UCL School of Management

UCL Experts & Thought Leaders Speaker Series

With the support of UCL’s global network, UCL School of Management is bringing you three new Speaker Series. Hosted once a month, these series will cover a broad range of topics, with a variety of guest speakers to provide you with an insight into their world of business. 

The series is open to current students, alumni and staff and will be held at UCL School of Management’s home in Canary Wharf’s iconic One Canada Square. Once a term, on a rotating basis, one of these speaker series will open to the public, showcasing a sample of what the UCL School of Management community represents and the knowledge and expertise that we share.

UCL Experts & Thought Leaders Speaker Series

Showcasing the knowledge and expertise of UCL academia, this Series will provide you with the broader legal, social, cultural, political, economic and technological context within which businesses operate. 

If you are looking to build your contextual awareness and expand your knowledge from UCL’s world leading experts, then this Series is for you.

Register your attendance today! 

Upcoming events

Coming soon. 

Past events

Date: Tuesday 21 January 2025

Guest speaker: Sir Robin Jacob

Former judge in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and UCL Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Sir Robin Jacob visited Canary Wharf on Tuesday 21 January.  Robin hosted a roundtable discussion, where he delved into the vital function of the patent system in medical innovation, addressing the problems of cost and time, as well as risk and reward. Robin also discussed the significance of medicine and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, focussing particularly on the move for a ‘patent waiver’ and its subsequent impact.  Watch the full interview below. 

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Date: Wednesday 04 March 2025

Guest speaker: Pearse Keane

UCL Professor of Medical Innovation Pearse Keane joined the School for our Speaker Series to explore the development of AI over time and the ethics and application of AI within the medical field. He highlighted both the risks and benefits involved when integrating AI into medical practices.  The first AI prototype was launched in 1956, and more than 60 years later, artificial intelligence is now considered a tool that can accelerate medical diagnoses as doctors now have more time extended chance with finding a cure for degenerative eye conditions.

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Date: Wednesday 26 March 2025

Guest speaker: Maurizio Marinelli

UCL Professor of China and Global Prosperity, Maurizio Marinelli shared the history of China and how its influenced today’s economy, with his talk titled ‘Journey Through China – The Past in the Present.’  Maurizio expressed that, “we must recognise continuity within transformation” to understand China today. Listing examples surrounding the Great Wall of China, once seen as a burden and a symbol of lost souls to the community, is now a tourist destination, uniting lovers and inspiring artists to create unique artwork. Using the Great Wall of China as an example, Maurizio notes that this was once a societal burden and a symbol of lost souls to the community, but of course is now a major tourist destination, uniting and inspiring artists to create unique artwork. 

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Intrigued by this speaker series? Check out our other two series

Business Leaders Speaker Series

New Technologies and Innovation Speaker Series

For all enquiries, including guest speaker recommendations, please contact us today. 

Contact us

Last updated Monday, 28 April 2025