Expert led cross border conference set to health check pressing issues in a post Brexit environment.
The Prestigious Centre for Cross Border Studies is set to host a virtual 22nd Annual Conference with leaders from UK, Ireland, Europe, and USA.
On Friday 24 September, the Centre for Cross Border Studies is set to host its highly anticipated 22nd Annual Conference on post Brexit cooperation, bringing together policy experts, leading academics, government officers and Ministers from across the world.
It will be an opportunity to assess issues around the working of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Entitled “Testing the health of conditions for post-Brexit cooperation: The evolving political and social contexts”, the Conference will bring together a range of key decision and policymakers as well as leading civil society representatives from across the island of Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, and America.
This year’s Conference includes experts in healthcare, cross-border research, and infrastructure, focusing on the social and political implications as we emerge as a post-Brexit society and explore how we can maintain and strengthen relations in the challenging context of Brexit.
The Conference is expected to explore pertinent issues in cross border infrastructure and healthcare across three panels. The first of which will address the evolving political context of Brexit, the second panel will discuss the social context, and a third panel will measure the cross-border impacts of healthy cooperation across a range of sectors, part of a larger piece of work supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund.
Following the success of last year’s online Conference, the 2021 event will also take place virtually.
Speakers at this year’s Conference include:
- Director of Public Policy at the Institute of Public Health Ireland, Dr Helen McAvoy.
- Assistant Professor at the Trinity Centre for Global Health, Ann Nolan.
- Director of the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies, Professor Pete Shirlow.
- Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon MLA.
- Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office, Madeleine Alessandri.
- US Consul General to Northern Ireland, Paul Narain.
The Conference will also launch the renowned 2021 ‘Journal of Cross Border Studies in Ireland’ which brings together written contributions from academics and cross-border practitioners. Contributors to this year’s edition include the deputy Director of the Institute for British Irish Studies, Paul Gillespie; founder of the Scottish Centre on European Relations, Dr Kirsty Hughes; Director of Longfords’ Women Link, Tara Farrell; Writer and Commentator, Sarah Creighton and Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Aodhán Connolly.
Each year the Journal brings together a range of contributions which focus on a range of timely and pertinent issues from the world of cross border cooperation on the island of Ireland, Great Britain and further afield.
This year’s Journal includes articles focusing on the state of relations at a political level between governments across these islands, the challenges and opportunities facing business in the post-Brexit context, and how communities are reacting to a changing landscape.
The Centre for Cross Border Studies is now offering new sponsorship opportunities, with packages available for future policy seminars, the Annual Conference, and the Journal. The sponsorship packages provide a range of benefits and give organisations and individuals the opportunity to work with the Centre to enhance our own research and work.
Chairperson of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, Dr Helen Johnson said: “We have faced a global pandemic whilst trying to tackle the fall-out from Brexit and it is now crucial that the island of Ireland, the UK, and the EU work together to ensure the political and social conditions in which we operate are at full strength.
“As governments across the world look towards economic recovery following the pandemic, our Annual Conference has never been as important to foster ideas, solutions and better policy to address the challenges we are currently face.
“The Conference marks a new 12-month calendar of events that aims to influence change, shape policy, and debate crucial issues. The Centre invites policy experts and leading academics to engage in discussion about matters affecting this region such as healthcare, infrastructure, and education.”
Director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, Dr Anthony Soares said: “The Centre for Cross Border Studies’ high-quality research is recognised as an essential resource for policy-makers and decision-makers. Since our foundation we have sought to promote the prosperity of all through our engagement with prominent politicians, policymakers, and academics.
“Part of the process of influencing change involves discussion and debate on the significant issues impacting the island of Ireland, the UK, and the EU. We encourage our stakeholders to discuss these issues and use their different outlooks to create solutions.
“The Centre offers great opportunities to those looking to get involved in a wider conversation about the key issues impacting this region. We encourage anyone interested in taking part in this conversation to attend, or sponsor, our Annual Conference to gain an understanding of how the Centre facilitates these important discussions.”
