RSA Events

What if we designed systems not for top-down control – but for human connection? At RSA House, trust expert and artist Rachel Botsman explores how design thinking and visual storytelling can rethink leadership, power, and trust systems. We often learn something new from studying something old. Anchored in her 2025 London Design Biennale installation Roots of Trust, the conversation returns to a long-forgotten artefact: the world’s first organisational chart, drawn in 1855. From this intricate, organic diagram, we trace the enduring imprint of pyramid structures and hierarchy – and ask what new forms trust might take. Expect light and shadow. Beauty and utility. Roots and branches. For anyone curious about how we might design our way toward a more connected, trusted society, this is a conversation not to miss. SPEAKER: * Rachel Botsman, trust expert and artist CHAIR: * Abi Freeman, Organisational Psychologist and Co-Founder of Brink [https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hellobrink.co%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csofia.renzi%40rsa.org.uk%7Ceba2dfcb568841559e7108dda43d8e2b%7C28b2f588bfd04ebcb03ab85d3cfc3664%7C0%7C0%7C638847306564072104%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1Y0ONGA6nzQXRFkyPLp0ltHYZvGYrvsRlNPZRDfbTUk%3D&reserved=0] Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

Join the RSA, Insulate Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Institute London for a fireside chat with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, in conversation with journalist and author Gillian Tett. Their discussion will explore the cycle of impunity and harsh realities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including cultural erasure, child abduction, and the use of torture. Matviichuk will discuss her work on documenting atrocities and the pursuit of global justice. Opening remarks will be delivered by Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, Director of the Ukrainian Institute London, an independent charity championing Ukrainian culture and advocating for the urgency of global democratic security. Harry Blakiston Houston, founder of Insulate Ukraine, will deliver the closing remarks, and share additional insights on Ukraine and how their team’s award-winning emergency window is redefining humanitarian aid, with over 50,000 installed. SPEAKERS: * Oleksandra Matviichuk, human rights lawyer, head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Nobel Peace Prize recipient (2022) * Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, historian, writer, director at Ukrainian Institute London * Harry Blakiston Houston, inventor, founder of Insulate Ukraine CHAIR: * Gillian Tett, journalist and author Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

In a world on fire, where every system we rely on is buckling under the weight of its own contradictions, it’s time to admit that control is a dangerous illusion. But while politicians and corporations cling to algorithms for predictability, artists, writers, and musicians have always known the truth: chaos isn’t a threat – it’s a gift. At this RSA event, Margaret Heffernan explores how our obsession with stability and ‘solutions’ – now amplified by artificial intelligence – is not only futile but potentially destructive. She invites us to rethink the role of AI in creativity, questioning whether art and innovation can survive when algorithms are programmed to reduce risk and spontaneity. In conversation with prominent figures in arts and culture, Margaret will challenge deeply ingrained beliefs about how we live, work, and create in a world increasingly shaped by AI. Through the lens of those who thrive in uncertainty, she will explore whether creativity can coexist with systems designed for control – and how we can harness both chaos and technology to provoke meaningful action in turbulent times.   Speakers: * Margaret Heffernan, author, broadcaster, speaker * Josette Bushell-Mingo OBE, Principal, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama * Andrew Grant, RDI, landscape architect Chair: * Andy Haldane, RSA Chief Executive Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

Join us to celebrate the opening of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai and discover the most exciting ideas and innovations shaping our future. At a time when the world risks becoming fragmented and divided, the World Expo represents a unique opportunity to show what humanity can achieve when we come together. The UK Pavilion at Expo 2025 will act as a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation, showcasing our nation’s unique energy, heritage, and make-up. A place where fresh ideas and diverse perspectives are welcomed. A place where exploration and curiosity pave the way for progress. A great place to connect, collaborate, and build the future. At the RSA, the birthplace of the very first World Expo – the Great Exhibition of 1851 – we will gather innovators developing new creative projects and partnerships in both the UK and Japan to inspire us with pathways to a brighter future for people, places, and the planet we all share. Speakers: Sir Peter Bazalgette – Co-chair, Creative Industries Council YolanDa Brown OBE DL – Chair, BPI Sir Loyd Grossman – Chair, the RSA Indy Johar – Architect and Co-founder, 00 and Dark Matter Labs Liana O’Cleirigh, designer, Bentley Systems Dai Fujikura, composer Kyoichiro Kawakami, Minister (Economic), Embassy of Japan Chair: Nina Nannar, journalist and arts editor for ITV News   Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3ZyPOEa Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Like RSA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join

Tony Juniper and Mya-Rose Craig bring together two powerful perspectives on the interconnectedness of equity and the environment. Tony, an esteemed environmentalist and author, draws on decades of experience advocating for a balance between human needs and ecological preservation. His work demonstrates how fairness – whether in resource distribution, climate justice, or community empowerment – is essential for achieving lasting ecological progress. Mya-Rose Craig, also known as ‘Birdgirl’, amplifies the voices of young people and underrepresented communities in the fight against environmental degradation. As a prominent advocate for diversity in nature conservation, she underscores the necessity of inclusive action – ensuring that all communities, especially those most impacted by environmental challenges, are part of the solution. Together, Tony and Mya-Rose offer a compelling vision for how equity can drive environmental change, providing both practical insights and inspirational calls to action for a fairer, greener planet. Let’s reimagine a future where fairness drives global sustainability. SPEAKERS: * Tony Juniper, Environmentalist, author * Mya-Rose Craig, Environmental activist, speaker (RSA Fellow) Become an RSA Events sponsor: https://utm.guru/ueemb Follow RSA Events on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thersaorg/ Follow the RSA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theRSAorg Donate to the RSA: https://thersa.co/3XPiI1k Like RSA Events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theRSAorg/ Listen to RSA Events podcasts: https://bit.ly/35EyQYU Join our Fellowship: https://www.thersa.org/fellowship/join