HEPI fringe events at the 2026 Labour and Conservative Party Conferences
Join HEPI for its fringe events at the Labour Party Conference on Monday 28 September 2026 and at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday 5 October 2026.
All events will take place outside the secure zone, so a conference pass is not necessary to attend.
In order to help us gauge numbers, please register your expression of interest here.
Please note that places at all events are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Labour Party Conference: Monday 28 September 2026
Venue: Albert Johnston Theatre, Novotel Liverpool Centre, 40 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 4LN
Event 1
9.30am-10.30am – Higher Education Question Time, kindly supported by Duolingo, University of Leicester, Liverpool Hope University and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Speakers
Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester
Professor Penny Haughan
Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Liverpool Hope University
Professor Julie Sanders
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London
Rose Stephenson (Chair)
Director of Policy and Strategy, HEPI
Partners
Event 2
11am-12pm – ‘Soft power in a hardening world: is the UK making the most of its global assets?‘, kindly supported by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, The University of Manchester and University of the Arts London.
Speakers
Professor Duncan Ivison
President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester
Professor Karen Stanton
Vice-Chancellor, University of the Arts London
Francesca Woodward
Global Managing Director for English, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Dr. Naimatullah Zafary (Opening remarks)
Former Afghan Chevening Scholar, University of Sussex
Nick Hillman OBE (Chair)
Chief Executive, HEPI
Partners
Conservative Party Conference: Monday 5 October 2026
Venue: Room LOB 101, Unique Venues Birmingham, 6 Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EP
Event 1
9.30am -10.30am – ‘Soft power in a hardening world: is the UK making the most of its global assets?‘, kindly supported by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and The University of Manchester.
Speakers
Professor Duncan Ivison
President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester
Jamie Arrowsmith
Director, Universities UK International (UUKi)
Dr. Naimatullah Zafary (Opening remarks)
Former Afghan Chevening Scholar, University of Sussex
Nick Hillman OBE (Chair)
Chief Executive, HEPI
Partners
Event 2
11am-12pm – Higher Education Question Time, kindly supported by Royal Holloway, University of London.
Speakers
Professor Julie Sanders
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London
Professor David Mba
Vice-Chancellor, Birmingham City University
Nick Hillman OBE (Chair)
Chief Executive, HEPI
Partners
Register
In common with other Party Conference fringe events, places will be available on a first-come, first served basis.
In order to help us gauge numbers, please register your expression of interest to the conference fringe events here.
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