Mushtaq Khan is a Professor in the Department of Economics at SOAS University of London . His research focuses on governance, corruption, industrial policy, and structural transformation in developing countries, with particular emphasis on Bangladesh, Nepal, and Nigeria. Research Interests : Corruption and Anti-Corruption Strategies Political Settlements and Governance Industrial Policy Design Climate Adaptation and Public Health Systems Policy Contributions : His work addresses challenges such as collusive contracting in energy sectors, doctor absenteeism in rural healthcare, and dual-use climate projects as anti-corruption tools. Advising : He has supervised theses on industrial policy in Nigeria, economic transformation in Rwanda, and federalism in Nepal.
Baris Istipliler is a habilitation candidate and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Mannheim's Business School within the Management department, specifically at the Chair of Entrepreneurship and SME Research. He completed his PhD summa cum laude at the University of Mannheim and holds an MSc from the same institution. His educational background includes: MSc from University of Mannheim PhD from University of Mannheim (summa cum laude) Baris's research focuses on entrepreneurial cognition and behavior, SME innovation, transgenerational entrepreneurship, and family business research. His work has been published in top-tier journals including Organization Science, Journal of Management Studies, British Journal of Management, Small Business Economics, Journal of Business Research, and Journal of Small Business Management, demonstrating expertise in organizational theory and entrepreneurial dynamics within small-to-medium enterprises and family businesses. His scholarly recognition includes: DAAD scholarship supporting his 2021–2022 visiting scholar position at Stanford University's SCANCOR Joachim Herz Foundation Add-on Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Economics (2025–2026) Baris serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Small Business Management and Editorial Review Board member for the Journal of Family Business Strategy. During his MSc studies, he gained industry experience at multinational corporations across treasury and investor relations, controlling, entrepreneurial finance, financial accounting, and operations, bridging academic research with practical business applications.
Dr. Jérôme Verny is an Associate Professor specializing in transport, logistics, and supply chain management. He is the founder and director of the research institute in innovative transport and logistics, as well as the co-founder of the DISC Master's program (Digital & Innovative Supply Chain) in Paris and the Mobility Accelerator. His expertise spans digitalization in logistics, blockchain applications, and sustainable development. Educated at the University of Lille Nord de France (PhD in Economics and Management) and engineering schools like École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, he advises both public institutions (OECD, EU) and private enterprises on transportation strategies. Research Interests: Dr. Verny focuses on supply chain innovation, digital transformation, and strategic logistics. His work integrates blockchain technology for supply chain transparency, optimizes last-mile delivery in urban environments, and analyzes the impact of geopolitical actors like China on global trade networks. He also explores sustainable practices in transportation, including CO2 reduction strategies and pandemic response logistics. Awards: Recipient of the 2009 OECD-FIT Young Researcher Prize in Transport. His contributions bridge academic research with practical applications in industry, policy, and international trade. Key Activities: Co-founded the DISC Master’s program and leads research initiatives on blockchain adoption, Arctic shipping routes, and Mediterranean trade dynamics. He actively contributes to conferences such as the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) and publishes in journals like Structural Change and Economic Dynamics and International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics . Labs/Teams: Directs the Institut de Recherche en Transport et Logistique Innovante and collaborates with institutions like the OECD and European Commission on transport policy. His interdisciplinary approach involves engineering, economics, and data science to address global supply chain challenges.
Erik P.M. Vermeulen is a Full Professor of Business and Financial Law at Tilburg University and a key researcher at the Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) in the Netherlands. He also serves as Senior Counsel Corporate/Vice President at Philips International B.V. , focusing on corporate governance, M&A, and securities law. His academic work spans comparative company law, innovation, and sustainable legal frameworks. Current Affiliation: Professor at Tilburg Law School Practice: Corporate governance and venture capital at Philips His research explores how legal structures influence corporate competitiveness and innovation, particularly in digitalization and AI. He emphasizes the intersection of Law & Technology , Responsible Organizations , and Entrepreneurial Finance . Recent article trends include insights on: 2025: AI-driven corporate transformation and global compliance 2024: Gen X's tech struggles and urban well-being 2020: Evolution of governance frameworks He directs Tilburg's International Business Law Program and advises SMEs through the International Venture Club . His global teaching spans institutions in Colombia, Belgium, Japan, and Israel.
Assoc Prof Ying Chen is an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore , affiliated with the Department of Mathematics, Asian Institute of Digital Finance (as Academic Director of PhD Program in Digital FinTech 2022–2024), Risk Management Institute (2019–2023), Department of Statistics and Data Science (2019–2023), and Department of Economics (2018–2023). She also contributes to NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering since 2016. Research Interests include: AI forecasting and quantum computing for finance Nonstationary time series and functional data analysis Energy data analytics and precision medicine Network autoregression and spatial-temporal modeling Explainable AI and citation metrics Portfolio liquidation and market-making algorithms Article Trends demonstrate expertise in: Adaptive forecasting for gas flows and electricity prices Blockchain network influence detection Quantum computing applications in finance Functional autoregression with mixed predictors Credit rating fairness and explainability High-resolution implied volatility modeling Scientific Awards include: ISI Elected Member (2016–) International Statistical Institute Council (2023–2027) IASC Scientific Secretary (2017–2019, 2023–2025) Advisory roles for EU FIN-TECH and xAIM projects
Professor Khaled Hussainey is a Professor of Accounting at Bangor Business School, appointed in April 2024. He previously held academic roles at Portsmouth, Plymouth, Stirling, Manchester, and Ain Shams Universities. With over 25 years of teaching experience, his research focuses on corporate narrative reporting, XBRL, and sustainability. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and secured grants from ESRC, Qatar National Research Foundation, and others. His qualifications include a Ph.D. in Accounting & Finance from the University of Manchester (2004), an M.Sc. from the University of Birmingham (2000), and a B.Com. from Ain Shams University (1994). He has supervised 56 PhD and 7 DBA theses. Research interests include corporate governance, earnings management, Islamic accounting, and big data. He serves as Co-Editor of the Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting and Editor of the International Journal of Emerging Markets . His work has been recognized in Stanford University's Top 2% Researchers list (2023). Grants include £60,000 from ESRC (2005), $120,000 from Qatar NFR (2014), and £48,412 from the British Council (2019). He has held visiting professorships at King Khalid University, Tunis University, and others. He actively participates in international conferences and serves as an external assessor for promotions and research funds globally. His recent articles address sustainability reporting, FinTech disclosure, and climate governance. He emphasizes interdisciplinary research linking accounting practices with technological and environmental trends.
Confidence Duku is a researcher at Wageningen University & Research, specializing in climate resilience and agricultural systems. Their work integrates climate science, hydrology, and machine learning to address food security, deforestation impacts, and flood forecasting in data-scarce regions. Research Interests: Climate change modeling in Eastern Africa Hydrology-guided neural networks for flood forecasting Agricultural resilience (common bean, green gram) under climate stressors Economic impacts of deforestation in Brazil Climate services for financial institutions and SMEs Notable Contributions: Developed frameworks for climate-smart business planning and flood prediction, with a focus on regions like East Africa and Brazil. Their work emphasizes ecosystem services and adaptation strategies. Collaborations: Active in multi-institutional projects, including partnerships with SNV and Copernicus. Led LVVN projects on cascading climate risks and reforestation impacts.
Dr Isik Akin is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Bath Spa University and leads the Accounting Pathway. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules including Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Corporate Financial Management, and Quantitative Research Methods. Education: PhD in Accounting and Finance (Bath Spa University), PhD in Economics and Finance (Istanbul Gelisim University), MSc in Finance (University of the West of England), BSc in Mathematics (Trakya University) Professional Qualifications: Fellowship in Higher Education Academy, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) His research focuses on Behavioral Finance , FinTech , Credit Risk Management , and Sustainable Finance . Recent publications analyze: Enterprise valuation dynamics (FTSE 100) Metaverse asset valuation frameworks Interconnected financial markets (stocks, commodities, crypto) Green investments in real estate He has secured significant international funding including the Connect4Innovation UK-Turkey partnership grant (2021-2022, £50,000) and coordinated EU projects like the Life-Long Learning Programme (2016-2017). Scientific Awards & Roles: Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) certified Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Advisory Board Member: Izlek Academic Journal, Metropolitan Business Review Editorial Board Member: International Journal of Economics and Financial Research His career spans multiple institutions including Worcester University and University of Arts London, with expertise in international finance, quantitative methods, and financial globalization.
Prof. Dr. Peter Gomber is Chair of e-Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany. He serves as Co-Chairman and member of the Board of the 'efl – the Data Science Institute', an industry-academic partnership between Frankfurt and Darmstadt Universities and leading industry partners. Additionally, he is a member of the Exchange Council of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Supervisory Board of Clearstream Banking AG, and Research Fellow at the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE in Frankfurt. Prof. Gomber received his Ph.D. at the Institute of Information Systems at the University of Giessen in 1999 after graduating in Business Administration. Before joining Goethe University in 2004, he worked for five years as Director, Head of Market Development Cash Markets and Xetra Research at Deutsche Börse AG, where he developed new market models and products for cash market trading on Xetra. His research focuses on market microstructure theory, digital finance and fintech, regulatory impact on financial markets, and electronic trading systems. With over 150 publications in leading international journals, his work has significantly influenced the field, particularly his highly cited papers on the Fintech Revolution. His recent research examines market fragmentation, circuit breakers, research unbundling under MiFID II, and the application of AI in financial markets. Prof. Gomber's extensive publication record shows a clear evolution from traditional market microstructure and electronic trading systems toward digital finance, fintech innovations, and regulatory impact analysis. His work bridges technical aspects of financial markets with regulatory considerations, demonstrating how technological innovations interact with market structure and regulation. His scientific recognition includes: IBM Shared University Research Grant (2007) Reuters Innovation Award (2000) Best Paper Award of the Journal of the Association for Information Systems (2020) Best Information Systems Publications Award (2020) Top 1 and Top 3 most cited articles in Fintech research (2025 bibliometric analysis) Prof. Gomber has successfully supervised numerous PhD students, including Tino Cestonaro who won the Best PhD Paper Award 2025. He has acquired significant research funds from both public institutions and the private sector. Notably, a market model invention by Prof. Gomber was granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, with two additional market model inventions filed for patent in Europe and the US. He leads an active research team at the Chair of e-Finance, including researchers like Benjamin Clapham, Micha Bender, and Tino Cestonaro. The team collaborates closely with the efl – the Data Science Institute and the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, bridging academic research with practical applications in financial markets.
Professor Dr. Michael Woywode is a full professor and holds the Chair of SME Research and Entrepreneurship at the University of Mannheim , within the Business School . His research and teaching are embedded in the Institute for SME Research and Entrepreneurship (ifm Mannheim) , a central research institute of the university, and the Mannheim Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MCEI) , which offers entrepreneurship courses university-wide. Research Interests: Family Firms: Succession planning, leadership transitions, and post-succession innovation. Entrepreneurship: Founder behavior, startup ecosystems, and entrepreneurial decision-making. Digitalization in SMEs: Competitiveness, digital transformation, and innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Self-Employment & Labor Markets: New forms of self-employment and their societal implications. Teaching: Prof. Woywode teaches across Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels, offering courses such as Strategic and International Management , Introduction to Entrepreneurship , and Managing the Family Business . Research Output: His recent publications span high-impact journals including Organization Science , Family Business Review , and Journal of Small Business Management , with a clear focus on entrepreneurship, family business, and institutional theory. Team & Collaboration: He leads a multidisciplinary team including postdocs, PhD candidates, and research associates, working closely with the MCEI and ifm Mannheim to foster entrepreneurship research and education.
Prof. Diane DE SAINT AFFRIQUE is a full-time Professor at SKEMA Business School (France) since 2019, specializing in Business Law, Ethics, and Governance. She holds a Doctorat d'Etat en Droit (2002) from Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas, with additional qualifications from ESSEC Business School and other institutions. Her academic leadership roles include Head of the Contract Law Master program (2016–present), Head of the Law Department (2003–2014), and responsible for the Master in Business Law (2006–2016). Research Focus: Her work centers on corporate governance, sustainable finance, AI ethics in healthcare and business, and legal frameworks for responsible business practices (RSE). She explores tensions between regulatory compliance and corporate autonomy, with recent emphasis on duty of vigilance legislation and AI accountability. Key Contributions: Over 30+ publications include analyses of: Legal implications of AI in medicine and business Corporate social responsibility and judicialization trends Religious freedom in French workplaces Data sovereignty and AI governance Affiliations & Impact: She chairs the French Academy of Legal Studies and Business, serves on the Board of VITAMINE T, and advises institutions like IFSI Ambroise-Paré. Her work frequently bridges legal theory with practical business challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions for global governance issues.
Dr. Godfred Afrifa is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Senior Tutor (Canterbury) at Kent Business School , University of Kent. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at IESEG School of Management (France) since 2014 and at ISCID-CO International Business School (France) since 2016. PhD in Finance and Risk (Bournemouth University, 2013) MSc in Finance (University of Leicester, 2008) BSc in Applied Accounting (Oxford Brookes University) HND in Accounting (Kumasi Polytechnic) Chartered Accountant and Certificate in Insurance (Chartered Insurance Institute) His research explores the intersection of corporate governance , working capital management , and microfinance institutions . He investigates how CSR governance affects business practices, the dynamics of trade credit in SMEs, and the role of regional development in service-sector performance. His recent work also covers linguistic influences on financial reporting and pedagogical innovations in accounting education. Dr. Afrifa's 15 most recent publications (2020–2025) span topics like CSR decoupling , firm identity changes , credit policies , and microfinance integrity , with methodologies including stochastic frontier analysis and cross-country comparisons . His work frequently addresses financial strategies in SMEs and sustainability in supply chains and development. Scientific Awards : Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (2015), Affiliate Member of ACCA (2004). Dr. Afrifa supervises Mohammad Abwen (PhD thesis: Credibility of CSR Disclosure ) and welcomes PhD candidates in SME management , working capital , and microfinance . His Visiting Lecturer roles at French institutions highlight international collaboration. The 2023 Evaluation Report on Re:Generation 2031 underscores his work in sustainable development beyond traditional finance.
Christian FISCH is an Associate Professor in Business Economics and Entrepreneurship at the University of Luxembourg's Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT). His research focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship with digital technologies, venture finance, and socio-cultural influences. Key areas include blockchain-based financing mechanisms (e.g., ICOs), the psychological and digital identity aspects of entrepreneurs, and the impact of environmental/climate factors on entrepreneurial activity. He has published extensively in top journals, addressing topics such as B Corp certification signaling effects, venture capital decision-making, and the paradox of technology adoption among SMEs. His work spans both theoretical contributions (e.g., extending Schumpeterian frameworks) and applied analyses (e.g., post-pandemic entrepreneurial resilience). FISCH collaborates with global institutions, leveraging mixed-methods approaches including digital trace analysis from platforms like Twitter to study investor behavior and entrepreneurial traits. He has no listed awards but maintains active research agendas in decentralized finance, climate entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural entrepreneurial motivations. Professional activities include editorial roles in entrepreneurship journals and advising on innovation policy. His research often addresses emerging trends such as NFTs in creative industries, DAO governance structures, and the role of trademarks/patents in regional innovation ecosystems.
Debarshi K Nandy is Barbara and Richard M. Rosenberg Professor of Global Finance at Brandeis International Business School. He serves as MSF Program Director and Senior Associate Dean, with affiliations in Economics and Social Policy. Research focuses on venture capital, FinTech innovation, and entrepreneurial finance. Holds a Ph.D. from Boston College and M.S. from University of Calcutta. Research explores venture capital ecosystems, corporate payout policies, private equity impacts on trade, and behavioral aspects of financial decision-making. Recent work examines hedge fund strategies and student debt effects on investment behavior. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on financial intermediation mechanisms, with methodological innovation in natural experiments and empirical finance techniques. Fama/DFA Prize for Capital Markets and Asset Pricing Best Paper in Financial Institutions (FMA) Provost Research Award Directs Masters in Finance program and mentors startups. Affiliated with U.S. Census Bureau and NBER, with NSF and SSHRC research grants supporting work in financial innovation.
Alberto Brugnoli is a Full Professor in Applied Economics at the University of Bergamo, Italy, where he has served since 2020. He holds the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, International Cooperation and Sustainable Development and serves as Delegate for International Cooperation in Developing Countries at the University of Bergamo. His academic career spans over 30 years with progressive appointments from Researcher to Full Professor. Brugnoli's research focuses on International Development Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Local Development, Regional Governance and Policy, Migration, Municipal Financing, and Trade. His work demonstrates a strong international dimension through collaborations with institutions like Fundação Getulio Vargas (Brazil), McGill University (Canada), OECD, and the European Commission. His recent publications show a clear trajectory toward sustainability, decarbonization, and economic transition topics. His research output reveals a progression from traditional economic policy topics toward contemporary challenges of sustainability, climate change, and social development. The most recent publications (2022-2025) predominantly address decarbonization, sustainable economic transitions, and regional development strategies, reflecting current global economic policy priorities. Award by the Scientific Committee of the First Report on Finance of the Rosselli Foundation (2012) Award by the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy (2009) Recognition from Università Bocconi for editorial contributions (1999) Brugnoli has advised numerous international research projects and has extensive teaching experience in Development Economics, Regional Economics, and International Cooperation. His leadership extends to serving as President of the Master's Degree Program in Human Rights, Migration and International Cooperation (2018-2022) and various delegate roles at the University of Bergamo.
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