13th EVPA Annual Conference

Author: Casey Gale       

Thursday Mainstage at EVPA’s 2016 conference.

Event Details

Nov. 9–10, 2017

Oslo, Norway

Overview

An estimated 450 European social investors, grantees, venture philanthropy organization members, academics, and policy makers will visit Oslo, Norway, for the European Venture Philanthropy Association’s (EVPA) 2017 Annual Conference — one of the largest and most established conferences in the world for social investment and venture philanthropy. 

CHALLENGES EVPA has been organizing this conference for 12 years, so the challenge, according to Els Depoortere, operations and conference director, lies in innovating and adding value to the program each year. “We plan the conference starting from the lessons learnt and input from previous editions,” Depoortere said. Because attendance is projected to be slightly lower this year than last year, when EVPA met in Paris, organizers are encouraging moderators to create intimate sessions, such as fishbowl conversations and small panels, Depoortere said, where attendees can “connect, share their experiences, and build new partnerships.”

INITIATIVES With the conference running just two days, EVPA wants attendees to make the most of their time. This year, EVPA decided to break content down into three “streams,” according to Depoortere — general sessions that will tackle initiatives, developments, and other key issues for the sector; exploring sessions for attendees new to the field or a particular topic; and expert breakout sessions for experienced practitioners to debate specific issues. The theme of the conference, “Guiding Lights,” will tie these three streams together. “It is a reference point that gives us the time and space to reflect on the work we do, to share ideas, stories, and best practices,” Depoortere said. “It guides our future work and the impact we want to have in society.”

For more information: evpa.eu.com/annual-conference

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