Skoll Centre Unveils Skoll World Forum Event Programme

The Skoll Centre has launched its programme of ecosystem events hosted alongside the Skoll World Forum official programming. Offering an opportunity for its community and wider network, and the public, to come together and discuss key themes relating to social impact and systems change. Featuring a range of speakers directly and indirectly connected to its work, the programme will feature a range of leading academics, practitioners and systems actors. 

Skoll Centre ecosystem events open to all include the following: 

Social Ventures Showcase – Tuesday 1 April, 1pm

The Social Venture Showcase, hosted by Oxford University Innovation and the Skoll Centre is part of the Marmalade Festival and represents a coming together to celebrate innovative ideas from the University of Oxford social entrepreneurship ecosystem. The showcase is an opportunity to mingle with social ventures created by students, MBAs, alumni and researchers at Oxford alongside impact investors and other people interested in social entrepreneurship.

Meaningful Measurement Playbook Launch – Wednesday 2 April, 10:45am 

Join the Skoll Centre and The Old Fire Station as we launch a playbook on impact measurement that prioritises learning, storytelling, and those closest to the work. Using The Old Fire Station as a case study, this resource is designed for social impact organisations and their funders. 

The Science of Sustainable Impact – Wednesday 2 April, 3pm 

Join a dynamic session bringing together key stakeholders—including investors, policymakers, practitioners, academics—to explore how intellectual capital (both in the continent and in diaspora) can be leveraged to drive innovation and sustainable development in Africa.

Philanthropy: Why aren’t there 20-year grants? – Thursday 3 April, 1:45pm 

While there are more philanthropic funders of systems change than ever, timelines for funding and evaluation remain stuck in the 3–5-year window, a mismatch for the challenges to which they respond. This session will offer insights on the governance, trust, organisation design, and leadership needed for the sector to invest more systemically and longer-term. Led by Skoll Centre Visiting Fellow and Founding President of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers, Melissa Berman.

The Web of Us: Podcast Launch – Friday 4 April, 9am 

The Web of Us Podcast explores the visible and invisible connections that shape our world. Join Podcast Host and Skoll Centre Visiting Fellow Claire Wathen in conversation with the Academic Director of the Skoll Centre Marya Besharov with multi-disciplinary guests as they dive into networks connecting everything—from our brains and nature to communities and workplaces.

Leading for Impact: Social Movement Leadership in Times of Opposition – Friday 4 April, 12pm 

Successful social movements reach key milestones—cultural shifts, policy wins, and collective moments—through intentional leadership. Led by Derrick Feldmann and Marya Besharov, this session explores how transformational, servant, and adaptive leadership styles drive impact at critical stages, from mobilizing the public to advocating for system change.

These Skoll Centre ecosystem events are open to the public and will be held in the Nest at Said Business School, University of Oxford. Please register for these events on the Marmalade website: https://www.marmalade.io/. 

The Skoll Centre will also be hosting its Community Breakfast in the Nest on Wednesday at 8:30am – invitation only – as well as series of private events throughout the week of the Forum.