"It is amazing what the students have accomplished to bring about this event, despite the challenges of lockdown,"
Ashleigh King
TEDxNewcastleUniversity is hosting its annual conference on Sunday 11th April at 9 am. With the theme ‘Imagine a World’ it will focus on making the planet a better place. The programme includes international speakers, panel discussions and creative workshops. Tickets are available to the public who can attend via the virtual event platform, Hopin.
TEDxNewcastleUniversity is an independently organised event hosted by Ashleigh King and Gabriele Liaugodaite who received the TEDx License for the city after attending a TEDWomen event in California in 2019. Unfortunately, the pandemic has delayed
the TEDxNewcastleUniversity Imagine a World conference and it has had to become a virtual event.
“It is amazing what the students have accomplished to bring about this event, despite the challenges of lockdown,” said Ashleigh King. “Each year the conference sells out, however this year, we are able to extend it further, and welcome conference delegates from all over the world for the first time. Registrations have been received from diverse countries including China, the USA and Canada, Poland, Spain, Greece and Australia.”
Guest speakers include Professor Richard Clay who heads the Digital Humanities Department at Newcastle University and Reverend Professor Keith Magee who is a public intellectual, theologian, and social justice scholar. Keith is also a visiting Professor of Social Justice at Newcastle University.
They will both speak on ‘Finding Common Ground’.
Other speakers include:
● James Richardson – 'Reality v Belief'. James is a Law Student, studying at Newcastle University Law School. In 2019, he entered the TEDx Society at Newcastle University’s Student Speakers Competition and was voted by students to speak
on the TEDx stage.
● Simon Raybould – 'How to Hear Bad News'. Simon started his working life as a researcher at the UK's largest social science research unit, after finishing a PhD looking at possible environmental causes for childhood leukaemia. He now runs his own training company called Presentation Genius.
● Ann English – 'The Clarity Quest'. Ann is a Visual Communications expert and solution-focused business coach. As the founder of Create Intrigue and The Visual Marketing Academy, creator of the VisionMappingTM coaching technique, she is renowned for her VisualDoodleTM style and the invention of The Metrognomes.
● Rob Baker – 'Job Crafting - The Power of Personalising Our Work'. Rob is a Psychologist, HR Consultant and author.
● Lord Richard MacLeod – 'Can Your Exile Be Your Home?' Richard Fouad MacLeod is an Islamic artist from Lebanon who is now based in Newcastle.
He specialises in Arabic calligraphy.
● Matthew Walker – 'Imagine an Algal World'. Matthew is a Postgraduate Researcher at Newcastle University. He has dedicated his time and efforts into studying the world of Marine Biology.
● Clare Talbot-Jones –'Pursuing Fearlessness' Clare is an active community leader and passionate advocate for diversity and equality. She is a director at Talbot Jones Ltd and winner of the inaugural Insurance Business UK Rising Star award.
● Chris Williamson – 'Embracing Your Weirdness'. Chris is a Company Director, Podcaster at Modern Wisdom and a Newcastle University Alumni.
Workshops include:
● Dr Benjamin Bader – LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®
● Nicola Jayne Little – 'A World Where Not Fitting In Is Celebrated'
● Grant Murray and Karen Elliott – 'Money, Wellbeing & Mental Health'
● Polly Brennan – 'Pack Your Mental Fitness Kitbag'
● James Rutherford – ‘Play To Be A Better Entrepreneur’
● James Cummings and Ashleigh King – Imagination Studio
● Nathalie Paris – 'What Does A Picture Book Tell Us About Life and Diversity?'
● Rosa Stourac McCreery - 'Activating Your Clown Warrior Spirit'
Speaker Panels include a 'A World Without Borders' hosted by Fejiro Ovah
The conference will include a live performance from a Kenyan singer-songwriter, Rapasa, who moved to Newcastle on the eve of lockdown. He is now working with the Sage Gateshead to release original melodies inspired by traditional East African music. As
a multi-instrumentalist, his principal instrument is the Nyatiti, an eight-string lyre.Delegates can register at https://hopin.com/events/tedxnewcastleuniversity-imagine-a-world.
Tickets cost £25 to the general public and £20 for students and staff. Plus students can attend for £12 if they join the society.The first 500 attendees will receive a commemorative ‘X’ pin designed by Jakub Stadnik, Student Artist, and Corinne Lewis-Ward of Powder Butterfly.
For more information email Ashleigh or Gabriele at tedxcomms@ncl.ac.uk
