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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

Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen

Asian stock markets retreated on Wednesday as investors turned cautious ahead of a closely watched U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision. Markets across the region tracked mild overnight losses on Wall Street, where...

ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $400 million policy-based loan designed to support the Philippines push to improve its business environment and attract more foreign investment. Although the country remains...

Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness

The Japanese yen continued to struggle on Wednesday, slipping further as investors remained focused on the widening interest rate gap between Japan and other major economies. Despite expectations that the Bank of Japan...

Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand

Silver prices skyrocketed to an all-time high on Wednesday, breaking above $60 an ounce as tightening supply expectations and stronger investor interest pushed the white metal to outperform gold. In early trading, spot...

U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments

A landmark U.S.-Indonesia trade agreement announced in July is now in jeopardy, as U.S. officials say Indonesia is stepping back from critical commitments made during negotiations. According to a U.S. official speaking on...

Politics

China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List as U.S. Considers Easing Nvidia Export Curbs

China has taken a major step to reinforce its domestic semiconductor industry by adding locally developed artificial intelligence chips to an official government procurement list for the first time, according to a report...

Musk Says Trump’s DOGE Initiative Fell Short and He Wouldn’t Lead It Again

Tesla CEO Elon Musk reflected on his time leading U.S. President Donald Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), acknowledging that the initiative achieved only limited success. Speaking on a podcast with former...

US Criticizes China After Radar Incident Escalates Tensions With Japan

The United States has publicly criticized China for the first time after Chinese fighter jets reportedly aimed their radars at Japanese military aircraft during a training exercise near Okinawa last week. The incident,...

Australia Pushes Forward on AUKUS Submarine Program Amid Workforce and Production Challenges

Australia is intensifying efforts to advance the AUKUS nuclear submarine program, with Defence Minister Richard Marles stressing that the nation is being very self-critical as it works to overcome key challenges,...

Bolsonaro’s Defense Requests Hospital Transfer and Humanitarian House Arrest

Defense lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have formally requested that he be transferred from jail to a hospital to undergo surgical procedures, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. The legal...

Science

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...

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission

Blue Origins massive New Glenn rocket marked a major milestone as it completed its first mission for paying customers, sending two NASA satellites toward Mars and successfully landing its reusable booster at sea. The...

Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment

Cogent Biosciences (NASDAQ: COGT) shares skyrocketed over 120% after the biotech company announced groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 PEAK trial evaluating bezuclastinib in combination with sunitinib for patients with...

Trump and Merck KGaA Partner to Slash IVF Drug Costs and Expand Fertility Coverage

U.S. President Donald Trump and German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA have announced a groundbreaking deal aimed at lowering the cost of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments while boosting access to fertility care in...

Technology

EssilorLuxottica Bets on AI-Powered Smart Glasses as Competition Intensifies

EssilorLuxottica is doubling down on smart eyewear innovation, with its Ray-Ban Meta glasses delivering their first meaningful revenue boost since launch. These AI-powered frames, developed with Meta, aim to redefine...

Microsoft Unveils Massive Global AI Investments, Prioritizing India’s Rapidly Growing Digital Market

Microsoft has announced more than $23 billion in new global artificial intelligence investments, with the majority directed toward India as the tech giant accelerates its presence in one of the worlds fastest-growing...

Trump’s Approval of AI Chip Sales to China Triggers Bipartisan National Security Concerns

The Trump administration is facing strong backlash from China hawks and Democratic lawmakers after authorizing Nvidia, AMD, and Intel to sell advanced AI chipsspecifically Nvidias H200to China. President Donald Trump...

SpaceX Reportedly Preparing Record-Breaking IPO Targeting $1.5 Trillion Valuation

SpaceX is reportedly moving forward with early plans for a massive initial public offering that could raise more than $30 billion, potentially making it the largest IPO in history. According to a Bloomberg News report...

Adobe Strengthens AI Strategy Ahead of Q4 Earnings, Says Stifel

Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) is heading into its fourth-quarter earnings with a clearer generative AI strategy and improved communication, helping ease a year of investor uncertainty, according to a new note from Stifel analysts....