Theme: Work and Identity in the 21st Century

As society and technology progresses, the way in which we see ourselves and how we relate to others is changing more rapidly than ever before. At TEDx Keele University we will have a range of speakers exploring different perspectives and questions raised by this issue. How are we responding now that one job no longer defines us for life? What does the changing nature of work mean for how and where people live? What does the future offer artists and creatives?

Smart Innovation Hub
Keele University
Keele
NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG
United Kingdom

Allison Gardner

Programme Director Data science Degree Apprenticeship at Keele University

Allison lectures at Keele University in Bioinformatics and Data Science and is the Programme Director for the Data Science Degree Apprenticeship. She is a co-founder of Women Leading in AI. Her research is primarily focused on algorithmic bias; gender and computing; AI Ethics and Governance of AI. She works on the IEEE P7000 Global Initiative on the Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems and the ISO standard on Artificial Intelligence. She speaks internationally on AI Ethics, the need for diversity in tech and the potential regulation and governance of AI. Allison acts as a consultant for a variety of companies on the ethical design of autonomous and intelligent systems and development of algorithmic impact assessments. She is also a district councillor and an alumnus of the first cohort of the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Programme.

Charlie Ball

Head of HE Intelligence, Prospects

Dr Charlie Ball is the Head of Higher Education Intelligence at Graduate Prospects, the UK sector agency charged with the support of higher education careers and employability provision, where he is the specialist on UK graduate employment and the skilled jobs market. Charlie publishes and speaks extensively on all issues on the graduate and postgraduate labour market, and works extensively with quantitative data on graduates. He is a member of steering groups and advisory boards for a number of UK sector organisations, including the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS), the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), AdvanceHE and the Office of National Statistics, as well as sitting in the Institute of Student Employers’ research advisory group. He works with many other organisations and on numerous projects with an interest in graduate employment and employability and is a Fellow of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling (NICEC).

Gabriella Gay

Stoke Roaming Poet

Gabriella K A Gay is a mother, teacher, business owner and writer who channels her feelings about place, politics, identity and the everyday into passionate poems full of colour and rhythm. Born in Trinidad, raised in London but made in Stoke-on-Trent, Gabriella is passionate about the potential of the area. Aged eighteen she moved to Staffordshire to read English Literature and Psychology at Keele University; she left with a first class degree, a newborn baby and a nomination for Student of the year 2007. Since graduating Gabriella's writing practice has been rooted in community. She is the founder of Stoke's roaming poets, a group of local poets who take poetry to the streets. Gabriella has headlined poetry nights around the country and is regularly commissioned to write for or organise poetry events. A trustee of the New Vic Theatre, a cultural advocate and strong believer in the power of the spoken word she was the local poet in residence for Voices Nationwide.

Greg Wade

Policy Manager, Universities UK

Greg Wade is a policy manager at Universities UK leading on Innovation, growth, employability and skills. This work includes the Higher Education Innovation Fund, the economic impact of universities, English devolution and local growth, supply and demand for graduates and degree apprenticeships. During his career at Universities UK Greg has led policy in areas such as leadership, management and governance, teaching and learning, teacher education and better regulation. Before joining us Greg worked as a policy adviser in the predecessor to GuildHE, the Standing Conference of Principles leading on areas that included quality, estates, human resources and international issues.

Iwi Ugiagbe-Green

Senior Teaching Fellow at Leeds University Business School

Iwi has worked in a varied range of business and management roles in Higher Education since graduating from University of Huddersfield in 2000. She worked in higher education as a management accountant, financial accountant and tax accountant before moving into academia in 2008. Since then she has taught most areas of accounting and finance (specialising in management accounting) at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the UK, Hong Kong and China. Iwi is an early career researcher and holds a PhD in Accounting Education from University of Leeds; she is a strong advocate of research informed teaching. Before taking up her current appointment at Leeds University Business School, Iwi was a Course Director for postgraduate accounting and finance programmes at Leeds Beckett University.

James Lowenberg-DeBoer

Professor of Land, Farm and Agribusiness Management, Harper Adams University

Prof. Lowenberg-DeBoer has over 30 years of worldwide experience in agricultural research, teaching, outreach and leadership. His research focuses on the economics of agricultural technology. He has published 82 articles in refereed journals, two books and chapters in seven other books. He currently serves as co-editor of the journal Precision Agriculture. He is a pioneer in the use of spatial regression in analysis of crop sensor data with published work in this area from the U.S., Argentina and South Africa. From 2004-2015 he was the Associate Dean and Director of the Purdue International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA). From 2007-2015 he led the Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2012 he was made a Chevalier of the National Order by the government of Burkina Faso for his work improving food security in the country in PICS. From 2000-2006 he was director of the Purdue Site-Specific management center.

Martin Edmundson

CEO Gradcore

CEO of Gradcore, specialising in graduate recruitment, employment and employability, with the aim of maximising graduate potential for organisations, universities and places. Director of the Institute of Student Employers (formerly AGR) with particular responsibility for supporting policy and research at the Institute. Wide range of experience and skills, gained from working across the public, private and third sectors. Track record of delivery in both graduate recruitment and Higher Education. Founder of the Graduate Employment Conference, and experienced public speaker having contributed to graduate recruitment and employability conferences in the UK, Europe and the US.