Annual Leadership Summit 2026
The Intelligent Charity
24 September 2026
Join over 250 senior leaders for a day of inspiration and empowerment at the CO3 Leadership Summit, the biggest networking & learning event for leaders of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland.
Welcome to the CO3 Leadership Summit 2026
The Intelligent Charity
Join over 250 senior leaders for a day of inspiration and empowerment at the CO3 Leadership Summit, the biggest networking & learning event for leaders of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland.
This year’s Summit will focus on leading into the future — exploring how emerging technologies like AI, shifting funding landscapes, and new expectations around impact are reshaping the voluntary and community sector.
Date: 24 September 2026
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30pm
Venue: La Mon Hotel, Belfast
Member Price: £149.00
Non-Member Price: £249.00
Gain New Perspectives from Exceptional Leaders
Peter Cosgrove
The Future of Work: Preparing for 2030
Peter Cosgrove is a sought-after keynote speaker, media commentator, and conference expert.
He is Managing Director of CareersPortal and a recognised expert on the future of work, having founded the advisory firm Futurewise. His career has included roles with JPMorgan, PwC and Cpl. Peter is Chair of the Charities Institute of Ireland and Generation Ireland, serves on the board of St. Patrick’s Festival, and is a former Chair of Aware and Brain Tumour Ireland.He is the author of Fun Unplugged and Family Fun Unplugged, which encourage families to spend more time away from digital devices.
At the event, he will be blending data and humour to deliver a high-energy talk on the future of work and leadership.
Peter has written two books, Fun Unplugged and Family Fun Unplugged, designed to get families off screens and reconnected.
Dr Nicola Millard
BT Head of Innovation UK
The Future of Work
Dr Nicola Millard is a renowned futurologist, psychologist and customer experience leader who specialises in the intersection of technology, people and the future of work. With a PhD from Lancaster University and more than 50 publications to her name, Nicola combines academic rigour with real-world insight from a career spanning research, consulting and innovation. An award-winning speaker with two TEDx talks and hundreds of keynote appearances worldwide, she is widely recognised for her engaging and practical approach to helping organisations navigate digital transformation and evolving workforce dynamics.
At the CO3 Leadership Summit, Nicola will be exploring how leaders can approach artificial intelligence and emerging technologies while keeping people and purpose at the centre.
Louise McCormack
TEDx Speaker | AI Expert
Louise is a PhD candidate specialising in Trustworthy AI Evaluation, with a focus on frameworks such as the EU AI Act and ISO/IEC 42001. With over a decade of industry experience in digital innovation, marketing, and project and people management, Louise brings a unique perspective that bridges academic research with real-world application. Her work centres on evaluating AI systems against ethical principles, ensuring that emerging technologies are not only powerful, but also responsible and aligned with human values.
An award-winning researcher and TEDx speaker, she has contributed to leading publications in AI ethics and governance, and has been recognised across both academic and industry spaces for their work on trustworthy AI. At the CO3 Leadership Summit, Louise will explore how organisations can assess, implement, and govern AI in a way that balances innovation with ethics, trust, and accountability.
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NI Health Collective Session
Exploring Moral Injury & Its Impact on Leaders
A conversation with Sara Cook (Cook Consulting)
When we can never do enough – preventing and managing moral injury in the third sector.
Leadership in the third sector is under intense and rapidly evolving pressure. Funding cuts, rising staff mental‑health needs, increasingly complex needs among the people we support and the ongoing impact of the cost‑of‑living crisis mean leaders are carrying greater responsibilities with fewer resources. Many are personally affected as they work to keep teams safe and sustain essential services.
Sara Cook is a conflict‑response specialist with extensive experience supporting people affected by conflict in Northern Ireland and internationally. Drawing on her peacebuilding practice and her early career in third‑sector executive leadership, she brings a unique understanding of the pressures facing today’s VCSE leaders.
Working with the Northern Ireland Health Collective, Sara has developed a programme exploring moral injury—why it matters in our sector and how we can prevent and manage its impact. In her session, Sara will explore these concepts.
Who is it For / Why Attend
Why this conference is designed for people just like you?
If you are a CEO, trustee or senior leader looking for fresh thinking, practical insight and meaningful connections, this Summit is for you. Designed specifically for leaders in Northern Ireland’s voluntary and community sector, it offers the ideas and conversations that will help you lead with clarity and impact in a rapidly changing world.
Come Along and Enjoy a Day Full of Learnings, Connections and Opportunities
Look at Last Year’s Experience so You Know What to Expect
Exhibit at our Conference
Reach 250+ sector leaders at our exihition and networking area.
Come an exhibit at the 2026’s CO3 Leadership Summit, so you can reach your audience in the Community and Voluntary Sector.
This is what’s included on your Exhibitor Package:
- 1 x Exhibitor Pass
- Access to 250+ delegates throughout the day from community, private and public sector.
- Logo included in Conference Brochure, Social Media and Website.
CO3 MEMBERS: £397 – Charitable Org – Non-Profit / £597 Corporate
NON-MEMBERS: £597 Charitable Org – Non Profits / £797 Corporate
Find out how to showcase your organisation by exhibiting at the CO3 Leadership Summit 2026
This year’s CO3 Leadership Summit is proudly supported by Evelyn Partners
And kindly supported by…
