The 5th International Conference on Business Sustainability and Innovation (ICBSI 2026), themed “Leading Sustainable Business in the Era of Global Transformation”, brought together academics, researchers, industry practitioners, and scholars from local and international institutions for a two-day conference held on 1 and 2 October 2026 at the Olive Tree Hotel, Penang.
Organised by the Graduate School of Business (GSB), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), the hybrid conference featured 89 research papers across six presentation sessions. It provided an impactful platform for participants to exchange knowledge, share research findings, explore emerging issues in sustainable business and innovation, and establish opportunities for future collaboration.
The opening ceremony was officiated by YBhg. Professor Datin Dr. Noor Hazlina Ahmad, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) of USM, who represented the Vice-Chancellor of USM. In her address, she emphasised the importance of responsible leadership, resilience, innovation, and adaptability in responding to technological, economic, environmental, and social changes. She also highlighted USM’s commitment as a Sustainability-Driven University, with sustainability embedded across teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Noor Fareen Abdul Rahim, Chairperson of ICBSI 2026, highlighted the importance of sustainability and innovation as organisations navigate rapid technological advancement, artificial intelligence, changing workforce expectations, climate concerns, and shifting global markets. She emphasised that innovation begins with connecting people, ideas, curiosity, and creativity, rather than relying on technology alone.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fathyah Hashim, Dean of GSB, USM, subsequently highlighted the significance of ICBSI as a platform for connecting research with real-world challenges. She noted that the 89 papers presented reflected the intellectual commitment of researchers and reinforced the importance of responsible and sustainable approaches to technology, innovation, and business development.
The conference featured YBhg. Dato’ Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director of RHB Islamic Bank and an appointed member of the USM CEO Faculty Programme, as its distinguished Keynote Speaker. Sharing insights from industry, he highlighted the importance of balancing business performance with responsible business practices, encapsulated in his message of “making decent profit, decently” as businesses pursue sustainable growth.
The conference was supported by a strong network of international collaborators, including the College of Management, Mahidol University, Thailand; Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand; Wawasan Open University, Malaysia; Universitas Internasional Batam, Indonesia; PPM School of Management, Indonesia; Universitas Ciputra, Indonesia; GAFTIM, UAE/Bulgaria; and Umm Al Quwain University, UAE.
Beyond the keynote address and opening sessions, ICBSI 2026 provided opportunities for participants to engage in meaningful academic discussions, exchange perspectives, and strengthen connections across institutions and countries.
The conference also recognised research excellence through five Best Paper Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions presented at the conference.
With participation from both onsite and online delegates, alongside support from its international collaborators and a diverse research community, ICBSI 2026 reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, and society in advancing responsible leadership, purposeful innovation, and sustainable business practices towards a more sustainable future.