Dunning Centre announces 2026-27 Visiting Fellows

Henley Business School's Dunning Centre for International Business [LINK] is pleased to announce the recipients the Alan Rugman visiting fellowship and the Dunning fellowships for the academic year 2026-2027.

Alan Rugman Visiting Fellow

Professor José Pla-Barber of the University of Valencia, Spain, has been appointed as the Alan Rugman Visiting Fellow for 2026-27.

Professor Pla-Barber is Professor of International Management and Strategy at the University of Valencia and is internationally recognised for his research on how multinational firms respond to geopolitical, supply chain and climate-related disruptions. His recent work examines the reconfiguration of global value chains and the strategic role of subsidiaries and intermediate units in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Alongside his academic contributions, he has held a number of senior leadership roles, including President of the European International Business Academy and Chair of the Western Europe Chapter of the Academy of International Business.

The Alan Rugman Visiting Fellowship was established in 2015 to honour the work of the late Professor Alan Rugman and support scholars whose research aligns with his influential contributions to international business.

Dunning Fellows

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of two Dunning Fellows for 2026-27: Dr Thomas Deberge of Loyola University Chicago and Dr Tao Bai of The University of Queensland.

The Dunning Fellowships support early and mid-career researchers working in international business and related disciplines. The programme is designed to foster collaboration with Henley academics and encourage multidisciplinary, theory-driven research in the tradition of the late Professor John Dunning.

Dr Deberge is Assistant Professor at the Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago. His research explores the intersection of international business, strategy and politics, with a particular focus on how multinational enterprises navigate increasingly complex political environments. He is the recipient of the 2024 Academy of International Business Buckley and Casson Best Dissertation Award.

Dr Bai is Senior Lecturer in International Business at The University of Queensland. His research focuses on multinational enterprise strategy, non-market strategy and the interaction between the two. His work has appeared in leading journals including Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies and Journal of World Business.

The Dunning Fellowships support early and mid-career researchers working in international business and related disciplines. The programme is designed to foster collaboration with Henley academics and encourage multidisciplinary, theory-driven research in the tradition of the late Professor John Dunning.

Speaking of the appointments, Professor Rajneesh Narula, Director of the Dunning Centre said:

“Both fellowship programmes are seen within the research community as recognition of extraordinary commitment and promise. This year’s Dunning fellows are rising stars, and we are honoured to participate in their success. Jose Pla-Barber as a Rugman fellow underlines a collaborative relationship that spans 25 years."