The International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) and CIIM Business School invite you to submit a one page abstract-proposal for consideration by the IFERA 2009 Cyprus Conference review board. This global conference offers a platform for the growing networks of scholars dedicated to researching family business entrepreneurship. The conference will share the latest research findings and bring together theoretical advancements, empirical trends, best practice and policy agendas. We welcome contributions from scholars at all stages of their academic career and from all disciplines. Contributions can include pioneering working papers, competitive full papers to be considered for publication in journals, and case studies employing alternative research methods. The conference model boasts a doctoral consortium, a junior faculty professional development workshop, the main academic research conference and a pioneering family business policy forum. Moreover, it promises a socio-cultural programme at the crossroads of three continents ...

Keynote Speakers: Professor Nigel Nicholson of London Business School, co-author of Family Wars, an authority on family business leadership; Professor John Davis of Harvard Business School, pioneer of family business development models, investigating dynastic family companies ; and plenary from the STEP team, orchestrating the global investigation into family business entrepreneurship...

24^th June: Day 1 - Doctoral and Junior Faculty Consortium: In conjunction with IFERA/FBN Doctoral Proposal Competition (special call to follow)

25^th & 26^th June: Days 2 & 3 - Main Conference: Keynote Speakers, Working Paper discussion forum, Presentation of Full Research Papers (to be considered for publication in special journal issues), and Poster Presentations.

27^th June: Day 4 - The Family Business Policy Forum: IFERA, in consultation with leading family business stakeholders (FBN, FFI, GEEF, STEP, European Commission), decided to launch the pioneering family business policy forum to consider authoritative policy-oriented research and other initiatives (at the macro, micro, and enterprise levels) across market economies. The plan is to invite representative stakeholder organizations to offer their family business policy manifesto so that research groups can consider implications for more policy focused research. Moreover, a series of high profile research initiatives at national and international levels will be featured along with policy oriented research papers destined for publication in the Special Issue of the journal Government and Policy. Participation in this forum will be a separate registration process and priority will be given to IFERA and leading institutions shaping the family business policy agenda.

KEY SUBMISSION AND REGISTRATION DATES

· Submit one  page abstract/ proposal  for the doctoral/conference/ policy forum	15 December 2008
· Notification on next steps, submission	Early January 2009
· Full papers required for blind review and journal consideration	16 February 2009
· 2 page summary (for work-in-progress discussion and/or poster sessions)	16 March 2009
· Deadline to apply for the doctoral and junior faculty consortium	4 April 2009
· Notification of acceptance to the conference and consortiums	15 April 2009
· Early Bird Registration closes	5 May 2009
· Submission of revised full papers for special issues and Elgar Handbook	1 October 2009

AWARDS AND CASH PRIZES

• The University of Alberta Best Research Paper Award:  €2000
• The FBN-International Best Policy-oriented Research Paper Award:  €1,500
• The IFERA-FBN International Best PhD Research Proposal Award:  €2000 
•  The Jeff Rothstein Award for the most creative research paper from an emerging scholar, co-sponsored by FFI and Hubler Family Business Consultants : worth €1,500

SPECIAL JOURNAL ISSUES 

Competitive full papers will be considered for special journal issues including (a) Government and Policy Journal: Family Business Policy Perspectives; (b) International Journal of Management Cases: Entrepreneurial Families in Business; (c)  Elgar Handbook of Research on Family Business (2^nd Edition, due 2010). Criteria for inclusion are based on overall quality, relevance to the special issue theme, and contribution to management and entrepreneurship theory. More will follow, with special Calls for Special Journal Issues .

IFERA 2009 CONFERENCE THEME: Global Perspectives on Family Business Developments: Theory-Practice-Policy

The overarching themes of this conference focus on key theoretical frameworks central to the interdisciplinary family business entrepreneurship interface. Focus is also on the emerging paths depicting socio-economic-political and cultural factors conditioning the formation, survival, and growth of family firms in various economies.  Conceptual and empirical papers, along with qualitative papers subscribing to alternative research paradigms will be considered. Policy orientated research papers and case studies will also be considered for the policy forum. The following themes are indicative of the research papers the conference program will embrace:

• Pioneering theory building  at the inter-face between family and business
• Strategic mindsets and institutions limiting or fueling family business entrepreneurialism and performance
• Corporate Governance and strategy in family business
• Globalization trends, internationalization strategies, and impacts on family firm sustainability
• Evidence of dynamic leadership from dynastic family business and growth stars
• The impact of ethnicity and transnational cultures on family business dynamics
• The role of female and matriarchal entrepreneurship
• Transmission of family values in a fast-changing (business) world
• Financial developments in leading family firms (e.g. private & public equity/flotation routes, etc.)
• Financial structure and performance of family companies
• New elements in family business management - Mentoring, coaching, conflict resolution, CSR etc.
• What macro-micro-economic policy initiatives (i.e. fiscal , financing, HRD-training-edu etc.) boost family business fortunes?
• Cases featuring best practice and academic initiatives ensuring trans-generational continuity

The 3^nd Annual IFERA Doctoral Consortium - deadline April 4 2009
Doctoral students must apply separately to attend the 3^rd Annual IFERA Doctoral Consortium (limited to 25 participants). Note that to be eligible for the Best PhD Research Proposal Award, you must be registered to attend the Doctoral Consortium. For details, visit www.ifera2009.org

The INAUGURAL IFERA JUNIOR FACULTY Consortium - deadline April 4 2009
IFERA is pleased to announce the launch of a Junior Faculty Consortium during the IFERA 2009 Conference (limited to 10 participants).  For details, visit www.ifera2009.org


IFERA 2009 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Conference Chair: Panikkos Poutziouris, CIIM, Cyprus
Research Program Chair: Kosmas Smyrnios, RMIT, Australia
Doctoral/Junior Faculty Consortium Chair:  Sanjay Goel, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA
Members: Carole Howorth, Lancaster University, UK (Chair, IFERA 2010) and Roberto Flören, Nyenrode University, Netherlands (Chair, IFERA 2008) 
Awards Committee Chair:  Lloyd Steier, University of Alberta, Canada
Conference Secretariat: Elias Hadjielias gro.arefi@eciffo and Niki Kux Kardos.