For Chiagoziem, the road to a PhD started with a simple but powerful question: How do things move from A to B? That initial curiosity eventually led him into operations roles at one of Ireland\u2019s largest beverage distributors and later into a strategic position at Cisco Ireland, where he now works as an Operations Projects Specialist. \u201cIt was through these roles that I began to see logistics not just as a system of movement, but as a space full of untapped opportunities,\u201d he explained. While driving operational improvements day-to-day, Chiagoziem started noticing a wider industry trend: sustainability efforts were often treated as add-ons rather than core drivers of innovation. That shift in thinking took him further – into national policy research. As a researcher for the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Ireland, he helped assess how Ireland\u2019s transport policies aligned with broader European sustainability goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe policy looked good on paper,\u201d he says, \u201cbut what was actually happening on the ground didn\u2019t always match.\u201d This disconnect between ambition and execution became the spark behind his PhD journey. \u201cI wanted to explore how we could reframe sustainability – not as a compliance exercise but as a genuine source of long-term value.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research Focus: A Practical Model for Sustainable Logistics<\/strong><\/p>\n Chiagoziem\u2019s research focuses on developing a process model for sustainable logistics management in Irish firms, from a value creation perspective. In other words, he\u2019s creating a practical, evidence-based framework that logistics companies can use to make sustainability a core part of their operations – while also benefiting their bottom line. \u201cI\u2019m not just looking at carbon footprints or box-ticking exercises,\u201d he explains. \u201cThis is about helping companies rethink how they operate so they can be more efficient, innovative, and resilient in the long run.\u201d The goal, ultimately, is to offer logistics firms a step-by-step guide grounded in theory but tailored for real-world impact. Hopefully bridging the gap between policy and practice.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the aim of your research?<\/strong><\/p>\n Chiagoziem aims to shift the conversation around sustainability in logistics from abstract goals to actionable steps. His research looks at:<\/p>\n \u201cI want this research to be useful to businesses, to policymakers, and to academia. It\u2019s ambitious, but I think that\u2019s how meaningful change happens,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Why Edinburgh Napier?<\/strong><\/p>\n The decision to study at Edinburgh Napier was driven by the staff, the people and the organisation. Chiagoziem had already begun working on research projects with Dr. Eoin Plant-O\u2019Toole, who also chairs the Policy Committee for CILT Ireland. That early collaboration became a clear sign of alignment. \u201cEoin understood exactly how much I was balancing – policy work, a full-time job, and now a PhD. That empathy, paired with his academic insight, made all the difference,\u201d Chiagoziem says. Attending Napier\u2019s doctoral conference further affirmed his decision. Learning about the university\u2019s history and namesake, mathematician John Napier, struck a chord. \u201cNapier revolutionised how we understand numbers. I\u2019m not rewriting mathematics, but I do hope to challenge how we understand sustainability in logistics.\u201d<\/p>\n Best Advice Received During the PhD Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe more I read, the more I realise how little I know,\u201d Chiagoziem recalls saying during an early doctoral meeting. The response he got stuck with him: \u201cThat\u2019s how it\u2019s supposed to feel.\u201d The reminder that confusion is part of the process has helped him push through early overwhelm. \u201cYou don\u2019t know what you don\u2019t know at first, but over time, you build a plan to close those gaps. One step at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond Research: Discipline in Bodybuilding<\/strong><\/p>\n When it comes to switching off from academic work, Chiagoziem heads to the gym. But not casually – he\u2019s a competitive bodybuilder and even won the Mr. Ireland Men\u2019s Physique title in 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cBodybuilding taught me discipline, resilience, and how to thrive on delayed gratification – lessons that directly apply to doing a PhD,\u201d he says. For him, training isn\u2019t just physical. It\u2019s also a way to reset mentally and stay grounded. \u201cIt\u2019s my outlet. For 90 minutes, I just unplug, put on a podcast, and focus on being present.\u201d<\/p>\n Although his packed schedule now makes competing harder, he still trains regularly and carries that same mindset into his research: progress is built one disciplined day at a time.<\/p>\n In Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n Chiagoziem\u2019s research is still in its early stages, but his clarity of purpose is already striking. With a rare combination of industry experience, policy insight, and academic focus, he\u2019s aiming to reshape how logistics firms and policymakers think about sustainability. By reframing it as both good ethics and good business, his work promises to create tools that deliver lasting, practical impact.<\/p>\n In a sector ready for transformation, Chiagoziem is making the case for sustainability as strategy and building the roadmap to get us there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With a rare combination of industry experience, policy insight, and academic focus, Chiagoziem\u2019s aiming to reshape how logistics firms and policymakers think about sustainability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[228],"class_list":["post-916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-meet-a-phd"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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