Theme: Turning Points

This year, we are proud to announce the highly-anticipated return of the now annual TEDxYouth@Habs event.

With an impressive line-up of distinguished speakers spanning a wide range of industries, from business and technology to lifestyle and wellness, this year's event promises to be more exciting than ever. Joining the esteemed industry leaders on stage will be a selection of Haberdashers' own talented teachers and students, aiming to share their unique areas of expertise and passion to a global audience.

Haberdashers Boys School
Butterfly Ln, Elstree
London, Hertfordshire, WD6 3AF
United Kingdom

Akshay Ruparelia

Entrepreneur, Founder | Forbes 30 U 30

Akshay Ruparelia, a young and dynamic entrepreneur, who has founded Doorsteps, AKR Growth, and The 1 Club. Akshay has earned a spot on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his innovative and disruptive approach to the industry. Akshay is an alumnus of the highly-regarded Oxford 10KSB program, which has helped him hone his skills and develop a keen business acumen. He's a visionary leader with a passion for growth, and he's not afraid to take risks to achieve his goals. He's a true trailblazer and inspiration to many, who's making a big impact in our society.

Alpesh Patel OBE

CEO | Financial Expert | UK Govt Dealmaker

Alpesh Patel, an accomplished CEO in Asset Management, has a diverse background in finance and media. He has authored 18 books on finance and economics, served as a former Bloomberg TV Host and FT Columnist, and worked as a Fund Manager. Furthermore, Alpesh has served as a UK Government Dealmaker for the Department for International Trade. Mr Patel is a world-class speaker and bestselling author, and he is now sharing his expertise to make a positive impact on the world through creative thinking.

Aryan Janjale

Student

Aryan Janjale is an A-Level student at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, studying Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Philosophy. Enthralled in ancient schools of philosophy, Aryan has developed an interest in modern socioeconomic structures. He wishes to understand and investigate the applications of philosophical logic into modern-day computer science. He hopes to introduce new topics to his peers and spark innovation within the school community.

Dr Christophe de Ray

Philosophy PhD

Dr. De Ray is an incredibly competent scholar, having earned his PhD in Philosophy from King's College London with a specialization in the Philosophy of Science and Religion. However, his range of expertise extends well beyond this field, encompassing metaphysics, political philosophy, and more. With a handful of publications to his name, he has no-doubt contributed to the global academic conversation. Formerly a Graduate Teaching Assistant at King’s College, Dr. De Ray is now a teacher of theology and philosophy at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School.

Dr Ian StJohn

PhD in Modern History and Economics

Dr StJohn is a very well accomplished scholar completing his PhD in Modern History and Economics from the University of Oxford in 2000. Since his time as a researcher at Nutfield College, he has authored many books of his own covering a plethora of topics, stemming from Victorian Politics to modern economics. Many of which have received praise from the likes of Former Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP - a testimony to his impressive and wide-ranging knowledge. Since 2000, Dr StJohn teaches History and Economics at the Haberdashers' Boys' School and is in-charge of the Occasional Paper Series. His unrivalled passion for his expertise has made him an engaging and expert public speaker over the years.

Dr Saqib Qureshi

CEO of Building Capital | Angel Investor | LSE Fellow | Author

Dr Saqib Qureshi is a notable LSE fellow and an accomplished financial expert within his field, having started his career at Mckinsey. Whilst being an old Haberdasher, Saqib has gone on to start a company that has helped with student housing, creating his own pathway to success. Now, he continues his entrepreneurial venture and hope to convey some of his experience in his upcoming TEDx talk.

Dr Vishaal Virani MBBS

Co-founder of Doctorpreneurs

Vishaal started his career as an NHS doctor, and subsequently transitioned into healthcare strategy consulting. He then chose to pursue a longstanding interest in leveraging digital health to meaningfully improve patient outcomes working at Ada Health- then managing digital health solutions for a FTSE 100 consumer healthcare company that owns global brands such as Durex, Nurofen and Dettol. Vishaal is now a co-founder of Doctorpreneurs, the world’s largest community of medical innovators, governor of the Royal Free NHS Trust, guest lecturer on digital health, contributor to NHS innovation organisations, and mentor to various health tech startups.

Ian Wheeler

Head of English & Drama at HABS

Mr. Wheeler has extensive experience as an educator, and is currently Head of English & Drama at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School. Through occupying this position for over a decade, he has earnt an honourable reputation in the school community. Mr. Wheeler's passion for Literature is evident in his engaging talks and presentations, which he has delivered throughout his career as a seasoned public speaker. His ability to communicate effectively and inspire his audience has made him a valuable contributor to the school community.

Lavina Mehta MBE

PT | Speaker | Wellness Coach

Lavina Mehta MBE, the founder of Feel Good With Lavina, is a 44-year-old Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, Speaker, and mum of three, who was awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness during Covid-19. Her mission is to help all ages Feel Good physically and mentally, and reduce the risks of common chronic diseases through her concept of "Exercise Snacking" and free chair workouts, as seen on TV & Radio. Lavina is a proud Ambassador for Diabetes UK and Alzheimer's Society, as well as supporting many charities, and is a Patron of the Menopause Mandate. She regularly runs talks and wellness workshops for organizations to feel good at work, promoting the power of exercise, strength training, and lifestyle changes to help everyone feel good with her slogan, "Exercise for Sanity not Vanity."

Manav Mashru

Student

Manav Mashru is an A-Level student at the Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, studying Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Politics. Captivated by the field of development economics, Manav seeks to utilise this platform to instigate thought-provoking and meaningful discussion about the concept of GDP which economists and politicians use to shape the policies of tomorrow. His interest in this topic stems from the want to inspire positive change for the betterment of society. He hopes to disseminate new ideas and open up different avenues for society to consider.

Meryem Arik

Co-founder at TyTN AI

Meryem is a former oxford physicist turned entrepreneur, focusing on the application of cutting edge AI in business. Her current venture, Titan ML, is working to lower the barrier to deploying the latest and greatest language AI models for enterprises. She has a passion for building businesses from the ground up, and working at the very cutting edge of technology.

Rinesh Mehta

Teacher of Mathematics | Financial Expert

Rinesh Mehta is an incredibly qualified expert in the field of mathematics and finance. He has completed 4 distinct Masters qualifications in Maths and Finance, Applied Statistics, Theoretical Physics, and International Law, culminating in 25 years worth of financial experience in 5 different countries before becoming a well-respected teacher at the Haberdashers’ Boys’ School.

Rt Hon Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE

Businessman | Life Peer | University Chancellor

Karan Bilimoria is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist. He founded Cobra Beer, which has won 121 Gold and Grand Gold medals at the prestigious Monde Selection awards, making it one of the most awarded beers in the world. Bilimoria is also involved in various business and academic organizations, including serving as the Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, President of the Confederation of British Industry, and Honorary Group Captain in 601 Squadron Royal Air Force. His numerous accomplishments and honours make him an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders worldwide.

Sahrid Kancherla

Student

Sahrid is an A Level student at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Already having given a TEDx talk on anthropology, Sahrid also wants to harness the power of his true passion, physics, in order to transform lives. His heart lies in the study of quantum mechanics, since he believes that understanding the fundamental laws of nature can help revolutionise the world as we know it today.

Shelim Hussain MBE

Founder and Cheif Executive, Euro Foods

Shelim Hussain is a Bangladeshi-born British entrepreneur. After being brought to London by his uncle and aunt in 1985, he was a waiter at an Indian restaurant in South Wales. His entrepreneurial journey began by selling boxes of frozen prawns during his education, yet, it has since grown into a remarkable career in the food industry. Today, he is the founder and chairman of Euro Foods, a leading international manufacturer and distributor of frozen and fresh foods. He has also held several key positions in the industry, serving as the founder, chairman, and managing director of prominent companies such as Eurasia Food Processing (BD) Ltd (Bangladesh), Horizon Seafood Ltd, Saidowla Enterprise, Euro Foods (BD) Ltd, and Rosemco Foods Ltd (BD), among others. In 2003, Hussain was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2003 New Year Honours for his services to business in Wales and appeared on Undercover Big Boss on ITV in 2021.

Shivank Chhabra

Student

Shivank Chhabra is an A Level student at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, studying Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics. He is particularly captivated by the overlap between the disciplines of biology/neuroscience and electrical engineering - especially how the latter can be modelled on neurological systems. This field is of special interest to him as he wishes to investigate the theory and expand on its practical applications within medicine, locomotion and entertainment to benefit society. By giving this talk, he hopes to inspire others to research and innovate within this growing field.

Zain Hasan

Student

Zain is an A Level student interested in neuroscience and linguistics, and he is particularly interested in the study of language in the brain as well as the relationship between language, identity and culture. His love for languages and cultures has led him to study Arabic, Mandarin and French at GCSE level and he continues to study languages in his spare time. He currently studies Biology, Chemistry, Maths and French at A Level.