Deesha Chandra

I work at the intersection of storytelling, learning, and systems change, helping big ideas find the audiences and investment they need to scale. As Impact Director at TEDxLondon, I champion stories that close equity gaps, advance human rights and gender justice, and accelerate climate solutions. Along with looking for new ways to engage audiences to take action on ideas they hear on our stage. I also curate on the Climate Curious, a podcast which offers a hopeful lens on the climate emergency. At the Landscape Finance Lab, I work to make complex nature and climate finance accessible, connecting practitioners with the private capital needed to restore nature at scale. Recently co-founded XEQUALS Studios, alongside Maryam Pasha and Rebecca Menzies, a creative studio designing and producing new forms of storytelling for social change. My background spans learning design, peer-led knowledge networks, and startup incubation, with organisations including WWF, Impact Hub, and Common Purpose.

Restoration, justice and community-led change

“Ubuntu” the universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. Chris Abani’s talk on compassion and humanity is something that has inspired the importance of every day acts of compassion, community and solidarity in my work and life.

Singing (slightly out of practice now!)