Centre Staff
Centre Director 
Dr Erez Yerushalmi
Dr Erez Yerushalmi is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at BCU, and Director of the Centre for Applied Finance and Economics (CAFÉ). He has over 20 years of professional experience in economic research and consulting, and over 7 years of project management. He has been the recipient of many research funded projects from bodies such GIZ, CCA, the Wellcome Trust, MRC, KEEN, UNESCO, Israel NIHPR, and others. He has extensive experience in quantitative economic modelling, econometric forecasting, and is a specialist in applied computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. Erez has a PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick, UK.
Centre staff
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Dr Wahabalbari Ahmed
Lecturer in Business and Economics
Dr Wahabalbari is a multidisciplinary lecturer with a keen interest in behavioural economics, Islamic Social Finance and Creative Problem Solving.
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Dr Muhammad Akbar
Senior Lecturer in Finance
Dr Muhammad Akbar is a Senior Lecturer in Finance and the Course Leader for MFIN and BSc (Hons) Finance and Investment. He has over 15 years of academic experience covering the development and delivery of both undergraduate and postgraduate courses and modules.
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Dr Kuda Bondamakara
Senior Lecturer in Finance
Dr Kuda Bondamakara joined the Birmingham City Business School in 2010 after having completed a PhD in Accountancy and Business Finance. His research interests surround corporate governance in financial institutions.
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Dr Mohamed Hawela
Senior Lecturer (Course Leader)
Dr Mohamed Hawela is a well-rounded academic, who is passionate about providing a conducive learning environment for students.
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David Hearne
Researcher
David joined the Centre for Brexit Studies in 2017 as a researcher, having previously worked as an economist in a regional think tank. David’s primary research interests lie in regional economics and the sectoral and regional impact of Brexit. Ongoing research includes measurement issues within the regional economy as well as...
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Dr Xiehua Ji
Lecturer in Financial Services
Xiehua Ji joined Birmingham City Business School in April 2017 as a Lecturer in Financial Services after completing his PhD and MSc at Durham University. Prior to his teaching experience and consultation experience at Durham University, he had industry experience in a commercial bank.
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Dr Scott Lichtenstein
Associate Professor
Scott's lecturing, research and publishing are in the areas of strategy and strategic leadership. His specialism is in the area of leaders’ and executives’ personal values and how they impact strategic choice and leadership.
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Ha-Phuong Luong
Assistant Lecturer in Business-Data Analytics
Ha-Phuong Luong is nearing completion of her PhD at Aston University. She obtained her bachelor’s degree with Distinction at Vietnam National University. After that, Ha-Phuong completed a MSc International Business and Finance program with Distinction at De Montfort University, and was honoured with the Leicester Business...
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Dr Stefania Paladini
Reader in Economics & Global Security
Dr Stefania Paladini is a Reader in Economics & Global Security at Birmingham City University. Before joining academia in 2008, she has worked for the Italian central government for fifteen years, seven of which were spent in East Asia as a trade commissioner.
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Dr Eleni Papagiannaki
Lecturer and Course Leader for BA (Hons) Business Economics
Dr Elena Papagiannaki has completed her Phd in Economics and Operational Research at Aston University. Her special focus is on labour economics and particularly the contribution of unpaid overtime in the UK industries’ output.