CVSL Conference 2026 - In person

Join us at this year’s annual conference as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Open University Business School’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL). Together we’ll reflect on a decade of impact and look ahead to the next ten years, featuring insights and reflections from former CVSL directors.

The conference will be held in person at The Open University in Milton Keynes. To join us in person, please use this registration page.

For those who cannot attend in person, we are opening up the presentations from the keynote speaker and former Directors of CVSL to online attendees and there will be an opportunity to contribute online to the Centre’s future direction. To join us online via MS Teams please use the online attendee page to register.

CVSL expects a broad audience, including practitioners, researchers, leadership consultants, philanthropic organisations' representatives, policymakers, academics and curious people looking for ideas on solving societal challenges they are passionate about.

Keynote speaker | Professor Chris Dayson

We’re delighted to share that the keynote speaker at our conference is Chris Dayson, Professor of Voluntary Action, Health and Wellbeing at Sheffield Hallam University. His wealth of experience in academic, practice, and policy contexts and involvement with CVSL since its inception will be of great interest to voluntary sector practitioners, academics, and policymakers.

Chris will discuss the challenges and successes that the voluntary sector has experienced over the last ten years – including subjects such as political austerity, COVID-19, and the cost of living crisis – as well as looking towards the future and the role of the voluntary sector and academia in addressing the threats and opportunities of a challenging world.

View the full agenda.

Visit CVSL's website for information on travelling to the conference.

Refreshments will be provided. The event is free to attend, however places are limited so registration is essential. We look forward to welcoming you to the event.

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