Below are the ECKM Biographies of the Conference and Programme Chairs, Key Note Speakers and Mini-Track Chairs.
Conference and Programme Chairs
Aino Kianto, D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) is a Professor in Knowledge Management in the LUT University Business School, Lahti, Finland. Her research focuses on knowledge and innovation management, intellectual capital, and organizational renewal and resilience. She has published close to 200 research papers, approximately 70 of which have appeared in journals, such as Journal of Business Research, Technovation, R&D Management, Human Resource Management Journal, Journal of Knowledge Management, Journal of Intellectual Capital, and Creativity and Innovation Management. Professor Kianto’s research has been acknowledged with several international awards, she has delivered keynote speeches in many international conferences and currently serves in the editorial board of five academic journals. She has acted as the PI in eight research projects and other leadership role in six projects, all of which have involved extensive worklife collaboration and most also international collaboration.
Ilona Toth, D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Knowledge Management in the LUT University Business School, Lappeenranta, Finland. Previously she has worked for research projects funded by Finnish Work Environment Fund and State Treasury. Her current research focuses especially on individual worker well-being and its relationship to sustainable performance. Dr. Toth’s research articles have been published e.g., in VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, in International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Research, and in Digital Creativity.
Key Note Speakers
Susanne Durst is a Full Professor of Management at the Department of Business and Economics of Reykjavik University (Iceland). She is an Adjunct Professor at Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia) and also a Visiting Professor at LUT Business School, LUT University (Finland). Her research interests include knowledge (risk) management, responsible digitalization and sustainable business development in the context of small entrepreneurial companies. Her work has been published widely in international peer-reviewed journals and recognised through various awards. She is the Editor-in-Chief of The Bottom Line and the co-Editor-in-Chief of VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems.
Alexeis Garcia Perez is Professor of Digital Business & Society at Aston Business School, Aston University, where he leads research on the intersection of AI, KM and enterprise innovation. His research explores the sociotechnical implications of AI-driven innovation and transformation in business and societal contexts. With a robust foundation in Computer Sciences and a PhD in Information Systems and Knowledge Management, Alexeis has co-authored 5 books and over 150 publications in the KM domain. He has a strong track record of securing funding, supervising research and collaborating with industry and policymakers to translate research findings into practical solutions.
Paavo Ritala is a Professor of Strategy and Innovation at the Business School at LUT University, Finland. His main research themes include networks, ecosystems, and platforms, the role of data, algorithms, and digital technologies in organizations, business model innovation, and circular and regenerative economy. His research has been published in outlets such as Journal of Management, Research Policy, Academy of Management Perspectives, Journal of Product Innovation Management, R&D Management, Technovation, Long Range Planning, and California Management Review. He is closely involved with business practice through research projects, executive and professional education programs, and in speaker and advisory roles. Prof. Ritala is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of R&D Management and serves on the editorial review board of Journal of Product Innovation Management. More info available via social media profiles: Google Scholar | LinkedIn | X
Mini Track Chairs
D.Sc. Sladjana Cabrilo is a Full Professor of Management at I-Shou University in Taiwan. Her research focuses on intellectual capital (IC), knowledge management, innovation, digital transformation, and international business. She is known in the field of IC for insights from emerging economies and for using complexity theory, configurational analysis, and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) techniques to uncover complex relationships and patterns between IC and organizational performance. Her research has been awarded and recognized as ‘most prestigious across knowledge clusters’ in ranked journals. She is one of the co-editors of the book “Futurizing intellectual capital - Insights on navigating knowledge-based value creation” that will be published by Springer Nature by the end of 2024.
Concetta Lucia Cristofaro is an Assistant Professor in Organization Theory and HRM at the E-campus university, Italy. Her Research focuses on public healthcare, Intellectual capital and HRM. She has presented at national and international conference, and she is the author and co-author of several publications. She is also a reviewer for a number of international journals.
Dr. Liu Gang earned his Ph.D. from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Now, he is an associate professor at Business School, Shenzhen Technology University. His research areas include knowledge management and organizational performance, innovation and entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural management. His papers have been published in Journal of Business Research, Industrial management and Data System, Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Proceedings of European Conference on Knowledge Management, etc. He is a committee member of the European Conference on Knowledge Management. He is co-editor of Management & Marketing and associate editor of International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies.
Prof. Jacky F. L. Hong is a Professor of Management and Head of Department of Management and Marketing in Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau. He received his PhD from Lancaster University. He has been researching and publishing papers on the broader themes of organizational learning and knowledge management in multinational corporations in journals such as Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Journal of World Business, Management Learning, Journal of International Management and International Business Review. He is on the editorial review board of Journal of World Business, Management Learning and International Business Review among others.
Henri Hussinki, D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus.Adm.), is an assistant professor (tenure track) in business analytics at the Business School, LUT University. His research and teaching focus on information systems business value, especially information systems capabilities that firms need to leverage their information technology investments. His research has been published in, e.g., the Journal of Business Models, Measuring Business Excellence, Journal of Knowledge Management, and Journal of Intellectual Capital.
Anna Maria Melina is Research Fellow in Organization Studies at the University of Messina, Italy. Her research focuses on knowledge management, family businesses, small and medium-sized businesses, generational change and healthcare systems. She has presented at national and international conferences, and she has authored and co-authored several publications, including books, articles, research reports and working papers.
Dr. Irina Purcarea is an Assistant Professor in the Management and Organizations Department at Rennes School of Business, France. She earned her PhD in business administration, specializing in innovation and small business management, from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Her areas of expertise include: project management and organizational behavior. From 2021 to 2024, as Programme Coordinator at Rennes School of Business, she committed to promoting students development programs through hands-on community projects, overseeing more than 30 partnerships with NGOs. She managed to interact with over 20 students teams.
Rocco Reina is full Professor in Organization Studies at the University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Italy, He is on the Board of the Italian Association of Management and Organization (ASSIOA) and a member of the regional board of the Italian Association of Personnel Management (AIDP). His research focusses on intellectual capital, small and medium enterprises, knowledge and change management and human resource management. He has presented at national and international conferences and has authored and co-authored several publications, including books, articles, research reports and working papers.
Associate Professor Ole Jørgen Ranglund lectures in a variety of fields within the scope of organizational learning and theory, including business strategy, service management, leadership and in strategic management at masters level. His research field is diverse ranging from management and leadership to knowledge management issues. He also has a special interest in the delivery of knowledge to students to support relevance of education and has thus involved himself in projects dealing with formative feedback to students, involvement and engagement of students, and hyflex/syncromodal learning.
Mustafa Sağsan is currently working at the European University of Lefke, North Cyprus. He received PhD in Management and Organization Science in 2008 and was promoted to a full professorship position in 2017. He worked in several Universities in different administrative positions such as rector, founding director, founding chairperson, and deputy manager. He has been working in the knowledge management field since 2002.
Emeritus professor PhD Marta Christina Suciu is PhD supervisor on Economics 1 Doctoral School, Bucharest University of Economic Studies. She is senior researcher on Romanian Academy National Institute of Economic Research Costin C. Kiritescu and Vice-President of Interdisciplinary Research Group. She is corresponding member at Romanian Academy of Scientists, Section of Economics, Law and Sociology. Her topics of interest are: KM; Cultural and Creative Economy; Creative and Innovative Management; Start-up innovative business & PM; Economics of Education; Intellectual Capital & Intangible Assets. She coordinated eight research projects won on competition basis. She obtained OPERA OMNIA Diploma in 2006.
Marzia Ventura, Ph.D., is assistant Professor at Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy and she is member of Economics and Management of Services Research Centre. Her research interests are human resource management, intellectual capital, corporate social responsibility, and knowledge sharing in organizations.
Walter Vesperi is a Research Fellow in Organization Theory and HRM at the University of Palermo, Italy. His research interests are in knowledge transfer, university entrepreneurship and the agri-food sector. His publications have appeared in academic journals, and he has presented his research at several international conferences. He is also a member of the editorial board for several International Journals