Contributor(s): Faiza Chaudary, Dr Armine Ishkanian, Professor David Lewis, Ralph Michell, Professor Simon Szreter | To coincide with the publication of The Big Society Debate: a new agenda for social welfare? the speakers will examine the concept's ideological underpinnings and the challenges it poses for those involved in translating the ideas of the big society into practice. Faiza Chaudary is the deputy chief executive and director of policy and communications for the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services. (NCVYS). Armine Ishkanian is a lecturer in NGOs and development at LSE. David Lewis is a Professor of Social Policy and Development, in the Social Policy Department at LSE. Ralph Michell is the director of Policy for ACEVO. He leads ACEVO’s work engaging with policy makers in Whitehall and Westminster, local government, the NHS and elsewhere on issues ranging from public service reform to third sector capacity-building. Simon Szreter holds the chair of history and public policy at the University of Cambridge and is managing editor of historyandpolicy.org.