Celebrating 30 Years of CIBUL: A Legacy of Intellectual Excellence and Global Impact
On 4 July 2026, distinguished scholars, business leaders, policymakers, alumni, and friends gathered at University House, University of Leeds, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of CIBUL.
The event marked a significant milestone in the Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds’ (CIBUL) history, commemorating three decades of outstanding contributions to international business research, education, policy engagement, and global thought leadership.
The event was hosted by Professor Faisal Ahammad, Head of the International Business Department, and Professor Dimitrios, Director of CIBUL, who reflected on the Centre's remarkable journey, its global impact, and its enduring commitment to advancing rigorous scholarship, fostering international collaboration, and addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing business and society.
A key highlight of the celebration was the keynote address delivered by Professor Julia Bennell, Dean of Leeds University Business School, whose inspiring reflections emphasized the importance of innovation, collaboration, and academic leadership in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive global future. The anniversary programme featured two distinguished panel discussions and a roundtable session, bringing together leading voices from academia, industry, and public policy to explore contemporary issues in international business, sustainability, global strategy, innovation, and responsible leadership.
The celebration closely reflected the vision of the International Business Department to deliver globally relevant and impactful research while supporting the strategic ambitions of Leeds University Business School to promote international collaboration, responsible leadership, and positive societal impact. The event also embodied the principles of the University of Leeds' One Leeds Strategy, demonstrating the power of partnership, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges and creating sustainable solutions.
The event welcomed an exceptional gathering of internationally renowned scholars from the UK, USA, Finland, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, and others. Among the distinguished participants were Jeremy Clegg, Peter Buckley, Mark Casson, Shlomo Tarba, , Roger Strange, Gary Knight, Sumit Kundu, Somnath Lahiri, Ari Van Assche, Mohammad Elahee, Sarianna Lundan, Johann Fortwengel, Sangeeta Khorana, Luis Dau, Rebecca Piekkari, Peter Liesch, Winfried Ruigrok, Torben Pedersen, Angelos Angelakis, Grazia Santangelo, Evis Sinani, Emmanuella Plakoyiannaki, Kazuhiro Asakawa, and others whose pioneering research has significantly shaped the field of international business worldwide.
The event also brought together influential leaders from business, government, media, and civil society, including Sharon Jandu, Mashood Akmal, Peter Zink Secher, Syed Kamall, Shaz Aziz, Max Partington, highlighting CIBUL's strong connections beyond academia and its commitment to fostering meaningful engagement across sectors.
The University of Leeds was proudly represented by distinguished colleagues including Professor Kevin Keasey, Professor Moshfique Uddin, Professor Stephen Russell, and Professor Muhammad Tausif, whose participation further enriched the intellectual discussions and collaborative spirit of the event.
The celebrations were further amplified through professional media coverage by Shaz Aziz of Business TV Channel and Dustin Smith, Director of Skywall Photography Ltd.,
As CIBUL celebrates this remarkable milestone, it not only honours a proud legacy of excellence but also looks ahead with confidence and ambition. Built on a foundation of intellectual leadership, global collaboration, and meaningful impact, CIBUL continues to inspire new ideas, nurture future leaders, and shape the future of international business for generations to come.
Here's to 30 years of excellence—and to many more years of discovery, partnership, innovation, and global impact.
