This year the conference has chosen to focus on two themes – women and gender issues in honour of International Women’s Day, and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, which resolved to address a number of global issues through eight specific goals by 2015.
A team of nine University of Bristol students - with support from Bristol Hub - are behind the conference and have taken responsibility for the entire event from fundraising and obtaining grants, through to booking speakers and hiring the venue.
The conference features a number of high profile speakers. These include:
- Leyla Hussain, presenter of the Channel 4 documentary ‘The Cruel Cut’, which raised awareness of female genital mutilation
- Jonathan Ellis, the Head of Policy, Research and Advocacy at the Red Cross
- Susan Nicolai, Head of ODI’s Development Progress
- Ingrid Hesling from Purple Field Productions, a charity that makes educational films for use in developing countries
- Dr Geetanjali Gangoli, expert in gender and violence research and Senior Lecturer in the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol
There is also a workshop run by New Internationalist called Banking on Hunger, which will allow participants to take part in an interactive look at how financial speculation has led to an increase in hunger in the developing world.
There will also be the chance for attendees of the conference to ask questions and network with the speakers, offering a unique insight into development organisations and the challenges that they face.
Beth Kendrick, a member of the BIDC team, said: “It is a great way for students to network with both Bristol-based and international organisations who are striving to make a difference in the field of development.”
The conference will be taking place in the University of Bristol, School of Chemistry. Tickets are available to the public and can be purchased from the conference website. Prices start from £8.
You can also find out more on the BIDC Facebook page or follow BIDC on twitter: @Bristol_IDC #BIDC2014