Academic Leaders Impact Summit
An Invitation-Only Thought Leadership Event
Wednesday, November 4th
About the Event
The Academic Leaders Impact Summit is an invitation-only gathering for Interfolio users and academic leaders hosted alongside the Elsevier Impact Conference (EIC) in Madrid.
This is a dedicated day of facilitated peer discussion, expert-led conversation, and strategic insight-sharing, not a product session. It is designed for academic professionals navigating the real challenges of faculty management, research administration, and institutional growth.
In a world where academic institutions are under increasing pressure to demonstrate impact, build trust in their data, and adapt to rapid technological change, the Academic Leaders Impact Summit creates a rare space: a room of peers navigating similar challenges, experts who can contextualize them, and a structured conversation designed to produce insights you can act on.
Attendance is by invitation only and limited to ensure the quality of discussion. All registered attendees receive complimentary access to the EIC Madrid conference sessions for the day, including the opening keynote and plenary, as well as an invitation to the conference reception that evening.
Whether you are a current Interfolio user looking to deepen your practice, or a prospective user evaluating how Interfolio can support your institution, this event is built around the challenges and opportunities you face every day.
What You Will Gain
Peer insights you cannot get anywhere else
The Academic Leaders Impact Summit brings together a carefully curated group of academic leaders from across Europe and beyond. The conversations that happen in this room do not happen in webinars or product demos.
Practical frameworks for real institutional challenges
Sessions are structured around the topics that matter most right now: building connected and trustworthy research systems, managing the impact of AI on academic workflows, and demonstrating institutional research impact in a meaningful way. You will leave with approaches, frameworks, and ideas that are directly applicable to your work.
A platform to contribute, not just consume
This is a workshop-style event. You will be invited to participate in topic table discussions, share your institution's experience, and help shape the conversation. Your voice is part of what makes this event valuable for everyone in the room.
A post-event readout
Every attendee will receive a curated post-event readout summary capturing the key themes, perspectives, and takeaways from the day's discussions. The summary is yours to share internally — with your leadership team, your board, or your colleagues who could not attend.
Event Theme: Securing Foundations by Building Connected, Trustworthy Systems
Academic institutions are at an inflection point. The systems that support faculty, research administration, and institutional strategy are being asked to do more — with greater transparency, greater reliability, and greater accountability than ever before. This theme anchors the day's discussions in the practical and strategic realities facing academic leaders in 2026 and beyond.
Agenda
The agenda below is indicative and subject to change. Final details will be confirmed and shared with all registered attendees ahead of the event.
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AMRegistration
- 9:00 AM - 10:30 AMJoin the EIC Madrid Opening Keynote and Plenary SessionsFull conference access included
- Time TBCWelcome & HousekeepingIntroductions, agenda overview, and what to expect from the day. Attendees will be briefed on the post-event insight readout and how session outputs will be captured.
- Time TBCThought Leadership SessionAn expert-led opening discussion setting the strategic context for the day. Exploring the systemic challenges facing academic institutions and the role of connected trustworthy research infrastructure in addressing them.
- Time TBCTopic Table DiscussionsSmall-group, facilitated conversations across three focus areas: • AI and Academic Workflows • Trust in Data Security • Demonstrating Research Impact
- Time TBCLunchAn informal opportunity to continue conversations and connect with peers.
- Time TBCBattle of the Data Towers: Overcoming Legacy Inertia and Designing for Adaptability Gilla Camden, Faculty Affairs Specialist, University of Doha for Science and TechnologyData silos, fragmented administrative systems, and manual processes can undermine even the best-planned technology implementations. Through the University of Doha for Science and Technology's Interfolio rollout, this session examines strategies for aligning disparate data sources, supporting institutional change, and building a scalable foundations. Learn how UDST tackled data integration challenges, addressed user adoption, and built a flexible data foundation to support institutional reporting
- Time TBCClosing & Next StepsA summary of the day's key themes, information on the post-event readout, and how to stay connected with the community.
- EveningEIC Madrid Evening ReceptionJoin the full EIC Madrid attendee community. Continue conversations and expand your Evening reception
Register Your Interest
Spaces are limited. If you have received an invitation, please register using the link provided by the team to secure your place. If you are interested in joining the event, please email: impactconf@elsevier.com