Plenary Sessions
Institutional Opening: Making Change Happen
- 23/06/2025 11:15 - 12:00
- Room: The Large Hall
The Institutional Opening is an opportunity for keynote speakers from local, national and European governments to reflect on the importance of social services transformation through relational approaches and welfare technology. The conference takes place as the European Social Network marks a significant milestone—25 years of dedication, progress, and excellence as a Network.
As we reflect on our journey, celebrate our achievements, and explore the future, this gathering serves as a platform for meaningful discussions, knowledge sharing, and inspiration on the future social services transformation.
Presentation Languages: English
Interpretation Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Moderator
Chair of the European Social Network
Presenters
Minister for Senior Citizens, Danish Government, Denmark
Camilla Waltersson Grönvall
Alderman, Department of Health and Care, Aarhus City Council
Alderman, Department of Health and Care, Aarhus City Council
Chairman of the Central Denmark Region Board, Denmark
Mario Nava
Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, the European Commission
PLENARY 1: Where Technology Meets Care
- 23/06/2025 12:00 - 13:15
- Room: The Large Hall
In an era of rapid change, the personalisation of social services that respond to people’s needs is key to enhancing wellbeing and promoting autonomy. By leveraging data-driven insights and innovative welfare technologies, we can create tailored support that adapts to individual needs, ensuring more efficient, dignified, and responsive support. As we move forward, collaboration between policymakers, technologists, and social care professionals will be essential in shaping a future where services are not just available—but truly personalised and responsive to people’s needs.
Presentation Language: French, English
Interpretation Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Moderator
Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
Panellists
Professor of Information and Communication Sciences, University of Cote d’Azur, France
Director, MeSafe, United Kingdom
Founding Director, Nurture Development, Ireland
CEO, Code for America, United States
Plenary 2: Fostering Human Connections: Embracing Relational Welfare in Social Services
- 24/06/2025 11:30 - 12:45
- Room: The Large Hall
Relational welfare emphasises the importance of human relationships in social services, focusing on trust and meaningful interactions with the community to enhance wellbeing. This approach shifts from transactional models to relational ones, which prioritise building capabilities and fostering genuine connections.
By integrating relational welfare principles, social services can better address individual needs, promote community engagement, and create supportive environments that empower individuals and families. This paradigm encourages collaboration among professionals, service users, and communities, leading to more responsive and effective social support services.
Presentation Language: English
Interpretation Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Moderator
Christian Bason
Co-founder of Transition Collective, Denmark
Speakers
Social Entrepreneur and Policy Advisor, United Kingdom
CEO, AskovFonden, Denmark
Reggie Bicha
Chief Executive Officer, APHSA, United States
Plenary 3: Integrating Welfare Technology in Social Services
- 24/06/2025 16:00 - 17:15
- Room: The Large Hall
The future is here and now! The integration of assistive technologies and robotics into social services is revolutionising care delivery, enhancing autonomy, and improving quality of life for individuals with diverse needs. These innovations range from mobile and smart devices to socially assistive robots that provide cognitive and emotional support.
These technologies can enable people with varied abilities to live independently and safely in their own homes, reducing hospitalisations and healthcare costs. Progress in social robotics are supporting social interactions, offering companionship and motivation, which are crucial for mental and emotional wellbeing. While there are also a series of dilemmas in particular in relation to ethics and privacy, by embracing these technologies, social services can offer personalized support, empower users, and address challenges such as caregiver shortages, ultimately fostering a more responsive and ideally a more inclusive care environment.
Presentation Language: English, Italian
Interpretation Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Moderator
Jane Dudman
Freelance Journalist, Event Chair & Consultant, United Kingdom
Speakers
Policy Fellow, The Kings Fund, United Kingdom
Chief Executive Officer, ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, Switzerland
Full professor in Computer Science, The University of Naples Federico II, Italy