The Early Career Academic (ECA) Network is delighted to welcome its new committee members. Following an exciting period of growth, the new committee brings together a diverse group of academics and researchers from across the business and management community, ready to build on the Network’s successes and create even more opportunities for early career academics.
A new chapter for the ECA Network
Over the past year, the ECA Network has gone from strength to strength. Membership has grown from around 250 to more than 450 active members, while the Network’s monthly webinars attract registrations of up to 130 attendees per month. With an increasing presence at the BAM Annual Conference, the Network continues to expand the range of professional development opportunities available to the ECA community.
This growth marks an important and exciting new chapter for the Network.
Huge thanks are extended to Dr Sahar Bakr, Dr Rebecca Beech and Dr Daniel Fisher, who are stepping down from their committee roles after making an enormous contribution to the development of the ECA Network. Dr Mollie Bryde-Evens, who has served as a Co-Lead alongside the outgoing team for the past five years, will step into the role of Network Convenor, supporting the transition and working with the new committee to take the Network forward.
With this, the ECA Network is delighted to introduce the new committee members who will be helping to shape the future of the Network.
Meet the new Committee Members
Convenor
Dr Mollie Bryde-Evens finished her VC-Scholarship funded PhD in October 2023 and is currently a full-time Senior Lecturer in Ethical Business and Responsible Management at Liverpool Business School.
Co-Leads
Dr Ananya Sengupta completed her PhD at Henley Business School, University of Reading, in 2026, following a 25-year career in Corporate Finance, Investment Banking and Impact Investing.
Dr Georgios S. Bekos is a Lecturer in Marketing at Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester. His research spans marketing, strategy, organisational change, emerging technologies and responsible business.
Dr Liz Cooper is an Assistant Professor in the Management Department at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, where her research and teaching explore sustainable change.
Omeghie Okoyomoh is a PhD researcher in Strategy and International Business at the University of Birmingham, with research interests in entrepreneurial ecosystems, storytelling and emerging markets.
Communications Officer
Xiaoyi Li is a PhD researcher in Human Resource Management at Cranfield School of Management and supports communications for Cranfield’s Early Career Researcher Network.
Deputy Communications Officer
Monica Amediavor is a Teaching Assistant and PhD researcher in Leadership and Management at Cranfield University. Her research focuses on career success in the gig economy, with broader interests in careers, employment, and the future of work.
Secretary
Dr Katharina Hauptmann is a postdoctoral researcher in corporate social responsibility and organisational psychology at the University of Rostock. Her research focuses on the inclusion of disabled people in organisations.
Deputy Secretary
Fatimah Adesanya is a PhD scholar and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Sheffield Business School, with research interests spanning work and employment, migration and inclusive economies.
Committee Associates
Fahimeh (Sahar) Negintaji is a doctoral researcher in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour at the University of Birmingham, specialising in cross-cultural management and workplace learning.
Dr Josephine Chikwana is a Lecturer in Business Management at the University of Suffolk, with research interests in sustainability, responsible business and organisational change.
Maryam Irekeola is a PhD researcher at Kingston University, researching corporate sustainability and behavioural decision-making. Alongside her PhD, she is the founder of InsightSpace.
What’s next for the ECA Network?
There is plenty to look forward to over the coming year. The ECA Network’s vibrant monthly webinar programme will continue from October to December and February to May, with sessions exploring topics including publishing, grant applications, AI and other areas of academic development. The Network will also be announcing brand-new and exciting collaborations with other academic early career networks including the Irish Academy of Management (IAM) and the Spanish Academy of Management (ACEDE).
The Network’s highly competitive bi-annual Mentorship Month will run throughout November, connecting early career academics with experienced academics for a month of focused mentoring, alongside exciting new collaborations with other academic networks, including IAM and ACEDE.
We would like to thank all members for your continued enthusiasm, participation and support. We are excited about what the next year will bring and look forward to continuing to grow our community, strengthen our connections and create opportunities for early career academics across BAM.