TEDxLadywood Women

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• April Lamai

  Barrister

  April is an award-winning Barrister who prosecutes and defends in courts across England and Wales. Through her daily work representing some of the most vulnerable members of society, she has mastered the art of human connection and powerful advocacy. In 2023, April was personally invited by U.S. civil rights icon Rev. Al Sharpton to speak at the National Action Network Convention in New York, where she delivered a powerful talk on social justice alongside figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris. Her voice continues to echo across major UK platforms, from live commentary on BBC News to contributing insights in UK Parliament on increasing youth voter participation. After earning her law degree from Dublin City University, April began her career as a Financial Crime Analyst at GE before returning to her passion for justice and qualifying at the Bar, completing both the Bar Course and a Master's in Law simultaneously.

• Danielle Udogaranya

  Creative Technologist

  Danielle Udogaranya is Founder & CEO of EBONIX A true trailblazer at the intersection of gaming, tech, and culture, Danielle has spent nearly a decade pioneering authentic representation for Black players in games. Her Afrocentric custom content for The Sims 4 reshaped diversity in virtual spaces and empowered creators across the world. Her high-profile collaborations include The Sims, Dark & Lovely’s Play In Color initiative, and global brands such as Samsung, Meta, Xbox, Sky, and Farfetch. Recognised as one of HSBC’s Top 25 Black Entrepreneurs to Watch (2024). A respected thought leader, she has taken the stage at SXSW, London Games Festival, Afrotech, Devcom & Gamescom, and BAFTA, and served as a judge for the D&AD Awards, BAFTA Games Awards, and bCreator Awards. Through EBONIX, Danielle continues to inspire, educate, and champion cultural change, building a global community of creators while shaping the future of gaming and digital media.

• Emma Smallman

  Trauma Informed Yoga Instructor

  Emma is a trauma-informed yoga teacher, founder of the high-energy Drum n Bounce fitness brand, and a DJ and radio host. Originally from the Lake District, she has called Birmingham home for the past 16 years. With over 16 years’ experience in the criminal justice system and social welfare settings, Emma has built a unique career at the intersection of wellbeing and social justice, sharing movement and music everywhere from prisons to music festivals. Her work is all about creating space for connection, release, and inner transformation, whether on a yoga mat or a dance floor.

• Lauren Currie OBE

  Founder

  Lauren is the Founder of UPFRONT, an organisation on a mission to transform confidence, visibility, and power for 10 million women worldwide. Thousands of women from over 50 countries have graduated from The UPFRONT Bond, the flagship programme that has become the leading choice for women and organisations seeking to build confidence. UPFRONT’s client list includes Nike, Just Eat Takeaway, the Ministry of Defence, British Red Cross, and Pleo—cementing its impact as a genuine global movement. As a speaker, Lauren describes her approach as ensuring “everyone in the room will turn their own lights on.” She spent seven years as Chair of Pregnant Then Screwed, the leading maternity discrimination charity, and has been recognised by Elle Magazine as a woman changing the world and by Management Today as one of the UK’s top businesswomen under 35. In 2017, Lauren was awarded an OBE for services to design and diversity.

• Linda Spurdle

  Museums, Heritage and Culture Consultant

  Linda is a Museums, Heritage and Culture Consultant with over 20 years of experience leading senior digital roles across the sector. Originally from Wrexham, she moved to Birmingham in 2004 to work with Birmingham Museums, where her career began with a groundbreaking community digitisation project in East Yorkshire. This experience sparked her lifelong passion for personal heritage, local storytelling, and community engagement. Throughout her career, Linda has championed innovative ways for artists and audiences to collaborate with museums. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 50 Museum Influencers in the World by Blooloop, the global platform for visitor attractions professionals. Since 2022, she has served as a judge for the Blooloop Innovation Awards, while also contributing as an Industry Champion for the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, and as Chair of Vivid Projects, a Birmingham-based media arts organisation.

• Monique Powell

  Psychotherapist

  Monique is a dedicated Psychotherapist with over 13 years of experience supporting individuals to overcome mental health challenges and build resilience. She holds a degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Forensic Psychology, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Alongside her therapeutic practice, Monique leads Trekkers UK—a non-profit organisation that helps members of the global majority access green spaces and engage in outdoor activities to enhance mental, physical, and social well-being. Her work is rooted in culturally sensitive interventions, ensuring that both therapy and outdoor experiences are inclusive, empowering, and deeply relevant to the communities she serves. By blending evidence-based CBT techniques with the restorative benefits of nature and movement, Monique creates unique pathways for confidence, emotional strength, and lasting positive change — transforming lives well beyond the outdoors.

• Natalie Adele Edward-Yesufu

  Producer + Creative Leader

  Natalie is a multi-award-winning producer, creative leader, and CEO of Transition Stage Company, renowned for her bold approach to storytelling and innovation in the creative industries. A classically trained actor with a Master’s from the Birmingham Royal Conservatoire, she has appeared in BBC productions, produced over 50 new plays, three films, and secured international film funding across the UK and USA. Through her pioneering platforms, Enter.Stage.Write and StoryTown – Ideas You Own, Natalie has brought together hundreds of creatives and industry leaders each year, bridging storytelling, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property. Her work has earned her a Duke of Edinburgh TV Inclusion Award nomination with Disney, and collaborations with the BBC, BFI, Channel 4, and BAFTA-winning producers to champion underrepresented talent. In 2024, Natalie launched ELVÉ, an aspirational lifestyle and events company.

• Nikki Bhamra

  Former Senior Crime Investigator + Human Behaviour Expert

  A former Senior Crime Investigator and Human Behaviour Expert, Nikki spent over two decades on the frontline tackling serious and organised crime. In high-stakes environments where the truth wasn’t optional, she mastered the ability to spot deception, separate fact from fiction, and make critical decisions under pressure. Today, Nikki brings those same skills into the world of leadership, decision-making, and organisational culture, helping leaders and teams think sharply, question more deeply, and see what others miss. Highly Commended in the Booker’s Choice category at the National Speaker Awards 2025, Nikki is known for blending real-life investigative stories with powerful tools that transform how people think. In a world where fake news travels six times faster than the truth, Nikki’s message is clear: the future belongs to those who can see it

• Samantha Steele

  Musician + Educator

  Samantha Steele – a musician, educator, and creator of The Sonic Shift. From mastering both piano and violin to Grade 8 distinction, leading orchestras, and even performing for the late Queen Elizabeth II as a young musician, Samantha’s life has always been deeply rooted in music. She has spent nearly two decades teaching in secondary schools in the UK and abroad, bringing her love of music to the next generation. More recently, her work has turned toward exploring the powerful link between sound and mental health. Through The Sonic Shift, Samantha examines how our daily “audio diet” influences mood, focus, and wellbeing — showing how intentional listening can be a transformative tool for connection, balance, and self-discovery.

• Savannah Hanson

  Facilitator + Educator

  Savannah specialises in helping people step into the conversations most of us try to avoid. From generational differences to power dynamics, identity to change, she creates spaces where dialogue isn’t just brave — it’s transformative. By blending curiosity, radical empathy, and disarming honesty, Savannah helps people move beyond silence or shouting, towards real connection. Her expertise in media literacy, countering misinformation, and preventing digital radicalisation has taken her across Europe with the Radicalisation Awareness Network and onto live broadcasts with BBC News. But what truly sets Savannah apart is her mission. She knows most people aren’t lacking information — they’re overwhelmed by it. What we need are spaces to process what we see, ask better questions, and have braver conversations across divides. Savannah’s goal is simple but powerful: to build communities that are flatter, more curious, and more connected.