UCL Leaders is an annual conference that brings together students, professionals and distinguished speakers interested in discussing the most pressing global issues. This year’s edition took place at the Royal Institution in London, where participants met to discuss four topics concerning science and technology, business politics and art. Among an impressive range of international panellists, the conference hosted a variety of established polish speakers, such as Artur Radziwiłł, Dariusz Rosati, Jan Komasa and Krzysztof Zanussi.

The UCL Leaders conference was first launched in 2017 as a forum for Polish students studying in the UK to discuss domestic affairs with world-leading experts and professionals. As the number of Polish students in the UK has decreased due to Brexit, the conference adopted a more international perspective in terms of participants and discussed topics. 

The 2022 edition took place over two days. On 25 March, students could enjoy workshops with BNP Paribas, CVC Capital Partners, Ernst & Young, Fiona Hayes, Amazon and Magda Linke-Koszek. The following day, an exciting series of speaker panels tackled the most pressing issues in Europe and beyond. The main overarching theme of the conference seemed to concern navigating through the uncertainties of the ever-changing world, from the war in Ukraine and the implications of climate change to the more abstract relations established between humans, technology and art.

UCL Leaders spark a debate about the implications of the war in Ukraine

The conference was opened by this year’s host Zuzanna Lewandowska, the CEO of Wysokie Obcasy, who inaugurated the event with 30 seconds of silence for those affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Afterwards, Irina Tymczyszyn, the Managing Director of the Ukrainian-British City Club, delivered a moving keynote speech reflecting on the current situation in Ukraine.  

The conference organisers highlighted the challenges caused by the war in Ukraine by organising a speaker panel on the shifts in the international security policy. During the discussion led by Katarzyna Wolczuk, Associate Fellow at Chatham House, policy experts from various fields expressed diverging opinions on the prospects of adopting suitable policy tools in reaction to the war.

However, there was one point on which all speakers agreed- the Western countries have turned a blind eye to the conflict. Dariusz Rosati said that the war was an effect of “a series of strategic mistakes by the West”. Edward Lucas added that “at no point did we do enough”. 

Globally renowned professionals talk about technology, sustainability and art

Apart from the political situation in Europe, the panellists discussed topics such as the global sustainable transition, rapid technological development and art as a tool for creating meaning. During the panel on the transition to low-carbon economies, moderated by Rafał Libera, the guest speakers discussed a range of approaches adopted for the purpose of the green transition and how such practices might influence the future of doing business. 

The technology and science panel posed questions about the scope of the technological revolution. In particular, the panellists discussed how technology could influence and mimic human behaviour, for example through neuromarketing. The speakers also discussed whether governments and businesses should adopt any control mechanisms in light of rapid scientific advancement in the fields of AI and machine learning. 

The day finished with an art panel that tackled a more abstract epistemological question of whether art is responsible for creating meaning in the world. The panel was attended by artists from a range of disciplines, such as cinema, literature and fine arts. During the discussion, the invited artists answered questions regarding the nature of art and its transformation into a consumable good due to the ever-changing, fast-paced world.

The conference finished with a festive reception at the Ognisko Polskie restaurant, during which the guests could enjoy a classical music concert by Berniya Hamie, Julia Błachuta and Riya Hamie.

Author: Marta Kąkol 

Pictures: Marta Kąkol

Marta has recently graduated from Utrecht University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Thanks to her interdisciplinary education, she can apply multiple perspectives to complex political issues. She vocalizes her interest in public affairs in a multitude of ways, from journalistic writing to organising speaker events. She hopes to gain funding for her master’s at the University of Oxford in 2022.