9–11 October 2026 · Bush House, King's College London
THIS YEAR’S SUMMIT
A fuller programme than ever — keynotes, panels and the moments that make the Summit. Full session titles and times land here soon.
13:15 - 13:25
Welcome
A look back at milestones, stories, and impact of Project Access in 2025, and where we're headed next.
13:25 - 14:05
From Dreams to Realities: Meet Our Mentees
Former mentees share how mentorship shaped their journeys and what access means when it moves from theory into real life.
14:05 - 14:25
Break
14:25 - 14:50
Keynote: Topic and Speaker TBD
14:50 - 15:40
Panel: Leadership without a Playbook
Leadership is less a title than a skill, and one worth building long before you're asked to lead. Senior voices from diplomacy, finance, and strategy share how they've built the instincts to decide well, carry others with them, and act when the brief isn't clear.
15:40 - 16:35
Coffee Break & Conversations
16:35 - 17:25
Panel: Tech as a Tool
Every product starts with a need spotted and met. Founders and senior builders share how they use today's fastest-moving toolset to find real gaps in the market and build something that fits.
09:30
Morning Workshops
Parallel sessions on applications & interviews.
12:30
Lunch and Networking
Meet mentors and mentees over food.
14:00
SIGNATURE
Flagship Panel
Mentors and alumni on how they got in.
20:00
Summit Dinner
The evening everyone remembers.
Placeholder — final titles & times to follow.
10:00
SIGNATURE
Mentee Showcase
Students share where they got in.
12:00
Partner Session
How organisations back the mission.
14:00
Closing Remarks
What comes next for the community.
15:00
Farewell Pub Evening
One last round before goodbyes.
Placeholder — final titles & times to follow.
WHO YOU’LL HEAR
Mentors, alumni and students who’ve been exactly where our applicants are now.
Role · University
Speaker Name
Two to three sentences on who they are and why they matter to applicants. Keep every bio a similar length so the rows line up neatly.
Speaking on
Session Title
Role · University
Speaker Name
Two to three sentences on who they are and why they matter to applicants. Keep every bio a similar length so the rows line up neatly.
Speaking on
Session Title
Role · University
Speaker Name
Two to three sentences on who they are and why they matter to applicants. Keep every bio a similar length so the rows line up neatly.
Speaking on
Session Title
Role · University
Speaker Name
Two to three sentences on who they are and why they matter to applicants. Keep every bio a similar length so the rows line up neatly.
Speaking on
Session Title
Role · University
Speaker Name
Two to three sentences on who they are and why they matter to applicants. Keep every bio a similar length so the rows line up neatly.
Speaking on
Session Title
Role · University
Speaker Name
Two to three sentences on who they are and why they matter to applicants. Keep every bio a similar length so the rows line up neatly.
Speaking on
Session Title
WHO YOU’LL HEAR
Mentors, alumni and students who’ve been exactly where our applicants are now.
Simon Schünemann
Chief Executive Officer
(CEO)
Aristotle Vossos
Global Director of
Growth
Milica Arsenijevic
Global Director of Parterships & Fundraising
Mahish Kalra
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Benedikt Mautner
Global Director of Engineering
Eliza Wapperom
Global Director of
Mentor Outreach
Sara Öfversten
Global Director of
Mentee Outreach
Riyana Chatterjee
Global Director of Programmes
Anna Horvath
Global Director of Marketing & PR
Tom Vaughan
Global Director of Offer Holder Programmes
Melika Tahvili
Global Director of Legal Operations
Mika Sprenger
Global Director of Talent & Culture
INDUSTRY LEADERS
Learn from accomplished founders, executives, and innovators who have shared their expertise, experiences, and actionable insights on our stage.
Felicity Long
Partner • Bain & Company
Media and marketing partner with 15+ years across digital strategy and integrated marketing. Former Global Chief Digital Activation Officer at MediaCom; named an IPA Woman of Tomorrow.
Julia Constable
VP Corporate Accounts • AlphaSights
Leads AlphaSights’ Corporate business unit in Europe, connecting Fortune 1000 companies and startups to expert insight. Chartered Manager with seven years at the firm.
Ewelina Gregolinska
Assoc. Partner • McKinsey
Spent nearly nine years at McKinsey across operations and digital strategy, rising from consultant to Associate Partner.
Charlotte Lewis-Williams
Partner • DLA Piper
Finance partner at DLA Piper advising on complex, high-value international finance transactions. Focus areas span fund finance, private credit, leveraged and sports finance, working with banks, credit funds, and private equity sponsors.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow
ex-Global Director • World Animal Protection
Campaigner for social and environmental justice. Former global director at Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, and Amnesty International.
Adam Ward
Geopolitical Expert • ex-Chatham House
Geopolitical and macroeconomic risk specialist. Former Deputy Director and Director of Research at Chatham House.
Jyoti Hirani-Driver
COO • NATO DIANA
Chief Operating Officer at NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA), driving dual-use innovation across the Alliance. Former Deputy Director at the UK Ministry of Defence.
David Henig
Director, UK Trade Policy Project • ECIPE
UK trade policy expert at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Former UK government civil servant and adviser to the UK Trade and Business Commission.
Matt Dickson (Keynote)
Professor of Economic & Social Policy • University of Bath
Economist at Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, focused on widening access and participation in higher education. PhD from Warwick; former Marie Curie Research Fellow.
Felicity Long
Partner • Bain & Company
Media and marketing partner with 15+ years across digital strategy and integrated marketing. Former Global Chief Digital Activation Officer at MediaCom; named an IPA Woman of Tomorrow.
Julia Constable
VP Corporate Accounts • AlphaSights
Leads AlphaSights’ Corporate business unit in Europe, connecting Fortune 1000 companies and startups to expert insight. Chartered Manager with seven years at the firm.
Ewelina Gregolinska
Assoc. Partner • McKinsey
Spent nearly nine years at McKinsey across operations and digital strategy, rising from consultant to Associate Partner.
Charlotte Lewis-Williams
Partner • DLA Piper
Finance partner at DLA Piper advising on complex, high-value international finance transactions. Focus areas span fund finance, private credit, leveraged and sports finance, working with banks, credit funds, and private equity sponsors.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow
ex-Global Director • World Animal Protection
Campaigner for social and environmental justice. Former global director at Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, and Amnesty International.
Adam Ward
Geopolitical Expert • ex-Chatham House
Geopolitical and macroeconomic risk specialist. Former Deputy Director and Director of Research at Chatham House.
Jyoti Hirani-Driver
COO • NATO DIANA
Chief Operating Officer at NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA), driving dual-use innovation across the Alliance. Former Deputy Director at the UK Ministry of Defence.
David Henig
Director, UK Trade Policy Project • ECIPE
UK trade policy expert at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Former UK government civil servant and adviser to the UK Trade and Business Commission.
Matt Dickson (Keynote)
Professor of Economic & Social Policy • University of Bath
Economist at Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, focused on widening access and participation in higher education. PhD from Warwick; former Marie Curie Research Fellow.
INDUSTRY LEADERS
Learn from accomplished founders, executives, and innovators who have shared their expertise, experiences, and actionable insights on our stage.
Felicity Long
Partner
Bain & Company
Media and marketing partner with 15+ years across digital strategy and integrated marketing. Former Global Chief Digital Activation Officer at MediaCom; named an IPA Woman of Tomorrow.
Julia Constable
VP Corporate Accounts
AlphaSights
Leads AlphaSights’ Corporate business unit in Europe, connecting Fortune 1000 companies and startups to expert insight. Chartered Manager with seven years at the firm.
Ewelina Gregolinska
Assoc. Partner
McKinsey
Spent nearly nine years at McKinsey across operations and digital strategy, rising from consultant to Associate Partner.
Charlotte Lewis-Williams
Partner
DLA Piper
Finance partner at DLA Piper advising on complex, high-value international finance transactions. Focus areas span fund finance, private credit, leveraged and sports finance, working with banks, credit funds, and private equity sponsors.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow
ex-Global Director • World Animal Protection
Campaigner for social and environmental justice. Former global director at Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, and Amnesty International.
Adam Ward
Geopolitical Expert
ex-Chatham House
Geopolitical and macroeconomic risk specialist. Former Deputy Director and Director of Research at Chatham House.
Jyoti Hirani-Driver
COO
NATO DIANA
Chief Operating Officer at NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA), driving dual-use innovation across the Alliance. Former Deputy Director at the UK Ministry of Defence.
David Henig
Director, UK Trade Policy Project
ECIPE
UK trade policy expert at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Former UK government civil servant and adviser to the UK Trade and Business Commission.
Matt Dickson (Keynote)
Professor of Economic & Social Policy
University of Bath
Economist at Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, focused on widening access and participation in higher education. PhD from Warwick; former Marie Curie Research Fellow.
Felicity Long
Partner
Bain & Company
Media and marketing partner with 15+ years across digital strategy and integrated marketing. Former Global Chief Digital Activation Officer at MediaCom; named an IPA Woman of Tomorrow.
Julia Constable
VP Corporate Accounts
AlphaSights
Leads AlphaSights’ Corporate business unit in Europe, connecting Fortune 1000 companies and startups to expert insight. Chartered Manager with seven years at the firm.
Ewelina Gregolinska
Assoc. Partner
McKinsey
Spent nearly nine years at McKinsey across operations and digital strategy, rising from consultant to Associate Partner.
Charlotte Lewis-Williams
Partner
DLA Piper
Finance partner at DLA Piper advising on complex, high-value international finance transactions. Focus areas span fund finance, private credit, leveraged and sports finance, working with banks, credit funds, and private equity sponsors.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow
ex-Global Director • World Animal Protection
Campaigner for social and environmental justice. Former global director at Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, and Amnesty International.
Adam Ward
Geopolitical Expert
ex-Chatham House
Geopolitical and macroeconomic risk specialist. Former Deputy Director and Director of Research at Chatham House.
Jyoti Hirani-Driver
COO
NATO DIANA
Chief Operating Officer at NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA), driving dual-use innovation across the Alliance. Former Deputy Director at the UK Ministry of Defence.
David Henig
Director, UK Trade Policy Project
ECIPE
UK trade policy expert at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Former UK government civil servant and adviser to the UK Trade and Business Commission.
Matt Dickson (Keynote)
Professor of Economic & Social PolicyUniversity of Bath
Economist at Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, focused on widening access and participation in higher education. PhD from Warwick; former Marie Curie Research Fellow.
Where We Came From
What began as our Leadership Summits has grown into the London Summit — our flagship annual gathering. Same mission, more reach, bigger stage.
2018
The first Leadership Summit
A line or two of highlights — attendance, headline speaker, standout moment.
‣ Placeholder highlight
2021
Going international
A line or two of highlights — attendance, headline speaker, standout moment.
‣ Placeholder highlight
2024
Record attendance
A line or two of highlights — attendance, headline speaker, standout moment.
‣ Placeholder highlight
2026
The London Summit
A line or two of highlights — attendance, headline speaker, standout moment.
‣ Placeholder highlight
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
The moments between the sessions where the community actually happens.
Voices of Impact
The Summit is also your chance to hear from our mentees directly. Our mentee panel is a real highlight — they share their stories, the moments that changed their path, and you can meet them in person over the three days.
“When I applied to Project Access as a mentee, I hoped to receive guidance for my Common App essays and interviews. I can’t thank the Project Access Team enough for their support, encouragement, and advice throughout the entire process. Getting into Princeton wouldn’t have been possible without their commitment! ”
Anna
ACCEPTED TO HARVARD, PRINCETON, AND UCL
“My mentor taught me to believe in the process and keep going. Talking to him about my LSE application truly encouraged me to believe my efforts would make it possible. I wouldn’t have been as successful without his support.”
Eline
ACCEPTED TO COLUMBIA, LSE AND KING’S
“It's incredible that the mentoring is free - it makes it so accessible and my mentor was amazing, and I now have a friend to keep in touch with! It gave me confidence and made the exam season feel more calm. Thank you for the written resources - it's nice to get advice from current students who give realistic and detailed information!”
Crystin
CAMBRIDGE PROGRAM OFFER HOLDER
“I was quickly matched with a mentor! I was really struggling to get started with my personal statement, so my mentor helped me break it down into smaller parts and set deadlines for each part to be done in advance of the actual UCAS submission deadline. I am super thankful to have had such an amazing mentor!”
Suze
ACCEPTED TO STANDFORD AND CAMBRIDGE
“When I applied to Project Access as a mentee, I hoped to receive guidance for my Common App essays and interviews. I can’t thank the Project Access Team enough for their support, encouragement, and advice throughout the entire process. Getting into Princeton wouldn’t have been possible without their commitment! ”
Anna
ACCEPTED TO HARVARD, PRINCETON, AND UCL
“My mentor taught me to believe in the process and keep going. Talking to him about my LSE application truly encouraged me to believe my efforts would make it possible. I wouldn’t have been as successful without his support.”
Eline
ACCEPTED TO COLUMBIA, LSE AND KING’S
“It's incredible that the mentoring is free - it makes it so accessible and my mentor was amazing, and I now have a friend to keep in touch with! It gave me confidence and made the exam season feel more calm. Thank you for the written resources - it's nice to get advice from current students who give realistic and detailed information!”
Crystin
CAMBRIDGE PROGRAM OFFER HOLDER
“I was quickly matched with a mentor! I was really struggling to get started with my personal statement, so my mentor helped me break it down into smaller parts and set deadlines for each part to be done in advance of the actual UCAS submission deadline. I am super thankful to have had such an amazing mentor!”
Suze
ACCEPTED TO STANDFORD AND CAMBRIDGE
Act Now
Reach a global audience of high-potential students, mentors and university leaders and back a mission that’s opening doors, for free, for good.
Whether you’re a student, mentor, or partner.
We’d love to hear from you and make things happen.
