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).

Presentation Suite
KPMG
15 Canada Square
London, London, City of, E14 5GL
United Kingdom

Becci Fearnley

Poet and Spoken Word Educator

Becci Louise is a Poet and Spoken Word Educator living and working in the South East of England. She has collaborated with SPOKE, Apples and Snakes and Creative People on various projects since 2014 and, in 2015, received Arts Council funding for her first Spoken Word show ‘A City of Foxes’, which won the Reading Fringe Festival ‘Fringe’ award. Her first complete collection, ‘Octopus Medicine’, is due for release in September 2017. Becci’s project ‘The Wife and the Sex Robot’ considers the implications of growing Artificial Intelligence Technology, and how it is being used, for gender relations and a society that already objectifies woman, and where we draw the line between human and machine.

Chris Sheldrick

Co-Founder and CEO, what3words

Starting his career in artist management at IMG Artists, Chris went on to found and run two international live music businesses for 12 years, managing production for large scale events around the globe. Seeing an opportunity to optimise logistics initially within the international production industry, Chris conceived what3words in January 2013, bringing on board cofounders Jack Waley-Cohen and Mohan Ganesalingam. Chris has grown the business to a 35-strong team and was awarded the 2016 EY British Accelerating Entrepreneur. Chris holds a BMus from King’s College London and the Royal Academy of Music.

Ed Klinger

CEO, Flock

Ed recently graduated from Cambridge University’s Technology Policy (MPhil) programme, where he published various papers on autonomous vehicles, government policy for artificial intelligence, and the future of the drone industry. He went on to become the CEO of Flock, a London-based Big-Data startup that aims to quantify, minimise, and insure drone flight risks. Ed regularly gives talks about Big Data, smart mobility, the future of cities, and disruptive technologies, and is a diehard technology optimist.

Isobel Obeng

People & Change, KPMG

Isobel is passionate about the power of entrepreneurship to change the lives of young people in emerging markets. She joined KPMG in 2014 and sits within the People & Change Advisory practice. Since joining KPMG, she has supported a wide range of public and private sector clients in improving the ways they manage their workforces. Outside of her day-to-day role, Isobel is a strong diversity advocate and is passionate about how technology can be utilised to improve small business capability in emerging markets.

Joshua Hasdell

Audit, KPMG

Josh joined KPMG’s South Coast office in 2015 on their Audit Graduate Programme. Josh went to Southampton University where he obtained a First Class Master’s degree in Marine Biology which enabled him to work across the world in various research and teaching roles. Alongside his studies Josh was head of the University’s Enactus Team, which ran over 15 social enterprises and was recognised as Enactus World Champion in 2015 at the KPMG sponsored Enactus World Cup. Josh is a passionate advocator of the oceans and all its animals and proudly supports Sustainable Development Goal 14.

Julie Chakraverty

Founder, Rungway

Julie Chakraverty is the founder of Rungway, the new mentoring app to give and get workplace advice. She also serves as the Senior Independent Director at Aberdeen Asset Management where she is Chairman of the Risk Committee. She has extensive board level experience within the financial services sector, and is also a Trustee for the Girls Day School Trust. Julie was previously an executive at UBS Investment Bank where she won industry awards for innovation every year between 2001-2009 for her “CreditDelta” technology product. In 2006 she was named in Management Today’s ‘Top 35 Women Under 35’. In 2013 she was recognised in The Times newspaper as the youngest female director of a FTSE-100 company, aged 41.

Kaveh Fatemian

Founder, Inspired4Life

Kaveh joined KPMG in 2011 and is based in the Audit practice. Kaveh has set up a charitable project called Inspired4Life which uses sport and breaking World Records to Beat Cancer, Inspire Kids & Promote Sport. The project is on its way to raising £10m and working to help inspire 50,000 school children. Kaveh is also heavily involved in the community: helping to set up and fund numerous sports clubs, coaching football and marital arts, writing and delivering a Health Week program for Primary Schools, and mentoring. Kaveh is also a Campaign Ambassador for Cancer Research UK, a role which involves liaising with MPs and discussing topical issues with the media.

Maryam Pasha

Imposter Syndrome Enthusiast

Maryam Pasha’s mission is to give life to ideas. The world is full of fascinating ideas, but they are often complex, hidden away or poorly communicated. Maryam wants to give these ideas the chance to change the world. As well as founding , curating and hosting TEDxEastEnd, she is the Director of X Equals Productions, which works with clients to produce and curate events, as well as coaching individuals and businesses in public speaking techniques to help them learn how to communicate their ideas most effectively. Maryam has an undergraduate degree from McGill University and a Master’s degree in refugee care. In her spare time Maryam writes about imposter syndrome and campaigns for the rights of migrants and refugees.

Mat Baker

Musician

Based in KPMG’s Tax Department in Leeds, music has always been one of Mat’s passions. Throughout university he would perform weekly at social events and weddings, gaining good practice and experience for his musical side-career. His biggest performance was in the Blackpool Tower Circus ring to over 1,000 people, where he also got to play at the top of the tower! Mat’s style involves using a ‘loop pedal’, a piece of live musical equipment that allows him to record what he is currently performing and play it back to the audience multiple times. He then has the ability to record over this again; creating and building a live backing track to use when singing.

Michael Hastings

Global Head of Citizenship, KPMG

Lord Dr Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE is Global Head of Citizenship for KPMG International. After an extremely successful career in broadcast media and public policy, covering employment, education and politics, he became the BBC’s head of Public Affairs and then its first head of Corporate Social Responsibility. In 2003 he was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for services to crime reduction and in 2005 was awarded an independent peerage to the House of Lords. In the same year he received the UNICEF Award for his outstanding contribution to understanding and effecting solutions for Africa’s children. More recently, Lord Hastings was conferred with a Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury in recognition for his leadership at KPMG, the BBC and for his work in international development and corporate responsibility.

Rasheeda Page-Muir

Founder & CEO, RevolYOUtion

Rasheeda Page-Muir is a poet, community organiser and writer from South London. Growing up with rap music, pan-African and feminist thinking shaped much of her social and political perspectives. She is passionate about debunking white supremacist and patriarchal narratives that permeate many dominant spaces through poetry and conversations.

Selina Shi

Musician

Selina joined the Pensions Actuarial team at KPMG in 2011 after graduating from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Although being trained as an actuary, she has also taken advantage of various career opportunities within the firm, such as secondments in the Management Consulting modelling team and the International Markets & Government Leadership team. Passionate about dance, music and art, she enjoys sharing that love with others - after all music makes the world a better place. Selina has had some amazing opportunities to share her passion, including dancing at the o2 Arena and performing music at various events.

Tom Williams

Global COO, parkrun

Tom Williams has a B.Sc. in Human Biology, Exercise & Health, and a M.Sc. in Sport & Exercise Science. Having spent over 20 years working & studying in the areas of physical activity, exercise, sport, and human performance, he now oversees global operations for the world’s largest running-event series. As Chief Operating Officer of parkrun he is ultimately responsible for the delivery of over 1,100 running events, every single week, across 15 countries, all of which are free to participate in and open to all, regardless of age, ability, or social status. He is also an accomplished endurance athlete and has completed over 20 marathons, multiple ultra-marathons, and seven Iron-distance triathlons.