The Glasgow Convention Bureau recently convened members of the Glasgow Conference Impact Network to advance its strategy for maximising the social legacy of academic conferences set to take place in 2026.
The event brought together over 40 stakeholders, from academia, charities, venues and PCOs, to exchange ideas on how to embed community impact into future meetings. It follows a productive year in which the Network delivered nine initiatives across themes such as mental health, engineering and allergy, engaging more than 4,000 local residents.
“The Impact Network are the Convention Bureau’s go-to experts to help and advise the future delivery of social impact aligned to conferences being held in Glasgow in 2026,” said Aileen Crawford, Head of Glasgow Convention Bureau.
Guest speakers included Dr Deborah McNeill, Director of the Glasgow Science Festival, and William McGowan-Smith of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, who shared how partnerships with associations have extended the reach of their work.
“We are here to ensure that community needs are at the heart of any social impact delivered in our city,” said Dr McNeill.
The Network will continue to support legacy-focused collaboration in the lead-up to Glasgow’s 2026 conference calendar.