Dr Imran Ali is currently an Associate Professor in Operations & Innovation Management and Discipline Leader in Management & Innovation at the School of Business and Law, Central Queensland University (CQUniversity), Melbourne Campus, Australia. In this role, he leads and mentors a large team of academics across multiple campuses, reviewing performance, allocating and monitoring workload, developing/redeveloping academic programs and driving research and teaching innovation. Dr Ali earned his PhD in Business Management (specializing in Logistics and Supply Chain Management) from the School of Business, University of South Australia (now Adelaide University) in August 2017 with a fully funded scholarship. With over 20 years of combined academic and industry experience, Dr Ali brings strategic leadership, research excellence, and strong industry engagement to his role.

Dr Ali is a globally ranked researcher, academic leader, and innovative educator, recognized as a thought leader in business management, specifically in information systems, logistics, operations, business analytics, and supply chain management, with a particular focus on global agri-food supply chains. His research continues to shape digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and business innovation, significantly impacting academia and industry. He has been ranked among the top 2% Scientists in the business and management field globally for two consecutive years (2024 & 2025) in the Stanford University global ranking. Further, based on five years of data from ScholarGPS (2025), he is ranked in the top 0.28% in supply chain research, the top 1.3% in logistics, and the top 0.15% in food industry research. His research has gained widespread media attention, with coverage on ABC TV, 9News, 10News, ABC Radio, the Conversation, the Guardian, and the Sydney Morning Herald, reflecting its practical relevance in global discussions on food security, logistics, and supply chain management challenges.

His expertise spans digital transformation, AI, blockchain, IoT, risk management, resilience, sustainability, and climate change, with a strong focus on the agri-food supply chains. His research aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (1, 2, 8, 9, & 13). Since 2018, Dr Ali has published extensively in leading journals (A*/A; ABS 3/4; Q1), including Journal of Supply Chain Management, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, International Journal of Information Management, Transportation Research Part E, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, International Journal of Production Economics, Production Planning & Control, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Research, and IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, among others. He has also edited three scholarly books in the fields of supply chain management and business innovation, further extending his contribution to academic knowledge and practice.

Dr Ali also contributes significantly to the academic community through editorial service. He is the Regional Editor of Asia Pacific Business Review and serves on the editorial boards of Production Planning & Control (ABDC A), Journal of Business Research (ABDC A), and The International Journal of Logistics Management (ABDC A). He has additionally guest-edited special issues for Transportation Research Part E, International Journal of Production Research, and Asia Pacific Business Review.

Dr Ali works closely with the Centre for Regional Economies and Supply Chains at CQUniversity, engaging with industry leaders, government bodies, and strategic partners to drive innovation in digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and operational efficiency. His strong industry engagement is reflected in the successful acquisition of over $702,000 (2022-2026) in competitive research grants (categories 1, 2, 3, & 4) from federal government agencies and industry partners. His global partnerships span Indonesia, China, Europe, the UK, and the USA, where he collaborates with leading universities, corporate leaders, and technology firms to advance research, foster innovation, and influence policy development. 

Dr Ali has played a critical role in developing, coordinating, and teaching a range of courses. His teaching approach combines blended learning with real-world industry applications, ensuring students graduate with job-ready skills. Beyond teaching, he has collaborated with colleagues to develop new degree programs, graduate certificates, and specialized units that address emerging industry needs and technological advancements. Additionally, as a dedicated PhD supervisor, he has supervised three Research Higher Degree students to completion, with several students currently progressing with their degrees.

His commitment to research excellence and innovative teaching has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Conference Leadership Award (2025), Vice-Chancellor's Commendation Award (2025), Dean's Award for Outstanding Mid-Career Researcher (2024 & 2025), Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper (2023), the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Early-Career Researcher (2022), the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Early-Career Researcher (2021 & 2022), the Best Proceedings Paper at the Academy of Management Conference (2019, USA), and the Educator of the Year Award (2019).

As a globally recognised researcher, discipline leader, and committed educator, Dr Ali continues to advance digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and business innovation. Through research leadership, industry collaboration, and curriculum development, he remains dedicated to bridging academia and industry to create meaningful, real-world impact on a global scale.