ACF conference 2026

Speakers

Speaker information will be updated here as speakers are confirmed.

Keynote address

Alison Goldsworthy

Alison (Ali) Goldsworthy has been a political adviser and campaigner for more than twenty years. Ali was deputy chair of the Liberal Democrats while they were in government, and at Which? she led the team that built the world’s fastest growing consumer movement. Joining Which? from other non-profits, she twice won the not-for-profit Campaign of the Year.

In 2016, she relocated to spend part of the year in Stanford and has split her time between the US and UK ever since. At Stanford, she helped co-create their first depolarisation course, which evolved into a hit podcast, 'Changed my Mind' and bestselling book 'Poles Apart'. She now lectures at Stanford, Cambridge and works with clients ranging from Disney to the UN to provide advice on polarisation.

Ali is chair of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a company limited by guarantee which can make political donations. She is also vice-chair of its connected charity and ACF member, the JRSST Charitable Trust.

A frequent media commentator, Ali has written for The Telegraph, Independent, New Statesman, The Times, and the Financial Times, and fronts the occasional show for Radio 4.

When she isn’t working, Ali enjoys spending time with her husband and son, and is an internationally competitive powerlifter.

In conversation with ACF's chief executive

Patrick Butler, social policy editor, The Guardian

Patrick has worked as an editor and reporter at the Guardian for over two decades, writing on social security, local government, social care, poverty and the voluntary sector.  He was awarded the Paul Foot Award for investigative journalism in 2025 for his reporting on the carer's allowance scandal. He chairs the Guardian's annual charity appeal committee, which has raised over £16m for good causes since 2015.

Carol Mack OBE, chief executive, ACF

Carol has been chief executive of ACF since 2016. Her experience includes advising charities on governance and charity law, as well as contributing to national policy, at the Charity Commission for England & Wales, and her career spans roles in grassroots charities and the commercial sector. Carol was a founding trustee of both the National Emergencies Trust and Philea (the European Philanthropy Association) and is currently a trustee of St George’s House. She has also chaired the Wales Funders Forum and was vice-chair of Tree Aid. Outside work, she enjoys learning Welsh, taking part in Parkrun and walking by the sea.

Take me to the main ACF conference 2026 page.

ACF conference 2026 is kindly supported by our Official Partners

ACF conference 2026 is kindly supported by our corporate partners