Centre for Supply Chain Research

CSCR activities are focused around three key themes:

Digitalisation
We explore how emerging digital technologies—ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain to digital twins and advanced analytics—are transforming supply chain operations. Our research focuses on improving transparency, enhancing decision-making capabilities, and managing risk across complex, multi-tiered systems.

Disruption
From geopolitical instability and pandemics to extreme weather and cyber threats, today’s supply chains operate in a world defined by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA). Our research investigates how organisations can build adaptive, risk-aware, and resilient networks to navigate poly-crises. We develop and test strategies for forecasting, mitigation, recovery, and anti-fragility across industries such as critical infrastructure, health, logistics, agri-business, public sector, and defence.

Sustainability
We examine how supply chains can become more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. Our research includes work on circular economy models, Scope 3 emissions, ethical sourcing, and sustainable procurement. We collaborate closely with partners to design and implement practices that align with global sustainability targets—delivering measurable outcomes and long-term value.

• Professor Matthew Pepper, Director
• Dr Clayton McDowell, Deputy Director
• Dr Ethan Nikookar, Deputy Director
• Erin Snape, Deputy Director
• Taryn McDonnell, CSCR Corporate Engagement

School of Business

• Dr Jonathon Mackay
• Dr Spring Zhou
• Associate Professor Stephanie Perkiss
• Professor Ann Rogerson 
• Associate Professor Anura De Zoysa
• Dr Mostafa Khatami 
• Rennie Cristini

School of Law

• Professor Markus Wagner

UOW Staff

• Dr Peter Robertson, Honorary Research Fellow
• Sean Elphick, Australian Power Quality and Reliability Centre
• Professor Jun Shen, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
• Dr Senevi Kiridena, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
• Dr Christopher Sykes

Associate Members

• Professor Amrik Sohal, Monash University
• Professor Arun Elias, Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Emily McDowell
• Chontelle Kelly
• Professor Colin Picker, RMIT University 
• Associate Professor Huay Ling Tay, Singapore University of Social Sciences
• Alana Tweddle
• Dr Adrian Tootell
• Jared Weyandt

HDR Student Members:

• Komudya Aththudawe Gamachchige 
• Ishara Mudiyansege
• Khalib Bin Ismail
• Rio Bire
• Yanes Panie
• Zia Qazi Zada

Ismail, K., Nikookar, E., Pepper, M. & Stevenson, M., 2025. The implications of Industry 4.0 for managing supply chain disruption and enhancing supply chain resilience: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Production Research, pp.1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2025.2493948

McDowell, E., Pepper, M. & Muñoz Aneiros, A., 2023. Towards a theory of self‐organizing supply chain clusters. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 40(1), pp.88–100.

Nikookar, E., Gligor, D. & Russo, I., 2024. Supply chain resilience: When the recipe is more important than the ingredients for managing supply chain disruptions. International Journal of Production Economics, 272, p.109236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2024.109236

Nikookar, E., Stevenson, M. & Varsei, M., 2024. Building an antifragile supply chain: A capability blueprint for resilience and post-disruption growth. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 60(1), pp.13–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12313