A Technology Apprentice at JP Morgan, currently studying a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions at the University of Exeter. Ashini’s background sits at the intersection of business and technology, with special interest in how data, AI and modern digital systems can be used to solve real-world problems in a way that’s practical, ethical, and impactful.

Professionally, she’s gained experience across multiple rotations, building skills in data analysis, coding, agile delivery, and working within large-scale corporate environments. Alongside apprenticeships, she’s also the host of True North, a podcast where she interview guests and talks about personal growth, career development and inspiring stories especially from apprentices, founders, and early-career professionals.

Holding a first-class History and Politics degree from the University of Nottingham, Lauren currently works as a Government Relations and Public Affairs Officer at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. However, she is shortly commencing a secondment to Greater Manchester Combined Authority as a Projects and Policy Officer, focused on gender-based violence initiatives. She previously completed the Impact: Local Government Graduate Scheme, working within the Finance and Safer and Stronger Communities teams. During this time, she led the drafting of the Merseyside Adult Sexual Exploitation, Sex Work and Survival Sex Strategy and the Liverpool Night Time Safety Charter.

Alongside her professional role, Lauren founded the Nottingham Spiking Awareness Group, and served as a trustee of the South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service. She is also a Campaign Officer for Amnesty Feminist Network’s My Body My Rights campaign and a Feminist Foreign Policy Consultant for Restless Development. Her work has included speaking at the United Nations’ Summit of the Future in New York and contributing to a media activation with Malala Yousafzai. As the UK’s Y20 Innovation and Digital Transformation Delegate, Lauren is committed to representing diverse youth voices and ensuring that technology is used as a force for good, with safety at the heart of public policy.

Ayoola is an undergraduate student studying International Relations at the London School of Economics. Her work and volunteering span a range of causes including gender equality, racial justice, education accessibility, social mobility and poverty reduction.

After winning the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up Project Award, she designed and created a social impact programme empowering girls from underprivileged backgrounds to combat social injustice through mentorship, leadership training and supporting them develop their own social impact project ideas in the local community. Ayoola also served as a volunteer mentor at the Diana Award, where she volunteered at a school every week as part of a group mentoring and career skills development initiative for young people who are at risk of becoming NEET. Across her time at university, Ayoola has worked as a Debate Mate mentor where she mentors and teaches young people to develop their confidence, public speaking skills and debating skills through weekly extra-curricular debate workshops in schools. She has also worked with other organisations such as with the LSE Widening Participation team as a Thrive mentor and the Wonder Foundation. Ayoola has been recognised by Sky and TargetJobs as one of the UK’s Top 10 Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year Award Finalists in recognition of the work she is doing in her community.

Kabir is a Senior Associate at BB Partners, where he advises foundations and non-profits on strategic communications strategies including media engagement and advocacy campaigns across gender, health and philanthropy. With an MA in International Development from the University of Sheffield, Kabir has worked closely with grassroots organisations in the UK and globally to build and sustain lasting change. He has spent time in rural northern Peru working with local communities and a climate-focused organisation, EcoSwell, to implement renewable energy programmes and improve electricity supply for local hospitals.

While at university, Kabir volunteered as External Coordinator and Calltaker for Sheffield Nightline, a student-run listening service, where he amplified the service within the student community and managed a diverse group of volunteers.

Alastair Nicol is the founder of the British Institute of Global Affairs (biga.org.uk), a grassroots thinktank that initiates new conversations about the UK, its future, and its place in the world. Having grown up near Manchester, he completed a First-class undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath, undertook an Erasmus year at Sciences Po, and achieved a Merit in his Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of St Andrews. Alastair focused his studies on alternative approaches to security, analysing armed non-state actors; the Wagner Group PMC; and NATO’s adoption of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Alastair’s philosophy towards security is that it must be comprehensive and resilient by meaningfully engaging with society. This has led him to volunteer with his local town council to create a new Youth Panel and run seminars for politics students at his former high school but has more recently resulted in an internship with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. Here, Alastair worked with the Governance Section to support their work on encouraging democratic resilience; facilitating dialogue between communities; and promoting the Youth, Peace and Security agenda.