In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Aberdeen Music Hall
Union Street
Cults
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, AB10 1QS
United Kingdom

Aayan Khan

Student & TED Ed Speaker

Aayan is an aspiring law sudent, who is always looking new opportunities. He is currently studying at Aberdeen University studying law and Mandarin. His main hobby is basketball which he hopes to continue at University. Aayan also enjoys learning different ideologies along with their impact on current global affairs especially the religious side of such matters. Aayan was invited to revisit the big red dot after taking part in TED Ed Aberdeen 2023.

Angel George

Student & TED Ed Speaker

Angel is a S6 student at Bucksburn Academy, Aberdeen As an avid STEM lover with a passion for public speaking, Angel jumped at the opportunity to speak at TED-Ed Aberdeen 2023, where she presented a talk on The Power of AI in Streamlining Healthcare. Angel thoroughly enjoyed the experience which is why she was thrilled to be invited to speak again at TEDxAberdeen 2024. In her spare time, Angel enjoys playing piano, taking part in drama classes and volunteering at her local Guide unit. After finishing school, Angel hopes to study Medicine at University.

Birgit Itse

Story Architect

Birgit Itse, is an immigrant from Estonia who relocated to Aberdeen nearly five years ago. She is a story architect whose superpower is to turn messy thoughts into thoughtful messages. The author of five books, Birgit has contributed as a ghostwriter to memoirs and business books for others. Her work has been published in online journals, international anthologies, and on BBC Radio Scotland. Birgit is one of the co-founders of the only outdoor spoken word event in the North-east Scotland – Poetry in the Park.

Catriona Turner

Author & Editor

After several years abroad, author Catriona spends her days writing, editing for other authors, supporting her children and making the most of her new/old home of Aberdeen.

Chloe Watson

Sustainable Fashion Advocate

Chloe is an advocate for slow and sustainable fashion, and is on a mission to help women like her ‘break up’ with fast fashion. After aspiring to be a fashion influencer in her early twenties, Chloe felt that it was impossible to keep up with the amount of clothes other content creators in this niche were buying and promoting. In the last two years, she has started creating social media content about rejecting fast fashion, with the hope she can help others embrace a sustainable approach to style.

Dr Jennifer Riley

Research Fellow & Interdisciplinary Scholar

Dr Jennifer Riley, is an academic in the Divinity department at the University of Aberdeen. Jennifer is currently working on a Leverhulme Trust fellowship project exploring contemporary British ‘grave goods’– part of her broader research interests in death, dying, ritual and religion.

Edward Pollock

Global Startup Accelerator Leader

Edward leads a global startup accelerator, prior to that he was a university innovation manager, lecturer, event coordinator, elected student president, entrepreneur and charity founder. His eclectic experiences shape his identity as anything from an innovator to an entrepreneur, to a LEGO enthusiast, to an educator, and now TEDxAberdeen speaker.

Laura Bailey

Menstruality Mentor, Sex Educator & Body Casting Artist

Laura is a self-employed menstruality mentor, sex educator & body casting artist originally from North East England. She has lived in Scotland for most of her adult life, moving to Aberdeen at the end of 2014 she was told that ‘she’d either love it or hate it’. While her feelings may have swung between the two over the years, she has opted for the former having chosen to settle in Aberdeen.

Martyn Hickin

Business Leader

Martyn is a passionate professional from North East England. Growing up in a military family, he was instilled with discipline and strong family values from an early age – values he now passes onto his two children. Beyond his professional life, you will find Martyn on the golf course perfecting his swing.

Mirabel Obiekezi

Student & TED Ed Speaker

Mirabel is has a deep love for creativity. Whether she's experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, getting lost in a captivating book, or immersing herself in the world of films, Mirabel finds joy in exploring different forms of art. In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting intricate designs, allowing her imagination to guide me. Curiosity is at the heart of everything Miravbel does, and she's always eager to discover new ways to express it. Mirabel was selected to deliver a talk as part of the first TED Ed Aberdeen event in 2023 and is excited to be part of the TEDxAberdeen speaker line up.

Rose Owen

Facilitator, Speaker & Artist

Having spent most of her life in the Personal Development and Coaching industry, Rose is deeply interested in human psychology, particularly why people lie and what needs to change to create more honest environments. Drawing from her background in Medical Science (BSc), Psychology (PGCert), training in trauma-informed care (NARM™) and Lumina Spark® Psychometrics, she founded and teaches workshops at ‘The Wee Honesty Shed’ in Aberdeen. When Rose isn't curating events for the shed, she enjoys painting large palette knife landscapes or playing goofy games with her family.

Sarah Malone

Spiritual Engineer & Transformational Coach

Sarah is a spiritual engineer, transformational coach, and the creator of K3Uk Coaching. Her passion lies in empowering individuals to break free from limiting beliefs and discover their true potential. Through her innovative methods, like the Reverse Engineer Design (R.E.D.)™Method and Core Belief Decoding (C.B.D.)®, Sarah guides clients through deep personal and professional transformations. Overcoming her own challenges has fuelled her commitment to helping others reconnect with themselves, redefine their purpose, and manifest their deepest desires.

Steve Beedie

International Speaker & Author

Raised in a fractured home, Steve's experiences have led him from the battlefield to the stage. After serving four tours of duty, he returned home as a broken young man struggling with PTSD and depression, learning to mask his pain behind a facade. Today, Steve is an international speaker and author who shares his story honestly and courageously. His mission is to help others uncover the wisdom in their wounds and find hope in the darkest moments.