A graduate of Cambridge University, Susanna’s professional experience includes over 15 years in senior leadership roles in international B2B and learning businesses. Susanna began her career at the Institute for International Research (IIR) where she first worked with Lord Laidlaw, rising to Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). When IIR, which was the world’s largest organiser of commercial conferences, was acquired by Informa plc in 2005 Susanna was appointed CMO of the enlarged group and also led the public company’s investor relations programmes. She subsequently joined Emap Ltd as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer and CEO of Emap Networks, that group’s conferences business. Later she became CEO of the fashion industry forecaster WGSN and was latterly Group Content and Marketing Partner of the leading strategy consultancy Brunswick Group. A German-American raised and educated in the UK and a committed internationalist, Susanna has been involved in globally trading businesses throughout her career, directing activity in the Americas, across continental Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Susanna has been extensively involved with education and professional development over many years. She was Head of Group Training and led the commercial acquisition and integration of a portfolio of corporate training businesses whilst at IIR; and created learning academies at both Informa and Emap. She believes experiencing and appreciating different cultures promotes better global understanding, creativity and leadership. She is passionate about the power of education to transform lives; and believes that we need to develop a new generation of diverse leaders who are curious, bold and devoted to decency, truthfulness, and innovation. Susanna is committed to diversity not only as a societal imperative but as a critical component of commercial success. As an advisor to the trustees of the Foundation, Susanna first learnt about its purpose and programmes before becoming its Chief Executive responsible for the Laidlaw Schools Trust, the Laidlaw Scholars and its other education programmes. Susanna read English and Philosophy at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. She has five half blues in swimming and water polo; and played netball and rowed for Newnham.

Hi! I'm terrible at writing bios so if you have any suggestions or are interested in discussing your own research, I'd be delighted to chat.

Hi everyone! I’m a first-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in biomedical engineering, particularly at the intersection of sustainability and healthcare. I’m also passionate about environmental and energy-related challenges, and I’m eager to explore how engineering and innovation can contribute to more sustainable systems. I’m looking forward to connecting with fellow scholars through the Laidlaw Scholars Network, exchanging ideas, and learning from people with diverse backgrounds and ambitions. 😊

I'm a second year MEng Chemical Engineering student at Imperial College London. My Laidlaw project compares electrification and CCUS pathways for industrial decarbonisation, supervised by Dr. Bakkaloglu at Imperial. Last year I coordinated a project across four universities with Rolls-Royce SMR on integrating high temperature gas reactors with desalination and ammonia production.  Before Imperial I took a gap year and backpacked through 50+ countries solo, mostly on overland routes. That is where my emerging markets focus came from.

I am a Mathematics student at Durham University, and I am passionate about maths, music and the environment. My summer 1 research project was titled "Listening to mangroves: Using Autonomous Recording Units and Machine Learning tools to assess avian biodiversity in the mangroves of coastal Suriname", where I developed skills in Data Science, R (statistical programming language), and academic writing, and provided new information on the ecology of these critical ecosystems. I have graduated from the Arete fellowship in Effective Altruism, where I considered how my career can have the most positive impact on society (and concluded by using my maths skills in environmental research). Other current research interests include analysing the maths behind stochastic and serialist music, and ways to increase women's participation in maths higher education. I care strongly about equality and diversity, and am the first year representative on the EDI committee for maths at Durham. I am also a woodwind player (clarinet, saxophones, flute) and play music in a range of styles from orchestral to jazz to musical theatre. In my role as Treasurer of Durham Student Music, I support and advise the treasurers of our 40 groups, and facilitate collaborative projects and charity fundraising. I want to make sure that finances is never a barrier to participation in music, through central fundraising and running a series of grants for individuals and societies.

I am a History student at Durham University, in my second year of the Laidlaw programme. My first year project research explored citizenship education in relation to social cohesion, and sporting provision supporting refugee and asylum seeker integration. Following the publication of my research report, I am now a member of the Academic Advisory Group to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Political and Media Literacy. I also now work within UK refugee sports provision trying to drive positive change in the sector, through starting my own initiative in Durham, and spotlighting and networking with projects nationwide, through an article series I edit for ConnectSport. This summer, I will be doing my LiA in St Lucia, producing a coaching framework working with  United Through Sport, to improve their delivery of sports teaching to local children from underprivileged backgrounds. 

Hello! I am a 3rd year undergrad studying biological sciences at Durham University, England. I am interested in the applications of cell biology and genetics in conservation, with a particular focus on ornithology. Last summer I researched Little Tern conservation at three sites in England and Wales, focusing on the management techniques used and the relative breeding success of pairs at each site. This summer I am volunteering at a bird observatory in Sweden, assisting with the ringing of songbirds.

Hello! I am a second year Sociology BA student at Durham University in Northern England. Located in London, I am an aspiring sociological researcher, with particular focus on education and curriculum studies. Outside of the wonderful world of Laidlaw, I am a Comment Editor on our University newspaper, Palatinate, a Course Representative in the SU, and full-time hobby artist. 

Hi everyone! I run the CraftHER Leadership-in-action program by @Swara - Voice of Women. Here's our IG: www.instagram.com/craftherbyswara/ I’m Asha Scaria Vettoor, an entrepreneur and Laidlaw Scholar from the University of Oxford. I run Swara, a social enterprise based in India that creates income opportunities for women through ethical fashion and storytelling. We also host CraftHER, a 6-week Leadership-in-Action program that brings Laidlaw scholars from around the world to Kerala to learn from women-led enterprises, grassroots organisations, and artisan communities. I’m passionate about building bridges between global learners and local changemakers in my community and always up for a conversation on social entrepreneurship, ethical supply chains, or running programs in remote parts of India.

Hi! I'm Lexie, an undergraduate psychology student at Durham University. I'm an aspiring clinical psychologist, with a particular interest in eating disorders, body image, and neurodivergence.

Hello! I'm Imogen, a second-year Law LLB student at Durham University. My research for this summer centres around the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights. The project evaluates the Court's current approach to the balancing act required between the right to free and fair elections and the right to freedom of information, to discover if the Court's methodology is appropriate in the digital age.  Outside of Laidlaw, I am part of the Durham University Bar Society, and I am the Internal Competitions Officer for Durham Mooting Society. I am an aspiring Barrister with particular interests in EU law and domestic civil law. 

Hello! I'm Hannah, a second-year Geography student at Durham University. I am delighted to have been accepted on to the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme as part of the 2025 cohort. My research last summer focussed on weight discrimination and weight discrimination training among fitness professionals. The project evaluated the nature and extent of weight discrimination within the UK fitness industry, with a specific focus on fitness professionals' roles in perpetuating or challenging such biases. Through both playing and coaching sports in deprived inner-city areas, I have directly experienced the physical, mental and social benefits of sports and fitness on individuals and communities so am passionate about reducing the barriers that prevent individuals from engaging in fitness environments. Furthermore, I have witnessed the negative impact of weight discrimination on young athletes, which motivates my interest in potentially creating a successful weight discrimination training programme for fitness professionals. This summer I am really excited to go to Mexico City with Makesense for my Leadership in Action project.  Outside of Laidlaw, I am part of Durham University Hockey and Netball Clubs and Collingwood College Boat Club. I also love to play the Piano and Cello, as well as being involved in Durham University Concert Band on the Oboe. 

Hello! I'm Melissa (she/her), an incoming third-year undergraduate student at Durham University studying BSc Natural Sciences. I am passionate about multi-disciplinary learning, and my range of degree modules across the departments of Biology, Geography and Anthropology allow me to explore my interests across both the sciences and social sciences. I love all things human, and am especially interested in the fields of human biology, equitable healthcare, and public health.  Last summer, I thoroughly enjoyed commencing my journey as a Laidlaw Scholar with my research project focussing on the development of vision in human fetuses, including focussing on how maternal mental health impacts upon this. This summer, I am so excited to travel to Melbourne, Australia, to complete my LiA with the children's charity Big Group Hug! In my free time, I love to spend time with friends and family, bake, go for walks, and play with my cocker spaniel! I am also passionate about volunteering, various sports, reading, and music! Feel free to get in touch! 

Hello, my name is Erin and I am a third year Classics student at Durham University. I am thrilled to have been accepted onto the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme as part of the 2025 cohort. I have always been what I consider to be academically curious but what is more colloquially termed as nerdy - especially in regards to Classics (I just love learning new things!). I also have aspirations to undertake a career in humanitarian work, driven by my desire to fight for social justice and empower others to do so. In this way, the remit of the Leadership and Research programme, to cultivate leaders whose actions are both ethical and data-driven, appeared to me to be perfectly aligned with my own interests.  I have had previous experience in the various domains of the programme: in terms of leadership, I was Head Student at my Secondary School in my final year; I completed a 5000 word EPQ research paper two years ago; and I have had some volunteering experience at a local food-bank. However, I am both aware of and looking forward to the fact that this programme is going to really challenge me mentally, emotionally and physically when it comes to the research project, the Oxford Character Project and the LiA, respectively. I am hopeful that the programme will lead to lots of personal growth and assist, alongside my degree and other uni experiences, in equipping me with the tools I need to be the driving force behind the change I want to see in the world after graduation!

I am in the final year of a bachelor's degree in Physics & Chemistry at @Durham University, with interest in researching interdisciplinary solutions to anthropogenic climate change and pollution. In my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, I developed biosourced polymers for use in laundry detergents, producing a compound with promising performance compared to industry standards. This summer I am working with @Under the Wave Organisation to assist data monitoring at a sea cucumber farm to promote sustainable agriculture in Zanzibar.

Hi! I am an undergraduate Psychology student at Durham University and a 2025/26 Laidlaw scholar. So far in my journey, I have undertaken research into Formula 1 fan marketing and gendered motivation, which involved designing, carrying out, analysing, and presenting my research, including collecting data at the British Grand Prix and interviewing Ferrari personnel. I am currently in the final stages of the programme, working in Mexico City designing educational tools to teach children about consent. Follow along!

Hi! I'm Lizzie, a second-year Biological Sciences student at Durham University. Deeply passionate about advocating for and taking action to maintain environmental health and sustainability, I aim to contribute meaningfully to these efforts by expanding my understanding of such challenges and collaborating with like-minded individuals who share a dedication to environmental conservation.   I have a particular interest in conservation strategies that focus on umbrella species, such as the macaw, where protecting one species can generate wider ecological benefits for entire ecosystems. This interest has been deepened through my current summer placement with the Macaw Recovery Network in Costa Rica, where I am contributing to species recovery and environmental education. My work includes practical conservation tasks at the breeding centre and reserve, supporting welfare and maintenance, developing resources for volunteers, and collaborating with staff and community members to strengthen outreach programs. Alongside this, I am documenting activities and recommendations to create a volunteer guide, ensuring future interns and volunteers can contribute effectively. These experiences are helping me explore how conservation initiatives can balance ecological impact with community engagement, while also testing and developing my leadership capacities and character. In my free time, I actively participate in environmental volunteer work and love to do anything creative, from painting to crocheting and reading. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly dog walking, and practising karate with my university club.

Hi there! I’m a 1st year, soon-to-be 2nd year BSc Psychology student at Durham University. “Why does sad music make us feel better sometimes?” pretty much sums up my interest in music and psychology. On a deeper level, I will investigate how international students interact with music to make themselves feel better in different contexts. It is important to investigate cross-culturally as our world becomes more globalised. Moreover, I believe music can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, as it seems to have such a profound effect on everyone, regardless of where they’re from. Not only may music connect us all, but it can also connect us with ourselves. The National Health Service in the United Kingdom has been struggling with high demand for mental health services, thus resulting in long waiting lists and inaccessible help when people need it most. I hope to advocate for music as a non-invasive, accessible, and sustainable facilitator of emotional regulation, thereby reducing the overwhelming need for pharmacological treatment. Outside the Laidlaw Programme, I’m also a part of a youth Advisory Group for the ORIGIN project, which involves developing online cultural and art mental health interventions for underrepresented young people experiencing depression and anxiety. Please feel free to drop me a message if you’d like to participate or know more. ORIGIN is always looking for interested people! Ultimately, my involvement in research builds onto my future career aspirations; I aim to be a Clinical Psychologist while encouraging the integration of arts and culture into mental health interventions. I’m deeply interested in the interdisciplinary nature of music and psychology; however, I’m also excited to hear how other academic disciplines may interact and merge. Likewise, I enjoy multiple hobbies like playing the piano and ukulele, singing, cooking, crocheting, and reading. I think being a nerd about your interests is really cool, so if you’re like-minded, I’d love to chat with you!