Leaders to address global logistics challenges at University of Hull

The University of Hull’s Logistics Institute, a global centre of excellence for applied logistics and supply chain research, will host the second annual Peter Thompson Public Lecture and workshop, focusing on how organisations can build resilience and move from crisis response to proactive, adaptive capacity.

Dr Sarah Shaw, Reader in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Hull University Business School, said:

“The UK faces an urgent need to redesign how goods, information and energy move through global networks in more intelligent, decarbonised and circular ways.

“The challenge is not just making supply chains more resilient — it is reimagining how they are designed and governed. By embracing data, systems thinking and adaptive logistics models, we can move beyond perpetual disruption management and build long-term competitive advantage.

“Through its research, partnerships and engagement with industry, the Logistics Institute is helping organisations rethink how supply chains are designed, managed and governed in the face of increasing complexity.”

The event will explore how supply chains can anticipate and adjust to shocks such as supplier failures, extreme weather, port congestion and sudden shifts in demand. Adaptive logistics systems use digital technologies, real-time data and flexible operating models to support faster decision-making and more resilient networks.

The lecture also highlights the University’s growing leadership in logistics innovation and supply chain resilience, especially within the Humber region — one of the UK’s most important trade, energy and industrial clusters.

Dr Shaw added:

“The Humber is a strategic corridor at the centre of one of the UK’s most significant industrial ecosystems. While it remains a major source of industrial emissions, it is also a major opportunity. By developing smarter, adaptive supply chains, this region can become a global testbed for how industrial clusters transition to cleaner, more resilient economies.”

Speakers include:

• Mike Soutar, business leader and former media executive
• Vice Admiral Andy Kyte CB FCILT, MOD
• Professor Richard Wilding OBE, Cranfield University

Event: Beyond Resilience: How Adaptive Capacity Creates Competitive Advantage in Logistics – register here

Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026

Venue: University of Hull, Logistics Institute

The lecture and workshops will:

• explore opportunities on how logistics systems can shift from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience;
• examine the role of AI, digital twins and advanced analytics in enabling real-time supply chain adaptation;
• identify research, skills and policy priorities for transforming global supply networks;
• strengthen collaboration between industry, government and academia;
• shape a roadmap for building adaptive advantage in UK and global logistics.