I am Professor of International Business at the Centre for International Business University of Leeds (CIBUL). I am interested in the relationship and interaction between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and institutions. This interest has evolved into a research strand on Chinese and emerging market MNEs (EMNEs) and one on sustainability and ethics. I am associate editor of Transnational Corporations and on the editorial review boards of Journal of International Business Policy, Management and Organization Review, and Asia Business & Management. I am interested in the relationship and interaction between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and institutions. This interest has evolved into a research strand on Chinese and emerging market MNEs (EMNEs) and one on sustainability/ethics. My research on Chinese MNEs has investigated how their internationalisation is affected and influenced by home and host country institutions. This includes, for example, how they respond to risk. This research stream has expanded recently to consider global samples of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and privately owned enterprises (POEs). I have used this to investigate with L Jeremy Clegg and Janja A Tardios (King's College) how the internationalisation of state-owned enterprises is influenced by the home country political set-up. Ultimately, this body of resaerch relates to questions about the international competitiveness of mainland Chinese companies and their motivation for overseas investments. I have published work related to this research in the Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, Journal of Economic Geography, Management International Review, International Business Review, and Multinational Business Review and the books Determinants of Chinese Outward Direct Investment and Chinese Outward Direct Investment (with Peter J Buckley). The research strand on international business and sustainability/ethics has been supported by funding from the British Academy and DfiD and the Sino-British Fellowship Trust (SBFT). The former funded an interdisciplinary research project with Matthew Davis, Mark Sumner, Louise Waite and Divya Singhal (Goa Institute of Management, India) on how businesses have responded to the UK Modern Slavery Act and the obligation to increase transparency on modern slavery in their global supply chains. The SBFT funded research investigated climate change stratgies of MNEs in China. I have published work related to this research in Journal of Cleaner Production and Asia Business & Management.

Alex was the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme from September 2021 - May 2024.  Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation Alex spent over a decade at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, where he most recently managed the university’s Laidlaw Scholars Programme. In addition, Alex taught leadership courses and guest-lectured internationally on the subjects of strategy and leadership. A bilingual speaker, dual national and keen traveller, Alex has lived, visited and worked in several countries around the world. During this time, he has had a unique opportunity to encounter and explore different cultures and working environments, experiencing first-hand what good leadership can achieve. His passion for this topic is driven by these experiences and a desire to challenge people to unlock their full leadership potential. Alex holds an MBA from the Open University and a Master of Research in Management from the University of St Andrews. He has also obtained Associate Fellow status with the Higher Education Academy. In his spare time, Alex is an avid skier and volunteers with a local guide dog organisation.

Hello! I am a multidisciplinary designer and have been with the Laidlaw Foundation for over five years, working to strengthen our global Scholar community and amplify the impact of our programmes. My work lives somewhere between design, education, and anthropology, usually with sticky notes involved. I studied Human Sciences as an undergrad and am currently doing a Master’s in Anthropology at UCL. Degrees I struggle to explain at parties. Born and raised in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Outside of work? Probably in the ceramics studio, wandering aimlessly with a podcast in my ears, attempting a handstand, or watching far too much TV. Big fan of nature and very small bugs.

A graduate of Cambridge University, Susanna’s professional experience includes over 15 years in senior leadership roles in international B2B and learning businesses. Susanna began her career at the Institute for International Research (IIR) where she first worked with Lord Laidlaw, rising to Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). When IIR, which was the world’s largest organiser of commercial conferences, was acquired by Informa plc in 2005 Susanna was appointed CMO of the enlarged group and also led the public company’s investor relations programmes. She subsequently joined Emap Ltd as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer and CEO of Emap Networks, that group’s conferences business. Later she became CEO of the fashion industry forecaster WGSN and was latterly Group Content and Marketing Partner of the leading strategy consultancy Brunswick Group. A German-American raised and educated in the UK and a committed internationalist, Susanna has been involved in globally trading businesses throughout her career, directing activity in the Americas, across continental Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Susanna has been extensively involved with education and professional development over many years. She was Head of Group Training and led the commercial acquisition and integration of a portfolio of corporate training businesses whilst at IIR; and created learning academies at both Informa and Emap. She believes experiencing and appreciating different cultures promotes better global understanding, creativity and leadership. She is passionate about the power of education to transform lives; and believes that we need to develop a new generation of diverse leaders who are curious, bold and devoted to decency, truthfulness, and innovation. Susanna is committed to diversity not only as a societal imperative but as a critical component of commercial success. As an advisor to the trustees of the Foundation, Susanna first learnt about its purpose and programmes before becoming its Chief Executive responsible for the Laidlaw Schools Trust, the Laidlaw Scholars and its other education programmes. Susanna read English and Philosophy at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. She has five half blues in swimming and water polo; and played netball and rowed for Newnham.