Social Capital 2026 brings together leading thinkers and practitioners from around the world to explore the power and potential of social capital in today’s complex and interconnected world. Our keynote speakers are internationally recognised for their groundbreaking research and practical contributions to the field. They will share fresh insights, challenge assumptions, and inspire new ways of thinking about trust, networks, and the social fabric that underpins resilient societies.
We are delighted to announce our keynote speakers
The conference will feature internationally recognised keynote speakers. The program will also feature invited speakers, panellists, and various other presentations.
Robert D. Putnam
Robert D. Putnam is the Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the British Academy, and past president of the American Political Science Association, in 2006 he received the Skytte Prize, the world's highest accolade for a political scientist. In 2012 Barack Obama awarded Bob the National Humanities Medal, the nation’s highest honor for contributions to the humanities. He has written fifteen books, translated into twenty languages, including Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Italy and Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, both among the most cited (and bestselling) social science works in nearly a century. He has consulted for Presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama, as well as presidents and prime ministers from the UK, Ireland, and Finland to South Korea and Singapore. His most recent book, The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again (2020), is a widely praised study of broad 20th century American economic, social, political, and cultural trends.
Raj Chetty
Raj Chetty is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University and the Director of Opportunity Insights, which uses big data to study the science of economic opportunity: how we can give children from all backgrounds better chances of succeeding? Chetty’s work has been widely cited in academia, media outlets, and policy discussions in the United States and beyond.
Chetty received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2003 and is one of the youngest tenured professors in Harvard’s history. He has received numerous awards for his research, including a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the John Bates Clark medal, given to the economist under 40 whose work is judged to have made the most significant contribution to the field, and Harvard’s George Ledlie prize, awarded for research that made the most valuable contribution to science, or in any way for the benefit of mankind.
Beate Völker
Beate Völker is a prominent German-born sociologist and professor at VU Amsterdam, known for her research on social networks, social cohesion, and urban communities. She currently also serves as the Scientific Director of the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR). Völker’s work explores how social capital is shaped not only by personal choices but also by institutional and environmental contexts such as neighborhoods, workplaces, and cities. Her contributions, including large-scale longitudinal studies on personal networks, have deepened our understanding of how social structures influence well-being and societal stability. She received several large grants and is a recipient of the INSNA Simmel award of 2025.
Martin Everett
Martin Everett is Professor of Social Network Analysis and co-director of the Mitchell Centre for Social Network Analysis at the University of Manchester He holds a BSc in mathematics from Loughborough University, an MSc from Oxford University, and a DPhil jointly awarded by mathematics and sociology from Oxford, where he was supervised by Clyde Mitchell, a founding figure in social network analysis. With Stephen Borgatti, he co-authored UCINET, a widely-used software package for social network analysis, and edits the journal Network Science. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and consulted with government agencies and private companies.
Frances Kraft
Frances Kraft is an experienced educator, community organizer, and restorative practitioner working to catalyze trusted connections that lead to collective action and systemic change. In her current role as Director of Research and Practice at the Foundation for Social Connection, she authored The Roadmap: Reimagining Infrastructure to Improve Social Capital. The report explores the role third places can play in building trust, belonging, and mutual responsibility to mobilize resources and work collectively for equitable policies. Prior to this role, she led engagement at Weave: The Social Fabric Project at The Aspen Institute. Frances spent a decade working in education outside Chicago, first as a classroom teacher and later as the founder of a non-profit coalition of families, students, and teachers working for equitable access, experiences, and outcomes for children. She earned a master’s degree in education policy at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in 2016 and a doctorate in leadership at the University of Pennsylvania in 2025. She is currently working on a book based on her dissertation titled Building Civic Empathy Through Relational Dialogue: A Transformative Space for Change.
Shamichael Hallman
Shamichael Hallman is an internationally recognized civic innovator, author, and thought leader dedicated to strengthening communities through libraries, public engagement, and faith-based initiatives. As Senior Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council, he advocates for public libraries as vital civic infrastructure. His book, Meet Me at the Library, explores how libraries foster democracy and bridge-building. A sought-after speaker, Shamichael has presented at top universities and library associations. Previously, Shamichael championed the multi-million-dollar renovation of the historic Cossitt Library in Memphis, contributing to Memphis Public Libraries earning the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Science. He was a 2025 Next City Vanguard Fellow, a 2023 Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and has a Master's in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.