Dr Alain Balaguer Mercado

Alain holds a PhD in Supply Chain Management from UNSW, with his thesis centred around exploring managerial decisions in supply chains. His research has a strong relevance to the transition towards a circular economy, as it delves into topics such as fair pricing in international trade and the selection of environmentally friendly suppliers. Additionally, he possesses a Masters in Sustainability Science and Technology, from BarcelonaTech and a bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from UNAM. This training has provided him with a specialised understanding of Industrial Ecology and its impact on business competitiveness, both of which are fundamental aspects of the Circular Economy.

Throughout his academic journey, he actively participated in two research projects, resulting in co-authorship opportunities. The first project, focused on assessing the financial performance of family businesses, earned him the prestigious "Arturo-Díaz Alonso Research Prize" in Finance at the International Conference of Accounting, Management, and Information Technologies. The second project analysed the effects of respiratory health in rural areas of Bangladesh and was featured at the IEMs 2016 Conference held in Toulouse, France.

He has contributed to an additional eight research projects spanning various fields, including socio-environmental and industry-related areas, with a primary goal of assisting businesses and communities. Notably, he successfully coordinated a research endeavour involving two professors and a prominent 2,000-employee company while conducting research at the esteemed Autonomous Technological Institute of México (ITAM), one of Mexico's top universities.

In terms of industry experience, he has accumulated three years of expertise in family business consulting, during which he conducted over 20 diagnostics for medium and large enterprises. These diagnostics aimed to identify the alignment between the shareholders' vision and the day-to-day operations of the businesses. Through his work, he managed to enhance the depth and impact of the diagnostic information, ultimately maximising value for their clients. His proficiency in this field led to frequent invitations to deliver lectures and presentations to high-ranking officers of major Mexican enterprises, as well as MBA classes.