Programme

Dr Erica Ballantyne 

LRN 2025 Conference Chair.

Dr Erica Ballantyne leads the Logistics, Operations & Supply Chain Management Theme within the  Supply Chain, Operations & Logistics Applied Research Centre. She has previously been employed in various operational and management roles within the logistics and transport industry, including working for a major European 3PL; and other leading supply chain contractors mainly in the FMCG and grocery sector. She has a PhD from the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, and is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) Logistics Research Network. Building on previous industry background, Erica is an applied, interdisciplinary researcher in logistics, sustainable transport, and supply chain operations, with current interests in the areas of managing retail returns, reverse logistics, and transport logistics applications for energy storage and electrification. She has been involved in several large UKRI and EU funded interdisciplinary projects drawing on her expertise in logistics and transport.

Vinesh Patel

Head of Process Innovation and Reporting at Sky.

In October 2015, Vinesh joined Sky to establish and manage Operations within the Sky Mobile supply chain. Sky became the first mobile network to eliminate single-use plastic and switch to cardboard packaging for all customer journeys. 

In March 2019, Vinesh also took on Inventory Planning responsibilities. From September 2020 to July 2024, he led the UK&I Planning teams across Mobile, TV, Glass, Broadband, Sky Business, and Sky Protect, driving Sky's vision for standardized planning excellence and a truly digital, data-led supply chain. 

In March 2024, Vinesh's team transitioned from UK&I Supply Chain to Group Supply Chain Planning. Initially taking temporary responsibility for the Process Innovation and Reporting team, Vinesh's role became permanent in July 2024. His priorities include rebuilding and standardising the Anaplan platform, delivering a reporting roadmap, and embracing AI opportunities to help deliver a Planning Centre of Excellence.

Darren Twiselton

Global Logistics Director at ZigZag Global.

ZigZag is an award-winning SaaS business that supports retailers and 3PLs globally with its returns management software and global carrier offering.

Prior to ZigZag, he has spent his career in roles across the Supply Chain with companies such as Urban Outfitters and Pets at Home.

Away from work Darren is a big fan of watching Northampton Saints and Manchester United or getting out on the golf course, all of which he has little time for due to a young family!

Prof. Andrea Genovese

Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Sheffield University Management School.

Andrea Genovese is a Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Sheffield University Management School. His recent work has explored the limits of circular economy thinking, the possibilities of post-growth transitions. Originally trained in operational research, he now writes about how production and distribution systems might be reorganised beyond efficiency, profit, and growth. He teaches, researches (and occasionally rants) and coordinates externally-funded projects about the intersection of supply chains, power, and ecological crisis. 

Dr Jonathan Gorst 

Division Head at Sheffield Business School.

Dr Jonathan Gorst is a Division Head at Sheffield Business School with responsibility for the Centre for Business, Growth and Transformation.  Jonathan’s personal research is in the area of reverse logistics. He has been researching this area for the last 20 years and in recent years this has been focused on retail returns and its implications for omnichannel shopping. His current work focuses on increasing value from returned products, while considering the implications of CO2 emissions on the broader environment. Jonathan is part of the Reverse Logistics Research Group which brings together colleagues from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield to develop and carry out further research in the area of reverse logistics. Jonathan is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and is co-chair of the Institute’s Retail Forum. He is also a judge for the annual Supply Chain Excellence awards. 

Karen Leppard

Director of Sustainability at GXO.

I scope, design and embed best practice sustainability initiatives into operational and commercial environments. Initiatives are aligned with the strategic objectives of our organization and move the dial in terms of colleague engagement, carbon emission reduction and commercial performance.