The three-day event (which ran from 17-19 June) saw around 220 speakers, panellists and delegates in attendance from 28 different countries, including Norway, Germany, Canada, the USA, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, India and Australia.

Across a varied schedule of talks and panel sessions, the conference aimed to bring together academics and policy experts to discuss pressing global issues facing children today and how they may be addressed.

The topics covered across the three days ranged from children's rights, children in care, domestic violence, disability, child protection and migration, to areas such as digital technology, family structures, fatherhood, gender inequality and children’s use of time.

One of the cross-cutting themes was the importance of foregrounding children’s agency and participation, both as subjects of research and in shaping practice and policy.

The need to ensure continuous dialogue between academics and practitioners on critical issues facing children was also a central theme.

Dr Afua Twum-Danso Imoh from the School for Policy Studies, who co-ordinated the event, said: “I am delighted that the inaugural conference went so well. It was fabulous to see people so happy, engaged, and open to discussion both within and outside of sessions. It was also wonderful to see people catching up with familiar faces as well as forging new connections which I hope endure over time, leading to interesting academic collaborations.

“One of the key take-aways for me was the fact that, regardless of what session I went to, the topic resonated with me even if it was not in my direct area of interest/expertise or not related to the geographical area of my research.”

She added: “Attendees commented on the conference’s collaborative spirit, interdisciplinary focus, vast geographical scope, and the space it created for critical and inclusive conversations, and I’m delighted that this was the case.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped organise the event and make it such a success. And I’d also like to thank all of those who attended – our keynote speakers and all our participants – for choosing to be a part of our first conference.”