Speakers
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The International Conference on Gender and Sexuality 2026 is proud to present an extraordinary lineup of speakers who are shaping conversations on gender, sexuality, and cultural transformation worldwide. As part of the 9th International Gender Conference, these thought leaders bring unmatched expertise in research, advocacy, and policy development. Representing diverse regions and disciplines, our speakers ensure that every perspective contributes to a rich, inclusive dialogue.
From groundbreaking academic research to real-world activism, their insights will challenge conventional thinking and inspire innovative solutions. Attendees can expect dynamic keynote addresses, interactive plenary sessions, and thought-provoking panel discussions that explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, and social norms. Whether you’re an academic, policymaker, or advocate, this is your opportunity to learn from global leaders and engage in conversations that matter.
Highlights:
- Keynote speeches from internationally recognized scholars and activists
- Panels on intersectionality, cultural adaptation, and rights advocacy
- Opportunities to network with experts in gender and sexuality studies
Keynote Speakers
Assist. Prof. Sama Saleh
Keynote Speaker - Physical
Samah Saleh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, was the head of the Department for three years, she is the coordinator for the Master’s degree in Women’s Studies at An-Najah National University. She received her PhD in sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London and holds two master’s degrees one in Gender and Development from Birzeit University the other master in social work from McGill University. Her research interests are in Palestinian women’s experience of incarceration in Israeli colonial prisons, with a focus on everyday life practices before, during, and after prison as well as on the politicization of women’s bodies. She also is interested in the development of social work profession in Palestine, with emphasis on community development. She is part of some international research groups working on disability on Palestine, another group focusing on social innovation facing violence, and another group that focus on the politics of marriage. She is activist with many organizations that focus on women issues, in addition to bodies that focus on community development, and social solidarity economy.
Assoc. Prof. Panagiotis Pentaris
Keynote Speaker - Physical
Title: "The politics of gender and sexuality: religious beliefs and ideologies in a changing world"
Panagiotis Pentaris is an Associate Professor of Social Work & Thanatology, with international education and practice experience in disaster work and end of life care.
Panagiotis is the Director of Research and Research Studies for the Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies at Goldsmiths University of London, UK, where he is also acting as Deputy Head.
His work has focused on death, dying, bereavement, religion, belief, gender and sexual diversity, and disaster social work. He is the founding leader of the Thanatology Research Lab at the University of London, and his research has explored aspects of death and dying in social science and social policy internationally.
Dr. Elisabet le Roux
Keynote Speaker - Virtual
Dr. Elisabet le Roux is Research Director of the Unit for Religion and Development Research at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is a research and technical consultant with 19 years of experience, working on and leading projects in multiple country contexts, including Angola, Armenia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Her expertise lies in the prevention of and response to violence against women and girls, harmful practices, feminist methodologies, gender equality and women’s participation, peace processes, disabilities, intersectionality, civil society and civic space, and the role of religion and culture, with an emphasis on work in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Plenary Speakers
Dr. E. Alves Vieira
Plenary Speaker - Virtual
Title: "Faith and identity: the double-edged sword of LGBTQIA+ Inclusion"
Eduardo Alves Vieira (he/they) is an assistant professor of Portuguese Language and Linguistics at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics. He earned a Ph.D. in artistic, literary, and cultural studies from the Autonomous University of Madrid in Spain. His doctoral thesis, titled “Brazilian Portuguese in an International Context: A Sociolinguistic, Educational, Cultural, Economic, and Geopolitical Study,” investigates the global spread of Portuguese as an international language. Besides language policies, his research interests include critical discourse analysis, pragmatics, language identities, and bi/multilingualism. His initial Queer Linguistics project studies how the LGBTQIA+ dialect Pajubá affects language variation in Brazilian Portuguese. The second project, supported by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), examines how the Brazilian Inclusive Churches movement shapes the development of LGBTQIA+ identities.
PROF. PAULA BANERJEE
Plenary Speaker - Physical
Prof. Dr. Paula Banerjee is a distinguished scholar specializing in gender studies, forced migration, border studies, and displacement in South and Southeast Asia. She currently serves as the IDRC Endowed Research Chair on Gender and Forced Displacement at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, and is the founding Director of the Center on Gender and Forced Displacement. She previously served as a Professor in the Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Calcutta and as the Vice Chancellor of Sanskrit College and University in Kolkata. Prof. Banerjee is also closely associated with the Calcutta Research Group and is a former President of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM). She has published extensively on migration, statelessness, and gender justice, contributing significantly to global discussions on displacement, humanitarian governance, and human rights.
Related Topics
- Explore the highlights of the Gender and Sexuality Conference 2025.
- Discover the special sessions and networking events planned for the conference.
- Submit your research and join the knowledge-sharing at Gender Studies Conference 2026.
- Learn more about the inspiring location hosting Gender and Sexuality Conference 2026.