In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Bright Building, Manchester Science Park
Manchester M15 6GZ
Manchester, Manchester, M15 6GZ
United Kingdom

Alan Watkins

Alan is recognised as an international expert on leadership and human performance. He has a broad mix of commercial, academic, scientific and technological abilities. Over the past 20 years he has been a coach to many of Europe’s top business leaders and worked with the GB Olympic squad, coaches and athletes prior to London 2012 and Rio 2016. Alan was originally trained as a medical doctor at Imperial College in London and worked for 11 years in the UK’s National Health Service, largely in cardiorespiratory medicine as well as working for a year as a physician in Australia and a year in academic medical research in the USA. He ended up in Neuroscience research before leaving medicine to work predominantly with global business leaders 18 years ago.

Alastair Peterson

Alastair is a cyber security entrepreneur. He co-founded cyber security innovator Digital Shadows in early 2011. Digital Shadows monitors the Internet to identify digital risks to organizations, including cyber threats, data leakage and reputational risks.

Amy Steel

Amy Steel is the Associate Director for Manchester based business Amoria Bond. After completing her degree at the University of Nottingham, Amy began her career as trainee at Amoria Bond 6 years ago. Amy has contributed towards the business developing from a local recruitment firm into a multi award winning international consultancy and has achieved 7 promotions and 6 company awards during her career. She now manages an ever growing team of 14 people, which is one of the top performing teams within the global business and is passionate about using her career to inspire others both inside and outside Amoria Bond. Amy has delivered career talks for Manchester University Men’s Hockey club and also previously attended graduate fairs to promote positive career choices for people who want to progress and achieve their goals too. Her rapid accession to Associate Director has been driven by her hard work, intelligence and drive to deliver great recruitment solutions for candidates and clients alike.

Asad Khan

After graduating from UCL with a BSc in Economics. Asad spent a year working in the UCL Union as a sabbatical officer and upon completion he launched his personal development career. He conducts seminars and one-to-one sessions helping people to make better use of their abilities, overcome limitations and live a more productive life. His seminars are focused on goal setting, increasing confidence and tackling mental health challenges. Asad has spoken at various universities as well as public and private sector institutions including Deloitte and Network Rail. He will be talking about disadvantaged youth and exploring why we rarely see poor kids become leaders.

Bruna Palo

Bruna De Palo is a Life & Career Coach in London. As a successful career shifter, she knows how it feels being trapped in a “golden cage”, and how to disrupt that dynamic. By sharing her knowledge on the CharityJob YouTube channel, she gives advice to those who would like to do more, give more and get more from their career. Known for her combination of creativity, energy and passion, she brings on stage her full “Italianness”, a mixture of fun and drama. She’s passionate about researching Contemporary History, and whilst now you can spot her hidden in some archive, before she could be seen on her motorcycle flying around the hills of Rome.

Bruna De Palo

Bruna De Palo is a Life & Career Coach in London. As a successful career shifter, she knows how it feels being trapped in a “golden cage”, and how to disrupt that dynamic. By sharing her knowledge on the CharityJob YouTube channel, she gives advice to those who would like to do more, give more and get more from their career. Known for her combination of creativity, energy and passion, she brings on stage her full “Italianness”, a mixture of fun and drama. She’s passionate about researching Contemporary History, and whilst now you can spot her hidden in some archive, before she could be seen on her motorcycle flying around the hills of Rome.

Camillo Cosentino

Camillo Cosentino is an aspiring entrepreneur from Italy, currently studying Information Technology Management at the University of Manchester. Currently in his 3rd year, he has been working for the Clinical Commissioning Group in Salford as part of his degree. Camillo has competed in various start-up competitions and was selected by Ernst & Young for ‘Founders 30’ and listed among the top 30 UK student innovators. UseBy, his venture, is trying to tackle the £17 billion food waste problem.

Marc Fineman

Marc Fineman is a music manager, businessman and entrepreneur whose clients’ work has spanned the globe. Beginning his career in 2013, Fineman’s clients have racked up over 10 billion streams, been nominated for Brit Awards and Grammy Awards and have performed on major stages across the world, from Jimmy Fallon to the MTV Awards. He has helped Digital Farm Animals become a fully-fledged recording artists as well as a major writing and production force, penning number one songs for artists such as Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, Alan Walker and Louis Tomlinson.

Mark Batey

Leadership, Creativity and Innovation Specialist at Alliance Manchester Business School. Dr Mark Batey is a highly published researcher in creativity, but with executive education and consulting experience across industries and geography. Mark is the Academic Lead for the Manchester Leadership Programme, the University of Manchester’s premier leadership training programme and Academic Director of the Manchester Leadership Development Programme, Leadership Essentials Programme and Creativity & Innovation Essential Programme. Mark is widely published on the subject of creativity and is the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Creativity and Problem Solving and an editorial board member for the APA Journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts. He is one of the most published researchers in creativity of recent years. His latest study, the #Creativity & Innovation in the GCC Research Programme (http://www.mbs-worldwide.ae/research/) seeks to understand the drivers and barriers to creativity and innovation in the unique context of the Gulf.

Nicholas Gale

Nicholas Gale, under the stage name of Digital Farm Animals, is a multi-platinum artist, producer and songwriter behind smash records with Dua Lipa, Cheat Codes, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha and more. Digital Farm Animals exploded onto the scene with records featuring R. Kelly, Nelly and Hailee Steinfeld. Playing stages from Tomorrowland to V Festival and touring with The Chainsmokers, Marshmello and Chase & Status, Digital Farm Animals continues to take his high-octane live set worldwide. With several multi-platinum selling songs under his belt, he is showing no signs of stopping.

Oobah Butler

Oobah Butler is a freelance writer who contributes articles and conceptualises and hosts films for the likes of VICE, Noisey, The Guardian, ShortList Magazine. He's a place called Feckenham in the West Midlands, but lives in a shed in South London. Over the past two years, his work has gone from quietly admired to globally hailed, namely being endorsed by individuals such as Grayson Perry, former New Yorker Editor Nicholas Thompson, Guardian writers Marina Hyde and Grace Dent, and the handful of people who didn't talk to him at school but have sent him Facebook friend requests. Oobah’s work tends to use absurdity to poke fun at the modern era. For example, after releasing his piece about his six month journey making the shed he lives in TripAdvisor's top-rated restaurant in London, The Washington Post referenced him as “the Donald Trump of TripAdvisor”; or ITV's Susanna Reid, confused, dismissed him as a "naughty boy" live on Good Morning Britain. Yet whether it's bullshitting his way as a fake designer to the top of Paris Fashion Week, covertly going on BBC2 show Eggheads just to fuck with them or letting his Instagram followers vote on every decision he makes for a day and ending up 250 miles from home, Oobah's ambition is to have commitment and humour at the heart of all of his work. Immersing himself and exploring things in an unorthodox way.

Yasmin Evans

Presenter of BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Weekdays 1-4pm show, Stockport born Yasmin Evans began her radio career at the age of just 15 presenting on one of Manchester’s most prominent community radio stations. It was then that she began collecting vinyls and originals, developing a taste for eclectic urban music influenced by old school RNB, Hip Hop, House and Reggae. Inspired by her Grandmothers open kitchen policy, when she is not busy working Yasmin can be found in the kitchen experimenting, researching and documenting new recipes and ingredients. Yasmin studied Radio BA (Hons) at the University of Salford where she was approached by the BBC to take part in their piloting scheme, which led her to be offered the 1XTRA Weekend Breakfast show in September 2012. After being on air for just 9 months, she was offered the 1Xtra Weekday Breakfast Show which she co-hosted with Twin B from July 2013 for three years. In July 2016, Yasmin was given her own 1-4pm solo show on 1Xtra weekdays. In 2016 Yasmin was nominated for Radio Personality at the Glamour Woman Of The Year Awards amongst other credible female radio broadcasters. During her time at the BBC Yasmin has hosted a range of BBC events including 1Xtra’s Live’s coverage on the BBC Red Button and online content as well as presenting Radio 1’s Big Weekend Backstage. In 2016 Yasmin co – hosted the Rated Awards for GRM Daily which was streamed live on YouTube’s official page. She is the voice of CBBC’s ‘Ice Stars’ a documentary series currently on it’s third run. She also hosts VEVO UK online programming and is the face of their Music Videos In Real Life, VVV & Ones To Watch. In Summer 2017, it was announced that Yasmin will be co-hosting ‘Saturday Mash Up’, CBBC’s new Saturday morning format. In 2015, Yasmin teamed up with Comic Relief travelling to Uganda with Operation Health to bring aid and awareness by building a Health Center alongside Greg James and Lenny Henry and raising 1 Million for Comic Relief. As an advocate in improving the lives and education of young people, Yasmin has played an influential role in the BBC’s Apprenticeship scheme & The BBC Outreach team since 2012; talking nationwide to young individuals about her career journey. She also hosted WE DAY UK at Wembley Arena since 2015, a live event showcasing the importance of young individuals around the World sponsored by Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic. Yasmin supports a number of other charities including The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Samaritans, NSPCC and Sports Relief. Yasmin has worked alongside a number of major brands including Redbull, BAFTA, ASOS.com, Zeo, Cancer Research UK, Boohoo.com, Grabble, FSTVL and Evian.