Agents of Change: Academics and the Spirit of Debate at International Conferences

‘Agents of Change', while a flattering moniker for most individuals, carries it a set of challenges and responsibilities that acted as catalysts over the of this journal's inaugural Cambridge conference. This article aims to and evaluate some of the ideas that emerged over the course of the two while also, hopefully, adding to the debate on agency.1 While beginning paper with effusive compliments may appear clichéd, this conference in the best tradition of academic fora, generous in disagreement debate, while rigorous in critique. As such, the organising committee in together an excellent cohort of speakers and audience alike ensured left Cambridge more enlightened than they arrived, and are owed due . It was an honour to be asked to conclude the conference, albeit as programme proceeded, the task of closing became ever more daunting. This emerged not only from the high quality of the discussion, but also character in which it was conducted. Thus, this article reticently attempts bring some of the character of that conference to this special edition of the .