The theme for this year’s Laidlaw Scholars Conference is Ambition. Ambition is not simply about individual achievements, but speaks to drive, passion, possibility, and impact.   

Ambition is multi-dimensional; to be ambitious also means knowing:  

• Why we aim  

• Who we aim with   

• Where we act  

• And how we endure in a changing world  

As ethical leaders and changemakers, ambition asks something of us: the decisions we make, the responsibilities we carry, and the trade-offs that come with success. Ambition drives growth and innovation, but it lives in tension with risk. Knowing who we want to be and where we want to go is only half the journey - the rest is figuring out how we get there. Just as important as the passion to dream is the capacity to act on it.  

We're thrilled to announce a competition which is your chance to get creative, reflect meaningfully on the conference theme, and offer something thoughtful to your fellow Scholars — a piece of artwork that connects, inspires, and sparks conversation ✏️ 

Your artwork could be printed on postcards and shared with the global Laidlaw community at the 2026 Scholars Conference! 

The Brief: What does being ambitious mean to you? 

We are looking for creative, original interpretations of what being ambitious means to you — not literal depictions or clichéd symbols (e.g. mountain peaks, rockets or stairs), but bold, personal, and thoughtful designs that explore the theme in unexpected ways. 

🖼️ Submit Your Artwork

🏆 Prize: £20 (or equivalent in your local currency, e.g., USD $27). 

Your design could be selected to be printed on postcards distributed at the conference. There will be six winners in total—three designs will be selected for the London Conference and three for the NYC Conference. 

Requirements: 

• Can be any visual medium – digital art, illustration, collage, photography, painting, etc. 

• Full colour and experimental formats welcome 

• Must be accompanied by a 100–150-word written reflection

To submit: 
Fill out the submission form here: https://tduiz5fny33.typeform.com/to/cIq4DcOe. 

File format: Submit as a high-resolution PNG, JPEG, or PDF. 

👥 Who Can Take Part? 

This competition is open to all current Laidlaw Scholars as well as all Laidlaw Alumni attending the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars Conference. 

🕐What Is The Deadline?

🇬🇧 London Conference Deadline: Sunday 27 September, 11:59 PM BST 

🇺🇸 New York Conference Deadline: Sunday 25 October, 11:59 PM BST 

If you have any questions, please contact Nikol at nikol.chen@laidlawfoundation.com. 

Terms & Conditions  

By submitting an entry to the Laidlaw Scholars Conference 2026 Artwork Competition (the “Competition”), you agree to the following terms and conditions: 

1. Eligibility

• The Competition is open to current Laidlaw Scholars and Alumni who are attending the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars Conference. 
• Entrants may submit only one artwork for this Competition. 
• Each submission must include a design and a corresponding reflection in a written format.

2. Submission Requirements

• All artwork must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright or trademark. 

• Submissions that contain offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate content will be disqualified. 

3. Deadline

• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM BST on Sunday 27 September 

• Late submissions will not be accepted. 

4. Selection and Prizes

• Submissions will be reviewed and selected by the Laidlaw Foundation central team. 

• Selected General Artwork entries may be printed on postcards distributed at the conference. 

• The Foundation reserves the right not to select a winner if no submissions meet the necessary criteria or quality standards. 

5. Usage Rights and Intellectual Property

• Entrants retain full ownership of their submitted artwork. 

• By entering the Competition, you grant the Laidlaw Foundation a royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and distribute your artwork: 

• In connection with the Laidlaw Scholars Conference 2026 

• In print and digital materials (e.g. postcards, social media, publications) 

• For promotional, non-commercial purposes related to the Foundation’s work 

• The Foundation will credit the artist where feasible and appropriate.

6. Modifications

• The Foundation reserves the right to make minor modifications to artwork for production purposes (e.g. adjusting layout, size, or colour) while preserving the original intent of the design. 

7. Withdrawal

• If you wish to withdraw your submission, you must notify the Foundation in writing before the deadline by emailing nikol.chen@laidlawfoundation.com.