
This year's Annual Research Conference explores how business & management research is addressing critical societal and economic challenges; the new opportunities for research, innovation and knowledge exchange in uncertain times; and how research leaders in UK business schools can build capacity, manage performance and support the wellbeing of their research teams. Particular attention will be paid to:
- Reflections on the REF 2021 results and planning for the next exercise
- The contribution of business & management research to tackling the climate emergency and making progress on environmental sustainability goals
- How business school research is helping to drive productivity growth across the UK and overseas
- New opportunities for business schools to shape the post-pandemic business environment through interdisciplinary research into supply chains, workforce management, entrepreneurship and leadership
- Developing and nurturing early and mid-career research staff and creating inclusive and diverse research teams within our business schools
- Evaluating research outputs, securing research funding and aligning impact with research excellence
- Engaging with the wider stakeholder community of research funders, end-users, interdisciplinary collaborators and policymakers
The conference is the yearly gathering of directors of research, research and innovation leads, senior business & management scholars and knowledge exchange professionals from UK business schools.
Important notice: Planned Rail Strikes
If the rail strikes that are planned for Tuesday 21 June go ahead we will offer participants the option of participating remotely. If the strikes do not go ahead this will remain as a fully in-person event. For further queries please contact enquiries@charteredabs.org
Confirmed Speakers include:

Dr Sola Adesola
Senior Lecturer in Business and Management, Oxford Brookes Business School

Kenneth Amaeshi
Chair in Business and Sustainable Development and Director, Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh Business School

Professor Federica Angeli
Chair in Management and Director of Research, York Management School

Professor Samuel Aryee
Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, Surrey Business School

Professor Rob Blackburn
Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Liverpool Management School; Chair, Sub-Panel 17: Business and Management Studies, REF 2021

Professor Caroline Gatrell
Associate Dean – Research, University of Liverpool Management School; Chair, Chartered ABS Research Committee

Professor Janet Godsell
Dean, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University

Dr Sunny Lee
Head of Diversity, UCL School of Management

Professor Robert MacIntosh
Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS

Dr Joe Marshall
Chief Executive, National Centre for Universities and Business

Professor Katy Mason
Associate Dean for Research, Lancaster University Management School; Chair, British Academy of Management

Professor Ken McPhail
Director of Research, Alliance Manchester Business School

Professor Collins Ntim
Professor of Accounting, formerly, Deputy Head of School (Research & Enterprise), Southampton Business School

Professor Martyna Sliwa
Associate Dean for Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability, Durham University Business School

Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE
Associate Principal, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde

David Sweeney
Executive Chair, Research England

Professor Kiran Trehan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Partnership and Engagement, University of York

Professor Annie Wei
Deputy Pro Dean for Research & Innovation, Leeds University Business School
Pre-conference Gala Dinner at Marriott Marble Arch
Join us on the evening of Monday 20 June at the Marriott Marble Arch for the pre-conference dinner. A great opportunity for informal networking with fellow participants ahead of the main event. Drinks from 19:00 and Dinner at 20:00.
Important Notice: Rail Strike
Due to the rail strike the conference will be a hybrid event and the programme is likely to be different to that outlined below. For further details please contact Oliver Lowe (oliver.lowe@charteredabs.org)
08:50
Registration and refreshments
09:30
Welcome
Anne Kiem, Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Professor Robert MacIntosh, Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS
Professor Caroline Gatrell, Associate Dean – Research, University of Liverpool Management School; Chair, Chartered ABS Research Committee
09:50
Keynote Panel Discussion: A review of REF 2021 and where next for the REF
In the opening session of the conference a high-level panel will reflect on the results of REF 2021 and discuss the implications for the sector of future REF exercises.
Professor Rob Blackburn, Professor of Entrepreneurship, University of Liverpool Management School; Chair, Sub-Panel 17: Business and Management Studies, REF 2021
Professor Katy Mason, Associate Dean for Research, Lancaster University Management School; Chair, British Academy of Management
David Sweeney, Executive Chair, Research England
Moderator: Professor Robert MacIntosh, Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor - Business and Law, Northumbria University; Chair, Chartered ABS
10:50
Break
11:30
Breakout Discussions
Business school research and the climate emergency
This session explores how business school research is contributing to environmental sustainability goals; and about the opportunities & challenges facing the research community as a whole in making tangible progress on climate action.
Kenneth Amaeshi
Chair in Business and Sustainable Development and Director, Sustainable Business Initiative, University of Edinburgh Business School
Professor Federica Angeli
Chair in Management and Director of Research, York Management School
Dr Nana O Bonsu
Research & Teaching in Responsible Business & Sustainability, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, Birmingham Business School
Creating cultures of inclusion
This session explores how business school research leaders can improve gender diversity; recruit more minority ethnic staff; and support the progression of ECRs and doctoral students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
Dr Sola Adesola
Senior Lecturer in Business and Management, Oxford Brookes Business School
Dr Sunny Lee
Head of Diversity, UCL School of Management
Stefanos Nachmias
Deputy Head, Department of Human Resource Management, Nottingham Business School
Professor Martyna Sliwa
Associate Dean for Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability, Durham University Business School
Being a Director of Research: key skills, knowledge and behaviours
This session presents the findings from a Chartered ABS survey into the key characteristics of research leads in UK business schools. Attendees will get detailed insights about the remit, duties, skill and pre-requisites needed by Research Directors; and about how new and aspiring research leaders can develop the knowledge and behaviours needed for the role.
Dr Tim Edwards
Pro-Dean, Research, Impact and Innovation, Cardiff Business School
Professor Steven Johnson
Assistant Dean (Research), Sheffield Business School
Ramin Bokaian
Research Manager, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Chair: Professor Caroline Gatrell
Associate Dean – Research, University of Liverpool Management School; Chair, Chartered ABS Research Committee
12:30
Lunch
13:30
Welcome back
Anne Kiem, Chief Executive, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Professor Caroline Gatrell, Associate Dean – Research, University of Liverpool Management School; Chair, Chartered ABS Research Committee
13:40
Keynote Panel Discussion: How business schools are contributing to the UK’s research & innovation ecosystem
In this session a high-level panel will explore how business schools are contributing to important interdisciplinary research projects; knowledge exchange activities; and how business school research is benefiting parent universities and business and society more broadly.
Professor Stephen Brammer, Dean, Bath School of Management
Professor Janet Godsell, Dean, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University
Professor Ken McPhail, Director of Research, Alliance Manchester Business School
Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Partnership and Engagement, University of York
Moderator: Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE, Associate Principal, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde; member, Chartered ABS Council
14:40
Break
15:10
Breakout Discussions
Influence and impact beyond the academy
This session explores how business & management researchers can increase the impact of their research by contributing to a wide spectrum of media; and the ways in which business school researchers can engage and inform the wider stakeholder community of research funders, end-users and government policymakers.
Vicki Belt
Deputy Director of Impact and Engagement, Enterprise Research Centre, Warwick Business School
Professor Rhona Flin
Professor of Industrial Psychology, Aberdeen Business School
Professor Collins Ntim
Professor of Accounting, formerly, Deputy Head of School (Research & Enterprise), Southampton Business School
Chair: Professor Laura Spence
Professor of Business Ethics, School of Business and Management, Royal Holloway, University of London
Managing and nurturing ECRs and doctorial Students
This session reflects on the pressures facing Early Career Researchers and explore how directors of research and research supervisors can manage the performance of their teams at a time of resource and opportunity constraint.
Professor Samuel Aryee
Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, Surrey Business School
Dr Oluwasoye Mafimisebi
Faculty Head of Research Students, Leicester Castle Business School
Professor Annie Wei
Deputy Pro Dean for Research & Innovation, Leeds University Business School
Chair: Professor Paresh Wankhade
Director of Research, Edge Hill University Business School
Enriching the data within the Academic Journal Guide: a consultation workshop
This mini-workshop is an opportunity for the research community to shape future editions of the AJG. Specifically, we will seek views from participants about how the Guide can evolve to provide business & management academics with richer data to help them navigate the changing publishing environment, in addition to encouraging publishers to increase the availability of information on their journals.
Professor James Walker
Director of Research, Henley Business School, and Co-Editor of the Academic Journal Guide
Accessing research funding
This session will explore the current drivers for external research funding and explore the ways in which business schools can access funding for research and knowledge exchange.
Professor Jeremy Hall
Director, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School
Dr Joe Marshall
Chief Executive, National Centre for Universities and Business
Professor Mark Stuart
Pro Dean for Research and Innovation, Leeds University Business School
Chair: Professor Carol Atkinson
Faculty Head: Research and Knowledge Exchange, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School
16:10
Close of conference
This year's conference takes place at:
etc.venues Marble Arch
86 Edgware Road
London
W2 2EA
We will ensure that the necessary health & safety measures are in place. If you have any particular concerns then please contact Pritika Pau (pritika.pau@charteredabs.org)
Accommodation
Participants are responsible for their own accommodation arrangements. Details of nearby hotels will be available shortly.

25% Group Booking Discounts available
Members
Not sure whether your institution is a member? Full list available here.
- Full conference with Dinner - £499
- Full conference without Dinner - £459
- Two participants for full conference with Dinner - £869 (save 25% on the second place)
For groups of 3 or more participants or for bespoke combinations of tickets please contact enquiries@charteredabs.org
Non-Members
Universities, public sector, commercial
- Full conference with Dinner - £599
- Full conference without Dinner - £549
- Two participants for full conference with Dinner - £1,039 (save 25% on the second place)
Important: Non-member organisations are are allowed a maximum of two tickets. If you wish to bring more people to the conference please contact Oliver Lowe to discuss sponsorship opportunities oliver.lowe@charteredabs.org
Transfers, Cancellations and full Terms & Conditions - click here
The pre-conference Gala Dinner takes place on Monday 20 June at the Marriott Marble Arch. is a great opportunity for informal networking with fellow participants ahead of the main event.
Drinks from 19:00 and Dinner at 20:00. Dress code: Casual

If you have any questions, or wish to speak to us about delegate registration, speaking opportunities or sponsorship, please contact:
Oliver Lowe
Head of Conferences & International
Chartered Association of Business Schools
oliver.lowe@charteredabs.org
020 7236 7678
The conference is the yearly gathering of directors of research, research and innovation leads, senior business & management scholars and knowledge exchange professionals from UK business schools.
Sponsoring the Annual Research Conference is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationships with Research Directors, knowledge exchange professionals, and business & management academics at UK business schools,
For information about sponsorship opportunities please contact:
Oliver Lowe
Head of Conferences & International
Chartered Association of Business Schools
Direct: +44 (0) 207 634 9581 Email: oliver.lowe@charteredabs.org