Dr Amy Benstead is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Management at The University of Manchester, within the Department of Materials, Faculty of Science & Engineering.

She holds a PhD in Management Science from Lancaster University Management School, where she also earned her MRes in Management Science and BSc (Hons) in Operations Management (Industry). Her research is focused on supply chain management and global sourcing, with a particular emphasis on combating modern slavery.

Amy’s expertise has contributed to her role on the British Standards Institution (BSI) committee, where she helped develop the world's first national standard addressing modern slavery. Currently, she is the recipient of a Leverhulme Trust grant, investigating the role of worker voice in garment factories in Leicester, UK.

With extensive international experience in the fashion industry, Amy most recently served as Senior Merchandise Manager in Istanbul, Turkey, at the global sourcing company Li & Fung. In this role, she was responsible for managing the sourcing and production of apparel for major UK fashion retailers, honing her technical and commercial skills in areas such as garment costing, sales, critical path management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), compliance, and quality systems.

Amy’s scholarly work has been widely recognized. Her PhD research received the Highly Commended Award in the earch has been chosen as a Highly Commended Award winner of the 2018 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Awards in the Operations and Production Management category. Additionally, her paper in the  International Journal of Operations and Product Management (IJOPM) on collaboration among brands and retailers in response to modern slavery legislation was honored with a 2019 Emerald Literati Award. In 2024, Amy was a finalist in the Inspiring Women Awards (Sustainable Award for Women Making an Impact).

Amy has also served on the board of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA) from 2021 to 2024, where she successfully launched the association's first mentorship program.

At The University of Manchester, Amy teaches various units in the Department of Materials, focusing on Business Ethics, Sustainability & CSR, Operations Management, and Fashion Management.