Alliance for Social Impact
Conference
Purpose to impact: Bridging research,
policy and enterprise for social good
4-6 November 2026
UQ Business School's Alliance for Social Impact (ASI) is hosting a conference that brings together academics, practitioners, social entrepreneurs, policymakers and others committed to advancing social impact through innovative research, practical insights and collaborative dialogue.
Read the Terms and Conditions for registration (PDF, 277.1 KB).
Cost
Early bird - to 10 October 2026:
- 200 AUD practitioners and academics
Regular rate (10-25 October 2026):
- 250 AUD
Students:
- 50 AUD
Call for papers
We welcome original research papers, case studies, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, best practice reports and industry and discussion fora that address the multifaceted aspects of social impact creation and assessment. Papers must be submitted by 31 July 2026.
Track chairs
Co-Chairs
Associate Professor Jay Weerawardena
Co-Lead, Alliance for Social Impact
UQ Business School
j.weerawardena@business.edu.au
Professor Peter Popkowski-Leszczyc
Co-Lead, Alliance for Social Impact
UQ Business School
p.popkowski@business.uq.edu.au
Keynote
Alex Nicholls
Professor of Social Entrepreneurship
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
What to expect
Explore how purpose-driven initiatives across sectors can be effectively designed, implemented and measured to create meaningful, sustainable social change.
Delivering social impact
Our focus is on delivering social impact across diverse domains - from grassroots-level social enterprises to large-scale interventions, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include:
- philanthropy, donor and volunteer behaviour
- adoption of AI for social good
- social/purpose-driven entrepreneurship
- sustainability
- social and transformative marketing
- tourism impact
- Indigenous economic self-determination
- socially conscious business practices
- social impact measurement and evaluation.
Mobilising communities
By sharing perspectives and learnings, we'll critically examine how purposeful action across sectors can mobilise communities towards collective well-being and inclusive growth by:
- influencing behaviours
- shaping public narratives, and
- redesigning service and systems.
Accommodation options
There is no official conference hotel. Participants are invited to arrange their own accommodation, with a range of options available in South Bank, Brisbane CBD, and Toowong.
All areas are well served by public transport, ensuring convenient and reliable access to the University.