ʯÁñÊÓƵ

Economic resilience is increasingly recognized as a pivotal attribute for nations, businesses, and communities, especially in the face of global challenges such as financial crises, natural disasters, and pandemics. Economic resilience is not merely about recovery from setbacks but also involves the capacity to adapt and transform in the face of long-term changes and sudden shocks (Chaiechi, 2022). The concept extends beyond the immediate ability to bounce back, embedding the potential for renewal and sustainable growth within the economic framework. Recent literature emphasizes the multifaceted nature of economic resilience, highlighting its dependence on a variety of factors including diversification of industries, flexibility of labor markets, and the robustness of institutional frameworks (Modica & Reggiani, 2015). Furthermore, exploring the concept of economic resilience, exploring it across various levels including macro (governments), meso (market mechanisms), and micro (individual agents/businesses) Chaiechi (2021) delves into the concepts of inherent and adaptive resilience. Inherent resilience refers to the basic ability to manage a crisis, typically through resource allocation, while adaptive resilience signifies the system's capacity to maintain functionality after experiencing shocks, achievable through extra effort.

The pursuit of a sustainable future intertwines closely with the concept of economic resilience. Sustainability goes beyond environmental considerations, encompassing economic and social dimensions as well. Fitzgibbons and Mitchell (2019) critically engage with the "100 Resilient Cities" program to explore how cities operationalize concepts of equity and justice within their resilience strategies. The literature on sustainable development challenges the traditional growth-centric economic models, advocating for a holistic approach that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship and social inclusion. Researchers argue that a sustainable future is predicated on the integration of these three pillars, necessitating innovative solutions and systemic changes in how economies operate (Mebratu, 1998).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative force in this landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance economic resilience and drive sustainable development. Belhadi et al. (2021) delve into AI's promising solution for building and promoting more resilient supply chains. They propose an integrated Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique powered by AI-based algorithms to develop different supply chain resilience strategies. AI's potential to analyze vast datasets and derive insights can lead to more informed decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and foster innovation across various sectors. In the context of economic resilience, AI can provide predictive analytics for risk assessment, enhance supply chain efficiencies, and contribute to adaptive response mechanisms in times of crisis. Furthermore, AI's role in promoting sustainability is multi-fold; it can enhance energy efficiency, enable precision agriculture, and facilitate the shift towards circular economies. Amer-Yahia et al. (2020) explore the evolution of work in the Future of Work (FoW) landscape, where AI systems are leveraged to benefit humans across diverse work environments, including both physical and virtual workplaces. Lalioti (2019) focuses on the relationship between humans and AI in the workplace, highlighting the emergence of new design paradigms and educational approaches to navigate the ethical and social issues brought about by AI. However, the literature also cautions against the uncritical adoption of AI, pointing out the need for robust ethical frameworks, policies to mitigate inequality, and measures to ensure the responsible use of technology (Vinuesa et al., 2020).

In response to the evolving needs of our diverse community, we are excited to announce that our conference will adopt a hybrid format, accommodating both in-person attendance and remote participation, especially for our international delegates. This inclusive approach ensures that everyone, regardless of their location or time zone, can engage fully with the conference's offerings.

Participants will have the flexibility to tailor their conference experience according to their own schedule and preferences. Our program will feature a dynamic mix of live-streamed sessions and pre-recorded video presentations, allowing attendees to dive into the content that interests them the most, at a time that suits them best.

Moreover, we are committed to enriching the learning experience by providing extensive background materials. Full papers, posters, and source files will be made available, giving participants the opportunity to delve deeper into the subjects presented and engage more profoundly with the material.

"Reskilling Horizons: AI, The Future of Work, and the Quest for a Resilient, Sustainable Tomorrow" beckons a confluence of thought leaders, industry innovators, and academic luminaries to delve into the intricate interplay between human ingenuity and artificial intelligence. This assembly is more than a conference; it's a crucible for ideas and insights on steering through the transformative tides of AI and automation. The discourse aims to illuminate paths for capitalizing on the latent potential of these technologies, while concurrently cultivating a workforce that's not just adaptable but also adept in steering economies towards resilience and sustainable growth.

Participants will engage in profound dialogues about the ripple effects of AI across various economic sectors, focusing on crafting strategies that bolster economic stability and foster environments conducive to innovation and sustainable development. The conference intends to address the pivotal role of AI in catalyzing sustainable practices and propelling industries towards greener, more efficient futures. Discussions will also revolve around the nurturing of resilient economies, capable of withstanding and evolving through the challenges posed by an ever-changing technological landscape.

This gathering will serve as a lighthouse for visionaries and practitioners alike, seeking guidance on how to navigate the intricate dynamics of a world where human potential and machine intelligence converge. It's a call to action for fostering an ecosystem where technological advancements and human talent coalesce, leading to resilient, sustainable economies that thrive on innovation and inclusivity.

Our meticulously curated conference tracks offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives, each focusing on pivotal aspects of our evolving relationship with technology. Engage, debate, and innovate as we navigate through these transformative themes:

1. AI Integration & Workplace Transformation Dive into the heart of change as we unravel the complexities of AI integration across diverse sectors. Engage in discussions about the profound impacts on productivity, workplace dynamics, and the overarching metamorphosis of industry landscapes.
2. Sustainability & Ethical AI Navigate the nuanced terrain where technology meets morality. This track emphasizes the sustainable and ethical development of AI, exploring critical issues such as equitable access, ethical algorithms, and green AI practices that harmonize with our environment.
3. Reskilling & Lifelong Learning In an era of relentless innovation, continuous learning is not just an option but a necessity. This track focuses on the pivotal role of upskilling, spotlighting the emerging skill sets required and formulating robust strategies for lifelong learning in tandem with technological evolution.
4. Leadership in the AI Era Leadership transcends managing resources; it's about envisioning and steering the future. Delve into discussions about the evolving roles and responsibilities of leaders in an AI-driven world, emphasizing the need for resilience, adaptability, and foresight in a tech-empowered landscape.
5. AI and the New Economy Examine the seismic shifts AI and automation are imprinting on economic structures, labor markets, and global commerce. Engage in critical dialogues about fostering inclusive growth, ensuring that AI-driven progress uplifts societies and contributes to a future where prosperity is a shared narrative.
6. Urban Dynamics & Smart Infrastructure Step into the city of the future. Explore the transformative influence of AI and emergent technologies on urban environments. This track is a crucible for ideas on evolving cities into smart, sustainable, and resilient habitats, ensuring that the urban pulse resonates with progress, inclusivity, and sustainability.
7. Decarbonisation: Paving the Way for a Greener Future: This track addresses the urgent need for reducing carbon footprints and fostering a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Discussions will revolve around innovative strategies, technologies, and policies that drive decarbonisation in various sectors, including energy, transportation, and manufacturing.

Join us on this exhilarating journey as we dissect, discuss, and discover the intricate tapestry of the future, woven with the threads of artificial intelligence, human aspiration, and the collective quest for a resilient, sustainable tomorrow.

We understand that every participant has different goals and preferences, so we offer two presentation options: full paper submission or presentation-only participation. Participants who choose the presentation only option will have the opportunity to share their research findings and engage in discussions with other experts in their field.

For those who submit a full paper, we are thrilled to announce that the conference proceedings will be published by the Journal of Research in Economics (JRE), a Platinum Open Access journal that employs a rigorous double-blind peer-review process for all submitted papers. JRE offers a multidisciplinary approach, making it an excellent platform for publishing research on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the fields of business, economics, management, sustainability, AI, and resilience. JRE has a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which allows users to share, copy, and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.

Papers that pass the rigorous double-blind peer-review process of JRE will be published free of charge. We are committed to promoting accessibility and inclusivity and ensuring that research outputs are available to all. By publishing papers in JRE, participants have the opportunity to showcase their research to a wider audience, without incurring any fees or charges.

Please note that additional journals may be associated with the conference in the future, and any updates will be announced on the conference website. We encourage all interested parties to check the website frequently for any  announcements.

This registration agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Australian law. You are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions when you proceed with the registration process. CITBA maintains the right to remove, add or modify the Terms and Conditions as set out with or without notice.

Clarification of these terms or any concerns may be addressed to CITBA at citba@jcu.edu.au or by mail:

ʯÁñÊÓƵ
College of Business, Law and Governance
Building A1 
1/14-88 McGregor Rd
Smithfield QLD 4878

Review Process (for those who opt to submit a full paper)

BEMAS Organising Committee and its associated journals require that all submitted conference papers go through a blind peer-review process and evaluation based on originality, research depth and quality, and relevance to the theme and the track of the conference listed in this call.

We invite full research papers, practitioner papers, research notes, scoping/systematic literature review papers, and case studies. Papers that are accepted following the peer review process, and are presented in the conference will have an opportunity to be published in one of the associated journals (subjected to successful peer review process usually handled by the journals) or will appear in the conference proceeding.

Preparation of your Manuscripts

• Names and institutional affiliations – including country – and addresses of all
  contributing authors are required.
• One author must be designated as the corresponding author.
• All full papers must include an abstract of max 250 words and up to six keywords
• Ensure the manuscript is spell checked and grammar checked before submission
• Ensure all references mentioned in the Reference List are cited in the text, and vice versa
• For all images and graphs, ensure appropriate permissions are obtained from the source
• For title, abstract, and the body of the paper, the language must be clear and comprehensible to the global audience
• Content of the manuscript must be consistent with the scope of BEMAS 2024
• Papers must adhere to APA referencing style

Ethical Requirements: Responsible Conduct of Research and Ethics

Authors are expected to uphold the general principles of responsible research conduct in all aspects of their research; this means fostering and maintaining a research environment of intellectual honesty, integrity, scholarly and scientific rigors.

Please see our information pages on Responsible Conduct of Research and Authorship Procedure.

Acknowledgement and Funding

The involvement of anyone who does not meet the authorship criteria but assisted with the preparation of the manuscript content should be acknowledged. All sources of funding, the role of the funding body should be declared.

Declaration of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.

ORCiD ID

We encourage authors to supply ORCiD IDs during manuscript submission.

Presentation format

Presentations are either live stream or pre-recorded video presentations. Please note that pre-recorded presentations are to be created by the authors. Further information on creating the video will be sent following registration. The length of the live stream or pre-recorded presentations should not be longer than 25 minutes.

Presentation Guidelines

You are required to prepare PowerPoint slides (or PDF) to support your presentation. To facilitate a smooth transition between speakers, you will need to load your presentation onto the computer before your stream. Please make sure you email a copy of your slides to the session chair at least 48 hours prior to the conference. If you attend the conference in person, please make sure you also bring your presentation on a data stick or other portable memory devices. You will not generally be able to plug your own laptop into the conference projection system.

If you require special technology for your presentation, please email our conference coordinator Ms Dwi Sugiharti (Dwi.sugiharti@my.jcu.edu.au), as soon as you can, and we will do our best to assist you.

All sessions will be recorded

Guidelines for Academic and PhD Presentations

The time allocated for a presentation is 20 minutes, with a further 5 minutes allowed for Q&A and discussion. Most presentations are organised according to a predictable pattern. They have three main stages: introduction, body and conclusion. The followings provide some general structure to assist you in preparing your presentation:

• A title slide – Title of your paper, authors names and affiliations
• A background slide where you set the scene of your research for the audience and provide the importance of your research
• One slide with the hypothesis/research question you want to investigate (if your paper is a review paper, you need to express that clearly)
• 2 or 3 slides covering your research design and methods
• You should not require any more than an absolute maximum of 15 slides (including the title slide and thank you slide)– this would mean talking to each slide for about 90 seconds on average
• It is generally distracting to the audience to have too many slides in a short presentation
• Do not make your slides too wordy– you want the audience to listen to you and not to be reading your slides!
• Fonts: Widely used fonts such as Arial, Calibri or Helvetica is recommended for clarity and compatibility. Confirm a font size of at least 24 points for body text and 36 to 40 points for headings. Light-coloured text on a dark background is advised, or dark-coloured text on a light background is fine. Avoid using red or green ink font. The maximum number of lines in text slides is no more than 6 or 7.

Remote Presentation: Opening and closing remarks

It is important to add an introduction and closing to your presentation. Below are a few suggestions you can utilise.

INTRODUCTION: you can start your presentation by introducing yourself and your affiliation:

• Hello everyone, my name is < your name>, and I am < your position such as lecture, PhD candidate, professor, etc.>  at <your affiliation and your Country>. The topic of my presentation is < your topic>. If you have any questions or comments during the course of the presentation, please feel free to type them in the CHAT window.

CLOSING:  So that concludes my presentation for today, Thank you for listening and I would be happy to take a few questions now.

Remote presentations: Technicalities

If you are presenting remotely (virtually), here are some hints and tips to ensure you run a successful presentation:

• Test your Zoom connection ahead of time, especially your audio and video
• It is highly recommended that you use a USB microphone (rather than inbuilt microphones) for audio clarity
• Ensure your microphone, headphone, or speakerphone is near you.
• Mute your Zoom session or phone when not in use.
• Avoid bright lights and windows behind you.
• Good light in front of you (on your face) will provide for a better image.
• Test any virtual backgrounds that you may be utilising to ensure there are no video irregularities.
• Webcam: Cameras should be placed at face level, ideally 70cm away from your seated film position
• Set up your space in a quiet area

Zoom

Once the participants receive their Zoom invitations, we recommend they test their Zoom connections by going to  where they can test their video and audio to make sure they can both hear and see a Zoom test meeting.

Should there be difficulties with the connection we recommend the following:

Use a network cable to connect to the Internet not wireless as wireless can be affected by other devices particularly those in a home environment.

If the connection is still unsatisfactory with the image breaking up in pixels, it is advisable to turn the video camera off, the video camera uses up most of the total bandwidth requirements.

If there are still problems with running audio-only or audio and screen sharing, connect from another location.

On the actual day, each participant will click on the click contained in the invitation to join the Zoom event.

Here is a Zoom support article about Getting Started with Zoom

Event Dates: October 2024 (exact date TBA)

Event Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia (and Online)

Abstract Submission Opening: June 10, 2024

Abstract Submission Deadline: August 10, 2024

Abstract Notification: Within two weeks from submission date

Full Paper Submission Deadline: TBA

Review Process: Within four weeks from submission date

Acceptance Notification: Please note that all notifications for on-time submissions should be expected on or before October 2024. Late submissions will still be considered for presentations, but please be advised that their full paper may not be reviewed and ready for publication in the proceeding due in December 2024. If this is the case, the papers will be included in the second volume, which will be released in early 2025

We are excited to announce that our conference will be held in a hybrid mode, with both online and in-person participation options available. Our physical venue is ʯÁñÊÓƵ , City Campus, located in the beautiful city of Cairns, nestled in far North Queensland, Australia, in the heart of the tropics. Cairns is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, including the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, and Atherton Tablelands. For those who plan to attend in person, we have provided information on ptential accommodation options and travel information. From exploring the tropical rainforest to snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, there is no shortage of activities to enjoy in Cairns. We look forward to welcoming you to our conference and to this breathtaking region of Australia!

Hotels:

• Crystalbrook Bailey: 
• Hilton Cairns: 
• Inn Cairns: 
• Mantra Trilogy: 
• Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort: 
• Oaks Cairns Hotel: 
• Pullman Reef Hotel Casino: 
• Rydges Cairns: 
• Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina: 
• More options can be found at 

Tourism information:

• Cairns Tourist Information Centre: 
• 16 things to do your first time in Cairns: 

Registration for the BEMAS conference is not open yet, but we are excited to announce that the registration fee is waived for BEMAS 2024. This decision reflects our commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable access to knowledge and collaboration. By removing financial barriers, we aim to support and encourage participation from a diverse range of voices and perspectives, enriching the conference experience for all attendees. Stay tuned for more updates on registration details.