Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri
Senior Professor in Management,
Former Director of Postgraduate Institute of Management(PIM), Sri Lanka.

Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri has a rare combination of being a Chartered Manager, Chartered HR Professional and a Chartered Electrical Engineer. He is acclaimed as a conference speaker, corporate trainer, strategy consultant, author and an academic. He is the first home-grown Senior Professor in Management of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and was a Director / Chairman of the Board of Management of it. He is the President of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) – Sri Lanka Chapter. Being a Past President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), he became the first Sri Lankan to lead both CMI and CIPM. He was also a Vice President of the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management (APFHRM). He is an Adjunct Professor at the Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, USA. He carries three decades of private and public sector experience including Unilever and Nestle, with consultancy engagements in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He is a Commonwealth AMDISA Doctoral Fellow, Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow, and Commonwealth Postdoctoral Fellow. He holds a Ph.D. and an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa. He serves on several governing councils and is an independent director of several boards. Being an author of ten books and former editor of the longest publishing management journal in Sri Lanka (SLJM), he has won many accolades including gold medals for best papers in two international management conferences, Emerald best paper award in 2014, and in 2010 the Platinum Award by the Alumni of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIMA) for outstanding academic contribution. He also won the prestigious IPM Lifetime Gold Award 2014, the highest honour for an HR professional in Sri Lanka. Prof. Dharmasiri likes to identify himself as one who transitioned from being an “Engineer of Electrical” to an “Engineer of Hearts and Minds.

Dr. Richard McManus
Director of Research Development - Business School
Canterbury Christ Church University – UK

Richard McManus is the Director of Research Development at Christ Church Business School, Interim Section Director for Postgraduate and Professional and is Reader in Macroeconomic Policy. His main research interests are in the area of the impact of government on macroeconomic outcomes. Richard's research in macroeconomics currently focuses on the impact of constitutions on economic outcomes and the impact of tax changes on tax revenue. Richard has published widely both in academic journals as well as in mainstream media, having my work cited in The Telegraph and Times Higher Education in the UK, as well in US national television and Turkey. I have also written for the Guardian and the Conversation and been interviewed on Faculty.
Richard's research endeavors extend beyond academia into applied projects with substantial social implications, including his leadership in the Kent Police staff culture survey, which has fostered improvements in communication and staff wellbeing. This blend of theoretical exploration and practical application has enriched the academic landscape and has led to research funding from the third and party sector, as well as research councils; underscoring his ability to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world challenges.
In his leadership roles, Richard has been pivotal in advancing the educational mission of Canterbury Christ Church Business School. As the Director of the PhD program and Section Director for Postgraduate and Professional Education, Richard is enhancing the research environment and mentoring future scholars. His strategic vision was instrumental in obtaining Small Business Charter status for the university, significantly contributing to the local economy and entrepreneurship.
Richard commitment to education and research excellence is further evidenced by his recognition as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His pedagogical innovations and dedication to closing attainment gaps underscore his passion for fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. Richard has won a University Teaching Fellowship Award for Innovation and a Teaching Excellence award in Academic Teaching, and three awards as given by students.