Corvinus University’s international academic reputation continues to grow as another distinguished colleague has been elected to a leadership position in a prestigious international research organization. Before his appointment as President for 2025 and 2026, Gyula Zilahy served as Vice President of ISDRS for two years, having been elected by its members. As Vice President, Gyula Zilahy oversaw the annual conferences in Malaysia and Nepal, while as President he will be responsible for all activities of the Society including a mentorship programme for young scholars and the new journal of ISDRS, titled ‘Sustainability and Beyond’.  His role carries even greater significance this year for Hungary, as Corvinus University will host the annual international ISDRS conference from July 8–12, a prestigious event with decades of tradition. The conference is expected to attract 250–300 participants from around the world to Budapest. 

As a global network of sustainability researchers, ISDRS connects and supports experts across various disciplines, from natural sciences to economics and social sciences, fostering scientific collaboration and education. Under Gyula Zilahy’s presidency, the society will expand its professional support initiatives, including special programmes for PhD candidates, a dedicated conference panel focusing on corporate sustainability challenges, and an online conference in May to showcase research by master’s students. 

Gyula Zilahy’s research focuses on corporate environmental management, the circular economy, sustainability communication, and sustainable business models. In addition to his academic work, he has significant industry experience, having provided consulting services to SMEs and multinational corporations on environmental management systems and sustainability reporting. He has also taught courses on corporate social responsibility and climate change, including a UN climate negotiation simulation course of the CEMS MIM programme that brings together over 100 international students from 10 countries. His key academic interests also include promoting responsible business education and integrating sustainability principles into higher education.