Host: AIB Sustainability Shared Interest Group
Sponsors: University of Bristol, University of Sydney, University of Leeds, and ESCP Business School
Points of Contact: Shasha Zhao & Hinrich Voss
Registration Fees: Free for AIB Members, US$10 for Non-Members
Registration Deadline: 5 May 2025
Overview: The Academy of International Business (AIB) Sustainability Shared Interest Group (SIG) is proud to present the Inaugural International Business Sustainability Impact Forum, a 24-hour global virtual event connecting research, policy, and practice to address today’s most urgent sustainability challenges in international business.
Held online and accessible from every time zone, the forum will begin at 01:00 UTC on May 8, 2025, and continue for 24 hours, with sessions hosted in collaboration with AIB Chapters, Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS), Journal of International Business Policy (JIBP), AIB Insights, and supported by the University of Bristol, University of Sydney, University of Leeds, and ESCP Business School.
The Forum is structured around three topic categories—teaching and education, research, and policy and impact—and will address urgent themes including climate change, biodiversity, and human rights.
To anchor these discussions, the program features a compelling lineup of speakers from academia, industry, and international organizations, such as:
-Noelle O’Brian, Director Climate Change, Asian Development Bank
-Fernanda Hopenhaym Cabrera, Member, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights
-Gorgi Krlev, Associate Dean of Sustainability, ESCP Business School
-Pamela McElwee, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
–Amelia Santos-Paulino, Chief of the Investment Research Section at UNCTAD’s Division on Investment and Enterprise
Through a mix of keynote addresses, spotlight talks, dialogue sessions, and panel discussions, the Forum will explore how international business can respond to global sustainability challenges while advancing knowledge and creating positive impact.