Launch day: London
Date: Tuesday 21 October 2025 | Time: 18:00 - 21:00 (BST)
Location: Lloyds Banking Group, 33 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HZ | Get directions
- Guest speakers
18:30 - 18:45: Welcome and introduction to the NCL in Action 2025/26 programme
A round up of what to expect throughout the year, including:
- A series of thought-provoking lectures on the rise of misinformation in the media, the climate emergency and the role education plays in shaping our future
- An alumni mentoring programme to help you navigate an ever-changing work landscape
- CPD courses to help you lead confidently
18:50 - 19:50: Panel discussion
'Global Uncertainty: Catalyst for Innovation or Barrier to Progress?'
Economic disparity, big tech dominance, and a faltering climate agenda are driving global rifts and shifts.
The time to act is now. Join our panel as they tackle the most pressing challenges of our era - and the bold solutions we need.
Martin Farr - Senior Lecturer in Contemporary British History, Newcastle University (Host)
With degrees in politics and history, Martin Farr teaches and researches contemporary history: the history of the present. He's broadcast and published widely, including books and articles on the First and Second world wars; British politics, parties, and elections; the media, US-UK relations, foreign and defence policy, popular culture, Margaret Thatcher, and tourism.
Benjamin Saoul OBE - Minister-Counsellor National Security and Foreign Policy, British Embassy (Paris)
Ben Saoul is a senior British diplomat. He recently completed a posting as Minister-Counsellor for National Security and Foreign Policy at the British Embassy in Paris, managing the relationship with France on issues from small boats to the war in Ukraine.
Prior to this he served in frontline foreign policy roles in London and overseas, including as Head of the FCDO’s Crisis Management Department; leading UK preparations for triggering Article 50 during the process of leaving the EU; as Deputy Consul General in Jerusalem; and Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Defence to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street.
He was awarded an OBE in 2025 for services to British foreign policy. He is a Policy Fellow at the University of Cambridge and Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po Paris.
Dr Angus Armstrong - Chief Economic Adviser, Lloyds
Dr Angus Armstrong is Chief Economic Adviser at Lloyds Bank Group. Angus and his team are responsible for economic modelling, forecasting and formulating risk scenarios for the Group as well as providing economic and strategic advice to the Board. He has worked in the private and public sectors and academia and is particularly interested in uncertainty and financial stability issues.
Angus is a Professor of Research at the Institute for Global Prosperity (IGP) at University College London and Director of ‘Rebuilding Macroeconomics’, an inter-disciplinary research network hosted at IGP.
Prior to joining Lloyds, Angus was Director of Macroeconomics at NIESR and Head of Macroeconomic Analysis at HM Treasury. He was closely involved in formulating the Government’s response to the financial crisis. Angus has served as Special Adviser to various Parliamentary Committees. He has a PhD in economics from Imperial College London and is an Honorary Professor at Stirling University.