EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the return of an inspiring and motivating business event. 

TEDxWinchester returns for its second year in the city on June 17, 2023 and will feature local and national speakers and performers. 

The speakers come from the diverse worlds of geoscience, education, business, media, extreme adventure, technology, entertainment and design.

They will each deliver carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances that are ideas focused, with the aim of sparking debate with the audience. 

Jan Carlyle, TEDxWinchester curator and licensee, said: "There are many different voices and so much talent locally in and around Winchester, which makes curating TEDxWinchester an absolute joy. We’re so pleased these speakers said yes to our offer, and there are more to follow.”

The first five speakers are: 

Georgie Palmer, local broadcast journalist, communication skills specialist and autism advocate. Most well-known more recently as the anchor weather presenter and entertainment correspondent for BBC South, she has enjoyed a long career interviewing the rich and famous (among the many - Al Pacino, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig); there's nothing she loves more than meeting people. Georgie is also an avid year-round open water skins swimmer and is proud to be a trustee of pioneering swimming charity The Pinder Trust.

Professor Chris Jackson, director of sustainable geoscience at the engineering consultancy Jacobs and visiting professor of basin analysis at Imperial College London. Chris works in the general area of sedimentary basin analysis. When not studying rocks, Chris gives geoscience lectures to the public and in schools, having appeared on several, Earth Science-focused, television productions and podcasts. Chris is engaged in efforts to improve equality, diversity, and inclusivity in higher education.

Simon Terry is the joint managing director of the family business Anglepoise. He has been responsible for transforming the company into a dynamic, design-driven business, collaborating with Sir Kenneth Grange, Britain’s most successful industrial designer. He has also set up long-term collaborations with the fashion world including designers such as Margaret Howell and Paul Smith. Over the past 21 years, Simon has seen the business grow significantly, both in the retail and contract sectors with significant exports around the globe.

Shadi Ganjavian-Connor is an adventurer, philanthropist and working mum, who has undertaken some extraordinary challenges. Despite an extreme fear of heights and hatred of the cold, she has climbed many mountains including Mt Blanc, Mt Elbrus and the Matterhorn, and believes that stepping into your fears is the roadmap to success. She now inspires others to push through those boundaries and has led several teams on expeditions under extreme, even polar, conditions. Raising hundreds of thousands for good causes her aim is to make true change in the world happen.

Onyinye Udokporo is an entrepreneur, educator, dyslexic author, neurodiversity consultant and content creator. She is the founder and CEO of Enrich Learning, a business she started aged 12. Onyinye is passionate about education and is an advocate for neurodivergent people in school and the workplace. Her lived experience as a black dyslexic woman inspired her to write a book about how one can transition from survival mode to thrival mode even if they are neurodivergent. 

Georgie Palmer, Simon Terry and Shadi Ganjavian-Connor are all based in Winchester. 

Early bird tickets are on sale until December 16. Event date June 17, 2023.