Theme: Rhythm

Rhythm is essential to life and that’s what makes this theme so diverse; from the beat of our hearts, to the beat of our daily commute. Consider the algorithms of our online data or even the pace of your work day, right through to your favourite songs – it’s everywhere.

The Assembly Rooms
Spencer Street
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 3NF
United Kingdom

Ayla Annac

Pharmaceutical Research and Co-founder of InvivoSciences, Inc.

Ayla is a co-founder of InvivoSciences, Inc., which has pioneered the development of ‘human micro hearts for discovery’. Its patented 3D human cell culture and automation technologies allow pharmaceutical developers to predict individual patient response to a specific treatment accurately and to develop the cardio-safe and effective treatments. InvivoSciences groundbreaking approach enables developers to conduct smaller sized, patient-focused clinical trials. These help to develop cardiovascular drugs more rapidly and cost-effectively, and their micro rare-disease heart model will have a significant impact on discovering the disease mechanism as well as finding a cardio-safe treatment for the life-threatening illnesses including heart failure, cancer and rare heart diseases.

Keeley Olivia

Sexuality and Relationship Expert

Keeley is a Sexuality and Relationship Expert trained at The Tantric Institute of Integrated Sexuality in Los Angeles. Her speciality is in supporting couples and individuals to discover their wild primal sexual self and have a deeper, more authentic experience of life. She combines her world-class training in sexuality with a decade worth of experience as a Professional Scientist and Research Academic. She holds a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, two Masters Degrees (in Regenerative Medicine and Medical Statistics) and published several research papers in the fields of social, medical and public health. Keeley believes that sexual ‘aliveness’ and radiance is the natural state of the human body and is on a mission to bring this truth into as many lives as possible. Her unique perspective and piercing insight is shaking up ordinary thought on human sexuality.

Keith Ayling

Singer-songwriter and performer

An award-winning singer-songwriter, performer and one of the most in-demand speakers on songwriting in the UK, Keith has been described as tenacious, eclectic and ‘something of a polymath’ (Fatea Magazine, 2015). Boasting a career in music that spans over three decades, he has also worked on projects in the arts, music education and media and has released 14 albums and performed across Europe, India and Canada, as well as gaining a Masters Degree in songwriting.

Mary Franklin

Global Event Director for ReedPOP

After working as a professional cowhand, commercial fishing boat deckhand, bartender, weight training instructor and penguin wrangler, Mary spent 14 years at Lucasfilm, where she was Head of Events and Fan Relations. She is now the Global Event Director at ReedPOP, leading Comic Con teams across the world, and continues to head up Star Wars Celebration which she refers to as Lucasfilm’s 'Love Letter to Star Wars fans’.

Mel Wells

A Certified Health Coach, Eating Psychology Coach, International Speaker and the bestselling author

A Certified Health Coach, Eating Psychology Coach, International Speaker and the bestselling author of the widely acclaimed book ‘The Goddess Revolution’. She is Hay House Publishing’s youngest author and has been featured in Forbes Under 30, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, BBC Radio 1 and more, as a leading women’s expert in her field. Mel coaches women via her famous online academy, and luxury Goddess Retreats all over the world. She empowers women to stop dieting for good and challenge their entire belief system around food and their bodies, by working on the relationship they have with themselves.

Modified Toy Orchestra

Band

The Modified Toy Orchestra has been at the forefront of a world wide underground movement called "Circuit Bending", their process involves rescuing children's electronic toys from car boot sales and converting them into new, strange and wonderfully sophisticated musical instruments. The Modified Toy Orchestra touch upon themes such as built in obsolescence, technological redundancy and the constant desire for the next new gadget. They explore the hidden potential and surplus value of redundant technology, and have performed internationally to critical acclaim including sold out shows at the Hong Kong civic hall.

Odd Studios

Inventors / Creativity

Nathan Webb and Pasquale Totaro met at the Royal College of Art. Whilst studying Design Products there, they both discovered a mutual interest in music and creating inspiring interactive objects that create a sense of wonder in the everyday. Pasquale is the Technical Product lead. Before attending the RCA Pasquale studied Mechanical Engineering at MIT. He has experience working with some of the most forward thinking companies including Apple. In parallel he has also worked as a sound designer and engineer. Nathan is the Brand Product lead. Prior to his time at the RCA Nathan was a multi award-winning Graphic designer, with ten years experience. During his time he has worked with some of the most disruptive companies on the market, including Uber, Apple, and the BBC.

Peet Denny

Computer Scientist

Founder of the Birmingham Artificial Intelligence Meetup – a vibrant community of over 400 researchers, data scientists, developers and students – Peet’s mission is to help people gain greater control of their money by using AI, algorithms and smart software engineering. He runs a team of data scientists and engineers at Leamington-based Wealth Wizards and has recently created an AI system which can learn how human advisers do what they do and replicate that at a fraction of the cost. Peet regularly speaks at conferences and appears in the press (FT Adviser, CNBC, The Telegraph, iNews, CityAM, Raconteur) talking about the role AI is playing in disrupting financial services.

Siddartha Khastgir

A Principal Engineer at The WMG, University of Warwick and the research lead for Verification & Validation of Driverless Cars

Siddartha is the Research Lead for Verification & Validation of Driverless Car technologies at WMG, University of Warwick, UK. He has been recognised both nationally and internationally for his applied research contributions, and was listed in the prestigious Forbes '30 Under 30' Europe 2018 list. He is part of an international team of experts creating international standards for safe introduction of driverless cars. Follow @siddkhastgir on social media or visit www.siddkhastgir.com for the latest on his driverless car research

Star From Ivy

Band

A band with a mission, Star From Ivy have released an album of open source songs titled Circularity. Beyond the album, Circularity is a growing movement where like-minded people discuss and work toward collective action. It’s a big concept, one which covers ideas around topics from mental health and mindfulness to grief and galaxies. Described as a ‘thematic and conceptual rock album project encompassing 21st century learning and humanitarian ideas’ each track on Circularity is accompanied by a set of learning resources themed around the subjects covered in the song. Being open source means anyone can take the music and re-mix or re-use it in their own creative projects rights-free. Circularity is a project which uses creativity and technology to connect people and ideas, in order to make the world a better place to be