The 8th EVPA Annual Conference, took place in Dublin on 13-14 November 2012. It addressed the question “Backing the change-makers in a time of uncertainty: can we do more?” The conclusion was that we can and should do more. As Conference Chair David Gold and EVPA CEO Kurt Peleman remarked in their closing session, we need to learn from each other – also from failures. Innovation is not only about the new but also about doing things better.
The conference gathered around 400 leaders from a variety of sectors, such as VP and social investment funds, PE/VC firms, donors, advisory firms, foundations, banks, academics and some selected social entrepreneurs. It confirmed one of the key distinguishing factors of EVPA: the capacity to attract and gather diverse players to discuss, share and create greater knowledge.