Theme: Where Great Ideas Take Flight

TEDx Cranfield University is an independent group of Staff, Students, and Alumni who are acting together to produce Cranfield's first-ever TEDx event!

We are working under an initiative originally thought up by the Cranfield Student's Union, the Cranfield Students' Association. We have now grown into our own independent group led by a current member of university staff and a PhD student.

We'd like to thank CSA for their support and guidance with the event from ideation to the current day! Not to mention the offer to lend us many materials to borrow for the day of the event, and the support from many CSA societies including, the Makers Society and many more!

We are not run by the university, and for most aspects act independently from them, although we have been granted permission by the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation to obtain our license from TEDx for us to hold this event. We would like to thank Cranfield University Research and Innovation department for sponsoring the event in the form of a small cash grant and for providing us not only the venue for free, but for also offering us space to conduct our rehearsals and stage build.

We are not supported by the university's PR, events or marketing team and we do not represent them nor Cranfield University in any capacity.

However, we'd like to thank the many other departments within the university who have supported and guided us to make this conference successful!

We are a 100-volunteer strong team, with an even wider support network from the local area and beyond! Thank you to everyone who has helped us so far and continues to help us in the future! Watch this space to see our pilot event take off!

Vincent Building
College Rd, Wharley End, Cranfield
Cranfield University
Bedforshire, Bedford, Mk43 0al
United Kingdom

Amber Murray

Senior Digital Consultant

A chartered accountant with the nickname ‘Robot-Spock’, Amber has danced with creativity, innovation, and number crunching. Before her tenure in finance as a chartered accountant and auditor, Amber studied performing arts, and it was here she expanded her creative scope through a wide range of creative steams. From classical theatre to clowning and costume design; however, Amber never managed to get into the dark arts of magic. She now incorporates her creative experience with her logical outlook for technology innovation and creative thinking.

Dr Dave Barney

CERN Physicist and Communicator

Dave graduated with a BSc in Physics from Imperial College London in 1990. His interest in High Energy Physics was sparked as a CERN Summer Student. Completing his PhD at Imperial on beauty-particle observation, he returned to CERN in 1994, later becoming a staff member with the CMS experiment. Dave has led CMS detector projects worth £80M and has been involved in a major upgrade since 2015. He has advised the CERN Director General as part of "The Nine" for the past three years. From 2000 to 2012, he was the CMS Education & Outreach coordinator, contributing to the Higgs boson discovery. He co-chaired IPPOG, won the 2005 European Physical Society Outreach prize, and gave a TEDxYouth talk in 2015. In 2022, he returned to Education & Outreach and became CMS’ Head of Communications in 2023.

Dr Geoff Darch

Head of Supply Demand Strategy

Geoff is Head of Supply Demand Strategy at Anglian Water, responsible for supply and demand forecasting and monitoring, supply and demand management strategy, water trading, and the early-stage development of new resource options. Geoff is also a Non-Executive Director of Water Resources East, the regional, multi-sector membership organisation pioneering new approaches to managing water resources. Prior to joining Anglian Water in 2017, Geoff spent 16 years in consultancy, advising on infrastructure climate risks and adaptation for clients including international finance institutions, government departments, environmental agencies and utility companies. Geoff is a Chartered Scientist with a PhD in hydro-climatology, and is a Fellow of CIWEM and the Royal Meteorological Society.

Dr Katherine Wang

Founder and CEO of Theraly Ltd

Dr. Katherine Wang is the Founder and CEO of Theraly Ltd, a company developing MedTech wearables for chronic diseases like lymphoedema. With a multidisciplinary background in Biomedical Science, Biomaterials, and Engineering, she completed her PhD in Bioengineering and Medical Devices at UCL in 2022. Katherine has received over £200,000 in awards, including the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship (2024) and the UKRI ESRC funded Zinc Healthy Aging Catalyst Award (2022). She was selected from 1,170 applicants for the Healthy Longevity Global Grand Challenge. A champion for under-represented diseases, Katherine won the ABSW media fellowship (2024) and will work with BBC Future.

Dr Sara Hawi

Project Engineer

Dr. Sara Hawi is a skilled engineer and researcher with a diverse academic background. She holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Lebanon and a master's degree in aerospace materials from the UK. She earned her PhD in precision engineering, focusing on antibacterial surfaces. Her work bridges engineering and microbiology, underscoring the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Hawi now works as a project engineer in composites manufacturing at Airborne UK. She advocates for lifelong learning and effective cross-disciplinary communication, believing that true innovation happens at the intersection of diverse fields.

Iolanda Bronzoni

Program Manager in Fintech and Podcast Host

Born and sun-baked in Southern Italy, Iolanda left her country to explore what's out there. She’s lived in Portugal, Spain, the UK, France, and Ireland, and she's still wandering. A curious soul with a love for sports and '90s R&B and hip hop, she’s an ENFP-T, 51% extrovert, 49% introvert, passionate about tech, startup, mindfulness, human behavior and holistic medicine. She tries to live with intention, one failure (and many coffees) at a time. She has a podcast on women in sports, where she chats with athletes from around the world about confidence, mental health, and mindset.

Kim Del Kaze

Researcher at Cranfield University / Green Team Officer

Kim Del Kaze, a doctoral researcher at Cranfield University, leads the Green Team's progress towards the university's 2030 net-zero goals, focusing on sustainable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. He won the 2023 UKERC International Summer School, led a team to the #SustainFood finals, and organized a major sustainable campus ecosystems conference with six UK universities. On campus, Kim drives energy efficiency surveys, tree planting, and biodiversity projects. He promotes eco-consciousness, economic responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Committed to diversity, he is active in the IGNITE Network+, the UK Energy Institute, and serves as Membership Coordinator for the African Caribbean Society.

Lindsay MacMillan

Author and Coach

Lindsay MacMillan is a best-selling author and entrepreneur. Her next novel, Summer on Mackinac Island, is forthcoming from HarperCollins Publishers. Formerly, she was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs. Lindsay graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. She has been interviewed by Katie Couric, CNBC, NASDAQ, Business Insider and more.

Nicky Perfect

Hostage and crisis negotiator turned international trainer

Nicky served 31 years as a Metropolitan police officer, with the last 10 as an international hostage and crisis negotiator for New Scotland Yard. She was the first female Director of UK Training for the National Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Course. After retiring, she converted a garage into a community hub and now runs a consultancy specializing in communication and negotiation. Awarded the British Empire Medal in 2022 for pandemic community service, she attended the King's Coronation in 2023. Nicky authored the bestseller "Crisis – true stories from my life as a hostage negotiator." She lives with her partner, stepdaughter, and numerous animals.

Prof Sir Iain Gray

Director of Aerospace at Cranfield University

Professor Sir Iain Gray has been the Director of Aerospace at Cranfield University since March 2015, overseeing aerospace learning, executive education, research, and strategy. Previously, he was Chief Executive of InnovateUK and Managing Director of Airbus UK. He holds an Honours degree in Engineering Science from Aberdeen University and a Masters of Philosophy from Southampton University, with multiple Honorary Doctorates. Awarded a CBE in 2014 and a Knighthood in 2023 for his services to aerospace, Sir Iain is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has received the Royal Aeronautical Society Gold Medal (2007) and the Baird of Bute Award (2016). In 2023, he was appointed Companion of the Air League. Additionally, he chairs the Aerospace Bristol Museum, is a Non-Executive Director for Versarien, and chairs CFMS UK Ltd.

Sara Alão

Innovator in Space Sustainability and Propulsion Systems

Sara Alão is the founder and CEO of Stars Edge Ltd, a company developing novel propulsion systems for satellites that offer enhanced operability, low cost, and minimal emissions. She holds a Master's in Space Engineering and is pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Sara has worked with Rolls Royce on hybrid electric engines and contributed to space sustainability with the ESA Clean Space office. As CRANSEDS President, she led a 250+ member club, organized key conferences, and promoted diversity in engineering. An active member of the International Aviation Women's Association, she has presented at major conferences and won the Women in Clean Tech and Sustainability 2024 People's Choice Award. Sara's focus on aerospace sustainability and innovative propulsion systems makes her a prominent figure in space exploration.

Stella Harris

Senior Operations Manager | UN Women UK Delegate

Stella Harris is a passionate advocate for women's and girls' rights, with a specific focus on education and gender empowerment. Growing up in an underprivileged background, Stella’s life trajectory changed when she was given the opportunity to attend school through the generosity of a benefactor. This pivotal and life changing experience ignited her dedication to fighting for the voiceless and underserved. With a heartfelt commitment to making education accessible to all, especially girls in disadvantaged communities, her advocacy work spans various initiatives, from grassroots community programs and mentoring to policy lobbying, all aimed at ensuring every girl worldwide has the chance to reach her full potential.