The 2025 AIB-Canada Chapter Conference, hosted by the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University on August 22–23, convened scholars and practitioners under the theme “Economic Globalization: Shifting Realities, Shifting Responses.” The event examined how global trade, investment, and technology are transforming economies and institutions, with panels addressing resilience, sustainability, inequality, and governance in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
Keynote Speakers and Opening Panel
The conference opened with remarks by Ashworth, Associate Dean (Research) at the Smith School, followed by a joint editors’ panel featuring Rosalie Tung (Editor-in-Chief, Journal of International Business Studies) and Ari Van Assche (Editor-in-Chief, Journal of International Business Policy). Their session, “How Are Realities and Responses Shifting in IB Research and Publishing?”, set the tone for debates on how international business scholarship adapts to shifting global dynamics. The keynote lunch address was delivered by Nicolas Lamp, Associate Professor of Law at Queen’s University, who discussed “Trading in Disorder: Making Sense of the New World Economy,” linking trade governance to contemporary challenges in global disorder. Professor Lamp’s contribution expanded the interdisciplinary scope of the IB scholarly and policy conversation amid the resurgence of trade barriers.
Meet-the-Editors Initiative
A highlight of the program was the JIBS–JIBP Paper Development Workshop, co-chaired by Professors Tung and Van Assche. This workshop provided direct engagement between authors and journal editors, offering participants feedback on ongoing research and guidance on aligning submissions with top journal standards. The session emphasized scholarly rigor, conceptual framing, and practical insights into navigating the publication process—an important mentoring mechanism for emerging academics.
PhD Student Initiatives
Dedicated programming for doctoral candidates and early-career researchers was a cornerstone of the event. The PhD Workshop and Panel, part of the AIB-CanDo’s! initiative led by Vanessa Hasse (Western University), tackled the theme “The Secret Sauce for Academic Success: What We Don’t Typically Talk About in PhD Programs.” A key focus in the conversation was how to balance research with teaching, and sustaining professional and personal motivation under resource constraints. The interactive format encouraged candid exchanges about academic development and wellbeing, reinforcing AIB-Canada’s commitment to professional growth among young scholars.
Awards
Another key moment was the announcement of the Conference’s Best Students Paper Awards, which recognized the fantastic work of Simon Iskander (Queen’s University), for the manuscript titled: “Modeling Optimal FSA Recombination Decisions Using Real Options Theory”; and Shubham Singh (Rutgers Business School), for the paper “Navigating Compliance: How Buyer Power and Local Laws Shape Sustainability in Global Supply Chains”. Congratulations, Simon and Shubham!
Reviewing Workshop
The hands-on Reviewing Workshop, facilitated by Professor Liena Kano (University of Calgary), helped attendants to refine their skills at conducting peer reviews in an interactive and participatory way. Using real conference papers (with authors’ consent), attendees analyzed review examples in small groups and discussed best practices in constructive feedback, ethical reviewing, and the dual learning role of reviewers as both critics and contributors to the scholarly community. This session fostered transparency in the peer-review process and built capacity among emerging researchers.
Academic Program Highlights
Across sixteen thematic sessions, the conference showcased cutting-edge research on globalization, sustainability, institutional complexity, and digital transformation. Panels such as “Mobilizing Firms for Climate Action” and “The Double-Edged Sword of AI Innovations for MNEs’ ESG Performance” underscored the growing integration of environmental and digital governance themes in international business research. Contributions from Canadian and international universities highlighted the AIB-Canada Chapter’s role as a nexus for cross-disciplinary inquiry into global economic transformation.
Social Activity
The first day concluded with a dinner cruise on the St. Lawrence River aboard the Island Queen boat, offering participants an opportunity for informal networking and collegial exchange, in addition to enjoying the magnificent landscape. The relaxed atmosphere on Kingston’s waterfront complemented the academic intensity of the sessions, strengthening professional and personal ties among attendees.
Closing Reflections
The conference ended with a closing session summarizing the discussions and highlighting future directions for AIB-Canada. Participants emphasized the need for continued collaboration on topics such as digital globalization, sustainability transitions, and the geopolitics of trade. The event’s blend of high-level academic exchange, editorial mentorship, and community engagement reaffirmed AIB-Canada’s contribution to advancing international business scholarship in an era of rapid global change.
