In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Kingston University
Penrhyn Road
Kingston-Upon_thames, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE
United Kingdom

Christine Cheng

Christine Cheng is a Lecturer in War Studies at King’s College London. While her primary area of research is on post-conflict transitions, she has been a passionate advocate for gender equality for two decades. Most recently, she has called for removing the ban on women fighting in frontline combat in the British armed forces.

David Randall

Dr David Randall has been a devotee of both glocalization tendencies; pushing the ‘western’ way of life onto emerging economies and promoting a ‘buy local’ agenda at home. Now that society’s progress has reached a crossroads, David is wondering if he is stepping on the right stepping stones.

Edward Relf

Edward Relf is an award -winning digital entrepreneur with almost 20 years’ experience scaling some of the world's most successful disruptive digital startups. Ed now focuses his time on his latest venture Laundrapp as founder & CEO. Ed is passionate about sharing his insights and knowledge in driving the next wave of successful British start-ups.

Fiona Quinn

As an entrepreneur and coach Fiona regularly uses both micro and larger adventures to help her build resilience, momentum for change and to support fellow entrepreneurs build a life they love.

Graham Buckingham

Soon after Graham Buckingham learned to scuba dive he quit his public relations job to take on the toughest challenge of his life — to turn the public’s perception of sharks from killing machines to apex predators worthy of respect and protection. In 2004 he launched a charity called Bite-Back Shark and Marine Conservation that campaigns to make Britain the first country in the world to ban shark fin soup. So far the Norbiton-based charity has inspired a 60% drop in the number of restaurants serving the controversial dish. Bite-Back has featured in most national newspapers and can count Gordon Ramsay, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Steve Backshall among its list of celebrity supporters.

Hannah Catherine Jones

Hannah Catherine Jones is an artist, scholar, multi-instrumentalist, composer, conductor and founder of Peckham Chamber Orchestra – a community project established in 2013. She is currently completing her MPhil ‘Alt-Shift-Orpheus’ and commences a DPhil at Oxford University exploring the relationship between Afrofuturism and Gesamtkunstwerk through the art-music of Sun Ra and Wagner.

Kevin Davis

Kevin Davis is the Leader of the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, a position he has held since the 2014 local elections. Kevin has stood twice for the UK Parliament; once in Kingston & Surbiton in 2005 and again in Yeovil in 2010. He has run and established a number of innovative charities in the education sector.

Marina Lambrou

Dr. Marina Lambrou is an academic at Kingston University with over 20 years’ experience of teaching in language and linguistics. She researches and publishes personal narratives, including trauma narratives from survivors of 7/7 and 9/11, as she is interested in how people construct, evaluate and narrate their experiences. Marina is an accredited Life Coach and uses storytelling as part of her practice.

Mark Stenhoff

Kingston resident Mark Stenhoff was born when sex between men was illegal in the UK. His realisation that he was gay coincided with a partial decriminalisation of these acts. During his career as a secondary school teacher, legislation was passed that effectively stifled discussion of gay issues in schools, leaving many young gay people unsupported. Since then he has worked strenuously on gay rights with the charity Stonewall and other organisations.

Marta Troya

Marta Troya is a Fine Art and History of Art Kingston University graduate, and is currently completing her Masters at the Royal College of Art. Marta studied abroad in Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, and was awarded the Stanley Picker Gallery Travel Award.

Michiel Hoefsmit

Born in Greece and raised in The Netherlands, Michiel has lived in the UK since 2006. Driven to running after a personal battle with weight, he has competed in 6 ultras, 2 multi-day ultras, 7 marathons, 7 half-marathons, 10 triathlons of which 5 were Half Ironman distance. For Michiel, normal just isn’t exciting.

Robin Hutchinson

Over the last six years Robin Hutchinson has been organising events and happenings in Surbiton and Kingston to help unleash the ambitions and energy of the community. This has recently seen the opening of the Museum of Futures and The Community Kitchen. Robin was awarded an MBE for his work in the arts and the community.

Sarah Holding

Having worked as a postman, an architect, a university professor and an urban development consultant, Sarah is now a full-time children’s author, juggling writing with looking after a family of three children in Surrey.

Syed Kamall

Syed Kamall was born the son of a north London bus driver and went on to become an MEP for London and the most senior elected British politician in Brussels. He leads the third largest of the eight political groups in the European Parliament. He lives in Surbiton with his family and, on the occasional evening off, plays electric bass in a band.