Prof. Allam Ahmed (UK)

Allam is a Professor of Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development; Founding President of World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD); Founding Director of Middle Eastern Knowledge Economy Institute (MEKEI); Founder of International Diaspora Initiative/Sudan Knowledge (SK); and since May 2020, he is the Founding Director of SDGs Universities International Initiative (SDGsUNI). From January 2022, Allam invited to join Queen Mary University of London Global Policy Institute as a Senior Policy Fellow.

Having worked in the field of international engagement and leadership in Higher Education Institutes (HEI) for almost 25 years, Allam is considered to be a transformative leader with track record and repute in the UK and across the world particularly Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). He spent 15 years (2004-2019) at the University of Sussex Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), where he established and led Sussex’s most successful postgraduate programme MSc International Management.

In the period 2009-2011, Prof. Ahmed led the Government of Abu Dhabi major and first of its kind in the Middle East Knowledge Management Framework (Musharaka). He also played an active leadership advisory role for several major public and private institutions such as the UN University in Hamilton Canada; World Bank Knowledge Economy Institute; FAO; UNECA; GDN; ACBF (2011-2013); ESRC, Dutch Research Council; Expert Advisor to the European Commission on International Scientific Cooperation (2006-2008); International Coordinator UNESCO Chair on Transfer of Technology (2008-2010); UNESCO Chair in Women, Science and Technology (2019-); Oxford University Press and for various governments, in SSA, Europe and MENA (Testimonies).

In his capacity as the President of (WASD), Prof. Ahmed led WASD’s strong partnership with the UN Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other UN Agencies: UN Conference on “Public-Private Partnerships for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” at the Palais de Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, 2018 (Report); UN project A.435 “Strengthening the Policy Research Uptake in Service of the 2030”; Making Science, Innovation and Research work for the Sustainable Development Goals, IMO, London, 2019 (Report); and Policies and platforms in support of learning: towards more coherence, coordination and convergence, 2020 (Report).

Prof. Ahmed main areas of research focus on: (a) globalisation and competitiveness with topics relating to marketing; strategic management; entrepreneurship; and government macroeconomic policies and (b) the role of science, technology and innovation in achieving sustainable development (SD). This covers topics relating to marketing and commercialisation of technological products and innovation; knowledge and technology transfer and management; productivity gap analysis & modeling; SD; industry & sustainability; and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He published widely covering various disciplines and have produced more than 125 publications, including 39 books and numerous articles in international peer-reviewed journals, books, conferences proceedings and working papers all rated in the latest UK Research Assessment Exercise as world-leading and internationally recognised. Prof. Ahmed is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of 10 international refereed journals including the World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development; World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development; International Journal of Innovation and Knowledge Management in Middle East and North Africa; International Journal of Sudan Research, etc. He is also the Editor Book Series: World Sustainable Development Outlook; Globalization, Technology and Sustainable Development; Middle East & North Africa; and Palgrave Studies of Sustainable Business in Africa.

For more than 25 years, Prof. Ahmed has presented many keynotes and public speeches to a wide range of audience drawn from academic institutions, industries and international organisations from a broad range of backgrounds, post and undergraduate students, senior and middle management to government officials and trainees at all levels.

Prof. Ahmed completed his Ph.D. in Economics in two years at Edinburgh Napier University, UK; awarded the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) Scholarship and Prestigious Book Prize for Best MSc/MBA Dissertation; Fellow and Chartered Marketer of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK. Listed in the Who’s Who in the World 2009-2020 and 2021 Who’s Who in the World Lifetime Achievement Award, Who’s Who in Finance and Business 2009/2010 and Who’s Who in America 2012-2014 published by Marquis Who’s Who, USA.

If you have any media/press inquiries or looking for an expert comment on a particular subject please contact Prof. Ahmed at allam@wasd.org.uk or his PA Janet Snow (janet.snow@wasd.org.uk).