Kanellos Toudas | Finance | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kanellos Toudas | Finance | Research Excellence Award

Agricultural University of Athens | Greece

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kanellos Toudas is an accomplished academic and researcher in accounting and financial analysis, recognized for his contributions to financial management, regulatory auditing, and corporate reporting practices. His academic formation and subsequent doctoral training laid a strong foundation for a career that bridges university research with practical financial governance. His postdoctoral work expanded his analytical perspective and reinforced his interest in the evolution of accounting standards, financial transparency, and the mechanisms that support efficient capital markets. Alongside his academic development, he gained substantial professional experience through roles involving auditing, financial supervision, and administrative responsibility within public sector institutions, which enriched his understanding of applied financial oversight. His leadership experience in municipal and governmental organizations further deepened his expertise in public financial management and regulatory compliance. In the academic sphere, he has established himself as a dedicated educator and researcher, contributing to curriculum development, delivering specialized courses in accounting principles and international financial reporting standards, and mentoring students across multiple universities. His research portfolio includes numerous publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings, reflecting his ongoing engagement with themes such as financial reporting quality, accounting regulation, auditing practices, and the interface between policy and financial decision-making. His participation in national and international conferences highlights his active role in scholarly exchange, while his consistent publication record demonstrates his commitment to advancing knowledge in financial management and accounting systems. Overall, Dr. Toudas exemplifies a well-rounded academic professional with a strong blend of theoretical insight, practical experience, and research-driven impact.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publication

Boufounou, P., Chatzimichalis, P., Toudas, K., Malesios, C., & Skouloudis, A. (2025). Consumer preferences and sustainability in the food and beverage sector: Empirical evidence in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability.

Karountzos, P., Sakas, D. P., Nasiopoulos, D. K., & Toudas, K. (2025). Redefining development through logistics performance and ESG metrics. Accounting and Auditing.

Giannakopoulos, N. T., Sakas, D. P., Toudas, K., & Karountzos, P. (2025). Implication of digital marketing in the supply chain finance of the beverage industry. International Journal of Financial Studies.

Karountzos, P., Sakas, D. P., Nasiopoulos, D. K., & Toudas, K. (2025). Redefining development through logistics performance and ESG metrics (Preprint).

Trigkas, S. J., Toudas, K., & Chasiotis, I. (2025). Mapping the intellectual structure of computational risk analytics in banking and finance: A bibliometric and thematic evolution study. Computation.

Sisira Jayasekara | Banking | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Sisira Jayasekara | Banking | Research Excellence Award

Additional Director | Central Bank of Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka

Mr. Sisira Jayasekara is an independent researcher whose scholarly work has substantially advanced global understanding of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. His research critically evaluates the effectiveness of risk-based frameworks, the practical impact of FATF recommendations, and the institutional mechanisms that influence compliance within financial systems. By introducing innovative perspectives, including the application of agency theory to AML/CFT, he has contributed new conceptual clarity to policy discourse and regulatory implementation. His publications appear in reputable indexed journals and address the complexities of financial integrity, institutional governance, and regulatory efficiency in evolving global financial landscapes. Beyond AML/CFT, his work explores value information and its role in shaping the performance of financial institutions, offering insights that bridge accounting, economics, and regulatory science. Professionally, he has held progressive leadership and analytical roles within financial oversight, financial intelligence, bank supervision, accounting, auditing, and large-scale public sector financial management. These positions have strengthened his expertise in evaluating institutional risks, designing supervisory approaches, and enhancing compliance cultures across diverse financial environments. His multidisciplinary training in accountancy, management, law, finance, and professional accounting enriches his holistic research perspective, enabling him to integrate theoretical rigor with practical regulatory experience. Mr. Jayasekara continues to contribute to knowledge creation in AML/CFT, financial sector governance, and institutional performance through evidence-based analysis, conceptual innovation, and a consistent commitment to strengthening global financial security.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publication

Jayasekara, S. D. (2021). Deficient regimes of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism: Agenda of digital banking and financial inclusion. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 24(1), 150–162.

Jayasekara, S. D. (2014). Determinants of foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka. Journal of the University of Ruhuna, 2(1–2).

Jayasekara, S. D. (2021). How effective are the current global standards in combating money laundering and terrorist financing? Journal of Money Laundering Control, 24(2), 257–267.

Jayasekara, S. D. (2018). Challenges of implementing an effective risk-based supervision on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism under the 2013 FATF methodology. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 21(4), 601–615.

Jayasekara, S. D. (2022). Administrative model of financial intelligence units: An analysis of effectiveness of the AML/CFT regime. Journal of Money Laundering Control, 25(3), 511–525.

Pinar Sezer | Financial Inclusion | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Pinar Sezer | Financial Inclusion | Best Researcher Award

Hacettepe University | Turkey

Dr. Pinar Sezer is a researcher in the Department of Economics at Hacettepe University whose work focuses on applied microeconomics, labor economics, environmental and energy economics, and gender and development. Her research examines the intersections between labor market dynamics, gender disparities, and economic development, as well as the interactions between energy consumption, capital use, and environmental outcomes in emerging economies. She has contributed to international and national academic discourse through articles in respected journals such as Feminist Economics, Borsa İstanbul Review, and Mulkiye Dergisi, addressing issues such as gendered effects of welfare regimes, financial inclusion, and time poverty. Her book chapters explore topics in innovation, market structure, and macroeconomic relations in open economies. Dr. Sezer has also presented papers at numerous international conferences, engaging with subjects like exchange rate determination, inflation persistence, and energy demand modeling. Her teaching experience spans a broad range of courses in economics, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, labor economics, urban economics, and the Turkish economy. She has participated in research projects supported by national funding bodies such as TÜBİTAK, contributing to studies on gender-based wage discrimination and labor force participation in Turkey. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Dr. Sezer integrates theoretical and empirical analyses to address contemporary economic challenges, with a particular emphasis on sustainable development, social equity, and the evolving dynamics of the Turkish economy.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Sezer, P., Öztürk, S., & Başar, D. (2025, October 25). Borsa İstanbul Review. Elsevier.

Sezer, P., Öztürk, S., & Başar, D. (2023, July 8). Toplumsal cinsiyet perspektifinden zaman yoksulluğu. Mülkiye Dergisi.

Hongxing tu | Economics, Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Hongxing tu | Economics, Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

Hubei Polytechnic University China

Tu Hongxing is an associate professor and PhD holder in Management, currently serving as the Dean at Hubei Polytechnic University. With a strong academic background in business administration, he specializes in environmental economics, industrial sustainability, and financial management. His expertise spans research, teaching, and industry collaboration, contributing significantly to academia and policy development.

Profile

Scopus

Orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Tu earned his PhD in Business Administration from Central South University in 2015. His research focuses on environmental efficiency, industrial sustainability, and financial management, shaping his contributions to both academia and industry.

💼 Experience

As the Director of the Financial Management Teaching and Research Office, Dr. Tu has led several national and provincial-level projects. He has also supervised student research initiatives and played a key role in curriculum development. His engagement with enterprises through consultancy work has further enriched his expertise.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Tu’s research encompasses environmental financial management, industrial environmental efficiency, low-carbon economy, and sustainable industrial development. He employs advanced econometric models and empirical analysis to study industrial carbon emissions and energy efficiency.

🏆 Awards

  • Three municipal awards for outstanding academic contributions

  • Selected as a leading (reserve) accountant in Huangshi City

  • Recognized as an expert under Huangshi City’s “Service Industry Talents Support Program”

  • Two national-level student competition awards under his guidance

📚 Publications Top Notes: 

Study on the environmental efficiency of the Chinese cement industry based on undesirable output DEA model, Energies, 2022, cited in SSCI

Environmental Regulation, Technological Innovation, and Industrial Environmental Efficiency: An Empirical Study Based on the Chinese Cement Industry, Sustainability, 2022, cited in SSCI

Research on the Optimal Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Path for Promoting High-Quality Industrial Development in Hubei Province, Sustainability, 2023, cited in SSCI