The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) will bring together background screening leaders, compliance professionals and HR decision-makers in London this May as its Europe & Africa Summit returns for an expanded two-day edition.
Taking place on 18–19 May 2026 at the Barbican Centre, the Summit is widely recognised as the region’s leading forum for the background screening sector. This year’s event carries the theme: “Human Connections in a Digital World – Mind the Gap.”
At a time when AI, automation and digital tools are rapidly reshaping recruitment and vetting processes, the conference will explore a pressing question for HR and compliance leaders alike: how do organisations balance technological capability with the human judgement required to deliver fair, accurate and compliant screening?
A Sector at a Turning Point
The 2026 agenda tackles the most pressing issues facing the industry, 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 consolidation and M&A activity
- Maintaining ethics, governance and human oversight in digital processes
The programme will also address the threat of increasingly sophisticated fraud, including the rise of AI-enabled bad actors during recruitment. Delegates will examine how modern screening methodologies can help expose deception, reduce business risk and protect organisational reputation in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
Recent high-profile background screening failures reported in the UK press have underscored the need for robust and consistent vetting practices. Against this backdrop, the Summit’s focus on resilient, modern screening frameworks feels particularly timely.
Keeping Humans in the Loop
Will Hoggarth, Chair of the PBSA Europe & Africa Council and Events Chair, believes 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 broader 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.”
Responding to Industry Demand
Building on the success of previous Europe & Africa events in Amsterdam and Paris, the 2026 London Summit is expected to attract record attendance from across the region and internationally.
Alongside keynote sessions and panel debates, attendees will benefit from dedicated networking opportunities, peer discussions and insights from leading industry suppliers.
The move to a two-day format reflects direct feedback from previous participants.
“Last year the feedback was clear — people wanted more time to talk, to network and to explore ideas in detail,” Hoggarth added. “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.
For more information and to register, visit: www.thepbsa.org
About PBSA
The Professional Background Screening Association 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.