The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) will bring together background screening leaders, compliance professionals and HR decision-makers for the PBSA Europe & Africa Summit, taking place 18–19 May 2026 at the Barbican Centre, London.
Recognised as the region’s leading forum for the background screening sector, the 2026 Summit expands into a two-day programme under the theme “Human Connections in a Digital World – Mind the Gap.” The event will explore how organisations can balance rapidly advancing technology with the essential human judgement required to deliver fair, accurate and compliant screening.
The agenda will address the most pressing issues facing the industry today, including:
- The growing role of AI and automation in background screening
- Legislative and regulatory updates across Europe and Africa
- Global Partner considerations
- Fraud prevention and identity verification
- OSINT and social media screening and the importance of context
- Market trends including industry consolidation and M&A activity
- How to maintain ethics, governance and human oversight in digital processes
In addition, the conference will examine the threat of ever-increasing sophisticated fraud and the critical role of the background screening industry in exposing AI bad actors during the recruitment process, helping organisations eliminate potential business and reputational risk. Against a backdrop of rapidly evolving digital deception techniques, delegates will explore how modern screening methodologies can protect employers from emerging threats.
Will Hoggarth, Chair of the PBSA Europe & Africa Council and Events Chair, said the theme reflects a pivotal moment for the profession. “We spend lots of time talking about technology - AI comes up a lot - but we want to start moving that conversation to where humans still belong in all of this,” he explained. “We know technology can do quite a lot, but especially in background checking, common sense and professional judgement still play a critical role.”
Hoggarth emphasised that the Summit is designed to be practical and collaborative. “The event brings together screening providers, employers, legal and compliance experts and technology partners to share real-world experiences. It’s about learning from each other, asking honest questions and finding better ways to move the industry forward together.”
Melissa Sorenson, PBSA’s Executive Director, highlighted the wider importance of the annual gathering: “What makes the PBSA community so valuable is that it brings together people across Europe, Africa and beyond to share knowledge, compare approaches and stay ahead of a fast-changing regulatory landscape. As our industry becomes more digital, with AI and new tools transforming how screening is delivered, we have an even greater responsibility to keep the process fair, consistent and human. This Summit is where practitioners can learn, ask questions and leave with practical insight they can apply straight away.”
Recent high-profile background screening failures reported in the UK press have further underlined the importance of robust and consistent vetting processes. These incidents demonstrate why the gathering of deep industry expertise to share modern and resilient screening methodologies has never been more critical – reinforcing the relevance and urgency of this year’s conference.
Building on the success of previous events in Amsterdam and Paris, this year’s London conference is expected to attract record attendance from across the region and internationally. Alongside keynote sessions and panel debates, delegates will benefit from dedicated networking opportunities, peer discussions and insights from leading industry suppliers.
The move to a two-day format responds directly to attendee demand for deeper learning and greater opportunities to connect. Hoggarth added: “Last year the feedback was clear – people wanted more time to talk, to network and to explore ideas in detail. This expanded programme delivers exactly that.”
Registration for the PBSA Europe & Africa Summit is now open. Early booking is encouraged for organisations involved in recruitment, compliance, HR, security and background screening: https://www.thepbsa.org/education/events/2026-europe-africa-summit/registration/
About PBSA
The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) is the global trade association representing the background screening industry. PBSA provides education, accreditation, advocacy and professional standards to support ethical and compliant screening practices worldwide.
