12th Asian Management Research and Case Conference (AMRC 2025): Innovating for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future

This year’s Asian Management Research and Case Conference (AMRC) was hosted by the Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) at the scenic Highland Country Club & Resort near Islamabad from May 2–3, 2025. It centred around the theme "Innovating for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future: Addressing Global Challenges through Business and Technology."

The AMRC is a pivotal element in the research landscape of SDSB. This year’s annual conference was conducted in partnership with the UAE University, IIM Bangalore and the University of Dhaka.  It emphasised the vital role of research and innovation in confronting some of the world’s most pressing challenges—poverty, climate change, and digital transformation.

In light of alarming global indicators, such as 700 million people still living in extreme poverty (World Bank, 2024) and the past decade being the hottest on record (UN), the conference served as a clarion call for sustainable business strategies and inclusive technological innovation. The need to rethink growth through an interdisciplinary and collaborative lens was echoed in both research presentations and keynote sessions.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Faiza Ali, Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship at SDSB, who highlighted how digitalisation can be harnessed to drive inclusive growth and sustainable business practices.

The conference featured compelling keynote addresses by distinguished scholars. Professor Dimitria Groutsis from the University of Sydney Business School delivered a powerful talk titled “When America Sneezes the World Catches a Cold: Vaccinating Against the Erosion of DEI and Solidarity – Considerations & Implications with a Focus on Ethno-Racial Diversity.” She explored the global ripple effects of political and institutional shifts in the U.S., highlighting the pressing need to safeguard diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in increasingly polarized environments. 
Professor Saïd Elbanna of Qatar University presented “Cultivating a Case Study Culture in Higher Education: Experiences and Achievements from Qatar University’s Case Study Unit,” sharing practical insights into building a vibrant case pedagogy ecosystem. His presentation emphasised the importance of contextually grounded teaching tools that enhance student engagement and foster critical thinking in management education.

The diversity of submissions spanned topics such as green supply chains, AI-driven decision-making, social entrepreneurship, inclusive digital finance, and sustainability in emerging markets. Each presentation contributed fresh perspectives to the broader conversation on building resilient, technology-enabled, and socially responsible business ecosystems.

Complementing these academic sessions were two interactive workshops led by faculty from the Suleman Dawood School of Business at LUMS. Dr. Syed Zahoor Hassan, Professor Emeritus at SDSB, led the workshop “Teaching with Cases: Fundamentals for Engaging and Effective Classrooms,” which focused on enhancing classroom learning through case-based pedagogy and experiential methods.  Dr. Jawad Syed conducted “Networking for Researchers: Collaborating Across Institutions and Borders,” a session that encouraged cross-institutional collaboration and shared strategies for building meaningful research partnerships. Together, these sessions added an applied dimension to the conference’s broader goals of fostering innovation, sustainability, and inclusion in business research and education.

Featuring 71 full papers and case submissions, the conference garnered active participation from scholars, researchers, and practitioners. Following a meticulous blind review process, 63 submissions were accepted, showcasing the growing interest in management research. With nearly 50 participants in attendance, AMRC 2025 provided an intimate yet intellectually vibrant setting for dialogue, collaboration, and critical reflection. The panel discussions offered additional opportunities for in-depth exchanges on critical issues, fostering a deeper understanding of challenges and opportunities in the digital age and management research.

AMRC 2025 emerged as a vibrant platform for scholarly exchange and collaboration, solidifying its position as a leading conference in the field of management studies. It proved to be more than a conventional academic gathering—it was a collaborative platform to reimagine business in the face of global adversity. From cross-institutional research networking to case-based pedagogical training, the event affirmed the importance of knowledge exchange and innovation in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.