Theme: Expanding community and connection

We have noticed, especially over the past few years, that as a society, the UK has become very individualised. More and more, we gravitate to others who share the same views as us and mistrust those who take a different view.

What we want to do with TEDx Beckenham is showcase a variety of talks under the theme “expanding community and connection” to demonstrate to the audience the variety of experiences within the area they live in, with a view to promoting greater understanding and a greater sense of community.

We hope that the conversations and learnings promoted by through this event will remain ongoing, hence creating a long-lasting benefit to the local community.

Langley Park School for Boys
Hawksbrook Lane
Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3BP
United Kingdom

Gawain Hewitt

Artist and composer

Gawain Hewitt is an artist and composer who has a deep passion for spontaneous music creation, instrument design and computer code. He believes that music making is an essential practice for well-being, and has been a vocal advocate for the therapeutic benefits of music. Recent projects include an installation on the sound of the NHS, a BBC Radio 3 piece on the sound of Mental Health and a suite of accessible online musical instruments. Gawain is a workshop leader for Sound Young Minds, a music and mental health project run by City Of London Sinfonia. Working with children in Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital Schools, Sound Young Minds won the RPS Impact Award in 2020. Gawain is currently working on a sonic sculpture for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Julie Dunford

Director of a Progressive Learning Communities

Julie is a pioneer in education. Her vision is for every child to access inclusive and progressive education. Education that fosters curiosity, creativity and builds resilience, ensuring that all children love learning and can thrive in an uncertain world.

Marissa Charles

Organiser, connector and networker

Marissa Charles is a born and bred south Londoner, who made Beckenham her home and community for the last 9 years. The latter and largest part of her career has been dedicated to helping others through working in the charity sector, supporting both large and grassroots organisations and encouraging people to volunteer. She is passionate about ensuring everyone feels included and that they belong. Right now Marissa works to address the lack of representation in big city firms, helping undergrads from under-served backgrounds navigate the pathway into finance. Her favourite place in our community are Beckenham Place Park, the lake and BAG.

Parisa Wright

Sustainability and Inclusion Facilitator

Parisa Wright is the founder of sustainable living charity Greener & Cleaner. Parisa has a background of in media law, a passion for equity and human rights and two small children to inspire her. Motherhood and her mixed Persian/English heritage fuels her passionate focus to help make sure sustainable living is normalised for everyone and practical support becomes accessible, inclusive and appealing for all. In May 2022, she left her legal career of 20 years to put all her energy into empowering individuals, communities, schools and more around sustainability. Determined to help engage and empower all groups in addressing Climate Change in their local communities, Parisa brings people together to make simple but impactful green changes at a local level. This includes working to develop and run a Community Hub model for vacant shopping centre units. Their pilot in The Glades launched in March 2022.

Royston John

Coach, Consultant, Facilitator and Trainer

Royston John worked as a senior manager across public and private sectors. for over 2 decades before becoming a Business Coach, Management Consultant and EDI Specialist. The breadth of his experience includes human resources, performance management and Leadership Development. Solving logistical problems with creativity, innovation and confidence. As an EDI Specialist and adviser, Royston has delivered over 700 workshops, advised a Mayor and Cabinet on increasing Black staff in employment; supported businesses becoming anti-racist organisations; with Police reducing racial disparity; and increasing harmony in communities. Royston has also worked collaboratively with the British Council and 19 African countries. Royston is committed to building a better world with compassion, connection and humanity for tomorrow’s children.

Sonay Erten

Solicitor advocate

Sonay Erten is a self-employed lawyer, coach and speaker. Having received a late diagnosis of ADHD and autism at the age of 32, Sonay left her employed role at a traditional law firm in favour of a role as a self-employed consultant with a more modern and inclusive firm. Sonay’s diagnosis not only impacts her work as a lawyer, where she helps clients to resolve disputes in a different way to traditional lawyers, but in order to support other neurodivergent individuals. Sonay advocates and supports other neurodivergents as a coach, peer supporter and mentor for neurodivergent legal professionals as well as being regularly invited to speak at events both within the legal profession and for businesses outside of the profession.

Tia Fisher

Author

Tia Fisher tells the compelling true story behind her Carengie-nominated teen verse novel Crossing the Line (Hot Key Book, 2023), explains how to spot the signs a young person may be involved in county lines and where to go for support. Tia's book is being widely shared in UK key stage three classrooms as an effective tool to build awareness of county lines, empathy, and help young people make better decisions.

Toks Aruoture

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur Toks Aruoture is the founder of The Baby Cot Shop. A nursery interior design specialist, she is the leading authority on luxury spaces crafted for babies and children. With her client base of celebrities, sports personalities and royalty, she designs bespoke, premium nurseries to match the most luxurious briefs. Toks's journey began when she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2005, launching a high-end furniture store. After returning to the UK during the 2008 recession, Toks discovered an absence of luxury furniture for babies and founded The Baby Cot Shop online. In 2017, they opened on King's Road, Chelsea, which houses the showroom, studio and BCS brand. Toks speaks to and mentors businesswomen and young people. She hosts the inspiring Living Inside Out Podcast, as seen in The Times and The Telegraph. Toks is married to her best friend, Jason, and is the mum of four amazing boys.