Oliver is interested in how environmental risks connect different actors within global supply chains. His PhD explores this in relation to water, energy, and land insecurity.

Formerly, he worked as a researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) on accountability within global supply chain management and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Oliver was an inaugural member of SEI's Policy Advisory Group, established to investigate and improve its policy impact. Between 2015-16 he coordinated the development of a successful £3.4m research proposal to The Global Food Security Programme.