Theme: Once Upon A Time

A great TED Talk aims to teach people something, imbue them with new knowledge, leave them thinking critically and questioning their preconceived ideas. But all of this can also happen in the slightly more boring confines of a lecture theatre. So what sets a TED Talk apart - a good storyline. We believe that a good story should awaken our childlike inquisitive nature. So what better to symbolise that than a classic Fairytale start: Once Upon A Time, which invites speakers to share personal stories from the past and those looking to the future. The timeless introduction of ‘Once Upon A Time’ echoes through fairy tales, yet the past remains one of the few certainties we have. By carefully listening to our history, we aim to pave the way for a future that continually betters itself, driven by the lessons and insights gained from our shared journey through time.

The Byre Theatre
Abbey St
St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9LA
United Kingdom

Aditya Mahapatra

Student, Entrepreneur

"Aditya is an award-winning entrepreneur and the Co-Founder of Augmentum Media. He is an expert in digital marketing and has successfully scaled his agency to over 6 figures, which led to recognition from the Scottish Government and also being awarded the Scottish ‘Young Edge’ Award, the country's most prestigious entrepreneurship award. He now continues to excel in the entrepreneurship space and uses public speaking to encourage and inspire others."

Denise Hill

Associate Professor of Applied Sports Psychology

Dr Denise Hill is an Associate Professor at Swansea University, a BPS Chartered Psychologist and HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist. She is also a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Psychology and has been an Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist for over 20 years. She is a keen amateur golfer, having played internationally for Wales. She has extensive experience as a psychology practitioner, working with athletes, coaches, and organisations across sports and levels, though currently spends most of her time supporting professional golfers on their respective tours. Dr Hill's research has produced over 60 publications, mainly on the phenomenon of choking in golf. She has co-edited a book (Golf Performance under Pressure), has been invited to present her research at various UK and International conferences, and regularly disseminates her findings through the media.

Eve Poole

PhD in Theology, OBE

Dr. Poole has a PhD in Theology and Capitalism from Cambridge and is the author of several books. Her book Leadersmithing was Highly Commended in the 2018 Business Book Awards. She taught leadership at Ashridge Business School, pioneering a new approach to the accelerated development of leaders, using ground-breaking neurobiological research into how leaders really learn. Most recently, she was Interim Chief Executive of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (2023-4), Interim CEO of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2022), Third Church Estates Commissioner for England (2018-2021), and the first female Chairman of the Board of Governors at Gordonstoun School (2015-2021). Her early career involved working for the Church Commissioners and for Deloitte Consulting, where she specialised in change management in the Financial Services sector. She was awarded an OBE in the 2023 New Years Honours list for services to education and gender equality.

Felix Daglish

Student

Grew up in south east London and sent myself off to military boarding school age 11, mainly to find the independence and freedom I felt that I was lacking at the time, both from being at home and also by being in a wheelchair. My Dad has always been big into adventure so that enthused my love for physical fitness. Age 17 I rowed across the Irish sea with my dad, my brother and a family friend. Since then, I have gotten into ultra-endurance rowing with my most recent being 150 miles in 3 days. Although sadly I’ve had to take a ‘wheel’ back due to injury. These experiences helped me notice how capable I was not in spite of my disability, but perhaps even because I was disabled. Growing up I noticed how the way disability is defined can be extremely unhelpful both to the disabled person and wider society and it is the aim of my talk to show you why.

Leo Johnson

Advisor at PwC

Leo Johnson’s focus is on unlocking next-generation leadership - turbocharging talent not just with direction, but with intent. Leo is the presenter of BBC World and Radio 4 Series on megatrends and innovation. He is an adviser at PwC to the Global Centre for Transformative Leadership and PwC's Head of Disruption & Innovation. Leo sets out the colliding mega trends affecting today's business leaders and brings the future forward with radically divergent scenarios. He maps the innovation upside and strategies for navigating business disruption. His unique perspective is on transformational leadership under conditions of disruption. With Oxford’s Smith School, Leo is leading a research project on the Paradox of Intent. Leo joined the World Bank, helping to establish and roll out the Equator Principles for sustainable lending, before co-founding the boutique advisory firm Sustainable Finance. He is the co-author of “Turnaround Challenge: Business & the City of the Future”, (OUP)

Lynn Erasmus

Speaker, Author, Hypnosis Therapist & Acupuncturist, Trauma-Informed Sober Coach

Lynn Erasmus is a multi-award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, R.E.B.E.L speaker, and author of ‘Break Those Damn Rules’, in which she shares her personal journey of overcoming addiction. She is dedicated to suicide prevention, aiming to eliminate the stigma around trauma and addiction. As a licensed acupuncturist and certified in trauma-informed hypnosis and mindfulness, she hosts wellness retreats, training, and corporate wellness programs to care for employee’s mental health. Through somatic and intuitive practices, she empowers individuals to find safety and self-compassion in their bodies, guiding them to release old narratives and create, their happy ever after. “Happiness lies in the everyday most mundane moments, you just need to look for it."

Mahaneela Choudary

Creative Artist

Mahaneela is known for her work in various artistic fields. She is a photographer, director, writer, and consultant, demonstrating a diverse range of skills and interests. Her work reflects her passion for storytelling and her ability to capture and convey deep, nuanced narratives through her visual and written mediums. She has gained recognition for her unique perspective and her ability to blend different art forms to create impactful, engaging works. Her photography, in particular, is noted for its vivid and emotive qualities, often exploring themes such as identity, culture, and community. Mahaneela has worked on music videos, short films, and commercial projects, where her distinct visual style and storytelling ability shine. As a writer and consultant, Mahaneela contributes her expertise to provide insights into creativity, art, and culture projects. Her multifaceted career showcases her versatility and commitment to exploring and pushing the boundaries of creative expression.

Polly Swan

Trainee Surgeon

Polly Swann is a trainee surgeon and two-time Olympian. Alongside studying for her medical degree she competed in the sport of rowing for Team GB where she won World and European titles as well as a Silver Olympic Medal. She now uses the lessons she learned from sports every day in her career in the NHS and has a passion for helping others achieve their goals in her role as a mentor of young athletes.