A method, apparatus, and program product for providing access control in a collaborative environment are provided. A pool of approvable candidates for use in building an access control list for a project team are provided by matching attributes for potential candidates with requirements for the project, with the pool being larger than a projected size for the project team. In response to a vacant role on the project team, an invitation to join the project team is sent to an approvable candidate in the pool. At least one of the access control list or the pool is modified based upon an action by the approvable candidate.