Theme: Women Leading Social Change in Leicester

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).

Online Event
https://www.dmu.ac.uk/events/digital-events.aspx
Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7DP
United Kingdom

Aminata Kamara

BBC Radio Presenter & Broadcast Journalist at BBC

Leicester’s UK City of Culture Youth and Community Representative, Masters graduate in Drama, and winner of Leicester’s Young Person of the Year Award 2012. She has a combination of 10 years experience in youth and community engagement, communications and arts for social reformation.

Carol Leeming

Lecturer, Contemporary Music Theatre Module BA, Performing Arts, De Montfort University

Carol was awarded an MBE 2019 as poet and playwright, for her contribution to arts and culture in Leicester. Carol works as a freelance multi-disciplinary arts practitioner, and consultant for Leicester based arts cultural organisation Dare to Diva. Carol is hailed as a polymath, her other roles include: published author (fiction/non-fiction), director, dramaturge, performer, filmmaker, curator, and public speaker. Other achievements and numerous awards include, UK Cultural Olympian 2012. East Midlands Womens’ Awards: Outstanding Woman Arts Media & Music, Leicester Writers Club Awards: Ena Young, Siobhan Logan & Penfold Award for Poetry, Listeners & Media. African Caribbean Citizens Forum/Leicester City Council: Black Achievers Award Arts & Entertainment.

Dr Natasha Katuta Mwila

Senior Lecturer, Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University.

Dr Natasha Katuta Mwila was born in Zambia and has studied and lived in Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. She is a business management academic with a passion for women's enterprising. Natasha is a Christian woman, proud mother to Oluwafemi Caleb Omole and happily married to Owolabi Gabriel Omole. Her motivation to speak on women and identity is driven by her own life journey and her desire to make a positive difference in the lives of those she has the privilege of encountering.

Dr Paris Connolly

Senior Lecturer, Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University.

Dr Paris Connolly is a Research Fellow working on the Decolonising DMU project. She was awarded a PhD in Sociology in 2019; her thesis is titled Female Genital Cutting in the UK: A feminist phenomenological study of perceptions and lived experiences. She also completed her BA Hons in Health studies here at DMU and was awarded a First-Class degree. Paris has worked as a Domestic Abuse Practitioner for Women’s Aid and is interested in trauma-based approaches. She is interested in researching issues around gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, human rights and violence against women and girls, feminist research methods and art-based methods.

Dr Shardia Briscoe-Palmer

Lecturer in Media, Race & Social (In)Justices, De Montfort University

Shardia’s research specialisms intersect across the politics of gender, race, and social injustices. Her research focus explores the politics of black masculinity whilst (de)constructing postcolonial identities. Shardia’s research interests also include academic diversity and inclusivity challenges faced by minority groups within higher education. Shardia completed her doctorate at the University of Birmingham in political science and international studies. She is a strong advocate on why and how race and its intersections must be addressed adequately in Higher Education. I am a mother of two young boys and spend many of my days navigating the world around them, being their example for change. She can be found via Twitter @ShardiaBPalmer

Leisa Nichols-Drew

Chartered Forensic Practitioner and Associate Professor in forensic science at De Montfort University

Leisa Nichols-Drew is Chartered Forensic Practitioner and an Associate Professor in forensic science at De Montfort University. With a practitioner career spanning 20 years, this involved the undertaking of complex investigations including the forensic laboratory and crime scene examination of sexual assaults, homicide, armed robberies, terrorism and cold case reviews, as well as training police officers, judiciary and solicitors. More recently, the award of a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellowship, enabled an insight of knife crime responses within Australia and Canada to aid the UK situation. Currently, undertaking PhD research to assist with issues in the UK Criminal Justice Sector.

Nafisa Siddiqui

Third Year Biomedical Student, De Montfort University

An advocate for women’s’ rights and mental health awareness. Hoping to inspire more people to help make the world a better place.

Natalie Whyte

Deputy Co-Chair of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Maternity Voices Partnership

Following her own tragic loss within her pregnancy at 34 weeks this led her on a journey to make a difference within maternity health services for women and their families. Working with service users, Heads of Midwifery, Midwives and Clinicians has been highly beneficial and rewarding. Her main goal is to continue working together to enhance the future of maternity care in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Natalie also works with a Baby loss Charity which aims to reduce barriers to accessing bereavement services.

Professor Jo Richardson

Professor of Housing & Social Inclusion

Jo is a housing researcher, working with local, national and international community partners. She is passionate about finding a sustainable solution to homelessness, and is interested on what we mean by ‘home’. Her recent book explores ‘Place and Identity: the performance of home’. You can follow Jo on Twitter @socialhousing and further details about her research can be found here: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/academic-staff/business-and-law/jo-richardson/jo-richardson.aspx

Sarah Higgins

Leadership Coach and Author of ‘Power of Love Leadership®’

Sarah Higgins is the author of 'Power of Love Leadership®, which enables leaders to improve productivity, morale, creativity and fearlessness by using seven successfully proven strategies. Having gained a First-Class Honours Business Studies Degree from De Montfort University in 1996, Sarah has over 25 years professional experience. After leaving her role as Human Resources Director until 2011, Sarah Higgins set up her own successful coaching and consultancy business, which enables leaders and leadership teams to maximise their effectiveness through her 1-1 executive coaching, leadership team workshop facilitation and training. A Fellow of the CIPD and Practitioner in NLP, Sarah brings professional, practical expertise as well as the use of world class psychometric assessments for self-insight and impactful change to her leadership clients. Sarah supports local charities including Hope Against Cancer and she is a Board Trustee for Lamp (Leicestershire Action for Mental Health Project).

Sarah Thomson

Director of Social Impact and Engagement, De Montfort University

Sarah leads a directorate that focuses on pubic engagement and co-curricular student activity. Sarah’s research focuses on the barriers to the implementation of service-learning within universities and how to co-create curriculum with the community. Sarah is committed to embedding social justice practice within Higher Education and is an advocate of bringing together communities to work in partnership for positive social change.

Tara Munroe

Founder and Creative Director of Opal22 Arts and Edutainment

Founder and Creative Director of Opal22 Arts and Edutainment and advocate of Black History. I produce thought provoking projects and outcomes that merge Black History, Arts and Culture together.