TEDxFrensham 2022
Human Together: Celebrating the Kaleidoscope
On Saturday 30th April 2022, we held our second TEDxFrensham event. Speakers were chosen to represent areas of society, culture, education and science that could benefit from diversity of thought and humanity. The event presented multiple issues and a diversity of voices sharing stories to challenge and shape our thinking as a strong community that can make a difference in the world, through our collective humanity.
2022 Speakers
Matt + Fiona
MATT+FIONA is a collaborative venture between architect Matthew Springett and educator Fiona MacDonald which responds to the question - how many young people look around them and feel that they have a say in what they see? We ask young people how their built environment might be improved and empower them to bring that vision to life.
Steven Frank
Steven Frank was born in 1935 into a secular Jewish family in Amsterdam. With the outbreak of the war the family decided to remain in Holland. Steven’s father joined the Dutch resistance and helped many people escape but in 1942 he was betrayed and sent to Auschwitz where he was gassed. Steven and his mother and brother were taken to Barneveld and then Westerbork. In September 1944 they were sent to Theresienstadt where the whole family miraculously survived.
TEDxFrensham 2018
The Future is Bright
On Saturday 29th September 2018, we hosted our very first TEDxFrensham event — an inspiring day that brought together ideas, voices, and perspectives under the hopeful theme “The Future is Bright.” Throughout the day, a rich mix of speakers shared personal stories, bold ideas, and thought-provoking insights, all designed to challenge assumptions and inspire action. From scientific innovation to social impact, from education to equality, each talk reinforced a shared belief that the future shines brightest when we lead with humanity.
Andrew Fisher
Andrew Fisher, former Headmaster of a progressive independent school, asks us to challenge the politicising of education. Why do we accept the constant assessing of our children? Why do we deny it is damaging them? Instead, we blame the increase in anxiety and mental health problems on their lack of robustness and grit.
Charlie Mackesy
Through his passion for drawing, artist Charlie Mackesy challenges us to abandon the idea of being good. Instead have the courage to draw, sing, play from your heart, from your emotions. And if we do this together, we build connections, we start communicating, we start belonging, we start to have a community.
I Speak Music
Music educator and composer Jim Pinchen, viola player Raghad Haddad and the I Speak Music Orchestra come together to show us that through rhythm and music we can break down barriers of politics, language and culture and create something unique and magical: a community. A team of talented and enthusiastic professional musicians and supporters working with vulnerable and ‘newly arrived’ young people.
James Christian
Architect James Christian shares his forward-thinking design process, touching on user-centred design and design for children's​ mental health facilities. Working under the ethos of ‘fantastic pragmatism’, Projects Office embrace user engagement, storytelling and the use of narrative to create environments anchored in their unique social and cultural contexts.
Laura Kischel
Cognitive neuroscientist Laura Kischkel is working to overcome cultural​ differences and environmental difficulties to take the latest neuroscientific technology to rural Africa to gain an insight into how we can strengthen infant brain development in The Gambia and other low resource areas. Laura's interest lies in understanding how human cognition first develops during infancy and early childhood.
Shafina Vohra
During her early experiences in teaching, PhD candidate and Psychology teacher Shafina Vohra found herself with a room full of students bored by science. Rather than plodding through the textbook, she took a risk and got them using their hands, learning with their hands. This made her realise the power of hands-on learning.
Tom Doust
Educator and social innovator Tom Doust shows us the importance and power of mind-wandering. The best ideas come when we allow our minds to wander. Our imagination grows stronger allowing us to be more resilient and responsive to the rapidly changing world. A social innovator, Tom Doust has spent his 16 year career designing and delivering creative multi-stakeholder programmes with children, young people, families, schools and communities across the education, design and cultural sectors.