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Professor Alan McKinnon is joining THE KLU as Head of Logistics and Dean of Programs. One of Prof. McKinnon’s primary roles will be to expand and diversify the research currently being undertaken at THE KLU on logistics and supply chain management. Through his extensive network in business, government and academia he will ensure that the research balances the needs and interests of these groups.
 
He will also be responsible for THE KLU’s portfolio of master’s level and undergraduate courses.  Prof. McKinnon has stated that, ‘Global demand for logistics courses and graduates is rapidly increasing.  Given its location, staffing, resourcing and networking THE KLU is in an excellent position to train the next generation of senior logistics and supply chain managers.’

Professor Alan McKinnon has been Director of the Logistics Research Centre at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh Scotland for the past fifteen years.  A graduate of the universities of Aberdeen, British Columbia and London, he has been researching and teaching about freight transport and logistics for thirty years and has published extensively in journals and written numerous books.
  
Professor McKinnon has undertaken studies on a broad range of logistics topics, many of them for international organisations such as the European Commission, the International Transport Forum, International Energy Agency and trade bodies in the chemicals, food, automotive and retail sectors.  
Much of his research has had a strong public policy focus examining issues such as the increasing size and weight of trucks, the effects of traffic congestion on the reliability of freight deliveries, opportunities for cutting CO2 emissions from companies’ supply chains and the links between logistics and economic development.  He has been an adviser to several UK government departments and parliamentary committees as well as a consultant to major companies. 
 
Professor McKinnon has also made an important contribution to the development of logistics as an academic discipline.  In 2003 he received the Sir Robert Lawrence award, the highest distinction of the UK Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport for his long track record of research and education in logistics.  In 2009 Professor McKinnon was appointed Chairman of the World Economic Forum's Logistics and Supply Chain Industry Council, which examines the major challenges facing the logistics sector worldwide.  He will be outlining the activities of this Council at the Forum’s annual meeting in Davos later this month.