Theme: Diversity += Prosperity

The theme of the evening was Prosperity through diversity, and over the course of the evening we heard from five speakers who, through their talks, conveyed their story that sought to enlighten and challenge our understanding and perception of what it can mean to prosper from diversity. We also heard performances from two musicians.

First session

Sarah Hoss - How to move beyond the suggestion box and get things done
Former BBC producer and once Wales' only female newspaper editor, Sarah Hoss shared a story of how a digital utility has revolutionized the process of decision-making that lets all of us participate in changing things for the better.

Julian John - Break the bubble
Julian is a an award winning social entrepreneur. In 2005, Julian experienced a life changing event when diagnosed with the onset of a chronic neurological condition. It is his subsequent journey as a result of this experience that led him to become a social entrepreneur, and a champion of opportunities for disabled people into sustainable employment.

TED Archive Talk
Navi Radjou - Creative problem-solving in the face of extreme limits.

Tom Martin
Wordsmith, melody man and a part-time Welshman. A student at Swansea University, Tom is studying for a degree in Ancient History whilst also playing his way around the UK. It is his quickwitted lyrics combined with soothing sounds that will draw you in and there are plenty of stories behind his songs that are well worth the tale.

Second Session

Dr Catriona Ryan - Unlocking creative thinking
Catriona is a poet, theorist and academic author, at the University of Wales Trinity St David. The creator of a new critical theory, paleo-postmodernism, Catriona is now extending it to other research areas as an interdisciplinary tool for academics, artists and others to explore the multivalent potential of language as a base for creative thinking.

Dr Paul Hutchings - Developing the diversity habit
Dr. Paul B. Hutchings is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Paul is currently Director of Studies for Psychology at UWTSD, where his research focuses upon how attitudes towards race, immigration, and associated values influence our implicit and explicit prejudices.

TED Archive Talk
Steven Johnson - Where good ideas come from

Tom Cheesman - Translations and visualisations
Tom is a Reader in German and Co-Director of the Centre on Digital Arts and Humanities at Swansea University. He has been working with software developers on new digital techniques to help understand how translations vary, and why.

DnA Folk
DnA Folk are no strangers to TEDx, having previously performed at TEDxCardiff in 2012.

Delyth and Angharad started performing together in 2007 when the organiser of the Gower Folk Festival offered them their first gig as a duo. Despite having independent music careers, it hadn’t occurred to them that this mother and daughter combination could indeed be a very special collaboration.

Their live performances, which have been described as “visceral and intense” and demonstrates the connection between these two musicians. Music is truly in their DNA.

Arts Wing, Swansea Grand Theatre
Singleton Street
Swansea, Swansea, SA1 3QJ
United Kingdom

DnA Folk

DnA Folk are no strangers to TEDx, having previously performed at TEDxCardiff in 2012. Delyth and Angharad Jenkins started performing together in 2007 when the organiser of the Gower Folk Festival offered them their first gig as a duo. Despite having independent music careers, it hadn’t occurred to them that this mother and daughter combination could indeed be a very special collaboration. Their live performances, which have been described as “visceral and intense”, demonstrates the connection between these two musicians. Music is truly in their DNA.

Catriona Ryan

Catriona is a poet, theorist and academic author, at the University of Wales Trinity St David. The creator of a new critical theory, paleo-postmodernism, Catriona is now extending it to other research areas as an interdisciplinary tool for academics, artists and others to explore the multivalent potential of language as a base for creative thinking.

Julian John

Julian is a an award winning social entrepreneur. In 2005, Julian experienced a life changing event when diagnosed with the onset of a chronic neurological condition. It is his subsequent journey as a result of this experience that led him to become a social entrepreneur, and a champion of opportunities for disabled people into sustainable employment.

Paul Hutchings

Dr. Paul B. Hutchings is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Paul is currently Director of Studies for Psychology at UWTSD, where his research focuses upon how attitudes towards race, immigration, and associated values influence our implicit and explicit prejudices.

Sarah Hoss

Sarah is a former BBC producer and once Wales' only female newspaper editor. Sarah now works for Pembrokeshire College and is a champion of the VocalEyes platform, that strives to empower constituents to make effective decisions in their communities.

Tom Cheesman

Tom is a Reader in German and Co-Director of the Centre on Digital Arts and Humanities at Swansea University. He has been working with software developers on new digital techniques to help understand how translations vary, and why.

Tom Martin

Tom Martin. Word-smith, melody man and a part-time Welshman. A student at Swansea University, Tom is studying for a degree in Ancient History whilst also playing his way around the UK. It is his quick witted lyrics combined with soothing sounds that will draw you in and there are plenty of stories behind his songs that are well worth the tale.