13th Social Business Academia Conference 2026
November 25–26, 2026 · Thailand
The Social Business Academia Conference (SBAC) returns for its 13th edition as a premier international platform dedicated to advancing the concept and practice of Social Business—a transformative framework pioneered by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. Rooted in the core principle of solving human problems through sustainable, non-dividend business models, social business redefines the role of capital and human creativity to foster systemic global change.
Conference Tracks
Our Scientific Committee organises peer assessment of abstracts across six major interdisciplinary tracks. In-person and online presentations are both welcome.
Health & Sport
Social innovations in healthcare delivery, mental health, well-being, and inclusive access to sport and physical activity.
Education
Pedagogical innovations, digital education for underserved populations, and social businesses in literacy and skill development.
Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Leveraging AI and digital tools to address systemic challenges in society; ethical AI for social good.
Finance and the SDGs
Social finance, inclusive banking, microcredit, innovative funding mechanisms and their roles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Market strategies of social businesses, inclusive entrepreneurship, bottom-of-the-pyramid marketing, and mission-driven startups.
Environment, Disaster Management, and Pollution Control
Environmental sustainability, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and green innovations.
Wealth Concentration
Social business approaches to reduce inequality, promote economic inclusion, and build community wealth.
Peace and Justice
Restorative justice, conflict resolution, economic stability in post-conflict zones, human security, legal empowerment, and ethical social business frameworks.
Food Security
Sustainable agriculture, supply chain resilience, food sovereignty, fighting hunger, and social business models addressing nutrition and food distribution in vulnerable communities.
Important Dates
All times in Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6)
Scientific Committee
Honorary Chairs
Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury
Vice-Chancellor, North South University
Professor Cam Donaldson
Emeritus Yunus Chair, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University
Co-Chairs
Professor Rachel Baker
Yunus Chair and Director, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University
Professor Olga Biosca
Professor of Economics, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University
Dr. Farhana Ferdousi
Associate Professor and Director of Department of Business Administrator (DBA), Southeast University
Professor Faiz H. Shah
Executive Director, Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology and President, Yunus Thailand
Members (including Track Chairs)
Health and Sport
Professor Faiz H. Shah
Track ChairExecutive Director, Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology and President, Yunus Thailand
Professor Rachel Baker
Yunus Chair and Director, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University
Education
Associate Professor Dr. Suraya Hanim Mokhtar
Track ChairDirector, AIU Centre of Excellence Socio-Economic Development and Innovation (ACE-SEDI), School of Business and Social Sciences, Albukhary International University
Dr. Rafiqul Bhuyan
Professor and Dean, School of Entrepreneurship and Business, Grameen University
Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Ashir Ahmed
Track ChairAssociate Professor, Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University
Professor Faiz H. Shah
Executive Director, Yunus Center, Asian Institute of Technology and President, Yunus Thailand
Finance and the SDGs
Professor Dr. Mohammed Masum Iqbal
Track ChairPro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Business Administration at Daffodil International University (DIU)
Professor Alicia Banon
Professor of Management, and Director of the Yunus Centre Murcia, University of Murcia
Dr. Farhana Ferdousi
Director, Department of Business Administrator (DBA), Southeast University
Dr. Ana Fernández-Laviada
Associate Professor of Financial Economics and Accounting at the University of Cantabria, and Director of YSBC Cantabria
Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Professor Chien-wen Shen
Track ChairAssociate Dean of School of Management, National Central University
Dr. Enrico Testi
Director of ARCO (Action research for CO-development) and Director of Yunus Social Business Centre, University of Florence
Dr. Rafiuddin Ahmed
Professor, Department of Marketing and International Business, Director of NSU Social Business Center (NSBC), North South University
Environment, Disaster Management, and Pollution Control
Dr. Shahrina Md Nordin
Track ChairAssociate Professor Senior Director of Partnership and Ecosystem Building at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP)
Dr. Sharif Nurul Ahkam
Professor and Director, Center for Social Impact and Sustainability (CSIS), North South University
Dr. Emadul Islam
Sr. Research Fellow, Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), The Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Wealth Concentration
Professor Giuseppe Torluccio
Track ChairProfessor of Banking and Finance, University of Bologna
Dr. Mai Thai
Professor, Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Director, Social Business Creation Competition, HEC Montreal
Professor Naoko Oishi
Professor, Faculty of Policy Science, Director of Yunus Social Business Research Center, Ryukoku University
Peace and Justice
Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury
Track ChairVice-Chancellor, North South University
Professor Mario Biggeri
Full Professor of Applied Economics at the Department of Economics and Management, University of Florence
Dr. Rafiqul Bhuyan
Professor and Dean, School of Entrepreneurship and Business, Grameen University
Food Security
Dr. Farhana Ferdousi
Track ChairDirector, Department of Business Administrator (DBA), Southeast University
Professor Cam Donaldson
Emeritus Yunus Chair, Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University