Position: Director of Membership
Katarzyna Cichos
Affiliation: Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw (Poland)
Membership status with respect to ISDRS: Board Member,
Track/Topic group affiliation: 9d Legal aspects of Sustainability
Profile:
As a researcher affiliated with Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Poland, and an experienced NGO activist—serving as a Board Member of Stowarzyszenie Euro-Atlantyckie (Euro- Atlantic Association) and collaborating with various local organizations, as well as a former City Council member—I have dedicated approximately fifteen years to studying and engaging with international law, security, and the legal aspects of sustainable development. My work focuses on the practical application of these concepts at local, regional, academic, and central government levels.
Holding a Doctorate in Law, my primary academic and professional interests center on fostering good governance and strengthening institutions, with a particular emphasis on methodologies that enhance governance frameworks for the effective implementation of sustainable development solutions. I have authored approximately fifteen publications on international law and maintain active collaborations with numerous foreign institutions and universities.
Motivation:
Since attending my first ISDRS conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in 2013, I have been deeply impressed by the ISDRS community and its commitment to advancing sustainability.
However, there remain numerous regions, particularly in countries in transition—such as Eastern Europe, and Central Asia—as well as developing nations in Africa, where knowledge about sustainability and the ISDRS network is limited. This lack of awareness hampers the development of strong institutions and good governance, both of which are essential for providing necessary goods and services to citizens. Consequently, these regions often become fragile and prone to instability.
Additionally, several international organizations are dedicated to addressing challenges in the developing world, yet their efforts are often hindered by a lack of local, well-educated, and sustainability-aware partners, including researchers. In many of these countries, there is insufficient cooperation between international organizations and other stakeholders. A key reason for this is the absence of researchers and academics capable of serving as connectors between various groups and facilitating effective collaboration.
As a Director of Membership, I would like to focus on two critical aspects:
- Expanding Representation: Increasing participation in ISDRS from underrepresented regions, particularly Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and South America, to strengthen the diversity and global reach of the ISDRS network.
- Improving Partnerships: Improving collaboration between international organizations, institutional members, and ISDRS members and conference participants, with an emphasis on joint efforts to implement and evaluate Agenda 2030 and develop frameworks for the next Development Agenda.
These efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and impactful approach to sustainability on a global scale.
Position: Director of Communication
Olga Cam
Affiliation: University of Sheffield, UK
Membership status with respect to ISDRS: board member
Track/Topic group affiliation: 7C
Profile:
As a Lecturer in Accounting, I bring extensive experience in academic and professional engagement. I serve on the board of the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS), where I contribute to journal development and emphasize the importance of effective communication in academia. Additionally, I manage social media for the British Accounting and Finance Association’s (BAFA) Accounting Education Special Interest Group and for the Sheffield Management School’s Centre for Research in Accounting and Finance in Context (CRAFIC).
At CRAFIC, I built our social media presence from scratch in just under two years, successfully growing our follower base to nearly 500. For a small research centre, this milestone reflects both the quality of content and the engagement it fosters, strengthening our community and visibility. This experience has refined my skills in digital outreach and strategic communication, essential for broadening research impact and engaging with diverse stakeholders. I am dedicated to enhancing the visibility of critical themes in accounting and sustainability through consistent, impactful communication.
Motivation:
As a member of ISDRS for over five years and an active board member, I am motivated to see ISDRS grow and flourish, amplifying its role as a meaningful platform for scholars and practitioners to connect and collaborate on sustainable development. Effective communication and visibility are essential tools for any organisation’s success, and I am enthusiastic about taking on the Director of Communications role to strengthen this aspect within ISDRS.
In this role, my focus would be on developing a robust communication strategy that enhances how ISDRS engages with its members and reaches a broader audience. By refining current processes and creating new engagement channels, I aim to foster a vibrant, interactive community that highlights ISDRS's contributions to the field. I would also seek to support member-driven initiatives, encouraging involvement in content creation and outreach efforts. My vision is for ISDRS to become a more influential organization that drives impactful change, supporting members and stakeholders with platforms that encourage dialogue, collaboration, and growth in sustainable development research and practice.
Position: Director of Publications
Olufunke Alaba
Affiliation: University of Cape Town
Membership status with respect to ISDRS: General member
Profile:
I, Olufunke Alaba have made significant contributions to health economics in South Africa through her research, teaching, and policy engagement with over 75 articles in peer-reviewed journals. As an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town's Health Economics Unit, my research focuses on the social determinants of health, poverty, and inequality, which are critical areas in understanding health disparities. My empirical studies have not only addressed the economic impacts of malaria and water supply on health outcomes, providing valuable insights into how these factors affect household dynamics and public health but also investigate food security and obesity. I have collaborated with international organizations, including the World Health Organization, to implement community-directed interventions for tropical diseases, enhancing local health systems' effectiveness. In addition to my research contributions, I actively involve myself in supervising postgraduate students and leading courses in health economics. Dr. Alaba is also involved in various professional organizations, such as the International Health Economics Association, where she co-convenes special interest groups focusing on obesity and health equity.
Motivation:
My motivation to serve as the Director of Publications for the ISDRS is driven by the commitment to enhancing the visibility and impact of sustainable development research, particularly from diverse global perspectives even as a current member of the journal working group. I am passionate about creating a platform that promotes high-quality, inclusive scholarship, especially voices from the Global South. This role will allow me to leverage my expertise in health economics and policy to ensure that our publications reflect a wide range of experiences and insights, fostering a more equitable discourse in sustainability.
As Director of Publication, I will actively contribute to the development and launch of our new journal, "Sustainability and Beyond." My goal is to facilitate the publication of research that addresses pressing sustainability challenges while ensuring accessibility for all researchers, regardless of their institutional affiliations or financial constraints. Furthermore, I plan to implement strategies that encourage inclusivity and submissions from underrepresented regions and disciplines, thereby enriching the journal's content and broadening its impact. Specifically, I plan to implement the following strategies as Director of Publications in collaboration with my colleagues:
- Engage with the community by establishing channels of feedback from members, authors and readers in order to address community needs
- Host virtual networking events to foster collaboration
- Create thematic issues that highlight challenges faced by the Global South, and encouraging submissions that address local contexts and solutions.
- Develop metrics to assess the journal's impact on promoting inclusivity and diversity in published research.
- Provide regular updates to the ISDRS board on progress.
Through these efforts, I hope to strengthen ISDRS's role as a leading voice in sustainable development research globally and position the journal as a leading platform for inclusive dialogue.
Position: Treasurer (Re-election)
Dr. Sebastian Thomas
Affiliation: Curtin University; Blue Praxis
Membership status with respect to ISDRS: Full member; Board member; Acting Treasurer (since July 2024)
Track/Topic group affiliation: 7C / 1A / 9B
Profile:
I am a sustainability scientist with expertise in climate policy, carbon markets, ecological economics, strategic business management, energy transition, and resilience and adaptation. I have special interests and experience in blue carbon, marine social-ecological systems, and the blue economy.
I am currently the Climate and Environment Lead at the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) where I lead the decarbonisation of QIC's AUD 120 billion global investment portfolio. I am Director of Blue Praxis, a scientific consulting company that provides capacity building and professional services to governments and the private sector in the areas of climate risk and resilience, nature-based solutions, emerging markets, and ocean policy and economics. I am an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University, and previously a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne.
I have extensive experience working with industry, government, and NGOs in Australia and internationally to achieve organisational goals in a sustainability context. I have lived, worked, and conducted research in countries including Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Pacific Island states, and Australia. I am committed to equity, social justice, and reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and colonial societies, and to meeting the complex challenges of global change through a deep understanding of science, policy, culture, and business.
Motivation:
The ISDRS is diverse in disciplines, cultures, and geographies. We are at the beginning of a new phase of growth and change – becoming more genuinely international in constituency and leadership, launching an innovative new journal, and looking beyond traditional ideas of sustainable development to explore socio-technical transition, regenerative practices, cultural reconciliation, and environmental justice not just theoretically but within our leadership.
These changes bring challenges as well. ISDRS governance should be intellectually progressive and professionally excellent. The ISDRS needs best-practice organisational governance, especially in our financial systems and business management processes. As the ISDRS grows, there is a clear need for efficient, effective, professional management systems to ensure transparency and the opportunity for development in what we do.
I’ve been Acting Treasurer since July 2024, and want to continue building rigorous financial governance, encouraging best-practice management practices at Executive and Board level, and contributing to securing revenue streams and financial stability. I bring my experience in business management, financial systems, entrepreneurialism, and corporate governance to ensure that the ISDRS operates with the highest possible professional standards. On Executive Board, I will continue to advocate for innovative approaches in our culture and initiatives and support diversity and excellence in our leadership.
Position: Director of Membership (re-election)
G. Shainesh
Affiliation: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India
Membership status with respect to ISDRS: Member
Track/Topic group affiliation: 5D Sustainable Value Chains And Trade
https://www.iimb.ac.in/user/139/g-shainesh
Profile:
Professor G Shainesh has over three decades of research and teaching experience in India and abroad. He has conducted collaborative research and teaching assignments at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), HEC Paris, Audencia Nantes and IESEG (France), Vienna University and MCI Innsbruck (Austria), Bocconi University (Milan), Curtin University of Technology (Perth), among others. His research and teaching focus on Digital Marketing Strategies, CRM, Services Marketing and Service Innovations.
At IIMB, Shainesh has served as Dean – Administration (2014-17), Chair - Executive Education (2020-23), Chair – EPGP (2013-14) and Chair – Student Exchange Program (2006-09). He serves the Boards of the Academy of International Business - South Asia Chapter(AIB-SAC) as the Vice Chair and the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS)
He has worked for several organizations in the public, the non-profit and the corporate sectors, including pharma, telecom, software, engineering and service firms, both as an advisor and as a seminar leader.
He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Indian Business Research (JIBR), an Emerald (UK) publication. His papers on services and relationship marketing have been published in the MIS Quarterly, Journal of Service Research, Journal of International Marketing, Journal of Services Marketing, Service Industries Journal, International Journal of Bank Marketing, International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, International Journal of Technology Management, Journal of Relationship Marketing, International Marketing Review, among others.
Motivation:
ISDRS has significant potential to create impact on the SDGs by leveraging its legacy of over three decades and its diverse and committed membership base. There is an opportunity to scale up its activities through local chapters, webinars, workshops and also involve more organizations viz. multilateral agencies, not for profits, corporates, among others in addition to academic institutions.
We have made a beginning by setting up a very dynamic working group during the ISDRS Conference 2024, Nepal. I hope to implement many of the WG’s recommendations for a more active membership engagement calendar after getting approval from the ISDRS Board.