Agenda

13th April 2026

  • Investigate the current debates around global development aid and its structural transformations in the international system. The panel will explore the geopolitics of developmental assistance, the decline in traditional aid, the emergence of new and non-traditional donors, and the reasons behind recent institutional shifts within USAID and the merging of DFID and how these changes signal recalibration in purpose and practice of aid. 

    Speakers:

    • Onno Rühl - Advisory Board Member (Airbus Foundation, EAES, Elefy)

    • Cat Evans- Director of European and African Affairs at Independent Diplomat

    • Dr. Paul Rogers - Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies, Bradford University

    • Sam Rushworth - MP for Bishop Auckland

  • Have a drink and come discuss with our speakers, practitioners, and fellow students from different Universities

14th April 2026

  • Delve further into the conceptual framework of aid, specifically exploring how global aid provision is being redefined in form, purpose, and motivation. The discussion will examine political, economic, and ideological forces that challenge traditional ODA models and will consider the implications of declining aid. 

    Speakers:

    • Girish Menon - President, Lucy Cavendish College, ex-Interim CEO UNICEF UK

    • Susana Klien - CEO, Saferworld

    • Muriel Bubbio - President, FPCD Monaco

  • A well-deserved break and lunch, accompanied by a further opportunity to discuss with our speakers, practitioners, and fellow students from different Universities

  • Consider the practical implications and smaller-scale impacts of shifting aid provision and priorities. Specifically, this panel will evaluate how these changes influence outcomes for vulnerable populations, ranging from broader socio-political backsliding in governance of developing states to specific adjustment behaviours of vulnerable populations or communities.

    Speakers:

    • Motaz Amer - Human Rights Activist, Amnesty Court Coordinator for Yemen

    • Becky Carter - Researcher, Institute of Development Studies

    • Mareike Schomerus - Vice President, Busara Centre

    • Mariana de Cunha - President, Association Against Femicide 

  • Discuss the wider geopolitical consequences that may come from traditional Western donors scaling back their aid commitments. In particular, speakers will debate how new actors, including China, Russia, and the Gulf states, are stepping forward with alternative aid models that are reshaping global influence and exchange. 

    Speakers:

    • James Pattison - Professor, University of Manchester

    • Dr. Jago Salmon - Principal Policy Fellow - Politics and Governance, ODI Global, and a member of the UN-IFI Partnership Facility Surge Advisory Team

    • Jonathan Marley - Policy Analyst, OECD

    • Jonathan R. Cohen- US Ambassador and Diplomat

Our Speakers

  • Jillian Popkins

    CHIEF COMMISSIONER, THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR AID IMPACT

    Jillian is an international development professional, with a career focusing on poverty and social justice. She has worked for the UK government, international organisations, and leading NGOs in the UK, Ethiopia and China, where she has held a range of executive, policy and programme management roles.  

  • Girish Menon

    PRESIDENT, LADY CAVENDISH COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

    Girish is an experienced charity sector leader. His most recent executive role was as Interim CEO of UNICEF UK. He brings almost 40 years’ experience as a leader in the international development sector, having previously held roles as International Programmes Director and Deputy CEO at WaterAid UK, where he was responsible for programmes across 22 countries in South Asia and sub Saharan Africa.

  • Becky Carter

    RESEARCHER,
    INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

    Becky Carter is a researcher at the Institute of Development Studies. Her recent work explores climate preparedness and social assistance across development and humanitarian domains. She is particularly interested in investigating themes of unpredictability and risk management; and the roles of local mid- and frontline actors in navigating political and cultural dynamics.

  • James Pattison

    PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

    James Pattison is a Professor of Politics at the University of Manchester. His research expertise lies in ethical issues in global peace and security. He has written four books (all with Oxford University Press) and numerous journal articles. He is currently working on an AHRC-funded project on the ethics of responses to rising authoritarianism and the challenges posed by the shifting global order.

  • Mariana de Cunha

    PRESIDENT,
    ASSOCIATION AGAINST FEMICIDE

    Mariana da Cunha is a Portuguese feminist lawyer and researcher dedicated to promoting change and advancing women’s human rights. She has worked across Europe and Latin America with various NGOs on issues such as gender-based violence, femicide, trafficking for sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and reproductive health rights. She leads a Portuguese NGO focused on preventing and combating femicide and is the co-founder of the Global Network against Non-State Torture (NNST).

  • Dr. Jago Salmon

    PRINCIPAL POLICY FELLOW, ODI GLOBAL

    Dr. Salmon leads ODI Global’s agenda on fragility, conflict, and violence. With over 15 years experience with the United Nations, he has advised governments and UN leadership across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, and co-authored the landmark UN and World Bank report Pathways for Peace in 2018.

  • Marieke Schomerus

    VICE PRESIDENT,
    BUSARA CENTRE

    Mareike (PhD London School of Economics and Political Science) is VP at Busara. Working on the intersection of social, political and behavioral science, Mareike has published widely on violent conflict and international engagement, evidence-based policy and the mental models that shape it, as well as resilience and behavioral mechanisms in post-conflict recovery.

  • Onno Rühl

    ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

    Onno is a global development and governance leader with more than three decades of experience shaping institutions that advance development, sustainability, and resilience. Formerly the General Manager of the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, he built and led a newly created agency dedicated to climate resilience and sustainable community planning in South and central Asia and the Middle East. 

  • Motaz Amer

    HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AMNESTY COUNTRY COORDINATOR FOR YEMEN

    Motaz is a Scotland based human rights activist and campaigner. He is Vice Chair of Amnesty International UK’s Country Coordinators Forum and serves as Country Coordinator for Yemen. Drawing on his lived experience of conflict and displacement, his work focuses on human rights education, advocacy on conflict-related violations and accountability in contexts where formal aid and protection mechanisms are limited.

  • Dr. Paul Rogers

    EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF PEACE STUDIES, BRADFORD UNIVERSITY

    Paul is Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University. He is a biologist by original training, lecturing at Imperial College and working as a senior scientific officer for the then UK Ministry for Overseas Development. He currently is Honorary President of the Movement for the Abolition of War, advisor to Declassified UK and to the Peace and Justice Project.

  • Susana Klein

    CEO,
    SAFERWORLD

    Susana Klien is a Peruvian international human rights lawyer with more than 20 years' experience in policy, advocacy, development, human rights and peacebuilding.  Susana has been CEO at Saferworld since 2024 - an International NGO that works in partnerships with organisations in conflict-affected contexts to prevent violence and build lasting peace. She is also actively involved in antiracism work 
    and discussions on decolonising aid and shifting power within the sector.