The international development sector is facing a period of profound change. Funding pressures, conflict, climate impacts and growing humanitarian needs are forcing tough decisions about where resources, attention and influence are focused.
Bringing together voices from Scotland and around the world, the SIDA annual conference 2026 will explore the choices shaping sustainable development today, from humanitarian response and climate justice to corporate accountability, global citizenship, and Scotland’s role in a rapidly changing world.
Alongside keynote speakers and panel discussions, the programme will create space for frontline perspectives, practical insights, and honest conversations about what comes next for our sector.
The conference will take place on Tuesday 29 September at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh and online, and will be followed by a networking reception at the venue, open to all attendees.
We’re pleased to welcome the Scottish Government Minister for International Development, Simita Kumar MSP, to our conference and look forward to working with her.
Registration is now open. Attendance is free for SIDA members and £100 for non-members (max three attendees per member organisation).
A special thanks go to our Headline Sponsors WaterAid UK, StoneX Payments and Kids Operating Room, as well as our Associate Sponsor Water Witness, and Reception Sponsor CCLA, for supporting this event.
Get involved! We still have a few exhibitor and sponsor packages available. For smaller organisations, we are offering shared exhibitor stalls this year, at a discounted price. If you are interested in profiling your work and organisation, contributing a speaker, or sharing an idea for the programme please get in touch asap. You can find more details here SIDA Annual Conference Sponsor and Exhibitor Brochure or email francis.rodgers@intdevalliance.scot
Speakers
Benjamin Hunter
Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow and Convenor of the Development Studies Association Scotland Group
Ben is Senior Lecturer in the University of Glasgow’s School of Social & Political Sciences and Associate Lead for Healthy & Equitable Futures in the University’s Glasgow Changing Futures initiative. He teaches and researches on the political economy of global health and development, with particular interest in the evolving use of aid and the shift towards ‘beyond aid’ financing. Ben is Convener of the Development Studies Association’s Scotland Study Group and recently concluded a collaborative project with colleagues from five Scottish universities on recent trends in aid and what comes next, funded by the Scottish Council on Global Affairs. He has worked with leading multilateral and non-governmental organisations including the UNU International Institute for Global Health, the World Health Organization and Oxfam International.
Lorraine Currie
Chief Executive, SCIAF
As SCIAF’s Chief Executive, Lorraine holds over three decades of dedicated leadership in the fields of relief and international development. Lorraine has held various influential roles with UNHCR, international charities and faith-based organisations, including Caritas agencies. Her work has spanned regions in the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, where she managed diverse programs addressing the needs of marginalised communities. Lorraine holds an MA in Refugee Studies and Migration and an MSc in International Health and Development. She moved into the role of Chief Executive in 2023, after 13 years as SCIAF’s Director of International Programmes and Advocacy.
Frances Guy
CEO of Scotland's International Development Alliance
Frances has been the CEO of Scotland’s International Development Alliance since 2021. She was born and educated in Scotland, Italy, and Canada before embarking on an international career that has taken her principally to the Horn of Africa and the Arabic speaking world, including Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Frances worked for Christian Aid between 2014 – 2017 as head of their Middle East team based in London. Most recently she was gender team leader for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) regional office in the Arab states. She was Representative for UNWomen in Iraq between 2012 and 2014 and before that she had a long career in the British Diplomatic Service during which she served as British Ambassador to Lebanon (2006 -2011) and to Yemen (2001 -2004).
Mikaela Gavas
Managing Director of the Center for Global Development
With over two decades shaping policy at the intersection of research, advisory and public affairs, she is a recognised authority on international and European development strategy and finance. She has served as a member of the Standing Advisory Group on Technical Assistance and Cooperation for the UN International Atomic Energy Agency and as a Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons International Development Committee. Before joining CGD, she was the Head of ODI’s Development Strategy and Finance programme, and she worked as a strategy adviser to governments, including France, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Qatar, Switzerland and the UAE. She was an adviser on European development cooperation in the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and has worked for several NGOs
Simita Kumar
Minister for Equalities and International Development, Scottish Government
Born in the Fiji Islands, Simita moved to Scotland as a teenager. She began her career as a Modern Apprentice with Glasgow City Council, where she received a commendation award for her work. She later completed an undergraduate degree in Psychology with Criminology, followed by a Master’s degree in Health Research.
Before entering elected office, Ms Kumar worked across the public and voluntary sectors from 2013 onwards. Her career included roles with NHS Lothian, Children’s Health Scotland, and Public Health Scotland. She has also volunteered with charities including Victim Support & Witness Services, and ChildLine.
She was elected as a councillor for Southside/Newington in 2022 and went on to lead the SNP Group at the City of Edinburgh Council from 2024-2026.
In May 2026, she was elected to the Scottish Parliament as the MSP for Edinburgh South Western.S
Talat Yaqoob (Chair)
Campaigner, researcher and writer
Consultant, campaigner & leader on anti-racist, feminist policy, research & politics, Talat Yaqoob is a third-sector leader, writer and campaigner, focused on equality issues across politics, public life and the labour market championing women, communities of colour and migrants. As an independent consultant she provides policy, public affairs and research expertise to the third and public sectors. Talat was the Director of Equate Scotland, the national expert on women in science, engineering, technology and the built environment. She is co-founder and chair of the campaign group Women 50:50, advocating for fair representation of women in politics, which won a Herald Diversity Award in 2017. She is a member of the First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls.