TEDxHeaton

Speakers

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

• Adriana Welham

  Adriana Welham is a speaker, wellbeing educator, creator of immersive experiences, and co-founder of Vida Wellness Club, a wellness and fitness community dedicated to empowering women in midlife and beyond through movement, confidence, and connection. Originally from Venezuela and now based in the UK, Adriana’s international career has spanned journalism, publishing, photography, wellness, and public speaking. With more than 15 years of experience teaching movement and breathwork, Adriana is passionate about helping people reconnect with resilience, vitality, and self-belief. Her emotionally engaging speaking style is shaped by her background in storytelling and communication, alongside training through renowned speaker development programmes including Mindvalley’s Speaking & Influence Mastery. In 2026, she created and hosted Radiant at Every Age, a major women’s empowerment event celebrating the strength and potential of women in the second half of life. At TEDxHeaton, Adriana shares a powerful message that invites the audience to move beyond judgement and towards deeper understanding – both in their personal relationships and in the wider world.

• Dr Agnieszka Piotrowska

  Dr Agnieszka Piotrowska is an award-winning filmmaker, TEDx speaker, psychoanalytic scholar, and author whose work explores the intersection of creativity, ethics, human relationships, and technology. A three-time Emmy nominee, her films have been featured internationally on the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic, and at film festivals around the world. She is widely recognised for her acclaimed documentary Married to the Eiffel Tower and her pioneering work examining psychology, cinema, and human connection. Alongside her filmmaking, Agnieszka is an academic, mentor, and founder of Relational AI Consulting™, researching the emotional and ethical impact of artificial intelligence on human relationships. Her writing and speaking challenge audiences to think deeply about identity, intimacy, creativity, and what it means to be human in the age of AI. At TEDxHeaton, Agnieszka brings a thought-provoking perspective on storytelling, psychology, and the evolving relationship between humanity and technology.

• Farhana Bham

  Farhana Bham is a financial controller, licensed accountant, and founder of Pan Accounts, with over nine years’ experience helping businesses and organisations make sense of their numbers, strategy, and decision-making. Passionate about humanising finance, she brings a people-centred approach to leadership, financial literacy, and sustainable growth. Alongside her professional work, Farhana—also known creatively as Farhana Pandor—is a British poet whose writing explores identity, transformation, and the architecture of character. Her debut poetry collection, Flames from the Shadows, reflects her passion for storytelling, reflection, and personal growth. She also serves as a financial consultant for Africa 4 U CIC and has experience as a school governor, contributing to ethical leadership and community development initiatives. At TEDxHeaton, Farhana brings a unique blend of finance, creativity, and human insight—offering ideas that challenge audiences to rethink success, purpose, and the human side of leadership.

• Geoff Thompson MBE

  Geoff Thompson MBE will present The Fearless Warrior: How Sport Can Engage, Equip and Empower Young People and Communities Globally at TEDxHeaton — a powerful and deeply human exploration of sport, resilience, identity, and social transformation. Drawing on over three decades of experience spanning elite sport, youth empowerment, and global public service, Geoff challenges the idea that sport alone changes lives. Instead, he argues that when sport is combined with culture, education, mentorship, and purpose, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for social development and human potential. Through compelling stories from communities across the UK and internationally, Geoff explores how young people facing violence, exclusion, poor mental wellbeing, and limited opportunity can be engaged, equipped, and empowered through frameworks that build confidence, belonging, and life opportunity beyond the playing field. At the heart of the talk is a call to redefine what it means to be a “champion” in modern society. Inspired by the six principles of Muhammad Ali — confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality — Geoff presents a vision of the “Fearless Warrior” as a new generation of Social Coaches capable of transforming communities and shaping a more hopeful future.

• Josh Bennett

  Speak up founder

• Lara Oyedele

  Lara Oyedele is the CEO of Black on Board Ltd and former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing, recognised for her passionate advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and representation in executive leadership. Originally trained as a journalist, Lara is now a social entrepreneur, private landlord, mentor, and leadership advocate dedicated to empowering the next generation of women and underrepresented leaders. During her presidency of the Chartered Institute of Housing, her In My Shoes campaign drew on her lived experience—from homelessness to executive leadership—to challenge the lack of racial representation within social housing boardrooms. She was also the Founding Chair of BMENational and played a key role in developing housing support resources for migrant communities. At TEDxHeaton, Lara brings a powerful voice on leadership, resilience, representation, and breaking barriers—sharing ideas that inspire courage, inclusion, and meaningful social change.

• Matt Zina

  Matt Zina is a multi-award-winning acting coach, talent agent, author and entrepreneur from Bradford, West Yorkshire. Beginning his acting career at the age of eight, he went on to appear in British television productions including Heartbeat, A Touch of Frost and Emmerdale before dedicating his career to coaching and developing performers. Today, Matt is the Founder and CEO of Matt Zina Acting, a globally recognised screen acting organisation that has helped thousands of actors develop careers in television, film and commercial work. He is also the creator of the Trinity Acting Method, a performance system that combines mindset, technique and personal branding to help performers thrive in a highly competitive industry. A passionate advocate for working-class ambition and personal development, Matt’s work extends beyond acting. Through coaching, speaking, social media and his podcast, he explores the psychology of performance, confidence, resilience and success. His first major book, The Trinity Acting Method, became an Amazon bestseller and further established him as a leading voice in modern acting training. In this TEDx talk, Matt draws on his experiences growing up in Bradford, building a multi-award-winning business, and coaching thousands of people to challenge a common misconception: that manifestation is “woo-woo”. Instead, he explores how belief, attention, identity and behaviour interact to shape the opportunities we see and the lives we create. “Manifesting isn’t magic. It’s what happens when belief changes behaviour.”

• Nkeonye Akumah

  Nkeonye Akumah is a Product Management Leader passionate about building and scaling customer-centric digital solutions across the EdTech, FinTech, and Mobility sectors. With over a decade of experience transforming complex ideas into high-impact products, she combines strategy, technology, and human insight to create meaningful outcomes at scale. Throughout her career, Nkeonye has led cross-functional teams to launch products serving global audiences—from increasing international student enrolments across the UK, Europe, and Canada, to scaling mobility platforms to more than 40,000 customers and driving fintech adoption through innovative digital ecosystems. As a Lead Product Manager, she focuses on product vision, data-driven strategy, user-centred design, and building collaborative cultures that empower teams to innovate and grow. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, human behaviour, and global impact. At TEDxHeaton, Nkeonye brings an inspiring perspective on innovation, leadership, digital transformation, and how technology can be designed to genuinely serve people and communities.

• Pishdaad Modaressi

  Pishdaad Modaressi is a Bradford-based filmmaker and creative producer whose work explores storytelling, identity, culture, and the human experience through cinema and visual media. With over a decade of experience creating documentaries, music videos, and creative productions across the UK and internationally, his work is driven by a passion for meaningful stories that leave a lasting impact. Inspired by a family legacy of filmmaking that began with his father in Iran, Pishdaad uses film as a tool for connection, reflection, and social change. His projects have explored themes including mental health, migration, resilience, and community, combining cinematic creativity with emotional depth and cultural sensitivity. Alongside his creative work, he has collaborated on educational and community-based initiatives that empower young people to tell their own stories through film and visual storytelling. At TEDxHeaton, Pishdaad brings a powerful perspective on storytelling, creativity, and the role of film in shaping how we see ourselves and the world around us.

• Raj Soren

  Raj Soren is an award-winning coach, speaker, author, and leadership consultant with over 35 years’ experience across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and corporate training sectors. Drawing on decades of leadership experience and lifelong martial arts practice, Raj has developed a powerful approach to personal growth and resilience known as the “Black Belt Mindset.” Passionate about mental wellbeing, leadership, and human potential, Raj has coached leaders, entrepreneurs, NHS organisations, charities, and community groups to overcome stress, burnout, and self-doubt while building confidence, discipline, and purpose. He is also the founder of “Men, Let’s Talk,” a movement encouraging open conversations around mental health and resilience. At TEDxHeaton, Raj brings a deeply human and inspiring perspective on adversity, mindset, and transformation—sharing practical ideas to help people lead with courage, balance, and authenticity.

• Razwan Ul-Haq

  Razwan Ul-Haq is an internationally recognised Arabic calligrapher, artist, author, and QEST Scholar whose work explores the relationship between words, meaning, spirituality, and visual art. Inspired from childhood by his uncle, the renowned calligrapher Maulvi Fazal Azeem, Razwan has spent decades mastering and reimagining the classical traditions of Arabic and Persian calligraphy through a contemporary lens. His work has been featured by the BBC, Channel 4, The Times, and international media, with commissions ranging from Leeds City Art Gallery to large-scale public installations for the Tour de France and Bradford 2025. Blending traditional bamboo pens and hand-mixed inks with influences from philosophy, literature, mathematics, and meditation, Razwan’s art transforms language into an immersive human experience. At TEDxHeaton, Razwan brings a unique perspective on creativity, identity, and the hidden power of words—inviting audiences into a world where art becomes a bridge between cultures, ideas, and inner meaning.

• Shahid Islam

  Shahid is a Principal Research Fellow at the Bradford Institute for Health Research with a special interest in community-inclusive approaches, and also serves as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bradford. An award-winning researcher and community activist, Shahid is passionate about combining participatory research with grassroots action to create meaningful social change. His work has been featured in high-impact scientific journals, international policy discussions, and World Health Organization reports. In recognition of his contributions, he has received Bradford’s Community Star Award, the Chief Scientific Officer’s Excellence in Healthcare Science Research and Innovation Award, and Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). With over 30 publications and a growing international profile, Shahid’s work bridges science, policy, and lived community experience to help shape healthier and more inclusive societies. At TEDxHeaton, he brings an insightful perspective on research, collaboration, and the power of evidence-led social transformation.

• Sonya Kay

  Sonya Kay is an emerging journalist, media presenter, and youth engagement advocate passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices through powerful, human-centred storytelling. With academic backgrounds in International Journalism, Criminology, and Social Policy, her work explores the intersection of media, social justice, and community impact. Alongside training with the Centre for Investigative Journalism, Sonya has built experience across television, radio, and digital media, working with broadcasters including ITV and Channel 4, while also hosting her own Doncaster-based radio show. Her documentary Why We Fight, exploring the lives of combat fighters, received a nomination at the 2024 NASTA Awards. Beyond journalism, Sonya brings over 14 years of experience supporting marginalised communities and leading youth engagement initiatives for organisations including The King’s Trust. A BBC New Voices finalist and published writer, she believes storytelling has the power to create empathy, challenge narratives, and inspire change. At TEDxHeaton, Sonya shares a compelling perspective on voice, identity, media, and social impact.