We are delighted to announce the formal launch of the Trinity Policy Forum last week, with two events reflecting our ethos of open, accessible policy dialogue in a trusting environment. Over 30 Trinity students from a range of academic disciplines attended the events, which were both oversubscribed.
Fireside chat with Hermione Gough
On Monday, 17 November 2025, we hosted our inaugural Fireside Chat with senior UK civil servant Hermione Gough, currently Director for EU at the Cabinet Office, in conversation with Catherine Barnard FBA (currently Professor of European Union and Employment Law at the University of Cambridge). We were joined by a group of students from a range of different disciplines for an insightful but informal discussion.
Hermione joined the civil service in the late 1990s, starting at HM Treasury and later taking on roles across Whitehall, including work on education policy and counter-radicalisation. She has held major overseas posts too, serving as Minister Counsellor at the British Embassy in Paris and later leading UK-EU work at the UK Mission to the EU.
Dinner and conversation with Sir Malcolm Jack and Dr. Julian Huppert
A few days later, on Friday, 21 November 2025, we hosted our first Policy Forum Dinner & Conversation joined by Sir Malcolm Jack (Clerk of the House of Commons 2006-11) and Dr Julian Huppert (MP for Cambridge 2010-15), for dinner and conversation on topics including the future of the UK’s constitution and democracy, working in the House of Commons, and the role of Parliament in policymaking.
Sir Malcolm spent over forty years in the service of the House of Commons, advising Speakers, overseeing parliamentary procedure, and guiding the passage of legislation during periods of significant political change. Julian entered Parliament after a career in academia, bringing his background in science and civil liberties to national politics as an MP in the coalition government before later returning to Cambridge as an academic and policy expert.
About the Trinity Policy Forum
The Trinity Policy Forum is a student-led initiative at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, bringing together students, academics, and experienced policymakers for open and expert-led discussions on the pressing domestic and global issues of our time. Guided by the principle of honest and good-faith dialogue and the Chatham House rule, the forum aims to bridge the gap between academic study and the practical world of policymaking. The Policy Forum was inspired by the success of the first Trinity Policy Programme in 2025.
Get involved
The Trinity Policy Forum is currently building out a programme of events for Lent Term 2026, including panel discussions, fireside chats, lectures, and dinners. Be the first to hear about our events by joining our mailing list.
Organisations, other societies, and prospective guests can get in touch using our contact form or by emailing secretary@trinitypolicy.org.
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