Working With Volunteers 2026
This online conference is designed for higher education advancement professionals working in volunteering and supporter engagement - across fundraising, alumni relations, and integrated advancement teams. Whether you work in a small, developing team or a large, established operation, this event offers relevant insight, practical ideas, and space to learn from peers across the sector.
Volunteers are a vital asset to our institutions. They extend our reach, strengthen our communities, and help us achieve far more collectively than we could alone. But meaningful volunteer engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It requires thoughtful strategy, clear purpose, strong relationships, and stewardship that values volunteers as true partners. So how do we engage volunteers effectively, support them well, and create experiences that keep them connected and committed over time?
Join us online to hear from volunteer engagement and advancement experts working across higher education. Through case studies, discussion, and practical examples, you’ll explore innovative and adaptable approaches to volunteer involvement—covering everything from programme design and governance to recognition, impact, and sustainability.
What to Expect
This live, online programme is delivered across four 60-minute sessions in a single day, with space to allow reflection and focus. The format blends expert presentations, group Q&A, and optional breakout activities to support collaborative learning and real-time feedback.
Programme Outline
09:30–10:30 — Welcome + Engaging Alumni When Resource Is Tight: Unlocking Volunteer Potential Through Partnership
Lauren Durward | Alumni Engagement Coordinator, The University of Glasgow
How can institutions deliver meaningful alumni engagement when resources are limited? This session explores a collaborative model that positions alumni volunteering as a strategic tool for advancing institutional priorities while strengthening lifelong alumni connection.
Working centrally in partnership with academic schools, this approach focuses on identifying existing ambitions, events, and student-facing activity, then providing the coordination, tools, and capacity needed to connect alumni in purposeful ways. By embedding alumni into lectures, seminars, careers activity, and school-led initiatives, institutions can create high-impact engagement opportunities without building new programmes from scratch.
The session will share practical examples of how this model has helped re-engage inactive alumni, reconnect school-based contacts with central advancement activity, and build early-career engagement pathways for recent graduates — creating a sustainable pipeline of connected, future volunteers.
11:00–12:00 — Return on Investment: The Impact of the Reunion Organiser
Pam Lawrence | Alumni Relations Manager, External Relations, University of Dundee
The alumni reunion organiser is a popular person. They are the one that keeps everyone organised and quite often, having been a student rep during their time at university, they find themselves in a role that never ends! They are also a pivotal relationship for the alumni relations team. An engaged alumni reunion organiser can help you reach your alumni engagement and advancement objectives across three key areas.
This session will look at how a relationship with one committed graduate can lead to:
- increased consent and contactability with lost alumni,
- increased engagement and volunteering opportunities,
- the development of a class giving culture.
13:00–14:00 — The Volunteer Journey: Turning Volunteer Interest Into Meaningful Engagement
Stephanie Baxter | Alumni Engagement Manager, University of Nottingham
Emily Scott | Alumni Engagement Manager (Faculty of Science), University of Nottingham
Many alumni express interest in volunteering - but turning that initial willingness into sustained, meaningful engagement can be challenging. This session explores practical strategies to move volunteers from passive interest to active contribution. We’ll share proven approaches for identifying motivations, designing flexible opportunities, and building clear pathways that convert intent into action. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to deepen engagement, strengthen volunteer relationships, and maximise impact across their programmes.
15:00–16:00 — Internal Processes Safe Space - Time for Discussion and Reflection
Conference Format
- Four, 60-minute sessions over one day
- Delivered online with breaks between sessions
Interactive with presentations, Q&A, and optional breakout activities
Meet the Chair
Amy-Beth Jordan
Amy‑Beth Jordan leads the Alumni Team within the External Relations Directorate at the University of Glasgow, where she is responsible for building and sustaining relationships with the University’s global alumni community of over 300,000 graduates. With more than 15 years’ experience in events, engagement, and relationship management across the higher education, private, and arts and culture sectors, she brings deep expertise in creating meaningful interactions that strengthen communities and enhance institutional reputation.
During her nine years at the University of Glasgow, Amy‑Beth has led both the External Relations Events Team and the Alumni Team, working closely with students, alumni, donors, volunteers, strategic partners, and academic colleagues worldwide. Her work is driven by a commitment to inclusive, authentic engagement that fosters connection, belonging, and pride in being part of the #TeamUofG community.
Alongside her alumni role, Amy‑Beth is Co‑Chair of the University’s Shadow Board, which acts as a critical friend to the Senior Management Group by championing open dialogue, constructive challenge, and collaboration in support of the University’s long‑term ambition.