Lauren Andres is Pro-Vice-Provost for Inequalities at UCL Grand Challenges. She is also Professor of Planning and Urban Transformations at The Bartlett School of Planning, UCL, where she serves as Director of Research. An interdisciplinary urban scholar, Lauren explores how cities adapt and transform in times of crisis, from pandemics to emerging technologies. Her work focuses on resilience, sustainability and social justice, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of vulnerable groups, including children and young people. Her recent research spans pandemic recovery, future crisis preparedness, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in urban governance, with projects across the UK, China, and globally.

Victoria Austin is Pro-Vice-Provost for Inequalities at UCL Grand Challenges. She is also Associate Professor of Social Justice and Innovation at UCL Engineering and co-founder of the Global Disability Innovation Hub, a global organisation working across 40+ countries to drive disability innovation for a fairer world. She now serves as Strategic Director, having stepped down as founding CEO in 2024. Victoria’s research sits at the intersection of disability justice, technology and urban development, with a strong focus on participatory, real-world solutions. She teaches on UCL East’s Innovation for a Fairer World and co-leads a Master’s on global disability and technology.