Keynote speakers Holistic and Sustainable Digital Transformation Conference

The Business Advantages of Using Blockchain: A discussion on how blockchain technology successfully supports businesses and corporates to achieve operational efficiencies and competitive advantages. The discussion will explore a few real-world case studies focusing on blockchain business applications.

Ross Thompson

Arden University

(BA, MA, MBA, DPM, ACIS, ACG)

Ross Thompson is an experienced accountant, company secretary, management consultant, author, and academic. He commenced his career in marketing with the RMC Group plc before moving into finance and accounting at CRUK, where he was Head of Clinical Research (finance and administration).  He then moved into academia and has worked at four UK universities. 

Ross's research and consultancy interests now focus on blockchain and business strategy. He has contributed to a variety of journals and periodicals in this area.  He is also currently involved in the launch of a blockchain start-up enterprise.

Ross is a qualified company secretary (ACIS) and holds postgraduate qualifications from Manchester Business School (Manchester University), Oxford Brookes University, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (blockchain diploma).  He is the co-author of Strategy in Practice (ICSA) with Adrian Pryce, which is currently in its fourth edition.

The role of project management in driving the reconceptualisation, redesign and reconfiguration of business practices to enhance digital (green) innovation. 

Dr Serkan Ceylan            

Arden University

(PhD, MBA, CMgr MCMI, PRINCE2, AgileFrame, AgilePM, PGCertLTHE)

Dr Serkan Ceylan joined us in 2021 as our Head of School of Project Management. Serkan was born in Hamburg, Germany, and moved to the UK between 2006-2022. He has visiting Professorships/Lectureships in Germany, Spain, Finland and France and has undertaken external examiner duties for universities such as Lancaster University and the University of Bedfordshire.

Dr Ceylan has secured over £1,000,000 worth of research and enterprise grants from research bodies such as Research England and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, as well as securing PhD scholarships from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. He acted as an APM board member for the WESSEX region and is a keen advocate to bring industry and academia closer together. He is a published author of the book: AgileFrame® Understanding multifaceted project approaches for successful project management. He has delivered many short courses to the industry and engaged in consultancy over the years.

How do businesses and their supply chains incorporate EDI in Emerging Markets using different theoretical lenses to improve our understanding of climate crisis and sustainability, technology adoption and humanitarian supply chains?

Dr Ade Oyedijo

University of Leicester

Lecturer in Operations & Supply Chain Management

Dr Ade Oyedijo's previous academic experience includes positions at institutions such as The Universities of Stirling, UCD, Hull, Newcastle, and York St John. Prior to joining academia, Ade worked in the Logistics and Transport industry for multinational firms such as FedEx and TNT, where he supervised the international movement of complex goods.

Dr Oyedjio obtained a PhD in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, an MSc in Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management, and a Postgraduate Certificate (Pg.Cert) in Advanced Research Training from Newcastle University. He is also a Chartered Procurement and Supply Professional (Chartered MCIPS) with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CMILT), and is the founder of the Society of Black Academics (SBA), an organisation that provides a voice and community for Black Academics and Aspiring Scholars in the UK.