The conference “Breaking the Cycle: Rethinking Poverty in the Developed World” was a response to the problems faced by the most vulnerable in society. The austerity measures, adopted in the wake of the financial crisis, continue to push an ever-greater number into poverty whilst worsening the predicament of those already in need. Organized entirely by students of public policy, the conference aimed to address this pressing challenge that we continue to face in the 21st century.