Theme: Beyond Borders

Beyond Borders is a day about having real conversations about real ideas that lead to real change.

Our speakers are history makers, truth tellers and game changers - on a mission to share solutions and ideas that will shift your thinking.

TEDxLondon is a chance to get out from behind your screen. Our events are so much more than just watching a series of talks. It’s the ‘aha’ moments when you hear a new perspective. It’s the courage you find to have challenging - but important - conversations about the biggest issues our society faces. It’s about finding a community that is inspired to take collective action to create a better future.

We’re looking for an audience of curious minds to join us - is that you?

Find your inspiration.

Find yourself here.

Sadlers Wells
Rosebery Avenue
London, London, City of, EC1R 4TN
United Kingdom

Dr Emilia Molimpakis

Neuroscientist & Co-founder of Thymia

Emilia is a neuroscientist with a PhD & post-doc from UCL in Linguistics, Neuroscience & Psychology. She is an expert in using language as a biomarker for cognition – there are fewer than 10 people in the world doing exactly what she does! Her startup, thymia, uses video game-inspired technology to help doctors quickly, accurately and objectively assess and monitor depression via digital biomarkers. Emilia won the Young Innovator’s Award 2020-21 and was recently named one of the top scientists for mental health worldwide.

Dr Jules Montague

Author, journalist & neurologist

Jules is an author, journalist and former consultant neurologist. She writes regularly for leading media outlets with a focus on humanitarian and investigative reporting. Her stories have led to big tech companies and international corporations withdrawing misleading or deceptive pseudoscientific adverts and claims. Her new book, The Imaginary Patient: How Diagnosis Gets Us Wrong, investigates how medical diagnosis is tainted by the forces of imperialism, politics, discrimination and Big Pharma. Her first book, Lost and Found, was published in 2018.

Dr Waheed Arian

Emergency doctor, refugee & global health advocate

Waheed’s journey from war-torn Afghanistan and the refugee camps of his childhood to becoming an NHS Innovation Mentor, WHO Digital Health Expert and NHS Emergency doctor is remarkable. He is also the founder of the pioneering telemedicine charity Arian Teleheal and the mental health venture Arian Wellbeing. His memoir "In The Wars: From Afghanistan to the UK and beyond" was published in 2021 and he has been named a UNESCO Global Hope Hero and UN Global Goals Goalkeeper.

Felix Wight

Interim CEO & Technical Director of Repowering London

Felix is Technical Director and interim CEO of Repowering London. Since 2011, Repowering London has empowered communities to fund, install and manage their own clean, local energy. Felix is responsible for the development of new business models that integrate emerging technologies with positive social impact. Previously Head of Development at Community Energy Scotland, he has overseen the installation of more than 20 megawatts of community-owned generation capacity during his career.

Jodie Jackson

Author, researcher & founder of the News Literacy Network

Jodie is founder of the News Literacy Network, author of You Are What You Read: why changing your media diet can change the world and of the children’s book, Little Ruffle and The World Beyond. Jodie has devoted the last ten years to researching the damaging impact of the negativity bias in the news on our mental health and the health of our society, as well as investigating the impact of solutions-focused journalism.

Kay Adekunle Rufai

Photographer, poet, filmmaker & mental health researcher

Kay is a British born Nigerian photographer, poet, filmmaker, author, mental health researcher and founder of the internationally acclaimed S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys projects. He is currently the first artist in residence for West Midlands Police, as part of Coventry City of Culture. His award-winning work explores themes of masculinity, mental health, identity and serious youth violence and has been widely exhibited at The Barbican, City Hall, Tower Bridge, the Royal Court and more, as well as featured on the Guardian, Channel 5 news, BBC 1XTRA and more.

Nancy Kelley

CEO of Stonewall

Nancy’s background is in research, policy and campaigns across a wide range of social justice issues, including mental health, migration and poverty. She is currently the CEO of Stonewall, which campaigns for a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves, and to live their lives to the full. Nancy is also an obsessive reader and mum to two boys, two dogs, two giant African land snails, six fish and one lizard.

Professor Keith Magee

Presidential adviser, author and theologian

Keith is a public intellectual whose career spans over three decades in public policy, public affairs and public theology all leading to social justice. He holds academic posts at UCL and Newcastle University and served as the senior religious affairs advisor with the Obama for America campaigns and Biden-Harris campaign. Keith is also Chair of The Guardian Foundation, Commissioner on Diversity in the Public Realm for London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Board Co-Chair of the Endowment Committee for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and serves on the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission.

The Spirituals

Gospel Choir

The Spirituals is a London based gospel choir that was formed in October 2020 by music artist, Junior Garr, and arranger and conductor, Marsha B Morrison. The Spirituals began by reimagining spiritual anthems for ‘The Black History Project’ music event, which led to recording their first EP, “Wade in the Water”, where they gained 11 million views online. Now, The Spirituals continue to reimagine spiritual songs and further EPs have been created alongside televised performances filmed in Lambeth Palace and the iconic St. Paul’s cathedral.