Visiting Professors

Chris Harrop OBE

Chris Harrop OBE is an accomplished marketing and sustainability professional whose current roles include an executive role as ESG Strategy Director at Marshalls plc.
Chris’ persistent contribution over 20 years has ensured that Marshalls plc not only leads its sector but is also a rated world-class sustainable business with AAA rating from MSCI and being recognised as a European Climate Leader by the FT for the 2nd year running and was awarded ‘Sustainable Plc of the Year’ 3 times.

In his career Chris has been Chairman of the United Nations Global Compact UK Network, a Non-Executive Director of the Ethical Trade Initiative and numerous industry association roles. Chris is currently the Chair of Made in Britain, a Non-Executive Director of the Fairtax Mark and a trustee of the Greater Manchester Immigration Advice Unit. In 2017 Chris made the trek to the North Pole to see for himself the impact of climate change and become a better advocate for business action on climate change. In 2018 Chris was named BtB Marketing Director of the Year.

One of Chris’s proudest moments came in the 2019 New Year Honours List, when Her Majesty the Queen appointed Chris as an Officer of the British Empire, OBE for services to the Prevention of Modern Slavery and Exploitation.
Chris is passionate about sustainability and the positive role of business.

Professor Richard Knowles

Professor Richard Knowles, is a very experienced and accomplished researcher and educator in the area of transport and urban studies with an impeccable international academic reputation. He holds (or held) several significant posts including those of an Emeritus Professor in the University of Salford, Founding Editor of the Journal of Transport Geography and Chair of the International Geographical Union’s Research Commission on Transport and Geography. 

Professor Kevin Orr

Professor Kevin Orr taught in Further Education colleges in Manchester for sixteen years before moving into Higher Education. He is currently a visiting professor at Goldsmiths, University of London and at the University of Huddersfield, where he was Professor of Work and Learning and an associate dean until September 2023. He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2014 for his work in vocational education. Kevin’s research has focused on England’s Further Education sector and on policy and practice in vocational education and training more generally. He is a former editor of Studies in the Education of Adults and the Journal of Vocational Education and Training, for which he was a co-editor of a special issue in 2023 on TVET, race and ethnicity in the global south and north. Recent publications have focused on T Level qualifications and teacher education for further education.

Alper Kara

Alper Kara is a leading expert in banking and finance, blending academic leadership with real-world industry experience. He is Head of the Department of Economics, Finance & Accounting at Brunel Business School and has previously held academic positions at Loughborough University, the University of Hull, and the University of Huddersfield, where he also served as Head of Department for Accounting, Finance & Economics. Before transitioning to academia, he worked as a bond and foreign exchange trader for five years, gaining hands-on experience in financial markets and risk management.

His multidisciplinary research agenda focuses on the stability of the financial system and its impact on economic well-being. His work spans securitization pricing and performance, responsible banking, financial exclusion and access to finance, bank governance, and syndicated loan markets. He is also actively researching the implications of ESG in corporate finance and banking. With over 35 peer-reviewed publications and three co-authored books, his research has been cited by major global policymakers, including the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank (ECB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

Beyond academia, Alper is a recognized thought leader, contributing regularly to media discussions on financial and economic matters. His insights and research have been featured in the Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Euronews. He also serves as an Associate Editor for the European Journal of Finance and has advised the European Central Bank on securitization markets research.

With over 20 years of teaching and research experience, he designs cutting-edge programmes in banking, finance, and sustainable finance, integrating real-world financial tools into curricula. His leadership continues to shape the future of finance education and research.

Ali Khan is the Founder and CEO of SHAPE Global. He also serves as Visiting Professor in the School of Business, Education & Law at the University of Huddersfield, and is a member of the Governance Council at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). 

A globally recognized healthcare and technology executive, Ali has led transformative ventures with measurable impact at scale. During his decade at AXA’s UK Wellbeing division as Chief Technology and Science Innovation Officer, he developed numerous health risk  assessments and founded the AXA Mind Health Index, a longitudinal global study on population mental health across 16 countries. 

Ali advises academic institutions, start-ups, and corporations, and is a long-standing advocate for flourishing as a strategy for human and organizational advancement. He is also a father of three and passionate about cinema, long walks, and paying it forward through flourishing.