Tuesday 30th June 2026

Welcome to Day One of the Conference. Today’s focus will be on examining the key issues and challenges facing communities and what this means for rights-based community development practice. 

Community Development in a Challenging World - Draft Programme

08:00 Registration
Yoga/Mindfulness/ Campus Walk & Talks (Connect with other delegates)
09:00 Opening Ceremony
09:45 – 10:30 Opening Keynote: Community Development in the Midst of Global Crisis: Challenges and Transformations
Dr. Antonia Darder, Professor Emerita at Loyola Marymount University, former Leavey Presidential Endowed Chair of Ethics and Moral Leadership
10:30 – 10:45 Tea/Coffee Break

10:45 – 12:15

Plenary Panel Session – Shaped by Past, Co-creating the Future: Community Development in a Turbulent World

Chaired by Community Development Board Members Professor Sarah Banks, Durham University, and Dr. Jo Howard, Institute of Development Studies.

Panelists:

  • Professor Janki Andharia, Centre for Disasters and Development, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
  • Professor Pushpesh Kumar, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad,India.
  • Professor Rezaul Islam, Department of Public Health, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Dr Peter Westoby, Director/Senior Social Practitioner at Community Praxis Co-op, Australia. 
12:15

Networking Lunch & Poster Presentations

Book Launches:

  • Book: Relationships in Community Work, Prof Karen McArdle and Dr Jean McEwan-Short (10 minutes)
  • Book: ABCD and Beyond. A Practical Guide for Local Government, Dee Brooks (10 minutes)
13:15- 14:15 Parallel Session 1 and Practice Workshops 1
14:15– 15:15 Parallel Session 2 and Practice Workshops 2
15:15 Tea/Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:30 Parallel Session 3 and Practice Workshops 3
16:30 – 17:30 Plenary Session: In Conversation with Antonia Darder
18:30

Community Development Practice Showcase Event:
Drinks Reception sponsored by the Irish Consulate (All Delegates invited)
Music by Brass Aye
Address: St Andrew’s Building, 11 Eldon Street, Glasgow, G3 6NH