Theme: Build a Better Future

TEDx Newcastle University 2019, with the theme of ‘Build A Better Future’ looks to connect our present with the possibilities ahead. This year’s conference will see 10 speakers take the stage as they share their vision for what the future should be. Making the conference a truly impactful event, you will also gain access to several workshops that will allow you to build new contacts, have some fun and test your brain power. Come join us for a memorable day of networking and possibilities as we explore ideas truly worth sharing.

King’s Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne
King's Hall Armstrong Building Opposite the Royal Victoria Infirmary on Queen Victoria Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
United Kingdom

Alison Shaw

David Goldman Visiting Professor of Innovation and Enterprise at Newcastle University 2018/19

Alison has enjoyed a long and varied career in the English education system. She is Vice-President of NFER, the UK’s leading independent provider of education research and insights; and Founder of North East Futures UTC. After studying Modern Foreign Languages to postgraduate level at the University of Leeds, Alison returned to do her PGCE after a year spent teaching at the University of Lyon in France. She has spent 11 years as a Headteacher, specialising throughout in shaping and augmenting curricula which combine academic rigour with real-world experience and relevance. Alison has recently completed her year as David Goldman Visiting Professor of Innovation and Enterprise at Newcastle University Business School.

Ashley Kent

Science Communication Consultant

Ashley is a science communicator with a passion for feminism and diversity in science. For more than a decade, she has worked with festivals, science centres and cultural organisations in order to excite and inspire people to get involved in science and technology. Originally from the USA, where she studied biology and chemistry, Ashley moved to UK in 2007. She studied a Master’s Degree in Medical Genetics at Newcastle University where she fell in love with the idea of being a science communicator. Her goal has always been to create opportunities for people to have positive experiences with science in order to share her love of the scientific method. Over this time, she has seen an increase in the number of women and girls participating in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths), but it’s still not enough. As a society, we need a radical change in the way we think and behave if we want more women and girls in STEM. Society needs more women and girls in STEM.

Duncan Yellowlees

Presentation expert

Duncan Yellowlees is a presentation coach, communication specialist and lover of tall tales. Based in the North East of England, he routinely helps people use storytelling to craft impactful presentations that resonate with their audiences. He has worked both in academia, helping translate cutting edge science for the public, and in business, helping position clients as experts in their fields by getting their messages out. Duncan has a lifelong obsession with stories and believes that communication of all forms can learn from this ancient tradition.

Joanna Finlay

Intrapreneur

Joanna Finlay is a passionate advocate for innovation and inclusion within financial services. She has 13 years’ experience in the sector, works on strategy at Virgin Money and was named national ‘Young Banker of the Year' in 2017.

Louise Thompson

CEO - Taylor Thompson Commercial LTD

Louise has had a 25 year career working in tech companies and is now a Commercial Director at Sopra Steria and a NED. Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of digital technologies and is going to be an important part of our future. But how can we control it? Or are machines going to rule the world?

Martin Hylton

Dance School | Artistic Director

Martin Hylton is an ex dance performer with over 35 years of experience performing with some of the best contemporary dance companies in Europe. He is now the Artistic Director of his own arts organisation in Gateshead, Newcastle.

Mercy Oluwafemi

Leadership Coach

Mercy is a dynamic individual who is passionate about leadership, self-development, community engagement and social justice. With a background in Psychology in Canada, she often seeks opportunities and ways to make people a better version of themselves. Having being born in Nigeria, grown up in Canada and currently living and working in the UK, Mercy describes herself as a world citizen. She has been nominated and won various leadership awards and is often seen facilitating and chairing conversations, conferences and discussions aimed at creating social change and leadership development. In her spare time, she enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, weightlifting and running, planning her next travel opportunity, volunteering and is an avid reader.

Michael Taylor

Full time private investor

Michael Taylor trades and invests his capital in the stock market on a full-time basis and is the owner of www.shiftingshares.com. He made the step from full-time employment to living from his assets in December 2016. Michael Taylor has several self-published books on stock trading and investment in the UK stock market and is a speaker at various conferences and on cruise ships. He is a Masters graduate from both Newcastle University Business School and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Faculty of Economics.

Ramtin Mehraram

Neuroscience PhD Student

Ramtin Mehraram obtained an MSc in Neuroengineering in 2017 at the University of Genoa (Italy) and is currently a PhD student in Neuroscience at Newcastle University and the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (UK). With his research, Ramtin aims to assess how the electrical activity of the brain is affected when someone has dementia. Specifically, he is trying to design biological clues, aka "biomarkers", based on electroencephalography (EEG), to effectively discriminate between Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, whose similar symptoms lead too often to wrong diagnoses. Ramtin's parallel career and other great passion since childhood is music - he is a pianist, singer and composer.

Sam Waterfall

Co-Founder "ProBLife” Pioneering Probiotic Solutions

Sam is a former international food marketing consultant, having spent ten years launching new foods in over 50 countries on five continents. But it was co-founding a probiotics startup and the birth of his daughter that began a very healthy relationship with his body’s microbial passengers. In his personal and engaging talk, Sam shares a transformational new view on your body's essential bugs and bacteria that could seriously improve your life.