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Our People
Associate Supervisors
All DREAM+PLAN Doctoral Candidates (DC's) will have a Senior and Associate Supervisor from their employing institution in Europe. DC's recruited under the double degree conditions will have a Senior and Associate supervisor from both the Employing Institution in Europe, as well as the same from RMIT University, Australia. DC's will also have a dedicated Industry Partner Mentor PLUS flexible access to a wider pool of EU-based Industry Partner Mentors, through the ISPIM extensive network.
Click on the images below for introductions to our Associate Supervisors.
Prof. Babak Abbasi
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Babak Abbasi is a professor of Business Analytics and Decision Sciences at RMIT University. His research focuses on industry-motivated quantitative modeling and decision-making under uncertainty applied to healthcare delivery improvement, supply chain coordination, resource allocation, service operations management, and manufacturing. His research has investigated leveraging the broader context in mathematical modelling, machine learning and stochastic/data-driven optimisation to improve decisions in the businesses and not-for-profit organizations. He serves currently as the associate editor for Decision Sciences journal.
Babak Abbasi is a professor of Business Analytics and Decision Sciences at RMIT University. His research focuses on industry-motivated quantitative modeling and decision-making under uncertainty applied to healthcare delivery improvement, supply chain coordination, resource allocation, service operations management, and manufacturing. His research has investigated leveraging the broader context in mathematical modelling, machine learning and stochastic/data-driven optimisation to improve decisions in the businesses and not-for-profit organizations. He serves currently as the associate editor for Decision Sciences journal.
Dr. Tanveer Adyel
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Dr Tanveer Adyel is a Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow at RMIT University (Australia). He is also the co-leader of the "Monitoring" research pillar at the RMIT Centre for Nature Positive Solutions. Dr Adyel, with an academic background in Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, works on plastic pollution and nature-based solutions for urban stormwater areas with special attention on monitoring, circular economy, life cycle assessment and alternative financial approach/accounting perspectives.
Dr Adyel’s research contributions are evident in his editorial leadership, having guest-edited special issues in academic journals, leading conference program committees, and chairing multiple seasons in academic conferences on interdisciplinary topics. Dr Adyel is very active in publishing research in peer-reviewed journals, as demonstrated by his 50+ Q1 journal articles. He has also published commentaries in prestigious journals, including Science (X3), Nature and The Lancet Planetary Health.
Dr. Adyel is an award-winning researcher. He won a highly prestigious 2022 Victorian Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year for his internationally significant achievements in building a more publicly engaged scientific leadership in Australia on plastic and microplastic research. The Australian Institute of Policy and Science announces the Tall Poppy Award every year to recognise and celebrate the intellectual and scientific excellence of young researchers in Australia. This award highlighted Dr Adyel’s passion on plastic circular economy and communication to promote a scientifically literate society.
Dr Tanveer Adyel is a Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow at RMIT University (Australia). He is also the co-leader of the "Monitoring" research pillar at the RMIT Centre for Nature Positive Solutions. Dr Adyel, with an academic background in Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, works on plastic pollution and nature-based solutions for urban stormwater areas with special attention on monitoring, circular economy, life cycle assessment and alternative financial approach/accounting perspectives.
Dr Adyel’s research contributions are evident in his editorial leadership, having guest-edited special issues in academic journals, leading conference program committees, and chairing multiple seasons in academic conferences on interdisciplinary topics. Dr Adyel is very active in publishing research in peer-reviewed journals, as demonstrated by his 50+ Q1 journal articles. He has also published commentaries in prestigious journals, including Science (X3), Nature and The Lancet Planetary Health.
Dr. Adyel is an award-winning researcher. He won a highly prestigious 2022 Victorian Young Tall Poppy Scientist of the Year for his internationally significant achievements in building a more publicly engaged scientific leadership in Australia on plastic and microplastic research. The Australian Institute of Policy and Science announces the Tall Poppy Award every year to recognise and celebrate the intellectual and scientific excellence of young researchers in Australia. This award highlighted Dr Adyel’s passion on plastic circular economy and communication to promote a scientifically literate society.
Dr. Ekaterina Albats
LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland.
Katja/Ekaterina Albats, D.Sc. (Tech.), is a postdoctoral researcher at LUT University Business School (Finland) and a visiting professor in innovation management at media Akademie - Hochschule Stuttgart (mAHS, Germany). Katja specializes in technology and innovation management for sustainable development, knowledge and technology transfer, collaborative innovation, novel and digital forms of organizing, technology entrepreneurship and small business management. Katja has published in highly ranked academic journals as Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Small Business Management, Journal of Business Research and Journal of Technology Transfer, among others. Katja has served as a guest editor in Triple Helix Journal and is in Editorial Review Board of R&D Management Journal. During her prior postdoc at The Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research (SCANCOR), at Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Katja has been closely studying the case of Stanford and greater Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem, its knowledge and technology transfer practices.
Katja/Ekaterina Albats, D.Sc. (Tech.), is a postdoctoral researcher at LUT University Business School (Finland) and a visiting professor in innovation management at media Akademie - Hochschule Stuttgart (mAHS, Germany). Katja specializes in technology and innovation management for sustainable development, knowledge and technology transfer, collaborative innovation, novel and digital forms of organizing, technology entrepreneurship and small business management. Katja has published in highly ranked academic journals as Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Small Business Management, Journal of Business Research and Journal of Technology Transfer, among others. Katja has served as a guest editor in Triple Helix Journal and is in Editorial Review Board of R&D Management Journal. During her prior postdoc at The Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research (SCANCOR), at Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, Katja has been closely studying the case of Stanford and greater Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem, its knowledge and technology transfer practices.
Dr. Torgeir Aleti
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Torgeir Aleti is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
He has published several books and articles, mainly related to consumer socialisation and social learning processes. His work on how family members learn consumer skills from each other has won two Emerald Outstanding Paper awards. Torgeir’s research investigates the social and relational aspects of consumption choices and behaviour.
Torgeir co-founded Shaping Connections (www.shapingconnections.org), a research program investigating seniors and technology. Shaping Connections collaborates with senior organisations such as the University of the Third Age (U3A) Network Victoria and Life Activities Clubs of Victoria, as well as Australia’s peak communications consumer organisation, ACCAN (The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network). Through Shaping Connections, Torgeir regularly contributes to mainstream media in Australia, such as the ABC, the Age, and the Guardian.
Torgeir Aleti is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
He has published several books and articles, mainly related to consumer socialisation and social learning processes. His work on how family members learn consumer skills from each other has won two Emerald Outstanding Paper awards. Torgeir’s research investigates the social and relational aspects of consumption choices and behaviour.
Torgeir co-founded Shaping Connections (www.shapingconnections.org), a research program investigating seniors and technology. Shaping Connections collaborates with senior organisations such as the University of the Third Age (U3A) Network Victoria and Life Activities Clubs of Victoria, as well as Australia’s peak communications consumer organisation, ACCAN (The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network). Through Shaping Connections, Torgeir regularly contributes to mainstream media in Australia, such as the ABC, the Age, and the Guardian.
Dr. Rebecca Van Amber
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Rebecca Van Amber is a Senior Lecturer at RMIT University’s School of Fashion and Textiles, leading the shift from sustainability to regenerative thinking within the fashion and textiles industry. Through her leadership in the BP326 Curriculum Architecture project, she has embedded regenerative principles in fashion education, and her contributions have been recognized with Teaching Excellence and Emerging Leadership awards in 2024.
Through her work on the Sustainability Victoria-funded Refashioning project, Dr. Van Amber advances circular economy principles, shaping industry practices. Her testimony before the Australian Senate’s inquiry into greenwashing highlights her national impact on policy, while her leadership of the Fashion Fix Repair Café project fosters community-driven circular economy practices for fashion and textiles. Her role in the H&M Foundation Global Change award Denim Dyed Denim project (2017), pioneered materials innovation and textile-to-textile recycling.
Dr. Van Amber currently supervises PhD students exploring circular economy, materials innovation, and regenerative futures. With global industry experience and a PhD from the University of Otago, she bridges research, practice, and policy to drive meaningful change.
Dr. Rebecca Van Amber is a Senior Lecturer at RMIT University’s School of Fashion and Textiles, leading the shift from sustainability to regenerative thinking within the fashion and textiles industry. Through her leadership in the BP326 Curriculum Architecture project, she has embedded regenerative principles in fashion education, and her contributions have been recognized with Teaching Excellence and Emerging Leadership awards in 2024.
Through her work on the Sustainability Victoria-funded Refashioning project, Dr. Van Amber advances circular economy principles, shaping industry practices. Her testimony before the Australian Senate’s inquiry into greenwashing highlights her national impact on policy, while her leadership of the Fashion Fix Repair Café project fosters community-driven circular economy practices for fashion and textiles. Her role in the H&M Foundation Global Change award Denim Dyed Denim project (2017), pioneered materials innovation and textile-to-textile recycling.
Dr. Van Amber currently supervises PhD students exploring circular economy, materials innovation, and regenerative futures. With global industry experience and a PhD from the University of Otago, she bridges research, practice, and policy to drive meaningful change.
Dr. Yuksel Ayden
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Yuksel Ayden is a Lecturer at the School of Management, RMIT University, Australia. He holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Deakin University. His research focuses on how organizations make strategic decisions and take actions, particularly in the areas of innovation and international expansion.
Dr. Ayden’s work has been published in leading academic journals, including Journal of International Management, and with publishers such as Palgrave Macmillan. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Business Research. His research has been presented at prominent conferences, including the Strategic Management Society and the Academy of International Business annual meetings.
Dr. Ayden has extensive experience in strategy development and policymaking, advising emerging multinationals during their early stages of international expansion. He has taught courses on strategy, innovation, and business ecosystems at both undergraduate and MBA levels across Australia, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining RMIT, he was a lecturer at the University of Adelaide.
Dr. Yuksel Ayden is a Lecturer at the School of Management, RMIT University, Australia. He holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Deakin University. His research focuses on how organizations make strategic decisions and take actions, particularly in the areas of innovation and international expansion.
Dr. Ayden’s work has been published in leading academic journals, including Journal of International Management, and with publishers such as Palgrave Macmillan. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Business Research. His research has been presented at prominent conferences, including the Strategic Management Society and the Academy of International Business annual meetings.
Dr. Ayden has extensive experience in strategy development and policymaking, advising emerging multinationals during their early stages of international expansion. He has taught courses on strategy, innovation, and business ecosystems at both undergraduate and MBA levels across Australia, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining RMIT, he was a lecturer at the University of Adelaide.
Dr. Ashenafi Biru
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Ashenafi Biru is a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the School of Management, RMIT University. He serves as the Program Manager for the Strategy and Innovation Major in the Bachelor of Business program and is the co-lead of the RMIT Entrepreneurial Academics Network.
Ashenafi’s research focuses on innovative entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystems, firm strategies, and institutional dynamics. His work examines diverse aspects of entrepreneurial ecosystems in varying contexts, as well as exploring the 'dark side' of entrepreneurship. His research has been published in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Management, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, International Business Review, and Energy Economics, among others.
As an educator, Ashenafi teaches courses in entrepreneurship and strategy, utilising innovative methods to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. He is particularly committed to fostering creative and collaborative learning environments through interactive teaching approaches. Recently, he developed a serious board game called ‘The Entrepreneur within You’ which is designed to enhance the learning experience of entrepreneurship and innovation students.
His teaching excellence has been recognised with several awards, including:
2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students’ Learning
2024 RMIT College of Business and Law Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students’ Learning
2023 School of Management Award for Collaborations in Learning and Teaching
2022 School of Management Award for Innovative Learning and Teaching Practice.
Ashenafi Biru is a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the School of Management, RMIT University. He serves as the Program Manager for the Strategy and Innovation Major in the Bachelor of Business program and is the co-lead of the RMIT Entrepreneurial Academics Network.
Ashenafi’s research focuses on innovative entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystems, firm strategies, and institutional dynamics. His work examines diverse aspects of entrepreneurial ecosystems in varying contexts, as well as exploring the 'dark side' of entrepreneurship. His research has been published in leading academic journals, including the Journal of Management, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, International Business Review, and Energy Economics, among others.
As an educator, Ashenafi teaches courses in entrepreneurship and strategy, utilising innovative methods to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. He is particularly committed to fostering creative and collaborative learning environments through interactive teaching approaches. Recently, he developed a serious board game called ‘The Entrepreneur within You’ which is designed to enhance the learning experience of entrepreneurship and innovation students.
His teaching excellence has been recognised with several awards, including:
2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Citation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students’ Learning
2024 RMIT College of Business and Law Award for Outstanding Contribution to Students’ Learning
2023 School of Management Award for Collaborations in Learning and Teaching
2022 School of Management Award for Innovative Learning and Teaching Practice.
Assoc. Prof. Janneke Blijlevens
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Associate Professor Janneke Blijlevens, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing.
Social impact and interdisciplinarity are my middle name. I work with students, industry partners, and research collaborators to develop and implement learning experiences, behavioural interventions, and designs that catalyse social change in the world. Tackling complex societal issues such as cultural inclusion, sexual harassment and assault, financial literacy, and future-forward education requires the theoretical and methodological lenses of multiple disciplines. My experience in design and marketing schools, and background in cognitive (experimental) psychology, gives me a unique ability to understand different ways of thinking and working with collaborators from different backgrounds. I have, over the years, carefully crafted a methodology to solve complex societal problems and design innovative, evidence-based behavioural interventions that make a real impact in the world. I am passionate in preparing my students for their positive role in society and for them to learn how to use their (thinking and operational) powers for good.
Associate Professor Janneke Blijlevens, School of Economics, Finance and Marketing.
Social impact and interdisciplinarity are my middle name. I work with students, industry partners, and research collaborators to develop and implement learning experiences, behavioural interventions, and designs that catalyse social change in the world. Tackling complex societal issues such as cultural inclusion, sexual harassment and assault, financial literacy, and future-forward education requires the theoretical and methodological lenses of multiple disciplines. My experience in design and marketing schools, and background in cognitive (experimental) psychology, gives me a unique ability to understand different ways of thinking and working with collaborators from different backgrounds. I have, over the years, carefully crafted a methodology to solve complex societal problems and design innovative, evidence-based behavioural interventions that make a real impact in the world. I am passionate in preparing my students for their positive role in society and for them to learn how to use their (thinking and operational) powers for good.
Dr. Sanne Bor
LUT University, Lappeenranta, Finland.
Sanne Bor is a Postdoctoral Researcher at LUT Business School with research interest on meta-organization, sustainability, inter-organizational collaboration, societal change, small business and entrepreneurship Her research has been published in high quality journals in organization science (Organization Studies), sociology (Current Sociology; Journal of Organizational Sociology), environmental science (Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning), Future studies (Technological Forecasting and Societal Change), and general management (Journal of Management Inquiry).
Sanne Bor is a Postdoctoral Researcher at LUT Business School with research interest on meta-organization, sustainability, inter-organizational collaboration, societal change, small business and entrepreneurship Her research has been published in high quality journals in organization science (Organization Studies), sociology (Current Sociology; Journal of Organizational Sociology), environmental science (Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning), Future studies (Technological Forecasting and Societal Change), and general management (Journal of Management Inquiry).
Assoc. Prof. Jolita Ceicyte
Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Jolita Čeičytė-Pranskūnė holds the position of Associate Professor in Innovation Management at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania. She was also a Senior Resident Researcher at the Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano in Italy from 2021 to 2022. Jolita is systematically developing her research trajectory towards responsible, social, circular innovations, innovation ecosystems, and self-organization. Jolita's research on responsible innovation, including her master's thesis and dissertation, has been awarded by the national scientific community, including awards from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the Lithuanian Society of Young Scientists, the Association of Science and Engineering of Lithuania, and an international organization the Baltic University Programme (Uppsala, Sweden). Jolita is a member of the innovation and ethics research team at the Center for Global R&D and Innovation (GLORAD). With a team, Jolita has developed guidelines entitled "Responsible Business Implementation Methodology for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Lithuania" and "Stakeholder Engagement Guide for Developing Responsible Business," commissioned by the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labor. Based on Jolita’s research topics, she provides consultations for firms and delivers public lectures.
Jolita Čeičytė-Pranskūnė holds the position of Associate Professor in Innovation Management at the School of Economics and Business, Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania. She was also a Senior Resident Researcher at the Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano in Italy from 2021 to 2022. Jolita is systematically developing her research trajectory towards responsible, social, circular innovations, innovation ecosystems, and self-organization. Jolita's research on responsible innovation, including her master's thesis and dissertation, has been awarded by the national scientific community, including awards from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the Lithuanian Society of Young Scientists, the Association of Science and Engineering of Lithuania, and an international organization the Baltic University Programme (Uppsala, Sweden). Jolita is a member of the innovation and ethics research team at the Center for Global R&D and Innovation (GLORAD). With a team, Jolita has developed guidelines entitled "Responsible Business Implementation Methodology for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Lithuania" and "Stakeholder Engagement Guide for Developing Responsible Business," commissioned by the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labor. Based on Jolita’s research topics, she provides consultations for firms and delivers public lectures.
Assoc. Prof. Marc Cheah-Mañe
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · Barcelona Tech - UPC, Barcelona, Spain.
Marc Cheah-Mane received the degree in industrial engineering from the School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona (ETSEIB), Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in 2013, and the PhD degree in electrical engineering from Cardiff University, Cardiff, the U.K. in 2017. From 2017 to 2020 he was a research associate in CITCEA-UPC, Barcelona, Spain. From 2020 to 2024 he started as a Lecturer under the Serra Hunter program at the Electrical Engineering Department of UPC and since 2024 he is Associate Professor. Since 2022 he is co-founder of eRoots Analytics, which is a spin-off company of CITCEA-UPC His research interests include power systems with power electronics, high-voltage direct current systems, AC/DC grids and grid integration of wind and photovoltaic generation.
Marc Cheah-Mane received the degree in industrial engineering from the School of Industrial Engineering of Barcelona (ETSEIB), Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, in 2013, and the PhD degree in electrical engineering from Cardiff University, Cardiff, the U.K. in 2017. From 2017 to 2020 he was a research associate in CITCEA-UPC, Barcelona, Spain. From 2020 to 2024 he started as a Lecturer under the Serra Hunter program at the Electrical Engineering Department of UPC and since 2024 he is Associate Professor. Since 2022 he is co-founder of eRoots Analytics, which is a spin-off company of CITCEA-UPC His research interests include power systems with power electronics, high-voltage direct current systems, AC/DC grids and grid integration of wind and photovoltaic generation.
Dr. Duy Dang-Pham
RMIT University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Dr. Duy Dang is the Interim Associate Head of Department (Research & Innovation) at The Business School, RMIT Vietnam. His teaching and research focus on information security management, digital transformation, and the role of information systems in driving social impact. His work has been published in leading journals, including Information & Management, Computers & Security, Information Systems Frontiers, Computers in Human Behavior, and Behaviour & Information Technology. Dr. Dang is also a 2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar-in-Residence at Gonzaga University, USA, and a Co-founder of the Vietnam Chapter of the Association for Information Systems (VAIS).
Dr. Duy Dang is the Interim Associate Head of Department (Research & Innovation) at The Business School, RMIT Vietnam. His teaching and research focus on information security management, digital transformation, and the role of information systems in driving social impact. His work has been published in leading journals, including Information & Management, Computers & Security, Information Systems Frontiers, Computers in Human Behavior, and Behaviour & Information Technology. Dr. Dang is also a 2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar-in-Residence at Gonzaga University, USA, and a Co-founder of the Vietnam Chapter of the Association for Information Systems (VAIS).
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