10th Reading IB Conference 2026

The Reading conference series offered by The Dunning centre for International Business that take place biennially. These distinctive conferences have become something of a tradition in the IB community, not only because we seek, as is the tradition at Henley Business School, to look at things from a conceptual, 'big picture' level, but also because we emphasise a critical (and we believe, healthy) balance between disciplines.

Our biennial conferences are intended to bring together notable scholars, mid- and early- career researchers, doctoral students and members of the wider international business community for stimulating discussions and networking in our friendly and supportive environment.

Please click here to see our past conferences.

Debate 1: MNEs in a Bipolar World: Consequences for International Business Strategy

This panel moves beyond political debate to address the structural consequences of a two-bloc global economic order, characterized by trade barriers and internal core-periphery dynamics. We assume this new reality and focus on strategic adaptation for Multinational Enterprises. Will GVCs become truncated and regionalized? Will we need new MNE organizational forms to manage cross-bloc operations. How will firms in the non-aligned bloc of countries leverage their position?

Chair: Rajneesh Narula (University of Reading)

Speakers:

- Khalid Nadvi (The University of Manchester)

- Katarina Blomkvist (Uppsala University)

- Liena Kano (University of Calgary)

- Anthony Goerzen (Queen’s University - 2025-26 Alan Rugman Visiting Fellow)

Debate 2: So many stakeholders, so little democracy: How do you run a complex MNE hierarchy and give everyone a voice?

In this panel, we will explore how strategic leaders make decisions on stakeholder voice and enfranchisement in a global business context. Whilst there are many benefits of leading MNEs ‘democratically’, there are also costs associated with stakeholder engagement. We will ask to what extent an MNE can be democratic, whilst operating as a hierarchy, and whether there is an optimal degree of stakeholder voice/enfranchisement that will also give CEOs enough agency to implement strategy. How do MNEs find an optimal degree of stakeholder engagement?

Chair: Peder Greve (University of Reading)

Speakers:

- Sarosh Asad (University of Groningen)

- Anna Grosman (Loughborough University London)

- Emre Yildiz (Mälardalen University)

- Ricardo Butriago (Egade Business School Tecnòlogico de Monterrey - 2025-26 Inaugural Dunning Latin America Fellow)

Debate 3: The Role of Time in Multinational Organisations – Flexibility, Control, and Asymmetry

Across the world, organizations are reimagining the role of time in work. From remote and hybrid models to flexible schedules and work time reduction initiatives, multinational enterprises (MNEs) are experimenting with new ways to structure and manage labour. Yet, these practices do not unfold evenly across global operations.

How can flexibility be meaningfully implemented within the complex architecture of the multinational organization, where headquarters and subsidiaries often operate under very different economic, cultural, and institutional conditions? What asymmetries emerge when flexible working practices are extended, or restricted, across borders?

This panel explores how MNEs negotiate the balance between global HR strategies and local realities, addressing the tensions between autonomy and control, equity and efficiency, and the strategic management of time as a key resource in contemporary organizations.

Chair: Rita Fontinha (University of Reading)

Speakers:

- Pedro Gomes (Birkbeck, University of London)

- Esther Tippmann (University of Galway)

- Luisa Helena Pinto (University of Porto)

- Kieran Conroy (Queen's University Belfast) (TBC)

PhD students and Post-docs, want to broaden your knowledge base, and become wiser on all fronts? Consider our pre-conference activities which include the Henley International Business Masterclasses which run during the week prior to the conference and cover the following topics:

• International Business, Development and Policy, by Rajneesh Narula (and guest speakers) – 13-14 April 2026.
• International Business Innovation and Economic Geography, by Davide Castellani (an guest speakers) – 15-16 April 2026.

Students enrolled in the Masterclasses are eligible for a discounted conference registration fee, please contct j.oslejova@henley.ac.uk for more details. For further details, please visit the Masterclasses website.

The submission window for full papers and extended abstracts will be open from 1 December 2025 to 16 January 2026.

We welcome submission of extended abstracts or papers in all areas of international business for the conference competitive paper sessions.

Please, send your extended abstracts and papers to Dunning.Submission@henley.ac.uk.

There are no specific requirements for extended abstracts or papers length and layout. Please, do include authors names and affiliations within your extended abstract or paper. Our goal is to give the possibility to conference participants to discuss their ideas at different stage of development.

We will communicate the outcome of the submission by the 23 January 2026. Upon acceptance, conference registration must be finalised by the 13 February 2026.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!

Click here to get started with your registration.

Registration

Early-bird delegate registration fee (up to and including 1 March 2026)

• Full 2 days conference package (includes gala dinner)
  • Standard delegate (inc. part-time PhD students) − £ 350
  • PhD students − £ 250

Regular delegate registration fee (From 2 March 2026 until 17 March 2026)

• Full 2 days conference package (includes gala dinner)
  • Standard delegate (inc. part-time PhD students) − £ 400
  • PhD students − £ 300

Late delegate - registration fee (From 18 March 2026)

• Standard delegate (inc. part-time PhD students) and PhD students − £ 400 - Gala dinner is not guaranteed

The Conference registration fee includes the welcome reception, conference participation, lunches, tea/coffee, conference gala dinner.
The conference registration fee does NOT include accommodation, travel or transfers.
Fees are payable by credit card and debit cards (international cards will be charged in pounds sterling).

Refund Policy

Until 17 March 2026, registration fees are fully refundable, but a £50 processing charge will be deducted. After this date, no refunds will be possible.

The Conference Programme will be available at later date.

Please do not miss the Conference Reception, held in the Tank Lounge at Zero Degrees Microbrewery on 16 April at 19:30. The microbrewery is home to multi-award-winning craft beer brewed on-site, and the food will range from small plates to homemade wood-fired pizzas.

Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free options are available, please let us know if you have any dietary requirements or allergies when registering for the conference.

Conference submission of papers from 1 December 2025 until 16 January 2026

Conference registration opens 1 December 2026

Confirmation of paper acceptances 23 January 2026

Registration deadline for presenters 13 February 2026

Early-bird delegate registration ends 1 March 2026

Regular delegate registration closing date 17 March 2026

Conference Venue
The conference will be hosted at the Henley Business School at our Whiteknights Campus. Delegates should note the venue is located in Reading, and NOT in Henley-upon-Thames. The conference venue is located 2 kilometres from the Reading town centre. It is easily accessible by car and public transport.

Address
Henley Business School,
University of Reading,
Whiteknights Campus
Reading Berkshire RG6 6UD
Click here to download the Whiteknights Campus map.

The conference venue is located within a 2 kilometres walk from the Reading railway station and the hotels situated in the heart of the town centre. The venue is easily accessible by car and public transport.

Gala Dinner Venue
The Gala Dinner will take place on the 17^th April in the Greenlands Campus of the Henley Business School in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 3AU.

Transport by bus will be arranged from the conference venue (Henley Business School, Whiteknights Campus) to the Greenland Campus.

Address
Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames RG9 3AU

Travelling to/from Reading

By air

London Heathrow

If flying to London Heathrow (the nearest airport to Reading), the most economical way to travel between Reading and Heathrow is to catch the RailAir bus or get on the Elizabeth Line. A return ticket by the RailAir bus is £30. The bus arrives and departs from Reading train station. For details please see:https://www.firstbus.co.uk/railair. The Elizabeth line leaves from Terminals 2 & 3. Take the line to Hayes & Harlington, then connect to the next Elizabeth Line train to Reading. This should take around 50 minutes. Please note, there is free transfer available. Use the Journey Planner for the Elizabeth Line here: https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/by-rail-or-train/elizabeth-line.

Delegates preferring to travel by taxi are advised to pre-book it. We recommend London Cars: +44 (0) 118 932 1321 or Yellow Cars: +44 (0) 118 966 6555. Travelling by taxi is more expensive than using the RailAir bus. The cost of a taxi booked in advance is approximately £60-70, while a black cab from the taxi rank at Heathrow will be closer to £120.

Gatwick Airport

From the airport you can transfer for free to the train station. Trains to Reading are direct and take approximately one hour.

Travel from Stansted or Luton to Reading

For travel from Stansted Airport to Reading, take the train from the airport to London Liverpool Street. From there, you can connect to the Elizabeth line to Reading. To find the Elizabeth line entrance, go through the arches at the side of the main concourse near Platform 1. An alternative entrance is located in the plaza between Blomfield Street and Old Broad Street.

We strongly discourage you from travelling to Reading via Luton. The journey time is approximately 3 hours and requires multiple changes.

By train

Reading is a mainline train station and is easily accessible from most other places in the UK. There are direct rail links from many major cities, including Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter, as well as a number of routes through London.

If you are travelling from or via London, the quickest route to take is from London Paddington station. Trains from London Paddington to Reading run approximately every 15-20 minutes throughout the day and the average journey time is around 30 minutes. Trains from Waterloo Station take about an hour. A return ticket during rush hour (peak times) costs about £50. After 09:30 am, a return ticket costs less than £25 (off-peak tickets). Peak times from Reading are 06:00-9:30 am. Peak times from London are 06:00-09:30, and 16:00-18:00.

If you travel by Eurostar, you will arrive at St Pancras International, which is across town. We recommend you take a taxi to Paddington station, but the two are also connected by the Tube (you will need to buy a ticket or oyster card).

Find out more on the National Rail website.

By car
The Whiteknights campus of the University of Reading is approximately 1.5 miles from the M4 motorway. Sat Nav users are recommended to use the postcode: RG6 6UR

If you are driving to the Conference Venue, please be aware that parking campus on campus is limited. Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm a Pay & Display car park is available to use by visitors (Car Park 1A). The cost will be £1.50 per hour, or £10 for all day parking. The machines accept credit/debit cards for payment. A visitor's parking permit can be pre-arranged by contacting the admin team

Parking
All visitors to our campuses on Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm should be aware that parking needs to be pre-arranged and that a parking permit must be displayed. Please contact the Conference Administrator - Jana Oslejova to arrange your car park permit.

Travel by taxi within Reading

There is a taxi rank outside the Reading railway station. A taxi will cost approximately £9.

There is no taxi rank on the campus. Taxis must be pre-booked by phone. The University of Reading recommends the following taxi services:

Loddon Cars +44 (0) 118 932 1321

Yellow Cars +44 (0) 118 966 0660

How to get to the University by bus from Reading town?

Bus numbers 20 and 21 start from the station (right next to the Railair buses) and travel to the Whiteknights campus every 10-15 minutes till 7pm (less frequently afterwards). Journey time is 15 minutes, £2.00 (return £4.50). You will need exact change, if paying cash, or you may pay with a contactless card. The station is the starting and ending point of the buses, so you cannot go in the wrong direction!

Reading buses website: https://www.reading-buses.co.uk/fares-and-tickets

These buses take you directly onto the university campus. This map will show you how to walk to HBS from the bus stop: https://goo.gl/maps/gCB1LKsNjhq

ABOUT READING TOWN

Welcome to Reading, a place of business and innovation, a spot with cultural attractions and a town with potential.

Located in the South-East of England, Reading is a dynamic town, known for its University, over 800 listed buildings and monuments, two national trails and the rivers of Kennet and Thames. Thanks to its pivotal location in the Thames Valley, one of the fastest growing economic regions, Reading is a home to some of the world’s most famous businesses including information technology and financial services such as Microsoft, Prudential, Ericsson and others.

Reading can offer its visitors a diverse and welcoming atmosphere, a great time to unwind, appealing attractions including high-quality shopping experience, tourist places of interest, great nightlife spots and an array of choices of both fine dining as well as less formal restaurants. In Reading one can enjoy a variety of cuisines for avid foodies. And all of it at a walking distance. Visit your Reading guide to find out your night out choices, a list of restaurants of different eating styles from around the world and other attractions the town can proffer.

Reading town is served by regular rail services from locations throughout the UK. London Paddington is only 30 min by train. The railway station underwent a major transformation and redevelopment which opened a new way of investments. Reading is one of the best-connected towns in the UK. By 2019, thanks to the extension of the cross rail line, it will have a direct line into London employment and business centres such as the West End, The City and Canary Wharf in under an hour. It is an ambitious town, striving to be a smart and sustainable city by 2050. For more information on the Reading UK 2050 project please visit the website.

For a useful pocket map of Reading town, please click here.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact our staff supporting the event.

Email: dunning@henley.ac.uk

The list of accommodations below includes hotels with a rating from 5* to 2*. The majority of the hotels are located in the town centre of Reading, up to 2 miles from the conference venue and within a walking distance to the railway station.

Preferential rates*

We have reserved 50 rooms at Penta Hotel at discounted rate for 16th, 17th, and 18th of April. Rooms are available at £90 (including breakfast) per person per night, or £100 (including breakfast) per night for two people sharing.

Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that the rates are available until 18th March 2026. Click here to make your reservation with Penta Hotel.

Questions about the conference? Email dunning@henley.ac.uk

Want to suggest a brilliant idea, volunteer your services, or donate generously to The Dunning Centre for International Business? Email r.narula@henley.ac.uk or c.luise@henley.ac.uk