Networking for off-cycle in sales and trading with managing director LDN

Hi everybody, i am new to wallstreetoasis so if i make a mistake then i'm sorry but hopefully nice to meet u all! (sorry for any bad english also because i'm not native)

I applied to an off-cycle in sales and trading for a bulge bracket (graduated in may 2023) and i got invited to a networking event with the sales and trading team in the bank later this month. 

The person who invited me and wanted me to come is a Managing Director who is in charge of the desk. She came to my university last year for a talk and I emailed her about the event and she said I should come and meet her (and she said she would arrange a one-to-one meeting at the event). 

I have not told her yet that I am in the off-cycle recruitment but I do not know how to tell her (or if i should tell her) that I am in this application process. I applied two months ago but I haven't heard anything since the application from the recruiters. 

I thought that I can network with her and see if she can speed up the process but I do not know if this is the right process. I know that she wanted me to come and work for her desk but last year I had a very bad personal tragedy so I didn't apply because I was very mentally broken.

I was thinking that she could encourage the recruiter to give me an interview in-person but I don't know if this is possible, so I don't want to ask her for something that she cannot do.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you, 

hk2002lan