6th Finance and Accounting 2026 Annual Research Symposium

Theme: Sustainability in the Digital Era

Dates: 17-18 June 2026

Location: University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS

Overview:

In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, sustainability has become a critical imperative that intersects with virtually every aspect of finance and accounting. The digital transformation is reshaping how organisations approach environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, sustainable finance, and responsible business practices. From blockchain-enabled carbon credit trading to AI-powered ESG analytics, digital technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges for sustainable finance and accounting.

The symposium will examine the intersection of sustainability and digital innovation across finance, data analytics, and accounting. We invite research on topics including sustainable finance, digital assets and environmental impact, ESG reporting and analytics, fintech solutions for sustainability, green finance technologies, sustainable investment strategies, corporate governance in the digital age, climate risk management, and the role of artificial intelligence in sustainable decision-making.

The symposium will explore a wide range of key finance, data analytics and accounting topics, ranging from sustainability metrics, digital transformation, ESG integration, climate finance, sustainable investment, green accounting standards, carbon accounting, sustainable supply chain finance, impact measurement, and responsible innovation. Submissions in all areas of finance, data analytics and accounting are encouraged. Submissions exploring sustainability in the digital era will be particularly welcome.

Call for Papers

We invite you to submit extended abstracts, papers-in-progress, or full papers* by the deadline of 31 January 2026 by emailing these to [email protected].

*Extended abstracts, papers-in-progress or full papers will be considered for the symposium program with the understanding that they will be finished by the time of the symposium.

All entrant submissions will be informed of the outcome in due course after the deadline.

Special Features

The 2026 symposium will introduce Doctoral Panel Sessions to provide opportunities for doctoral students to present their research and engage with the academic community.

Please forward this call to anyone you think may wish to participate in and/or attend this Symposium.

Supporting Journals:

• International Review of Financial Analysis (CiteScore 11.1, IF 9.8)
• Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (CiteScore 9.7, IF 6.1)
  Editors' Fast Track
• The Editors’ Fast Track connects authors of high-quality papers with editors from top-tier journals, including the International Review of Financial Analysis, Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money. Outstanding papers (3 Nos) may also be considered for a fast-tracked review process with International Review of Financial Analysis(IRFA).

Further information

If you have any other questions or queries, please email [email protected].

Registration closes at 1pm on Tuesday, 16 June 2026.

Academic Keynote Speaker:

Prof Martin Dallimer, Professor in Environmental Sustainability, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, London

We live in a time of rapid technological, environmental, and societal change. Urbanisation and agricultural intensification have driven unsustainable resource use and ecosystem degradation. At the same time, technological innovation is transforming economies, reshaping how people interact with the environment, and could fundamentally shift how we might deliver a more sustainable, equitable and just future. For instance, the importance of healthy, biodiverse ecosystems for carbon storage, food production, climate resilience, and human wellbeing, is increasingly recognized. Yet, habitat and biodiversity loss continue apace. To what extent, then, might technological innovations offer solutions to improve how we deliver multiple sustainability goals from landscapes that are under pressure from many competing demands. Working across diverse regions, my research centres on applying and integrating quantitative and qualitative research techniques from across the natural and social sciences to understand how to deliver sustainable, viable and equitable solutions to some of the environment and development challenges facing the world today.

Industry Keynote Speaker:

Mr. Tim Smolcic, Director Tech Sustainability, HSBC, London

Tim Smolcic is a global technology executive and a leading voice in sustainable IT, with over 15 years of experience driving innovation at the intersection of enterprise technology, cloud computing, AI, and environmental impact.

Currently serving as Director at HSBC, Tim leads global transformation and strategic initiatives, integrating sustainability as a core design principle for modern enterprise infrastructure.

A passionate advocate for responsible technology, Tim is an active partner of the ITU Green Digital Action initiative. His work focuses on embedding sustainability into the digital ecosystem—particularly the development of open-source tools that enable real-time measurement of software-related carbon emissions. His patented carbon tracking framework is now listed on the UN Digital Public Goods Register.

Tim brings industry-wide insights from his ongoing research into the measurement and reporting of AI energy consumption. His work identifies critical gaps in current methodologies and reporting frameworks, offering evidence-based recommendations to align AI development with global sustainability goals. Through cross-sector collaboration, Tim is helping define what “green AI” means in practice—and where the industry must evolve to close the disconnect between innovation and environmental accountability.

A copy of the programme is also available here (TBC)

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Host or Publisher Westminster Business School