38th IABS Annual Conference
University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
April 8 to 11, 2027
Theme: Purpose: Sustainability and Impact
A welcome message to the 38th IABS Annual Conference
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is with great gratitude and excitement that I welcome you to the annual conference IABS 2027, hosted by Warwick Business School at the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK!
Our 2027 Theme: Purpose: Sustainability and Impact
This year’s conference theme calls on researchers to challenge the individual and collective goals and impacts of organisational and institutional efforts relating to societal and ecological outcomes.
Given growing levels of political polarisation, inequality, ecological crises, war and unrest, how do we redefine societal goals and aspirations in ways that stand a better chance to address these? What roles should business and government play in driving new standards and benchmarks of prosperity, justice, and sustainability?
Our theme invites submissions of scholarly work and other interactive sessions that deal specifically with the intersections of business, society and ecology.
IABS has long been more than a scholarly association, a true intellectual home, where diverse voices come together to question, reflect, and reimagine the role of business in society.
As the 2027 conference theme implies, we are particularly interested in innovative scholarly work, which may deviate from the mainstream of business and management research by challenging assumptions and the status quo and/or by providing thought-provoking perspectives on how to redefine the purpose of business in an age of societal, technological and ecological volatility and disruption. Please join us as we explore new questions on the role of the private sector in creating positive impact.
IABS 2027 will take place on the semi-rural campus of the University of Warwick, where you will find time and space to reconnect with old friends, build new collaborations, and reflect deeply on our shared work.
Why Warwick?
The establishment of The University of Warwick was given approval by the government in 1961 and received its Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1965. The idea for a university in Coventry was mooted shortly after the conclusion of the Second World War but it was a bold and imaginative partnership of the City and the County which brought the University into being on a 400-acre site jointly granted by the two authorities. Warwick is one of the UK's leading universities, with an acknowledged reputation for excellence in research and teaching, for innovation, and for links with business and industry.
Beginning as the School of Industrial Relations and Business Studies in 1967, Warwick Business School officially became part of the University in 1988. Today WBS offers more than 40 accredited education programmes spanning every level, from Foundation Year up to PhD and Doctor of Business Administration, with a community of 500 staff and circa 7,000 students at any one time. As a leading UK business school at the forefront of innovation, we welcome the future problem solvers and change makers who share our values of curiosity, openness, restlessness and excellence.
Located in the West Midlands region, Warwick is strongly shaped by its vicinity to the city of Coventry, the local towns of Leamington Spa, Stratford-Upon Avon, Warwick and Kenilworth as well as the rural environment of Warwickshire. Birmingham, Oxford and London are easily accessible by train.
For IABS 2027, we invite you to take time to relax, learn about the rich local history, and enjoy nature on and off campus!
We look forward to welcome you to Warwick!
Fred Dahlmann
Conference Chair, IABS 2027
April 5-8, 2027
Contact person: Brad Agle, bradagle(AT)byu.edu
Join us for the 9th Annual Donna J. Wood Writing Camp from April 5th to April 8th, featuring three days of intensive writing sessions. Each day, participants gather for breakfast and lunch as a group, fostering discussions about their research, providing mutual encouragement, and ensuring accountability for writing progress. Whether you're aiming to complete a draft, finalize an outline, address a revise and resubmit (R&R) request, or simply start a new project, this camp is designed to support you in achieving your writing goals. More details about the writing camp will be shared once we are nearing the conference. The registration fee for participation in the writing camp is $100, which includes breakfast and lunch for the duration of the event.
June 3 & 4, 2027
Application Due: 11:59 pm (GMT), December 01, 2026
Contact person: Johanna Kujala, johanna.kujala (AT) tuni.fi
The IABS Doctoral Consortium is a pre-conference activity offering doctoral students the opportunities to build connections, discuss and develop their research projects, and receive constructive advice on their dissertation plans. Some of our previous participants have described it as a platform where ambitious research at the crossroads of Business and Society is shared, ideas are sharpened and new networks emerge.
In 2027, participants will be involved in the sessions on publishing and reviewing at key academic journals, strengthening theory and research methods, developing an academic pipeline, and opportunities to meet and discuss with editors of leading journals in the field. Also, each participant will benefit from engaging in discussions with senior IABS members. Please note that the consortium will be conducted entirely in person (remote participation is not possible).
Outline Schedule:
The Doctoral Consortium takes place at Warwick Business School, on Wednesday April 7th (late afternoon welcome) and Thursday, April 8th. It includes each participant meeting with a paired mentor for a lunch to discuss students’ research projects and relevant issues. All accepted participants will also be invited to a dinner on the evening of Wednesday, April 7th, hosted by the IABS Executive Board, designed for networking with other students and IABS senior members.
Eligibility:
Current doctoral students (regardless of stage in the program). Attending the doctoral consortium does not involve any cost, but registration for the main conference is required for accepted participants (though fee reductions may apply via scholarships awarded by IABS Fellows).
Application Process:
Admission to the doctoral consortium is subject to limited availability. On a cover page of your submission, please include the following information: name, university affiliation, year of your Ph.D. program, research topic (if determined), a brief statement of your dissertation's primary aim or goal (less than 200 words), and three to five keywords. Please also include a 1-page abstract (12 point-size font, single spaced, 1” margin around, excluding references) describing the research project you wish to discuss with your senior mentor. Please include a list of references on a separate page. This will facilitate pairing with an IABS senior member who shares your research interests and expertise.
To submit your application, also for any questions, please send all materials at once to Johanna Kujala, IABS 2027 Doctoral Consortium Coordinator, at “johanna.kujala (AT) tuni.fi“.
PRE- CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES
9th Annual Donna J. Wood Writing Camp
Doctoral Consortium
Registration for IABS 2027 will open in November 2026. Registration grants access to all our 2027 conference sessions, including receptions, the conference dinner, breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Please note that an active IABS membership is required to register for the IABS 2027 conference. The membership fee is $100 for all categories (except for students, which is 50 USD) and it is paid in addition to the conference registration fee.
Additional options during registration for IABS 2027:
During the registration process, you will have the option to add:
Pre-Conference Activities (registration for the main conference is required)
Doctoral Consortium (April 7 & 8): Free of charge. This activity is available only to doctoral students at any stage of their program.
Donna Wood Writing Camp (April 5 - 4): $100 for the four-day program.
Saturday Afternoon Excursions: Participants may choose from a variety of excursions (including the option to visit William Shakespeare’s birthplace in nearby Stratford-Upon-Avon). Details will be provided here. Some excursions will require an additional payment, others will be free.
Guest Ticket for the Fifth Annual John Mahon Celebratory Banquet (evening of Saturday, April 10) at Coventry Cathedral for an additional cost of $160.
Note: The Doctoral Consortium and Donna Wood Writing Camp are scheduled and will run in parallel (for Wednesday and Thursday) before the official start of the conference, meaning you can only attend one. Acceptance of these activities is required, following the instructions provided in their respective Calls for Applications.
Registration Process and Fees:
| Fee Schedule | Student | Faculty /General | Emeritus / IABS Fellows |
|---|---|---|---|
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Early-bird Discounted rate for registrations between February 9 and March 15, 2026. |
$315 | $425 | $315 |
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Regular Regular rate for registrations between March 16 and May 13, 2026. |
$365 | $495 | $365 |
|
Onsite Registering at the conference venue. |
$560 | $560 | $560 |
Our conference location:
University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
How to Get to the Conference Venue
The conference will be held on the campus of the University of Warwick located on the outskirts of the city of Coventry.
By Flight
The closest airport is Birmingham International Airport. A taxi to us from the airport will take approximately 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a direct train to Coventry from Birmingham International station which is located at the airport.
London Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports are all connected to Coventry by National Express coach services. Alternatively, you can take the train to Coventry, with a change in central London.
By Train
Coventry is on the West Coast Mainline and serviced by regular trains, 7 days a week and is the most convenient train station for most visitors. It is served by trains from London Euston (next to London St Pancras International for the Eurostar), Birmingham (New Street and International) and Leicester.
From Coventry station it’s easy to get a taxi or bus to us.
By bus
There are regular buses from the Coventry city centre, Coventry rail station and Leamington Spa. Taxis are easily available from all these locations.
From Coventry, the 11 and 12 bus routes both serve Warwick Conferences. Both buses call at the Rail Station Bridge SD stop on Warwick Road; a one-minute walk from Coventry station - view the Coventry bus route on Google maps.
By car
The postcode for all our venues is CV4 7SH and we are located within the University of Warwick campus.
For Scarman and Radcliffe follow signs for Lakeside Village, you’ll then find signposts for the venues. Central Campus Venues is located on central campus, which is signposted off Gibbet Hill Road.
Car parking at Warwick Conferences
Further information on other travel modes is provided here: https://warwick.ac.uk/about/campus-journey/mode-of-travel/
Accommodation
For the IABS 2027 Conference participants, a selection of on campus accommodation is available in dedicated conference and student facilities: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/conferences/spaces/bedrooms/
Booking details will be provided here in due course and we strongly recommend booking your stay as soon as possible as availability is limited.
The University of Warwick is a compact, walkable campus. It offers cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, a sports and wellness hub, and access to other amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions - IABS 2027
We have collected some of the most recurrent questions here. Please have a look at these FAQ to find (most proably) an answer to your question
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At IABS 2027, both session types are developmental and supportive in nature, but they serve different purposes depending on the stage of the research.
Paper Presentation Sessions
These sessions are for papers that are more fully developed—often close to being ready for journal submission. Authors present their full work (typically including theory, methods, and findings), followed by time for questions and constructive feedback from the audience. The session is more structured and presentation-focused, with each paper given equal time for presentation and discussion.Discussion Sessions
These sessions are designed for early-stage ideas or research projects that are still being shaped. Authors present briefly—usually for about 5 minutes—and then engage in a conversation with the audience. The goal is to explore and refine ideas, research questions, or potential directions. The format is more informal and interactive, with a strong focus on group discussion and developmental feedback.In short:
Paper Sessions = Presenting nearly finished work and receiving feedback on how to improve it for publication.
Discussion Sessions = Sharing early ideas and engaging in conversation to help shape and strengthen the research.
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Yes, all rooms during the conference will be equipped with Interactive Screens.
You can prepare a power point presentation (or similar) to support your presentation. In some cases, your session chair might have indicated otherwise.
Please make sure to bring your presentation on a USB stick or your laptop as a back up.
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We understand that having access to WiFi is essential. You can connect to the internet using the dedicated WiFi of the conference venue: Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel.
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No, there will not be a printed program distributed on site.
Some participants may choose to print the program at home or save it as a PDF—but please note that the online version is the most up-to-date and may reflect last-minute changes. We strongly recommend checking the online agenda regularly during the conference.
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The conference venue is located at Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel 5 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
(Located directly across from the Rhode Island State House and a 5-minute walk from Providence Station.)
All off venue activities are indicated in the program.
Please wear your conference badge at all times—it serves as your access pass to campus buildings, sessions, and catering areas. Upon arrival, check in at the registration desk to collect your badge and welcome materials. -
No, sessions will not be recorded. IABS values open and developmental dialogue, and we want participants to feel comfortable sharing work-in-progress. We encourage everyone to take notes and connect directly with presenters for further discussion.
This is also not possible due to GDPR regulations.
Out of courtesy, please make sure to obtain the consent of others before making pictures (for example of their slides) or (partially) recording their presentations. -
Welcome to your first IABS conference! You’re joining such a a supportive and collaborative community of scholars that will -for sure- remain your academic home for the years to come.
IABS is known for its friendly, developmental atmosphere—whether you’re presenting or attending, you’ll find others genuinely interested in engaging with your work and ideas.To make your experience smoother, each Newcomer is matched with a Returning IABS Participant. This is only possible if you have indicated your matching preferences when you registered for the conference.
Your host will help you navigate the conference, introduce you to others, and answer any questions you may have. It’s a great way to feel at home from the start. -
Yes! Coffee breaks and lunches are included in your registration fee and will be served on-site. The detailed schedule—including meal times and locations—can be found in the online program.
There are no breakfast offered to participants during the conference. -
Student ambassadors will be available in each session room to assist with technology or general questions. You can also visit the conference info desk near the registration area for any support you may need.
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IABS 2026 is an in-person conference, and we expect all presenters to attend on site. If an emergency arises and you cannot attend, please notify the organizing team and your session chair as soon as possible.
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Yes. Presenters are eligible to publish conference papers or summaries in the IABS Proceedings. If you will be convening a symposium or workshop, you are also entitled to publish summaries of your session.
To learn more about the conference proceedings, please visit: https://www.iabs.net/proceedings -
First of all, thank you for serving as a Session Chair! Your role is essential in ensuring the session runs smoothly, on time, and provides a positive, developmental experience for all presenters.
As Session Chair, your main responsibilities include:
Welcoming and introducing the presenters
Managing time so that each presenter gets their fair share and the session ends on schedule
Moderating the session by facilitating discussion and audience questions
Ensuring a constructive tone, aligned with IABS’s developmental spirit
If you're chairing a Paper Presentation Session, presenters will be sharing more developed work, and you’ll need to coordinate presentation order and time allocation.
If you're chairing a Discussion Session, expect earlier-stage ideas. These sessions are more conversational, and your role will be to encourage open feedback and inclusive participation.
You can read the full chairing guidelines here
Our 2027 Call for Papers for the following session types:
All proposals must be single-spaced and have numbered pages. They should undergo a peer-review process although symposia and workshop proposals will not be subject to blind reviews.
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This format offers authors the opportunity to receive early-stage feedback on their research ideas related to theoretical framing, methods, and potential publication outlets. There are interactive screens in all rooms, and participants can use a PPT presentation.
Submission requirements:
⦁ Submit a one-page, single-spaced abstract of a research idea in the early to middle stages of development but not yet paper-ready.
⦁ Abstracts longer than one page will be returned.
⦁ Do not include author names or affiliations on the abstract; abstracts containing author information will be returned.
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This is a standard presentation format with three or four presentations per session, with A/V support available. It is suitable for research projects that are closer to a completed paper than are discussion sessions.
Submission requirements:
⦁ Submit a 3 to 5 page, single-spaced abstract of your research briefly describing the topic, research questions, methods, and results. The page limit is not inclusive of references, figures, and tables.
⦁ Include page numbers.
⦁ Abstracts exceeding the page limit will be returned. Note that we do not accept full papers.
⦁ Do not include author names or affiliations; abstracts with author information will be returned.
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A symposium can focus on a particular area of business and society research or a specific teaching-related topic. Symposia submissions are suitable when there are several papers with a common theme that could be presented as part of a cohesive session or when a group of presenters would discuss a broad topic, such as the future of business & society research or teaching CSR.
Submission requirements:
⦁ Submit a 3 to 5 page, single-spaced abstract describing the symposium’s focus.
⦁ Include presenter names, proposed session duration (usually 90 minutes), information on each participant's presentation, and an outline of how organizers will use the time.
⦁ Indicate whether A/V is needed for the session.
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Workshops are working meetings that address specific research or teaching challenges. Workshop submissions are suitable when participants will be doing something during the workshop, such as discussing each other’s ongoing research projects (e.g., the annual Business and Human Rights workshop, during which participants get feedback on research in progress) or developing teaching tools.
Submission guidelines:
⦁ Submit a 3 to 5 page single-spaced abstract describing the workshop's content.
⦁ Include participant names, proposed session duration (usually 90 minutes), and an outline of how organizers will use the time.
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These sessions feature activities/experiential exercises that facilitate creative reflection on the relationship between business and society, applicable to both research and teaching. Innovative sessions might take advantage of the location of the annual meeting to hear from speakers who otherwise would not be available to conference participants. Innovative sessions might also place-based or include an experiential exercise.
Submission requirements:
⦁ Submit a 3 to 5 page single-spaced abstract describing the session's content.
⦁ Please include the names of the participants, the amount of time you are proposing for the session (traditionally, innovative sessions have 90 minutes allocated), and a plan for how the organizers will use the time for the session.
2027 Conference Sponsors (TBC)
