THE STUDENT VOICE:

A passionate mental health and autism advocate, CEO of the charity Emotion Dysregulation Autism, and a young ambassador for the National Autistic Society. Drawing on her lived experience of the care and mental health systems, ZeZe works to challenge stigma around complex mental health needs. She regularly speaks at national events, contributes to mental health policy discussions, and campaigns for more compassionate support for vulnerable young people. Her work has inspired many and continues to influence positive change across education, healthcare, and social care sectors.

A dynamic 19-year-old social entrepreneur and the founder of Spark UK, one of the UK's leading youth-led mental health organisations. Starting Spark UK at just 14, Conor has grown the non-profit into a national platform, delivering free, accessible mental health resources and campaigns to thousands of young people across the UK. His mission is simple but powerful: to spark conversations around mental health. Conor’s work has earned him recognition from national media, mental health charities, and education leaders, while his lived experience as a young person navigating mental health, faith, and identity gives him a unique, authentic voice. He is a passionate speaker on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and digital wellbeing, having led campaigns such as Sparky & Friends and All Star Advent. Outside of Spark UK, Conor volunteers with Young Enterprise and leads We Are Prysm, a Gen-Z Christian media organisation. A confident communicator with heartfelt insight, Conor regularly speaks at schools, conferences, and community events, inspiring others to take action, embrace vulnerability, and lead with purpose.

A black mixed-race wheelchair user living with chronic illness and neurodivergence. She is a scholar activist based at the University of Glasgow whose work focuses on ethical, community-based, and lived experience-led research, education, and policy making practice within the fields of mental health, illness and trauma, neurodivergence, and unpaid care. She specialises in ethical ways of co-producing knowledge and knowledge equity among communities that are disempowered within mental health, social care, and welfare services in the UK, particularly racialised communities and disabled communities who historically are excluded from the production of knowledge. Cassie takes novel qualitative approaches to investigating the intersections of mental illness, poverty, and 'care' including unpaid care, state care, and wider definitions of 'caring.' She teaches qualitative methods, capitalism and mental health, and is an associate lecturer at the Service User Research Enterprise at King's College London.

A London-based, multi-award-winning NHS junior doctor, passionate about mental health and planning on specialising in Psychiatry. Ally qualified from Bristol Medical School in 2021 and also holds a BSc degree in medical humanities and creative arts from Imperial College, London. Ally is a passionate mental health content creator with over 18,000 followers across her social media platforms. Ally believes strongly in authenticity and openness, and shares her own mental health struggles online and hopes to normalise the conversation.

A London-based, multi-award-winning NHS junior doctor, passionate about mental health and planning on specialising in Psychiatry. Ally qualified from Bristol Medical School in 2021 and also holds a BSc degree in medical humanities and creative arts from Imperial College, London. Ally is a passionate mental health content creator with over 18,000 followers across her social media platforms. Ally believes strongly in authenticity and openness, and shares her own mental health struggles online and hopes to normalise the conversation.

An award-winning youth activist and speaker. Having the strength, resilience, and determination to overcome significantly challenging personal circumstances is what feeds her conviction to amplify youth voice in major policy discussions. She is a recipient of The Diana Award 2019, which is the highest international accolade a young person can receive for their humanitarian work and social action, an #iwill Ambassador and a member of Chatham House Common Futures Conversations. She has also received the British Citizen Award from the UK Government for her services to Healthcare, and is a recipient of the 1317th Points of Light Award.

@abigailrosefoster. Chartered accountant and founder of Elent Finance, a financial education company designed to demystify the world of finance and empower you to achieve financial wellbeing. Abigail has worked with leading financial institutions across the UK, including HMRC, the Bank of England and Downing Street, and global companies such as Google and Goldman Sachs. Abigail hosts a weekly money segment on LBC radio and has also appeared as a finance expert on ITV, Channel 5, and Sky News, breaking down the complexities of money management for listeners across the UK. She recently published her first book 'The Money Manual' which looks at demystifying obscure economic processes and complex financial language to empower you to learn everything you wish you knew about personal finance.

Gaby Mendes is a presenter, interviewer, and award-winning media entrepreneur. Known for her warm and insightful hosting style, she’s interviewed some of the UK’s most recognisable names across entertainment, education, and business.

A trans, non-binary, neurodivergent, mind and movement coach, facilitator and trainer, on a mission to create more inclusive, fun, and affirming wellbeing spaces for everyone, especially the LGBTQIA+ community. Their work enables people to feel safe, find joy, and build connection. Right now they work with Calm to deliver wellbeing workshops to global audiences and the charity Not a Phase to deliver free movement and exercises classes to the trans+ community in Brighton. As a multi-disciplinary coach, they work with organisations, communities and teams to deliver mental health awareness training, mindful meditation, and movement classes. Their sessions welcome all bodies, abilities, and diversities by proactively considering the experience for neurodivergent, disabled, and queer people.