What to expect
A Lecture by Prof John Sidney
Virtually everything we see or touch is, or has been, part of a supply chain. These global networks of trade are the life support system of the industrialised world, and they surround us in almost every aspect of our lives. This lecture will reveal how our existence is shaped by the constraints of these networks and how they facilitate both environmental degradation and how they can also support sustainability. It will explore how standardisation has increased efficiency and made previously unattainable goods and services accessible to many of us. The ‘Natural History’ of supply chains will be described, so that we can spot the clues to how and why things look like they do. Different supply chain types can result in amplification of environmental damage and, in some cases, remediation of the natural world. The lecture will help categorise these types, their impact, and how our behaviour can drive different outcomes. The aim is that, by making supply chains more visible, we can begin to untangle our relationships with them and become better equipped to make choices that are beneficial for ourselves, our communities, and our planet.
About Prof John Sidney
John Sidney is Professor of Practice in Supply Chain and Logistics at the University of Cumbria. Although originally a research scientist, before joining the University he held a senior supply chain role with a major UK decommissioning organisation. Whilst supply chain management may appear to be a well-established profession, John is developing the application of complexity theory to the field and especially investigating the uncertain role of leadership under conditions of emergent phenomena. John has recently developed an undergraduate programme in Supply Chain and Logistics that is specifically aimed at enabling learners from non-traditional educational backgrounds to achieve success in Higher Education. He lives on the West Coast of Cumbria and enjoys mountaineering whenever he can find the time.
The Invisible Fabric of Society: How Supply Chains Shape Our World | University of Cumbria
Event location:
University of Cumbria
58 East India Dock Road
London
E14 6JE
Closest stations:
Westferry (DLR) 4 minutes’ walk
Canary Wharf (Elizabeth Line) 15 minutes’ walk
Bus routes:
University of Cumbria London, served by routes 15, 115, D6