2011 has been a great year for BAM. The annual conference received the largest number of paper submissions on record, and with over 650 people attending from 41 different countries worldwide it proved to be one of our most successful events to date.

This year a number of loyal BAM council members have come to the end of their tenure; including Mike Wallace, Andrew Newman, Mark Learmonth, Alison Lewis, Jon Billsberry & our President Tim Clark. BAM thanks them for all the hard work and effort they have all put in over the years, and wishes them all the best in the future.

Starting in January Nic Beech will take his place on the BAM Executive, and we welcome Julie Gore, Mark Saunders and Nelarine Cornelius to serve on the BAM Council for the next 3 years.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have contributed to the success of this year, and we hope that with continued support from our members BAM will go from strength to strength in 2012 as we begin our updated training programme and prepare for BAM2012 in Cardiff.

Please see below highlighted articles from the past year, and from all the BAM team we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

BAM highlights from 2011:

• Research Excellence Framework: BAM nominees appointed to Business and Management Subpanel
• Cardiff University Announced as BAM2012 Venue
• CMI Top Management Articles Initiative Launched: Demonstrate the Impact of your Research
• BAM Chair Professor Abby Ghobadian responds to David Willett's remarks on RAE and REF (FT 8th April)
• SAMS Sponsors 50 BAM2011 Doctoral Symposium Bursaries
• BAM Website Launch
• BAM and Emerald launch Advanced Authorship Scheme
• REF: Journal lists to play no part in assessments, confirms Sub-Panel Chair Professor Mike Pidd
• BAM responds to REF consultation on draft assessment criteria and working methods
• 2011 BAM Council and Executive Election Results
• BAM celebrates 25th anniversary conference
• BAM Founder, Andrew Petigrew OBE, receives Richard Whipp Lifetime Achievement Award
• BAM Council member Simon Collinson writes on the changes in the ESRC approach to funding is opening up opportunities for business and management researchers