CFB's Vanessa Diaz wins prestigious Best Doctoral Student Contribution Award

Vanessa Diaz has been honoured with the ''Best Doctoral Student Contribution'' at the prestigious 2014 Family Enterprise Research Conference (FERC) for her research on Long-term Orientation and Innovation in Family Firms.

Her study explores the propensity of family firms to engage in long-term strategic decisions and how they affect their entrepreneurial behaviour, in particular innovation.

The conference was held in Portland, Oregon with participants from 60 universities around the world and Vanessa's was recognised and regarded favourably by an international panel of eminent scholars.

This award has reinforced the importance and relevance of Vanessa's research as well as encouraging her in her future research.   

”I am delighted that my PhD research on Long-term Orientation has been awarded by an international panel of acknowledged scholars. I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to my research, especially to my supervisors for their guidance and outstanding support” - Vanessa said.

The news come the same week as Catherine Faherty, also a researcher with DCU Centre for Family Business, is awarded an Irish Research Council PhD Scholarship in a prestigious ceremony hosted by Minister of State for Research Sean Sherlock TD.