He designed and launched the pioneering MSc Violence, Conflict and Development program at SOAS, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. In 2025, he also started the innovative module Structural Change and Economic Development in Africa (SCEDA), co-designed with the Mandela School of Public Governance in South Africa, taught synchronously to cohorts at both institutions. As Co-Director of the Development Leadership Dialogue (DLD), Cramer leads an institute focused on understanding the political economy of development. He has served on various committees including the Royal African Society (as former Vice Chair), the University of London's Centre of African Studies (as former Chair), and SOAS committees including the Honorary Degrees Committee and the project board for the Paul Webley Wing construction project.
Stuart E. Middleton is a Professor in the Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) department at the University of Southampton, where he has been employed since 2003. His research bridges artificial intelligence with practical applications in social science, mental health, and security domains. He leads multiple research projects funded by DTP and CISDnS CDT, focusing on multimodal natural language processing and large language models for social good applications. Professor Middleton's research interests center on Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, and Human-in-the-loop AI systems. His work spans mental health applications (particularly suicide risk detection and mood change analysis), social media analysis for crisis mapping, geoparsing for location extraction, and argument mining in political discourse. He has developed numerous open-source NLP projects and datasets including CPIQA for climate science, ConversationMoC for mental health monitoring, and M-Arg for multimodal argument mining. His research demonstrates how AI can effectively support human decision-making in critical domains like mental healthcare, defense applications, and crisis management. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward applying LLMs to high-impact societal challenges, particularly in mental health monitoring and climate science verification. He has pioneered methods for detecting suicidal ideation in social media, identifying moments of mood change, and developing context-aware question answering for climate papers. His work consistently emphasizes the importance of human oversight in AI systems, with numerous publications on responsible AI, regulation, and human-in-the-loop approaches. Ranked 1st in ECAL-2024 shared task on suicidal ideation detection Ranked 1st in NAACL-2022 shared task on suicide risk and mood change classification Winner of 'best paper' award at WWW2002 Semantic Web Workshop Professor Middleton actively supervises PhD students through multiple funded projects including 'Multimodal Natural Language Processing for Computational Social Science', 'Large Language Models for Military Veteran Mental Health', and 'Large Language Models for Human/AI Information Foraging to Combat Digital Human Trafficking into Terrorism'. He has secured significant funding from UKRI, DSTL, and other sources to support his research in responsible AI applications. He organizes major workshops including the RAI UK Workshops on Responsible AI for Mental Health and AIUK workshops on AI for Data Rescue and Defense applications. His research group maintains numerous GitHub repositories with open-source NLP tools and datasets that have been widely adopted by the research community.
Clemencia Rodríguez is a Professor in the Department of Media Studies and Production at Temple University's Lew Klein College of Media and Communication. Her work bridges Colombian and Philadelphia-based research on citizens' media, focusing on environmental communication in post-conflict Colombia and local community media initiatives in the U.S. She co-founded OURMedia/NUESTROSMedios and serves on the Independence Public Media Foundation's board. Education: BA in Communication, Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) MA in Communication and Development, Ohio University PhD in International Telecommunications, Ohio University Research Focus: Community/alternative media theory War, peace, and media interactions Environmental communication in grassroots movements Media representations of gender, class, and race Teaching: Media studies Communication and social change Latin American media systems
Professor Helen Mitchell is a multidisciplinary scholar in music performance and perception at the University of Sydney's Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Her research explores the intersection of music practice with scientific discovery, focusing on vocal pedagogy, listener perception, and multisensory performance analysis. She holds a BA (Hons) from Oxford and a PhD from the Sydney Conservatorium. Previously, she served as Dean of Students at the University of Sydney's Women’s College (2004–2005). Research Interests: Mitchell’s work investigates listeners’ sound quality perception, vocal identity recognition, and the cognitive effects of verbal descriptions on musical memory. Notable projects include longitudinal studies on music training outcomes and current investigations into audio-visual integration in performer identification. Her ARC-funded research emphasizes practical applications in pedagogy and performance valuation. Grants & Collaborations: Key grants include the 2022 ARC Discovery Project on bel canto sound rediscovery (with Neal Peres Da Costa) and a 2014 OLT grant for perceptually-aware music leadership training. She collaborates with institutions like Sydney Living Museums via projects such as The Dowling Songbook Project, blending historical performance practice with educational innovation. Teaching & Supervision: Mitchell convenes postgraduate research methods courses and supervises Honours, Masters, DMA, and PhD students in music performance studies. She coordinates Honours research at the Conservatorium and integrates empirical approaches into ethics and methodology training. Affiliations: Member of the Charles Perkins Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary health and performance research.
Leslie A. DeChurch is a Professor and Department Chair at Northwestern University's School of Communication. She holds courtesy appointments in Management & Organizations at the Kellogg School of Management and Psychology at Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on organizational leadership, teamwork, multiteam systems, and human-AI collaboration, with applications in space exploration, Renaissance leadership, and virtual teams. PhD in Organizational Psychology, Florida International University MS in Organizational Psychology, Florida International University BS in Communication, University of Miami DeChurch established the ATLAS lab (Advancing Teams, Leaders, and Systems) to study leadership and teamwork through experiments, meta-analyses, and field studies. Her work spans space missions (NASA), virtual organizational effectiveness (NSF CAREER award), and historical leadership in Renaissance Florence. Recent publications highlight team diversity, communication networks in extreme environments, and human-AI collaboration. Awards include Fellowships from APA, APS, and SIOP. She served as President of INGRoup and co-edited *Multiteam Systems: An Organization Form for Dynamic and Complex Environments*. 2024/2023 Sage Publishing Awards for leadership research NSF CAREER Grant (2011-2017) Editorial leadership and National Research Council committee roles Her courses include organizational leadership, team decision-making, and managing AI. She directs the immersive Leading a Renaissance program in Florence, Italy.
Felix Gille is a researcher at the University of Zurich , affiliated with the Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care under the Faculty of Medicine. He leads the DSI-funded project "Data handling, security and protection: reaching conceptual equivalence for the concept of public trust in national electronic health records in Switzerland and neighboring countries," collaborating with Prof. von Wyl (IfIS/DSI, UZH) and Prof. Thouvenin (Faculty of Law, UZH). His work bridges health system and policy research, digital health, data law, and data security. Education: BSc in European Public Health, Maastricht University MMedSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management, Karolinska Institute PhD in Public Trust in Healthcare Systems, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Research Focus: Gille specializes in public trust dynamics within healthcare systems, particularly examining data governance, health policy, and ethical dimensions of digital health innovations. His projects analyze cross-national trust frameworks, biobanking ethics, AI in healthcare, and pandemic data sharing mechanisms. Scientific Contributions: His publications address critical issues such as GDPR impacts on research, trustworthiness of mHealth apps, and interdisciplinary approaches to health data policy. Articles span 2015–2025, emphasizing conceptual trust models, policy harmonization, and stakeholder engagement in health data systems. Awards & Roles: Fellow of the Swiss School of Public Health Associate Editor for Public Health Reviews
