Meet the Minds

Tom Graham is a senior leader at Make A Difference (MAD), one of the UK’s leading charities dedicated to empowering care-experienced young people to reach their full potential. With a strong background in education, youth development, and social impact, Tom has been instrumental in expanding MAD’s reach and strengthening its mission to create long-term, sustainable change in the lives of young people.

At Make A Difference, Tom works closely with schools, local authorities, and corporate partners to build programmes that support care-experienced students in overcoming barriers to education and employment. His work focuses on improving academic outcomes, increasing access to opportunities, and ensuring that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have the confidence, skills, and networks needed to succeed.

Tom is a passionate advocate for social mobility and educational equity. He regularly speaks at conferences and events about leadership, inclusion, and the importance of community collaboration in addressing systemic inequality. His practical experience working directly with schools and young people gives him a grounded, solutions-focused perspective on the global challenge of educational disparity.

At the Global Issues Conference, Tom brings valuable insight into how local action, strategic partnerships, and youth empowerment can drive meaningful global change.

Frida Thorsteinsdottir is a young climate and sustainability advocate currently based in Luxembourg. She brings a strong background in environmental science, youth engagement, and global policy dialogue to her work, having developed a passion for climate action through both academic study and community leadership.

Frida recently graduated from the International School of Luxembourg (Class of 2024), where she began shaping her commitment to environmental issues through research, activism and leadership in sustainability initiatives. Her award-winning research on sea trout migration earned her national recognition and helped propel her into international climate advocacy.

She has served as a Climate Youth Delegate for Luxembourg, representing her country at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, where she engaged with policymakers and youth leaders on ambitious climate action and education.

In addition to her climate advocacy, Frida contributes to youth leadership through roles like Board Member for the Student Association for Sustainability at the University of Luxembourg, helping to promote student-driven sustainability projects and cross-campus environmental initiatives. 

Frida’s work highlights the role of youth perspectives in shaping sustainable policy and community action, making her a powerful voice for both local and global climate issues at this year’s conference.