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2025 Speakers

Levison Wood

Explorer, writer, photographer

An author of 12 books and presenter of nine internationally broadcast documentaries, Levison is also Chancellor of University of Staffordshire. A former British Army officer who served in Afghanistan, he has walked the length of the Nile, the Himalayas, and Central America, and is a Fellow of both the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society.

Commander Nathan Gray

Pilot, author, aviation consultant

Commander Nathan Gray was the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s Top Gun, with over 30 years’ experience as a fighter pilot and instructor, flying more than 140 combat missions. Raised in Stoke-on-Trent, he became a test pilot for the cutting-edge F35 fighter and earned the coveted Royal Marines green beret during his military career.

Emily Johnson

Co-founder, 1882 Ceramics

Emily is the fifth generation of the Johnson Brothers pottery family and now leads 1882 Ltd., a contemporary ceramics company blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design. After a career in advertising and a return to design through a master’s in Architectural Interior Design, she now works with a team of skilled potters to create everything from everyday ceramics to bold works of art.

Carol Shanahan OBE

Entrepreneur and Port Vale FC Chair

Carol began her career as the first female computer operator in a major IT company, later co-founding a successful IT business employing 360 staff and turning over £25 million. Now Chair of Port Vale Football Club and a dedicated community champion, she is a trustee of both Port Vale Foundation and EFL in the Community, and was awarded an OBE in 2021 for her services to Stoke-on-Trent.

Aida Cable

Chief Executive, Thrive at Five

Aida joined Thrive at Five following nearly a decade at The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, where she was Chief Advisor, leading early years and mental health programmes. A former lawyer, she is a Trustee of The London Marathon Foundation and an Invictus Endeavours Advisory Board member.

Ben Cardall

Deductionist

With more than 20 years of experience in human behaviour, including a decade consulting for elite security professionals, Ben brings a unique understanding of what truly works. A former bouncer and deductionist performer, he combines real-world insight with a deep knowledge of human nature.

Dr Emma Fallows

Games Art Lecturer, University of Staffordshire

Dr Emma Fallows is a Games Art Lecturer at University of Staffordshire, a Women in Games Ambassador, and a recent PhD graduate in Games and Visual Effects. Her research focused on Virtual Reality and Haptics, creating an innovative interactive museum experience to enhance ceramic displays.

Mark Jones

Entrepreneur and former professional footballer

A former Stoke City footballer and now owner of a performance improvement management consultancy, Mark draws on his own experiences to explore the psychological challenges athletes face when their careers end. His talk delves into the pressures of transition, identity loss, and the support needed to navigate life beyond professional sport.

Daniel Haynes

Technical Specialist, University of Staffordshire

Daniel is a Technical Specialist for the Virtual Production Studio at University of Staffordshire, where he brings the future of filmmaking to life. Blending the artistry of traditional production with the power of real-time visual effects and immersive virtual environments, he introduces staff and students to one of the most transformative technologies in film and TV.

Our event is called TEDxUniversityofStaffordshire where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxUniversityofStaffordshire event, TED Talks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

TEDxStaffordshireUniversity 2024

Our theme for 2024 was “Back to the Future”. Our audience enjoyed talks from: journalist and communications director Genelle Aldred, charity founder Nikki Barrett, chef and restaurateur Cris Cohen, sculptor Andrew Edwards, Ethics and Games Professor Caroline Flick, Forensic and Environmental Science Professor Claire Gwinnett, boxer Nathan Heaney, clinical pharmacist Patryk Majewski, playwright and actor Deborah McAndrew and University of Staffordshire student Sharanya Ranganatha Urs.

Watch 2024's talks
  • TEDxStaffordshireUniversity 2024 speakers
  • Nathan Heaney
  • Professor Claire Gwinnett
  • Sharanya Ranganatha Urs
  • Genelle Aldred
  • Andrew Edwards
  • Professor Catherine Flick
  • Patryk Majewski
  • Deborah McAndrew
  • Nikki Barrett
  • Cris Cohen
  • TEDxStaffordshireUniversity 2024 team
  • TEDxStaffordshireUniversity 2024 audience

All photographs attributed to Black Star Photography.

TEDxStaffordshireUniversity 2023

Our theme for 2023 was “Thinking through making”. Our audience enjoyed talks from: entrepreneur George Bettany, potter and TV presenter Keith Brymer Jones, Associate Professor and artist Anna Francis, animation student Sophie Jackman, Woolcool Managing Director Josie Morris MBE, social entrepreneur Darren Murinas, AI researcher and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Raheel Nawaz, journalist and fiction writer Gemma Louise-Walsh, and Artistic Director Clare Wood.

Watch 2023's talks
  • Staffordshire University events management students outside the catalyst building, they are all wearing black Ted x Staffordshire University tshirts.
  • Staffordshire University's Catalyst building lit up with the ted x Staffordshire University branding
  • Audience members enjoying the event.
  • The speaker's stage featuring large red 3D ted x letters, with the ted x Staffordshire University branding on the screens behind
  • Event presenter Martin Tideswell is standing on the stage, with ted x Staffordshire University branding behind him. He is holding a red book, and wearing a navy blue jumper and trousers.
  • Audience members at the event in the Catalyst Hall
  • Speaker George Bettany giving an enthusiastic talk at the ted x Staffordshire University event. George is tall with blonde hair. He is wearing a black top and shorts, white socks and running shoes.
  • Speaker Josie Morris during her speech. She has dark hair which is tied into a bun. She is wearing a grey woollen jumper, and multiple rings and bracelets.
  • Speaker Keith Bryner Jones standing on stage, with his arms and hands out stretched. He is wearing a tattersall checked shirt, mustard yellow tie and green tweed blazer. He is smiling.
  • Three audience members taking a selfie on a mobile phone during the interval.
  • Sophie Jackman is standing in the centre of the stage wearing a black hoodie, grey t-shirt and jeans. They have short brown hair and black glasses.
  • Clare Wood delivering her talk on the Ted x Staffordshire University Stage. She has short blonde hair and glasses. She is wearing a black pinafore style dress with a red shirt.
  • Professor Anna Francis delivers her talk from the Ted x Staffordshire University stage. She is wearing an orange dress and brown boots.
  • Darren Murinas is standing on a red rug on the ted x Staffordshire University stage, arms and hands outstretched. He is wearing Nike Dunk High top trainers, black glasses, a white t-shirt, a black jacket and trousers.
  • Gemma Louise Walsh is waving to the audience from the ted x Staffordshire University stage. She has short red hair and is wearing a blue vest top and jeans.
  • Professor Raheel Nawaz smiles out to the audience from the ted x Staffordshire University stage. He is wearing a Blue suit jacket and shirt with cream trousers. He has dark green ascot and matching pocket square.
  • Audience members looking to the stage.
  • Ted x Staffordshire University stage featuring two banners, one large digital screen and 3D signage.
  • Audience member looking towards the stage.
  • All the Ted x Staffordshire University speakers on stage. From left to right; Darren Murinas, George Bettany, Raheel Nawaz, Sophie Jackman, Anna Francis, Gemma Louise, Clare Wood, Keith Brymer Jones, Josie Morris
  • The Ted x Staffordshire University team wearing branded t-shirts on stage.
  • Staffordshire University Technical Services team on the stage, they are all wearing black Ted X Staffordshire univesity t-shirts.
  • Audience members taking photographs of the speakers at the end of the event

All photographs attributed to Black Star Photography.