Thank you for your interest in joining the Events Team for the North American Laidlaw Scholars Conference 2026! The Events Team is at the heart of making this event run smoothly, and we're grateful for the time and energy you're putting into it.

Please read the eligibility criteria and role descriptions below carefully before completing the registration of interest form.

Apply Now 

Eligibility

• Open to undergraduate Scholars and alumni from the 2017 to 2025 cohorts
• You must be based in New York or within commuting distance at the time of the conference - we're unable to fund transport or accommodation

Conference Details  

Dates: 13-15 November 2026 

Locations: 

• Verizon Executive Education Center, 34 N Loop Rd, New York, NY 10044, United States (Saturday-Sunday, daytime) 
• Kimmel Center for University Life, 60 Washington Square S, New York, NY 10012, United States (Friday, Saturday evening) 

Start Time: Friday 13 November, 5pm*  

End Time: Sunday 15 November, 2pm 

*Events team may be asked to arrive earlier for set up, or to support with optional Scholar activities from 12pm.  

What’s in it for you?  

• A chance to build tighter bonds with Scholars from different universities and cohorts, through team building and collaboration

• Free attendance to full daytime programming at the conference during the times you're not on shift. Attendance to the gala dinner will be confirmed at a later stage due to issues with capacity 

• Leadership opportunities 

• A letter of participation you can add to your CV or LinkedIn, available on request  

Key Information  

• Volunteers will be asked to wear a volunteer T-shirt. This is mandatory, so please plan your outfit around this. 

• Ideally, you should be able to attend the full conference if you sign up. If you can't, please note this on the form and we'll try to work around it. You may be assigned more than one role. 

• Slots are limited. We'd like to involve as many of you as possible, but priority may be given to those with more availability. 

• If you have questions, please email Hannah at hannah.watton@laidlawfoundation.com  

• We will have a short briefing session ahead of 13 November so everyone is on board with their role, lead and where to go on arrival.  

• Food will be provided for the events team throughout the weekend.  

Sign up deadline: 11 August, 23:59pm (local time)  

We will aim to confirm your role by 25 August.  

Role Descriptions 

Registration & Front-of-House Lead 

Tasks: Preparing merch; rotating front desk duty Friday evening and across the weekend 
Good for: Organised volunteers who are good with logistics under pressure. You're the first face every Scholar and speaker sees, and will be setting the tone for the whole weekend - a great role if you like meeting people and enjoy making people feel comfortable and welcome.  
Availability: Flexible shifts, Friday 2pm – Sunday 1pm 

Set Up & Behind the Scenes Crew 

Tasks: Transform the venue ahead of each day - Friday evening set up, Saturday morning décor and poster set up, and Sunday afternoon wrap-up 
Good for: Hands-on volunteers who like seeing quick, visible results from their work and enjoy a bit of teamwork camaraderie - this is often the role with the most laughs, since you're working closely as a small crew rather than solo. 

Availability: Friday 5-10pm, Saturday 7-9am, Sunday 12-2pm, in shifts  

Activities Lead 

Tasks: Leading Friday evening's 6 activities (staggered starts); supporting daytime activities Friday for early arrivals. You get to run the fun! This is where most Scholars will make their first friends of the weekend, and you're the one shaping that experience. 
Good for: Sociable volunteers who are also logistically minded, able to keep multiple groups moving on schedule 
Availability: Friday 12-5pm, 7-10pm, in shifts  

Programme & Speaker Support 

Tasks: Room monitor / speaker support (AV/tech point of contact); Welcome & Announcements (ideally an Imperial-based Scholar, given familiarity with the venue). You'll be working closely with our keynote speakers and panellists, a great way to make a personal connection with people you might not otherwise get to meet.  
Good for: Calmer individuals comfortable troubleshooting on the spot. Welcome & Announcements should be confident public speakers.  
Availability: Across Saturday and Sunday in shifts  

Communications & Digital 

Tasks: Scholar takeover / on-the-day content (photos, clips, quotes, mini interviews).  

Good for: Someone creative with an interest in marketing or storytelling. This is a chance to build a real portfolio piece and get your name on content shared across the Laidlaw network.  

Availability: Friday – Sunday  

Panel Moderator 

Tasks: Chair our Research and Leadership in Action panels - introducing speakers, guiding discussion, managing audience Q&A, and keeping things on time. A small number of moderators may also be asked to chair masterclass sessions; if selected, you'll get full details closer to the date. This is a great way to sharpen your public speaking and facilitation skills, build confidence thinking on your feet, and connect directly with scholars and speakers across the programme!  

Good for: Confident public speakers. No prior moderating experience required, though it's a bonus if you have it. Flexible and calm under pressure, comfortable adapting to last-minute changes like timing shifts or a late start. 

Availability: Across Saturday and Sunday. 

No Strong Preference 

Happy to be assigned wherever you're needed most. A great option if you just want to be part of the team without a specific role in mind.