Zhe Li

Zhe Li

PhD Researcher in Logistics & Operations Management
Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University
Modern Slavery & Social Sustainability Research Group
Cardiff Business School Doctoral Scholarship Programme
Cardiff Profile LinkedIn
About
I am a PhD student in Logistics and Operations Management at Cardiff University, where the Cardiff Business School Doctoral Scholarship Programme supports my research. My work investigates how technologies such as AI and blockchain can address modern slavery risks in global supply chains and drive social sustainability transformations. I earned my MSc in Sustainable Supply Chain Management with distinction from Cardiff University. Before pursuing my PhD, I provided consulting services to Chinese companies expanding overseas, developing skills in market analysis, strategic planning, and cross-cultural communication.
Research Interests
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AI Commercial Applications

How AI enables and undermines worker protection across global supply chains

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Blockchain for Transparency

Distributed ledger technologies for supply chain due diligence and traceability

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Modern Slavery

Detecting and preventing forced labour, child labour, and exploitation in supply networks

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Social Sustainability

Power dynamics, governance, and ethical labour practices in global supply chains

Interactive Research Summaries
Phase 1 — Systematic Literature Review

AI & Social Sustainability in Supply Chains

Interactive summary of 50 articles mapping AI's dual impact on ETI Base Code principles, with an integrated TOE-DOI conceptual framework and six propositions.

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Phase 2 — Empirical Study

AI Adoption for Social Sustainability: Practitioner Interviews

Testing the TOE-DOI framework through semi-structured interviews. Explores how AI supports, challenges, or creates risks for labour rights across prevention, monitoring, and remediation.

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Conferences & Presentations
Education
PhD in Logistics & Operations Management
Cardiff University — Cardiff Business School
PhD by Publication · Cardiff Business School Doctoral Scholarship
MSc Sustainable Supply Chain Management (Distinction)
Cardiff University
BSc Accounting (ACCA Pathway)
Hangzhou Dianzi University