Theme: Carousel

TEDxAstonUniversity is the official name of the TEDx family of Aston University in Birmingham, UK. It was founded at the start of 2013 by a group of university students and staff who had a vision of creating a platform to share innovative ideas in Birmingham and across the West Midlands region.
For almost a decade, the TEDxAstonUniversity team continue to bring together bright minds who share insightful ideas for progress in areas such as inclusivity, education, empowerment, growth, personal development, technological advances, wellbeing, and success within our region and the world.

This year, we are excited to share ideas from people with diverse backgrounds under the theme of ‘carousel’ which aims to celebrate triumphs and reflects on tribulations. The theme provides an opportunity to share ideas on how people have developed new and innovative ways of working and living, overcoming difficulties, creating human connections, dealing with tragedy and also celebrating our vast humanness (post pandemic).

For the first time in history, our city will host the Commonwealth Games which will bring over a million people from 71 countries right to our doorstep. The multifaceted carousel theme showcases the values which revolve around the ethos of the Commonwealth theme “of delivering a common future” which highlights how the members in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’. Just as a carousel revolves around a pole with a bearing at the top which bears the entire weight of the structure, we as humans are united by humanity, borne from the earth which bears all the weight of this world. It becomes a better place when we realise that all of us are in this together as one, regardless of race, religion, colour, and origin. This year’s event by TEDxAstonUniversity aims to give a solid, wonderful, and unforgettable experience which will be a memory that people will cherish for a lifetime, just like an experience of riding a carousel as a child. We also intend on hiring an actual carousel for the day!

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Broad Street
Birmingham, Birmingham, B1 2EP
United Kingdom

Blind Dave Heeley

A marathon runner, cyclist and the first blind person to have run 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents. An Olympic torch bearer for the London 2012 Olympics, his life story has been published as a book, "From light to dark".

Daniella Genas

Founder of She's the Boss International, Consultant, and a Coach. Daniella is a multi award winning entrepreneur who was awarded Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Entrepreneurial WINNER 2013 and even has been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 at the Black Owned Birmingham CIC Awards.

Dr. Michaela Kandall

A UK Mission Innovation Hydrogen Champion, Michaela is the CEO and the co-founder of fuel cell pioneers Adelan, one of the world’s first fuel cell businesses. A leading environmental scientist, she plays a key role in building the UK’s national fuel cell strategy and collaborating with the international scientific community working in the Hydrogen Economy.

Dr. Mohammad Haqmal

An internationally recognised public health chief who pioneered health initiatives in Afghanistan.

Dwayne Fields & Phoebe Smith

Adventurers and explorers

The #WeTwo foundation, founded by Dwayne and Phoebe provides life-changing expeditions to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to give them skills for life, while mentoring them to take part in environmental initiatives in their local communities.

Maddie Booth

Maddie is an ecopreneur and a sustainable consultant, supporting businesses on becoming more sustainable from start-ups to multi-million pound companies. She was also a Greenpeace UK Youth Speaker

Marika Beckford

Virtual Reality Artist

Marika is a qualified 'Unity' Virtual Reality Artist with a keen interest in the evolution of the internet and the future of tech.

Sreedhar Bevara

CEO of BMR Innovations, leadership expert and a best selling author, Sreedhar has come a long way, from being a street vendor to becoming the CEO of a leading tech company in Dubai, tackling all obstacles that tried to pull him down.