Nikki Stopford

I joined the Digit team in April 2020 as an Innovation Fellow investigating the development and commercialisation of emerging labelling technologies in retail supply chains and operations, and their impact on employment. See Bringing Environmental Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags to Market for more on this project.

I am currently an Associate Fellow at the university, while also working as an Independent Consultant using research and data to improve consumer and customer experiences.

Background

I’m a research, content and publishing professional with over 20 years’ experience, and a background in business, consumer, and public sector policy.

I’m passionate about responsible business and sustainable consumption, and have specialised in delivering positive impact for business and consumers through applied research, engagement, education and action.

I’ve held a number of executive, non-executive, consultant and expert advisory positions, and have had significant strategic and organisational leadership experience.

I am Chair of the British Standards Institute Consumer Forum. This brings together organisations at the forefront of empowering and protecting consumers in the UK to strengthen the consumer voice in standards by sharing emerging trends and data.

I have held executive leadership positions in corporate and non-profit sectors. Most recently, I was Chief Operating Officer at Resolver, a well-known technology business operating in consumer complaints and dispute resolution markets. For 10 years I was Group Director of Research and Publishing at Which?, the UK’s largest independent consumer body.

I’m experienced in using rigorous, innovative and impartial research and engagement techniques to shape decisions, understand and influence consumer behaviour and to improve service delivery across consumer goods, retail, utilities, financial and public service sectors.

I’m experienced in partnering and collaborating with critical stakeholders regionally, nationally and internationally, and across industry, government, academia, civil society and the media.

Research Interests

Current research interests include:

• Technological development and marketplace appetite for AI and automationtechnologies
• Potential for environmentally-friendly digital technologies to be a positive disruptor in the retail sector
• The employment consequences the adoption of AI and automationtechnologies the retail sector
• The impact of digital transformation on the consumer protection landscape