On 18 June, colleagues from across the College of Business and Law came together for the first annual CBL Research Conference – an energising day dedicated to showcasing the breadth and depth of research taking place across the college and with partner institutions.
Themed around People, Work and Organisations, the programme brought together academics, early career researchers and doctoral candidates exploring everything from green jobs and AI-driven place branding to maternity leave during Covid-19 and police interviews with victims of rape. The day offered a vibrant mix of theory, practice, personal storytelling and policy insight.
Held at Frenchay Campus, the conference was the result of months of work by a passionate organising committee: Dr Jenna Pandeli, Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor, Dr Hugh Waters, Professor Richard Bolden, Dr Pawel Capik, Briony Whitaker and Sophie Marsh. Their aim? To create space for connection and joy in research, and to spotlight the creative, impactful work happening across the college.
Highlights from the day
- Keynote speaker Professor Hazel Conley opened the conference with a powerful and thought-provoking talk reflecting on 25 years of researching Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in higher education. Drawing on historical and contemporary data, Hazel made a compelling case for why EDI research matters more than ever – despite, and perhaps because of, ongoing backlash and political resistance.
- Conference sessions spanned diverse topics, including:
- Organisational resilience and social capital in SMEs
- The lived experiences of maternity leave in extreme contexts
- Volunteering in crisis settings, sustainability at music festivals, and informal career barriers in male-dominated industries
- Leadership for systems change and healthcare improvement across global contexts
- Engagement was a key thread, with in-person and online presentations from UWE researchers and partner institutions including Taylors University (Malaysia) and Villa College (Maldives). Delegates were encouraged to vote throughout the day to recognise exceptional contributions across three categories.
Celebrating research excellence
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s inaugural conference awards:
- Best Overall Paper – Dr Mahwish Khan
- Greatest Potential Impact – Sophie Marsh and Pujan Ghosh
- Best Early Career Researcher (ECR) – Briony Whitaker
These awards celebrated not only academic rigour but also the potential to make meaningful change—whether in policy, practice or community.
A moment to reflect and reconnect
From the opening coffee to the sun-soaked lunch in the walled garden, the conference buzzed with energy and exchange. The day was not only a showcase of research, but a reminder of what academic communities can be when we make time to come together: collaborative, curious and full of possibility.
We’re already looking forward to seeing how this new annual tradition evolves – and to the ideas, partnerships and projects it helps spark along the way.