The theme of the 2008 academy was Water & Wine.

The five day event brought together 20 doctoral scholars from leading Canadian and global doctoral programs for intensive workshops with the 2008 PhD Sustainability faculty:

• Dirk Matten Schulich School of Business, York University

• Andy Hoffman Ross School of Business and the School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan

• Christian Seelos IESE, University of Navarra

• Oana Branzei Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario (Host)

The event featured several interactive presentations by distinguished Ivey and UWO faculty: Tima Bansal, Paul Beamish, Srinivas Sridharan and Charlie Trick, panels and dialogues with practicing thought leaders, a field trip and a case teaching workshop.

A $500 best-paper award, sponsored by the Research Network for Business Sustainability was awarded to Joshua Ault, University of South Carolina, for his work on  Comparative Institutional Advantages at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Explaining Cross-National Differences in the Growth of Commercial Microfinance. Rosa Maria Dangelico, Interpolytechnic Doctor School, received the runner-up award for her theory paper on Sustainability Knowledge Integrative Capabilities and Green Product Strategies.

"I went to the 2008 PhD Sustainability Academy with the expectation to have a little feedback on my paper.  Initially I did not get what I was hoping for.  However, at the end I left with clear ideas for a paper, a book, a case, new teaching insights and last but not least a bunch of new friends.  How this has happened is impossible for me to describe but it was definitely one of the best academic experiences of my life.  I therefore can only encourage you to experience it yourself." 
Christopher Beuttler, PhD Candidate, Management, Birkbeck College, University of London