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Michael Rogerson

PhD Candidate, University of Bath
I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Value Chains (University of Cambridge), an MBA (Imperial College London), and Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting (Robert Gordon University) and History (University of the West of England). I have previously researched modern slavery in multinational construction settings and blockchain’s potential use as a tool for enhancing visibility in supply chains.

My research centres on how institutions affect firm behaviours around compliance with modern slavery legislation in the UK and Russia, with a particular focus on the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. I spent much of the decade before he arrived at the University of Bath living and working in various countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and during this time became interested in the differences in institutional environments and consequent firm behaviours he witnessed.

From apparel to construction, there is an increasing focus on modern slavery worldwide among legislative bodies, NGOs, the media, and and the public. Further knowledge of firm attitudes and decision processes around the phenomenon will have two main impacts. Firstly, it will empower companies to better address it in their own operations and those in their supply chains. Secondly, it will enable governments to legislate more effectively.

I also have research interests in blockchain's potential to enhance visibility and therefore accountability in supply chains, and in particular how this might enable firms to both tackle and better disclose modern slavery risks.

Blockchain Revolution Series

Blockchains can trace foods from farm to plate, but the industry is still behind the curve

May 20, 2020 15:33 pm UTC| Technology

Food supply chains were vulnerable long before the coronavirus pandemic. Recent scandals have ranged from modern slavery in Vietnamese fisheries to the persistent problem of child labour in the cocoa industry. Perhaps the...

Economy

Mother of All Deals: India & EU Seal Historic FTA After 20 Years

India and the European Union have agreed on January 27, 2026, a historic free trade agreement (FTA) covering almost two decades of on-and-off negotiations starting in 2007 and failing in 2013 due to market access and...

Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Remains Elevated

The Bank of England is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75% during its February policy meeting, according to a recent Reuters poll of economists. All but two of the 56 economists surveyed...

OCBC Raises Gold Price Forecast to $5,600 as Structural Demand and Uncertainty Persist

OCBC Bank has revised its gold price forecast higher, projecting that bullion could reach $5,600 per ounce by the end of 2026, up from its earlier estimate of $4,800 per ounce. The updated outlook reflects the banks...

Thailand Economy Forecast Holds Steady as Exports, Tourism Face Global Pressures

Thailand Economy Forecast Holds Steady as Exports, Tourism Face Global Pressures Thailands economy is expected to grow by 2.0% this year, according to the finance ministry, which maintained its previous economic growth...

China’s Lending to Developing Countries Declines as Debt Repayments Rise, New Data Shows

Chinas position as a major financier to developing nations has undergone a significant shift over the past decade, according to new analysis released by the ONE Data initiative. Once a dominant source of development...

Politics

UK Politicians Call for Full Competition Review of Netflix’s Warner Bros Discovery Deal

More than a dozen UK politicians and former policymakers have urged the countrys competition watchdog to carry out a full and detailed review of Netflixs proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a report...

EU-India Trade Deal Offers European Carmakers a New Opening in India’s Competitive Auto Market

European carmakers facing mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and intense price competition in China are set to gain modest relief from a landmark EU-India trade deal that significantly reduces import duties on cars. The...

Trump Raises Tariffs on South Korean Autos, Escalating Trade Tensions Despite Prior Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on South Korean autos and other goods, intensifying trade tensions with one of Washingtons closest allies. The move, revealed on Monday, raises tariffs from...

Philippines and U.S. Conduct Joint Naval Exercises at Scarborough Shoal Amid South China Sea Tensions

The Philippine and United States militaries conducted a joint sail and maritime exercises this week at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, underscoring the growing defense cooperation between the two...

Israel Recovers Remains of Last Gaza Hostage, Advancing U.S.-Backed Plan to End War

Israel announced on Monday that it has recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the last remaining Israeli hostage held in Gaza, marking a major milestone in ongoing efforts to end the war in the Palestinian territory. The...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

Alibaba-Backed Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2.5 to Challenge China’s AI Rivals

Alibaba-backed Chinese artificial intelligence startup Moonshot AI has officially released Kimi K2.5, the latest iteration of its flagship large language model, marking a significant step forward in Chinas fast-growing AI...

ASML’s EUV Monopoly Powers the Global AI Chip Boom

As artificial intelligence companies race to secure Nvidia chips to fuel the AI boom, Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML has cemented its position as one of the most critical players in the global chip supply chain....

California Governor Gavin Newsom Launches Review Into Alleged TikTok Content Suppression After U.S. Ownership Deal

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump, prompting a state-level review into the platforms content moderation practices to determine whether they...

Micron to Expand Memory Chip Manufacturing Capacity in Singapore Amid Global Shortage

U.S. memory chip maker Micron Technology is preparing to announce a major new manufacturing capacity investment in Singapore, signaling an aggressive expansion to meet surging global demand for memory chips. According to...

Microsoft Wins Approval to Build 15 New Data Centers in Wisconsin

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) has taken another major step in expanding its data center footprint after receiving unanimous approval from local officials in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, to build 15 additional data...