RSA Spark Review panels

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The RSA Spark team of reviewers has been curated to include an impressive range of expertise across the RSA Fellowship and beyond.

Our reviewers range from brief partners and enterprise founders to individuals with valuable lived experience, subject matter experts, and research and design practitioners. 

For each brief, the reviewers created a longlist of up to 20 of the most exciting ideas against the RSA Spark submission criteria. They also nominated entries for the RSA Spark Entrepreneurs Awards and the Anjool Malde Young Innovator Prize. After that, it was over to our excellent brief partners and the RSA Spark Entrepreneur Guides to carefully review the submissions and finalise the shortlist of up to 10 ideas per brief, which would then go through to the RSA Spark Showcase.

Thank you to all our reviewers for the time and expertise they dedicated to RSA Spark students.

Brief one: Urban Cool

How might we support citizens and organisations in creating cooler, greener, and fairer cities that bring joy and health to everyone?

Meet the Urban Cool reviewers

Meet the Urban Cool partner panel

RMIT University and Hammersmith & Fulham Council collaborated to create Urban Cool.

RMIT operates globally across Australia, Europe, and Vietnam and is known for its strong connections with cities and industries. At its innovation hub in Barcelona, RMIT researchers, in collaboration with governments, industries, and communities, develop solutions that improve urban resilience and address urban climate challenges.

In 2019, Hammersmith & Fulham Council declared a climate and ecological emergency. They set an ambitious target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in their London borough by 2030.

Their panel will include:

• Laurene Vaughan – Professor of Design, RMIT, Australia
• Wendy Steele – Professor in Sustainability and Critical Urban Governance, RMIT, Australia
• Wesley Harcourt – Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology, Hammersmith & Fulham Council

Brief two: Railway 200 & Beyond

How might we take inspiration from 200 years of railway success while innovating for an even brighter future?

Meet the Railway 200 & Beyond reviewers

Meet the Railway 200 & Beyond partner panel

Network Rail created Railway 200 & Beyond in partnership. Network Rail is responsible for managing and maintaining Britain’s railway infrastructure. Their role encompasses over 20,000 miles of track plus 30,000 bridges, tunnels, stations, and signalling systems. Network Rail plays a crucial part in driving economic growth, supporting communities, and shaping the future of transportation in the United Kingdom.

Their panel will include:

• Anthony Dewar –  Professional Head of Buildings and Architecture, Network Rail
• Frank Anatole – Principal Architect, Network Rail

Brief three: Where People Meet

How might we reimagine and create community spaces of the future where people are connected, places are healthy, and everyone is leading a good life?

Meet the Where People Meet reviewers

Meet the Where People Meet partner panel

The RSA created Where People Meet in partnership with the Rayne Trust. The Rayne Trust prioritises activities that promote positive social change, understanding and integration in the UK and abroad. Their wider Where People Meet programme rests on the belief that everyone, wherever they are born or live, has the right to a good life. Overall, this is a long-term approach based on collective investment of resources and, as a result, aims to improve the prospects of communities, particularly those facing the most severe challenges.

Their panel will include:

• Crispin Truman – Director, Rayne Trust
• Hon. Robert Rayne – Chair, Rayne Trust
• Wendy Hart – Co-Founder and Co-Director, Nudge Community Builders
• Summer Simpson – Research and Engagement Manager, New Local and Co-Author of the ‘Where People Meet’ report

Brief four: Creative Communities

How might we make creative education and careers accessible to everyone, everywhere?

Meet the Creative Communities reviewers

Meet the Creative Communities partner panel

The RSA created Creative Communities in partnership with the Marketing Trust. The Trust promotes education, training and research into the art and science of marketing and provides grants to individuals and organisations for projects that advance those skills.

Their panel will include:

• Nigel Coates – Associate Professor and Director of the Business Clinic, Northumbria University and Chair of Trustees, Marketing Trust
• Tom Mason – Senior Partner, Corporate and Marketing Advisors, Beele Partnership and Trustee at Marketing Trust
• Amy Smith – Global Director of Recruitment and Outreach, British visual effects and computer animation studio, Framestore

More information about RSA Spark

RSA Spark

RSA Spark inspires real-world experiences for learners and entrepreneurs to create, connect, grow and make a difference.

RSA Spark Digital Showcase 2024/25

The RSA Spark submissions demonstrate the potential of design to solve complex challenges, explore new possibilities, and unlock innovative ways to meet the needs of people, place, and planet.