We are delighted to welcome Alison Phipps as a keynote speaker at the World Community Development Conference 2026, taking place in Glasgow, Scotland from 30 June to 2 July 2026.

Alison is the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts and holds a Personal Chair in Languages and Intercultural Studies at the University of Glasgow. Her work brings together research, creativity, activism, and community engagement, with a strong focus on language, cultural rights, and the lived experiences of displaced people.

Alison’s work, values and practice connect closely with the conference theme — “Community Development in a Chaotic World: Challenge, Change, and Collective Action”

Her work directly confronts the social, political, and economic systems that marginalise communities. Through her research and cultural activism, she exposes the inequalities that refugees, asylum seekers, and multilingual communities face. Her practice consistently calls for urgent and compassionate responses to global displacement, cultural loss, and injustice.

Alison brings a unique blend of scholarship, artistic practice, and community activism. Her work offers powerful insights into how communities can respond to global uncertainty with compassion, imagination, and justice. She embodies the spirit of the WCDC2026 — building connections, challenging assumptions, and inspiring action.

We are honoured to have her join us for the 2026 World Community Development Conference, and we look forward to the conversations and inspiration her keynote will spark.