Annual Conference
Our annual conference is an in-person, private gathering of AFAF and SAFAF members who meet to discuss how they are defending free speech and academic freedom. It is a chance to get to know one another as well as to engage in some lively panel discussions.
Annual Conference 2026
Our Annual Conference will take place in London on Saturday 21 November 2026 followed by a party to celebrate 20 years of AFAF.
Annual Conference 2025
Our third Annual Conference took place in Conway Hall, London on Saturday 22 November from 13.00-17.00. Panel speakers included Baroness Claire Fox, Dennis Hayes, Rachel Cutmore, Maya Forstater, Jo Phoenix, Shereen Benjamin, Ellie Lee, Mark Birbeck and Michael Ben Gad. Members came and contributed to our discussions from universities in Ireland, Northern Ireland and from all over England, Wales and Scotland.
Once again, we thank the staff at Conway Hall for their friendly and efficient support.
Sean Parker has written his third personal account of the day.
Photo Credit: Ruth Mieschbuehler
Annual Conference 2024
Our second Annual Conference was held on Saturday 23 November from 13.00-17.00 in Conway Hall, We had over twenty speakers from the UK, Ireland and Australia. They included Shereen Benjamin, Carlton Brick, Tim Cowley, Cordelia Fine, Maeve Halligan, Dennis Hayes, Heather McKee, Jo Phoenix, Thomas Prosser, Abhishek Saha, Connie Shaw, Michelle Shipworth, Brandan Spivey, Neil Thin, Catrin Thomas and many branch organisers and activists.
We thank the staff at Conway Hall for their friendly and efficient support.
Once again, author Sean Parker wrote a personal account of the day.
Group Photo Credit: Tessa Clarke
Annual Conference 2023
Our first Annual Conference 2023 took place at City, University of London on Saturday 11 November from 13.00 – 17.00. Our thanks go to City AFAF Branch Co-convenors Professor Ian Pace and Professor Michael Ben-Gad for organsing and, President, Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, for hosting and welcoming us to the University.
This was a FREE, invitation only, event for individual AFAF network members and branches. To become a network member simply sign the AFAF Statement of Academic Freedom (there are no fees) and we will be in touch. Do join us!
Our keynote speakers were James Murray, Legal Director at Doyle Clayton, and one of the architects of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, who explained where we were with the Act, and Baroness Claire Fox, Director of the Academy of Ideas, who chaired a panel debate on ‘What is the way forward for free speech and academic freedom?‘
There was ample time for networking between the branches, perhaps the most important part of the day.
Sean Parker wrote a personal account of the day on his Substack.
Group Photo Credit: Tessa Clarke
