Theme: THINK

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).

University of Stirling
Stirling, Stirling
United Kingdom

Adrian Astier

drian Astier is a Frenchman with a masters in the pathobiology of aquatic animals and a keen interest in biometrics. Growing up in tropical Réunion, Adrian explored his garden in search of new animals and the next sturdy branch to build his tree house on. As his thirst for adventure and the outdoors grew, he left home at the age of fourteen to the Republic of South Africa, where he spent his youth in a boarding school. Later on, Adrian followed his passion for animals in Grahamstown and graduated with a BSc (Hons) in ichthyology and fisheries science at Rhodes University. He continued his education through the master course in pathobiology of aquatic animals at the University of Stirling.

Charles de Maleville

In the early 90s, Charles and Marion de Maleville both started their careers in the corporate world of finance at General Electric where they subsequently met and fell in love. Through several years travelling through Europe and the US on work assignments, a wanderlust was born. In the summer of 2002 the inspiring couple impulsively embarked on an unplanned cycling route that took them to places like Quito, Bangkok and Kolkata, right through the Andes and through some of the worlds most crowded cities in Asia. During their adventure they got married but quickly resumed their cycling straight away, completing an impressive total of 16,000 miles before settling back in France in the summer of 2004.

Chris Johnstone

With a background in medicine, psychology, groupwork and coaching, Chris Johnstone is a specialist in the psychology of resilience, happiness and positive change. After working for many years as an addictions specialist in the NHS, he now focuses on coaching, writing and training, particularly through the new distance learning programme he has set up at The Centre for Resilience, Happiness and Positive Change.

David Coleman

David Coleman is an author and performance improvement specialist, with almost 30 years of experience in both directing and advising well-known organisations, both in the UK and overseas. David has built a solid reputation for his leadership on the popular subject of ‘staff engagement’ and his great ability to draw out the potential within teams and individuals alike. His recently released book, ‘The Path of Engagement’, is a step-by-step guide for those wanting to develop passion and optimism for their work, in order to make life much more fulfilling. His experience as an original member of UK’s first contact centre in 1982, founding an international consultancy in 1994 and occupying leadership roles within prime global brands such as HSBC, Standard Life and Aviva, have provided David with a unique knowledge of leadership best practices and state of the art communication skills.

Jade Armstrong

Jade Armstrong is a Business Studies and Marketing student at the University of Stirling. Agreeing with Van Gogh that she’d ‘rather die of passion than of boredom’, and a belief that ‘anything is possible’ are her mantras. These drove her to progress some exciting opportunities. After embarking on her degree in 2011, Jade volunteered as President of Stirling University Business Club. Simultaneously, she assisted entrepreneurs start-up and develop their companies at the University’s Business Incubator, while pursuing entrepreneurial ideas of her own.

Kerry McCarthy

Kerry McCarthy is a radio presenter and programme maker who has been vegan for over a decade and offers vegan news and advice on her popular YouTube channel ‘Kerry McCarpet’. She has worked on BBC Radios 2, 3, 4 and 5 Live, LBC and various local stations, BBC and commercial. Despite the growth of veganism in recent years there is still a lack of awareness surrounding the relationship between a plant-based diet and our bodies, which Kerry will delve into, and as well as give us a comprehensive look into just how beneficial veganism can be for ourselves, the animals and the planet. Her witty and knowledgeable videos have made her account a favourite within the online vegan community and allowed her to travel around the UK delivering speeches on veganism, to vegans, vegetarians and omnivores alike.

Kerry ten Kate

Kerry ten Kate is currently the director of Forest Trends’ Biodiversity Initiative and the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Programme (BBOP): a consortium of over 70 companies, banks, government agencies and NGOs working for no net loss of biodiversity in the context of development projects. She has been working for Forest Trends for a productive 12 years, striving to succeed in the company's mission: to maintain, restore, and enhance forests and connected natural ecosystems which provide life-sustaining processes, by promoting incentives stemming from a broad range of ecosystem services and products.