Mike Morris holds a PhD in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex and is an international expert on Global (and Regional) Value Chain dynamics, economic and social upgrading and firm level clusters in Africa, and industrial policy development. He has extensive experience in studying the dynamics of buyer-led value chains, both globally and in Sub Saharan Africa, and making policy recommendations to the public and private sectors. His work has involved extensive engagement with small and large firms, to understand their strength and weaknesses/challenges and opportunities, as well as skills and capabilities requirements to become more competitive.

He is the only non-government program steering committee member of the European Union (EU)/South Africa program to promote SMEs in South Africa entitled “Eco System Development for Small Enterprises”. He has held positions as an expert policy adviser to the South African Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Western Cape Government Economic Department as an oversight member of the Western Cape Micro-Economic Development Strategy (MEDS); the South African Clothing and Textile Business Alliance negotiating sector industrial policy; the African Clothing and Footwear Research Network (headquartered in Nairobi); and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (Geneva).

Mike has managed and led a number of multi country projects in Africa, the largest being the Making the Most of Commodities Project (MMCP), including Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya/Tanzania, among other countries. Mike Morris is Emeritus Professor in the School of Economics, University of Cape Town, an Honorary Research Associate in the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and an Associate of OneWorld Sustainable Investments.