Meet the Speakers - PA London Summit 2024
A quick glimpse of our speakers across two thought-provoking panels at the PA London Summit this October!
About Project Access
We are a student-run international non-profit organisation fighting higher education inequality. We believe in a world where passion and potential, not demographics or socioeconomic background, define a young person’s future.
The PA London Summit 2024 is here!!
Join us at the Bush House, on Saturday, 5th October, for an energising day of bold ideas, thought-provoking panels, and game-changing conversations on transforming access to education. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to attend keynote sessions on education inequality, thought-provoking panels, and a chance to meet amazing people!
Find out about PA’s 2026 Vision, hear from our former mentees who’ve turned their dreams into reality, dive deep into pressing issues, connect with passionate individuals, and leave with fresh ideas and new connections.
Check out a sneak peek of the speaker lineup and let’s drive change together!
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Matt Dickson
Matt Dickson is Professor of Economic and Social Policy at the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, where he leads a research programme on widening participation in higher education. Recently, he has co-authored several reports for the Dept. for Education covering access to higher education and the labour market outcomes of those gaining undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in England.
Matt aims to inform policy proposals that can not only widen participation in higher education but widen successful participation – so that all young people with the talent and desire to go to university can do so, and go on to achieve their potential afterwards, regardless of their background.
Women in Leadership Panel
Charlotte Lewis-Williams, Partner @ DLA Piper
Charlotte Lewis-Williams is a finance lawyer and partner in the London office of international law firm DLA Piper.
She works on complex, multi-jurisdictional and high-value finance matters, ranging from direct lending, corporate finance and leveraged finance transactions to fund finance, infrastructure finance and sports finance. Charlotte has over 15 years of experience advising multinational and UK sponsors, corporates, banks and credit funds across various sectors. Charlotte was the European in-house counsel for PGIM Private Capital for 3.5 years and is a member of the American College of Investment Counsel.
Charlotte's hobbies include travel, theatre and spending time with her two daughters. She is a keen supporter of DEI initiatives and educational charities.
Felicity Long, Partner @ Bain & Company
Before joining Bain & Company, Felicity served as the Global Chief Digital Activation Officer at EssenceMediaCom, leading the digital activation and innovation efforts for the agency and its clients. She is a seasoned professional in the media and marketing industry with over 18 years of experience and has been recognised for her contributions to the industry with the IPA Woman of Tomorrow award, which celebrates female leaders shaping the future of the industry.
Felicity is passionate about helping clients transform into modern marketeers by putting the consumer at the heart of their strategies. With a deep understanding of digital trends and consumer behaviour, she guides clients in creating consumer-centric marketing approaches that drive engagement and loyalty. Her collaborative approach and strategic insights have earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor in navigating the evolving marketing and media landscape. She is also a mother of two sons and can be found freezing at the side of a sports pitch most weekends.
Policy & International Relations Panel
Jyoti Hirani, Driver, Chief Operating Officer @ NATO
Jyoti Hirani is the COO of NATO DIANA and is responsible for overseeing the Accelerator Programme, establishing business performance and risk management, identifying and implementing improvements across the organisation. She is also responsible for the HR function and establishing the DIANA Regional Hub, Estonia & the DIANA Regional Office, Canada.
National security has been a key theme of Jyoti’s career. Before this, she held multiple policy, strategy and operational crisis roles in counter-terrorism, including kidnaps, terrorist financing, and UK - Middle East, Africa and Asia counter-terrorism relations.
Adam Ward, Geopolitical Analyst & Advisor, Ex-Deputy Director @ Chatham House, Ex-Director of Studies @ IISS
Adam Ward is an international relations expert and consultant. He helps companies, investors and governments understand global geopolitical change, test their assumptions, and strengthen planning and decision-making in a more volatile world. Previously he worked in a variety of positions for two of the world’s leading policy analysis institutes on international affairs. He was the Deputy Director of Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) with responsibility for the strategic direction and oversight of its research activities. These addressed policy challenges such as international security threats, global governance efforts towards climate risk, technological change and global health systems, as well as tackling wider questions around the future of international order and multilateral cooperation.
Adam began his career at the consulting company Oxford Analytica as its Asia-Pacific Editor, where he led a daily analysis services on the politics and economics of the region. He earned a BA in German and Politics, and later an MA in international studies, from the University of Warwick.
David Henig, Director @ UK Trade Policy, ECIPE, Ex-Assistant Director @ UK Department for International Trade
David is the UK Director at ECIPE, leading thinking on future UK trade policy. He is the Co-founder of the UK Trade Forum, Author of the weekly Perspectives Column for Borderlex, Advisor to Cavendish Advocacy on UK and global trade policy developments to businesses and other organisations, and Expert Advisor to the UK Trade and Business Commission.
He is an active participant in public debates on trade, including speaker panels, writing articles, stakeholder engagement, media appearances, roundtable events, and on social media.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Global Director @ World Animal Protection, Ex-Senior Director @ Amnesty International, Ex-Director at Oxfam, WWF International & Greenpeace International
Thomas is an executive leader and campaigner for social and environmental justice. With a background as a political scientist, he aims to drive change for the benefit of people, animals, and the planet.
With some thirty years of experience working in global civil society organisations, he has led campaigns, communications, marketing and fundraising teams in Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, Amnesty International, and World Animal Protection.
Thomas, who is German, lives in London (UK) with his wife and their dog. He enjoys the great outdoors and exploring new places. Time with friends and family is precious, and Thomas loves a good debate, ideally around the dinner table.