Theme: Beyond Boundaries: Unleashing Limitless Perspectives

TEDxUniversityOfWestLondon* invites speakers to take the stage and inspire the audience with their powerful stories, meant to spark deep inspiration and trigger ideas. The inaugural event will take place on Friday, 15 March 2024.

This year’s theme is "Beyond Boundaries: Unleashing Limitless Perspectives." Join us as speakers challenge, enlighten, and transcend conventional limits, exploring the intricacies of our shared reality. Question the norm, envision a world unbounded by limitations, and join TEDxUniversityOfWestLondon in a journey through the subtle frontiers of human imagination and understanding.

Weston Hall
St Mary's Rd
London, Ealing, W5 5RF
United Kingdom

Andy Visser

Research Assistant - London College of Music (University of West London)

Andy Visser is a Senior Lecturer at the University of West London. He is currently undertaking doctoral research in the application of haptics (touch) within music production. Andy has been a research assistant at UWL since 2019 when he was first involved in the HAPPIE project, co-led by Professor Justin Paterson, studying the effect of haptics on a music production pipeline existent in a virtual reality environment. His work is currently focused on specific types of haptic surface interactions. Andy is also a professionally trained musician and spends his spare time performing eclectic music in various bands, including the acclaimed Radio Science Orchestra.

Antony Newman

Lead for Simulated Learning & Immersive Technologies - College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare (University of West London)

Having trained at UWL, graduating in 2015, Antony started his career in surgical nursing, working across the peri-operative setting. His first foray into education was as the Practice Development Nurse for Surgery across Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospitals, followed by a move to north Wales and a step into academia at Bangor University. Prior to joining UWL as a lecturer, Antony worked as the Learning Environment Lead at Frimley Health with responsibility for all student nurses in the clinical setting. He commenced his role as Professional Lead for Simulation in February 2023. Antony has an acute interest in human factors, simulation-based learning and the use of gamification in healthcare.

Ben Hine

Professor of Applied Psychology - School of Human and Social Sciences (University of West London)

Professor Ben Hine achieved his BSc and PhD in 2010, studying gender-typing of prosocial behaviour. Since joining the University of West London in 2014, he’s focused on applied gender and forensic psychology. His research addresses gender dynamics in the criminal justice system and post-separation abuse, notably parental alienation. Ben leads EBDARN, serves as a trustee for The Mankind Initiative, and chairs the Male Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society. A co-founder of the Men and Boys coalition, he’s set to release a guide on men’s issues in 2024. Ben actively participates in various advocacy groups, including the parental alienation study group and the international men and families alliance.

Emma Lucia Hands

Director of Drama Studio London

Emma Lucia Hands, an accomplished Theatre Director and Producer, led notable productions at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, showcasing works by renowned playwrights. Her credits include directing plays like Closer (Patrick Marber) and A History of Falling Things (James Graham) as a freelancer. With a BA (Hons) in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway and an MA in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University and GITIS, Moscow, Emma has also organised prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award ceremonies for the Directors Guild of Great Britain.

Fabio Tosti

Professor of Civil Engineering - Director of the Faringdon Research Centre (University of West London)

Professor Fabio Tosti is a leading expert in civil engineering, specialising in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) applications. With an MSc and engineering degree from Roma Tre University, he earned his PhD in 2014, receiving the European Doctorate Label with an excellent rating. Currently a professor in civil engineering at the University of West London and director of the Faringdon Research Centre for Non-Destructive Testing and Remote Sensing, he focuses on GPR-based methods and non-destructive testing in civil engineering. He shares insights on innovative GPR techniques, drawing from his extensive research background, including leading projects on volumetric water content determination. He has chaired international conferences and authored/co-authored about 60 publications in prestigious journals and books.

James Goodman

Lecturer in Air Transport Management (University of West London)

James Goodman, an aviation expert with over two decades of industry experience, serves as a lecturer at the University of West London since 2017, specialising in airline and airport management. A former management consultant for international organisations, James is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of aviation professionals. His expertise spans digital aviation, commercial management, entrepreneurship and human factors in aviation safety.

Jin Luo

Associate Professor - School of Biomedical Sciences (University of West London)

Dr Jin Luo is a leading expert in musculoskeletal biomechanics. Formerly Senior Lecturer at the University of Roehampton and Associate Professor at London South Bank University, he has been at the University of West London since March 2020. A recipient of prestigious awards, including the 2014 ISSLS Biomechanics prize, Dr Luo’s current research focuses on innovative technologies for healthy ageing and improved treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

Justin Paterson

Professor of Music Production (University of West London)

Professor Justin Paterson is an internationally recognised academic, music producer, and author. His research spans multi-mic recordings, audio technology for extended reality systems and interactive music playback. As Principal Investigator, he collaborated with Warner Music Group on the variPlay system, co-designed by him. Justin led the UWL team for the Innovate-UK-funded HAPPIE consortium, pioneering a novel musicproduction interface in mixed reality. A seasoned author, he wrote The Drum Programming Handbook and co-chairs the Innovation in Music conference series. Justin also consults for RT Sixty apps and co-edited the Routledge book 3D Audio. Leading the MA Advanced Music Technology ageing, he supervises seven PhD students at UWL.

Kashif Iqbal

Head of Network and Cyber Security at SEGA Europe

Kashif is a seasoned leader in the field of Technology and cybersecurity, boasting over two decades of experience across different sectors, including Gaming, Finance, Government and Healthcare. As the Director of Cyber Security and Technology for SEGA Europe, he has significantly contributed to developing comprehensive security programs, and different technology initiatives. His career highlights include leading cybersecurity efforts at public/ private sector, where he implemented robust security measures across various platforms. Kashif's commitment to knowledge sharing is evident through his founding of www.urduitacademy.com. His commitment to the tech community extends to serving on the University of West London's Industry Advisory Board and the HackerOne Technical advisory board. A recipient of multiple professional certifications ranging from CISSP/CRISC/ ISO27001/ CEH, Kashif is also a recognized speaker, having shared his insights at various prestigious institutions.

Kristin Brewe

Course Leader for Advertising and Public Relations London School of Film, Media and Design (University of West London)

Kristin Brewe, with over two decades of advertising and public relations experience, brings industry insights as a lecturer at UWL and a seasoned speaker. A Fellow in the UK’s Higher Education Academy, she’s led consultancy work in the UK and US, specialising in marketing and brand building for early-stage start-ups. Previously, as marketing and communications Director at the Internet Advertising Bureau UK, Kristin played a pivotal role in shaping digital advertising. Notably, she spearheaded Esurance’s transformation from a startup to a billion-dollar consumer brand during her tenure in San Francisco. Passionate about nurturing the next generation of start-up brands, Kristin bridges her industry background with education.

Leif Ollivierre

Senior Lecturer – Port & Shipping Management (University of West London)

Leif Ollivierre is an experienced maritime professional with a background in ship operations, broking, financial reporting and maritime law. Based in London, he has served as a maritime legal consultant and held various roles in international trade. Leif brings extensive experience in education, having been a senior lecturer in international maritime law, deputy head of education at the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, and a lead examiner at the Institute. He has also contributed as an external examiner for international shipping and trade courses and has successfully undertaken projects in Norway, Denmark, Greece, Turkey and the Philippines. Currently, Leif is a lecturer at the University of West London, teaching at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels.

Professor Caroline Lafarge

Professor of Psychology - Head of the Graduate School (University of West London)

Caroline is the Head of the Graduate School at UWL. Prior to joining the Graduate School, Caroline was the course leader for MSc Health Psychology. Caroline is currently the Deputy Chair of the Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, and part of the editorial board for the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. She is also a qualified practitioner of sophrology (a wellbeing intervention) and runs one-one as well as group sessions. Prior to joining academia, Caroline worked as a research consultant in particular for the aviation industry.