FTL 2026 Programme
22-26 July 2026, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor
The 2026 leadership programme invites high school students into conversation with academics, policy makers, and industry leaders in law, healthcare, technology, and financial services about the challenges facing their generation.
Learning will take place in workshop-style settings, with delegates hearing from the experts before collaborating on practical tasks based on real-world scenarios in their fields. Delegates will also chair panel discussions, interview experts, present to their peers, and participate in roundtable discussion.
Newly confirmed: Jaya Baloo!
Jaya Baloo is an internationally respected cybersecurity leader with over two decades’ experience protecting complex digital ecosystems at scale. She was Chief Information Security Officer (CISCO) at KPN, one of Europe’s largest telecoms providers, where she led national-level cyber resilience strategies and advised governments, boards, and international organisations on critical infrastructure protection. She was named by Forbes as one of the 100 Women Founders in Europe To Follow in 2018, and in 2025 she co-founded AISLE, an AI-native cybersecurity start-up.
Newly confirmed: Lavinia D Osbourne!
Lavinia D Osbourne is an award-winning blockchain and Web3 leader, winner of the Women in Tech 100 and founder of Crypto Kweens. She made legal history in 2023, when the High Court ruled that her stolen Boss Beauties NFTs were legal property, securing the future of blockchain as a store of value. Her workshop will challenge FTL 2026 delegates to find ways to use blockchain technology to achieve the United Nations sustainability goals.
Other experts so far confirmed…
Prof. Quassim Cassam, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Prof Cassam’s research centres around the epistemology and political philosophy of trust, fake news, and post-truth culture. He has recently explored these themes in his book on Conspiracy Theories, which will form the springboard for his FTL 2026 workshop.
Laurie Laybourn, Executive Director of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative and Advisor to the UK Climate Change Committee. His workshop will help delegates reimagine policy responses to climate change by challenging “success or failure” narratives, which he argues are redundant now that the world is certain to surpass 1.5°C of warming.
Dr Cosima Gretton, Executive Director of Digital Health and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at Our Future Health, a tech start-up aiming to improve health for millions of people across the UK. Her workshop will focus on the social and ethical implications of using big data to improve health outcomes across populations.
About Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is the former official residence of the Ranger of Windsor Great Park, an office currently held by His Majesty King Charles III. It is now an educational charity that exists to empower young people to lead the conversation around social division. It regularly plays host to university departments, legal and medical training bodies, and many other public and private sector organisations.
Full-board accomodation
Full-board accommodation is provided on site. Each room is equipped with an en-suite bathroom and Wi-Fi. Delegates will be paired up with a roommate based on their interests, providing the opportunity for further discussion and lasting friendships. While we encourage delegates to share rooms, single rooms may be available on request.
Workshops
Day 1: Trust
Health Data
Cybersecurity
Democracy and “Post-Truth”
Confirmed Experts: Dr Cosima Gretton and Prof. Quassim Cassam
Day 2: Justice
AI in the Justice System
Space Law
Robot Tax
Day 3: Power
Big Tech and the State
Global Fragmentation
Blockchain and Decentralisation
Confirmed expert: Lavinia D Osbourne
Day 4: Planet
Climate Diplomacy
Pandemic Preparedness
Migration
Confirmed Expert: Laurie Laybourn
Day 5: Capstone
Delegate Panels
Team Projects
Essay Competition Awards and Prizegiving
Programme size
Space is limited to forty places, so delegates will get the chance to see up close how today's thought leaders approach the issues that matter.
To apply
The Second Round Applications Deadline is 15 March 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and will close as soon as forty exceptional candidates have been found.
Travel
Cumberland Lodge is a 25-minute taxi ride from Heathrow airport and a 50-minute drive from central London. The nearest train station is Egham. Help with transfers for international delegates is available on request.
