The International Association for Business & Society (IABS) is a learned society that seeks to research and teach about the relationships between business, government and society, focusing on developmental work and facilitating connections between scholars at all stages of their career.

Under the theme 'Engaged scholarship: How can research and researchers bridge a polarised world', the conference served as a platform to delve into pressing issues, fostering dialogue, and propelling innovative research that contributes to sustainable and inclusive development.

The conference explored how we can use scholarship, research, and analysis to (re)build a foundation of knowledge that is trusted, open, robust and created with integrity.

Featuring a diverse range of sessions, the heart of this conference lay in the research presented, debated, and developed by scholars.

View photos from the conference.

• Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, The Conversation
• Professor Sarah Glozer, Head of Division, Marketing, Business & Society, University of Bath School of Management
• Dr Kit Yates, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath

Bringing together academics and thought leaders, over 100 paper sessions were held discussing topics from AI, digital technology and social media to sustainability and individual agency.

The sessions also focused on:

• Corporate board gender diversity
• Philanthropy, public and not-for-profit management issues
• Business, peace, poverty and crisis
• EDI and marginalisation
• Ethics, morality and stakeholders
• Greenwashing, hypocrisy and decoupling
• Gig economy and technology of employment
• Activism, CSR and social engagement
• Corporate corruption, diplomacy and institutional context
• Wellness and wellbeing at work
• Innovation, networks and social entrepreneurship
• Sustainability and social justice in work, manufacturing and production
• Corporate governance and activism
• CSR, exogenous shocks and resilience

Read more about the themes, topics and paper authors in the conference programme.