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GTAV 2026 Annual Conference - Keynote Address
How Geography Shapes Lives, Opportunity & Impact
In this inspiring keynote, Belinda Collins will explore the powerful role geography plays in shaping the course of our lives. Through deeply personal storytelling and real-world experience, she will examine how where we are born, the environments we grow up in, and the people and places we encounter can profoundly influence opportunity, identity and future pathways.
At the heart of this session is Belinda’s long-standing friendship with Princess Kasune Zulu - a relationship that began through international development work and grew into a life-changing lesson about inequality, resilience and human connection. Using this story as a lens, Belinda will invite participants to reflect on the “lottery of latitude” and the ways geography can both constrain and create possibility.
This keynote will connect personal narrative with broader global themes, including:
- spatial inequality and access to opportunity
- the relationship between place, privilege and life outcomes
- global citizenship and intercultural understanding
- the power of connection across borders
- how individuals and communities can create meaningful change
Belinda will also share insights from her work across philanthropy, education, health and emerging technology, offering a thought-provoking perspective on how purpose-led leadership can respond to the challenges and possibilities of an increasingly interconnected world.
This session will leave audiences with a renewed appreciation for the human stories behind geography, and a powerful reminder of the impact that empathy, connection and action can have in shaping a more just and hopeful future.