Akua Gyamfi has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, with a career spanning fashion, film, television, theatre, print, and online media.
Akua Gyamfi
Boundary leaping creative
Our speakers
Francesca Martinez
Comedian, actress
Francesca is a comedian, writer, actress and speaker who has toured the globe with her award-winning stand-up shows. Her comedy career started in 2000 when she became the first and only woman to win the Open Mic Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. She has performed in many countries, including alongside Emma Thompson at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
From 2011 onwards, she toured her award-winning show What The **** Is Normal?! around the world, clocking up 140 dates. In 2016, she supported Frankie Boyle on his sell-out UK tour and was commissioned to write a new comedy show Francesca Martinez’s Wobbly Manifesto for performance at museums around the UK. Francesca has cerebral palsy but much prefers the word ‘wobbly’.
Since starring in five series of BBC’s Grange Hill in the 1990s, Francesca has made numerous TV appearances including BBC2’s Extras opposite Kate Winslet and Ricky Gervais. She has also appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show, Loose Women and Question Time.
A regular commentator on TV and radio, Francesca delivers motivational and after-dinner speeches across the globe. In 2005, she was nominated for the Motivator of the Year Award along with Sir Bob Geldof. Francesca has recorded a popular Tedx talk and received a standing ovation from the Cambridge Union.
She has an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University “for making Britain a more compassionate and fairer society”, and a second honorary doctorate from Bradford University “for her contributions to equality, inclusive thought and social commentary”.
Alex is an experienced panel facilitator and host whose keynote speeches draw upon his experience of building coaching-based development programmes for top organisations globally.
Alex Bell
Turning vision to strategy
Alex is an inspirational and candid speaker on topics such as the future of the workplace, women in tech and threats of automation and AI.
Alex Depledge MBE
Tech, sharing economy
The hugely versatile Alistair McGowan is an impressionist, actor, writer, stand-up comedian and, latterly, environmentalist.
Alistair McGowan
Impressionist, environmentalist
An intellectual with a natural ability to make her subjects accessible, Anna is interested in economic systems change and has significant experience of speaking in the corporate and…
Anna Fielding
Rethinking economics
Bill is a leading global campaigner for digital ethics, focusing on the right balance between cybersecurity, privacy, and economic value.
Bill Mew
Digital ethics expert
A best selling author and tech leader, Bruce has become one of the most respected thought leaders on the subject of workplace culture and the future of work.
Bruce Daisley
Work futurist
Catherine Mayer is a bestselling author, journalist and activist. She is the co-founder and President of the Women’s Equality Party.
Catherine Mayer
Equality activist
As a child Cecilia saw children living on the streets of Rio, fuelling her passion for international development and social enterprise.
Cecilia Crossley
Business with purpose
Founder of Change Please, a coffee company that trains formerly homeless people as baristas whilst also providing wraparound support with housing, finances and therapy.
Cemal Ezel
Homelessness businessman
Inspired by her grandmother, Charlie Blair runs a business focused on healthy, happy ageing through hip hop dance.
Charlie Blair
Healthy ageing heroine
Charlie Luxton is an architectural designer, writer and television presenter who is passionate about the environment and communicating his enthusiasm for sustainable architecture and eco-friendly design.
Charlie Luxton
Architectural designer
A confident and personable speaker with a warm demeanour, Charly is passionate about gender equity, education, mentoring and the rights of girls and young women.
Charly Young
Gender equity leader
Chris lost his lower arm and leg whilst clearing landmines for a charity in Africa. A truly international motivational speaker who helps people step beyond what they thought possible.
Chris Moon
Motivational leader
Passionate about empowering people from disadvantaged backgrounds through business, Colin has specialist skills in international development, delivering strategies to support the UNSDGs, micro-finance, social business and sustainable supply…
Colin Downie
Better business expert
After shooting to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, Daliso has established himself on the comedy circuit and is a prolific fiction writer.
Daliso Chaponda
Comedian, writer
Darren is fast becoming one of Britain’s more famous comedians, with an increasing number of tv, radio and podcast appearances under his belt.
Darren Harriott
Trailblazing comedian
Children in care have enough baggage – just not the kind that provides them with dignity. Dave Linton set out to do something about it.
Dave Linton
Loving luggage man
One of the world’s most widely recognised sports personalities, David Coulthard is a former Formula 1 Grand Prix driver, television broadcaster, author and entrepreneur.
David Coulthard
Former F1 driver
MP for Tottenham and Shadow Foreign Secretary, David is also one of the leading agenda setters in the fields of social activism, diversity and multiculturalism.
David Lammy MP
Diversity proponent
David is one of the world’s 50 most important marketing thinkers according to the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
David Taylor
Branding expert
Desiree Burch is a NY comedian, writer and actor who has firmly established herself as one of the break out comic stars in the UK.
Desiree Burch
Comedian, actor
One of the FT’s Top Ten BAME tech leaders, Anne-Marie runs a social enterprise and is currently Countdown’s resident arithmetician.
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon
Tech social entrepreneur
Known for his own unique brand of authentic ‘insultancy’, Ed Gillespie is a writer, communications specialist, serial entrepreneur and futurist.
Ed Gillespie
Futurist and transformer
Emma Dabiri is an Irish-Nigerian broadcaster, historian and bestselling author exploring our understanding of race in the multiple and complex histories of class, capitalism, and colonialism
Emma Dabiri
Broadcaster, historian
The first comedian of Bangladeshi heritage to appear on shows like Mock the Week and QI, Eshaan is also an accomplished radio presenter and writer.
Eshaan Akbar
Comedian, writer
Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated Australian stand up whose fast-paced, warm sets cover everything from health and wellbeing, feminism, parenting, modern life and everything in between
Felicity Ward
Comedian
Francesca is a wobbly comedian, writer, actress and speaker who has toured the globe with her award-winning stand-up shows.
Francesca Martinez
Wobbly comedian
An award winning broadcaster, podcaster, journalist and writer, the former BBC man can offer insights into leadership, citizenship and identity.
Gavin Esler
Former BBC journalist
Gemma Cairney is an award-winning broadcaster, youth rights activist and author who is passionate about empowering young people.
Gemma Cairney
Broadcaster, youth rights
Geoff Lloyd is a radio and TV broadcaster best-known for his multi award-winning shows for Virgin/Absolute Radio where he worked between 1999 and 2017.
Geoff Lloyd
Cheerfulness broadcaster
Hayley Mulenda is a multi-award winning international speaker, author and agent of change who has spoken to tens of thousands of people across the world, sharing her story on…
Hayley Mulenda
Mental health motivator
Hera is the Founder and CEO of CHAYN – a global nonprofit that creates resources on the web to address gender-based violence.
Hera Hussain
Gender violence activist
Jacqueline is one of the UK’s most senior figures in tech and focuses on helping tech leaders to provide proactive and practical opportunities that encourage diversity and inclusion.
Jacqueline de Rojas
Titan of tech
Jake and Hannah are widely known as the UK’s foremost ‘Transgender Power Couple’; passionate speakers on gender, equality and diversity.
Jake and Hannah Graf
Gender, equality, diversity
Now regularly seen on TV acting and telling jokes, Jessica is also a prolific podcaster. She’ll be touring new show ‘Wench’ in 2022.
Jessica Fostekew
Comedian, actor
Jim Cregan does business differently. An iced coffee zealot, Jim believes in the power of young people and keeping your chin up.
Jim Cregan
Keeping chins up
Joel Bird is a shed builder, garden designer, and presenter for The Great Garden Revolution (Channel 4).
Joel Bird
Shed lover, gardener
In little more than five years, Jordan Schwarzenberger has become one of the new kings of online content and talent management.
Jordan Schwarzenberger
New media expert
Josh Turner is the founder of multi award winning social enterprise Stand4 Socks, changing the world one pair of socks at a time.
Josh Turner
Social entrepreneur
The CEO and creator of the UK’s leading childcare charity and social enterprise London Early Years Foundation, June is an inspiring speaker, author and regular media commentator on early…
June O’Sullivan
Child welfare campaigner
Karen Blackett OBE, is a renowned and proven business leader with a track record in creating vibrant cultures, energising teams and consistently delivering business growth and success.
Karen Blackett
Business growth expert
Karen has long standing experience in the world of social enterprise – purpose led businesses that have a positive social or environmental aim.
Karen Lynch
Social entrepreneur
Karen regularly speaks about the potential of social businesses to bring lasting change that works for organisations, individuals and society.
Karen Mattison
Flexible working foodie
Kevin McCloud is best known for the internationally acclaimed series Grand Designs, which has been running on Britain’s Channel 4 for 15 years.
Kevin McCloud
Architecture champion
Kim is an articulate and thoughtful speaker who combines a passion for social justice with considered and serious insight into issues around education.
Kim Rihal
Education radical
Laura Bates is a best-selling author, keynote speaker and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, an ever-increasing collection of over 100,000 testimonies of gender inequality.
Laura Bates
Everyday sexism activist
Experienced in the realities of marrying social change goals with business, Liam is also insightful on leadership and mental health.
Liam Black
Peace, love, profit
Able to clearly demonstrate the connection between employee engagement and high levels of customer advocacy. Linda got lots of seats filled for the London Olympic Games and Virgin Atlantic.
Linda Moir
Queen of customer service
A multi award winning entrepreneur and government advisor, Liv’s speaking topics take in how business can be a force for good and women in leadership.
Liv Sibony
Better business backer
Having had several high profile leadership roles, the former runner brings the same energy and passion to all his work – qualities which captivate his audiences the world over.
Lord Sebastian Coe
Leadership, resilience.
An authority on social care and healthcare, Lord Adebowale is also a champion of social enterprise for a fairer, more equal society.
Lord Victor Adebowale
Social care supremo
A trailblazing business leader who has taken on the biggest jobs in television, Lorraine has plenty to share about leadership, work culture and mental health.
Lorraine Heggessey
The first lady of TV
Louis Theroux is a documentary presenter best known for producing immersive documentaries that explore the often controversial and complex aspects of the human condition.
Louis Theroux
Documentary maker
The co-founder of food waste tackling beer makers Toast Ale loves to speak about carbon footprints and the circular economy.
Louisa Ziane
Environmentalist, brewer
Marie co-founded Goldfinger, an award-winning social enterprise that crafts beautiful furniture and objects from reclaimed and sustainable materials, benefitting people and planet.
Marie Cudennec
ECO CEO of Goldfinger
A much loved stand-up comedian who is a regular on panel shows such as QI and Mock the Week, Mark has also raised money for food banks with 24…
Mark Watson
Comedian, author
A man who believes in giving people a second chance by employing them, Matt’s speaking topics include dealing with risk and changing lives with business.
Matt Parfitt
Second chance giver
After a 25 year career in marketing and communications, spent much of his career driving transformation through creative agencies and clients alike, from brand, culture and organisational change
Michael Frohlich
Company transformer
One of Britain’s most recognised faces, Michelle has presented many consumer rights television programmes and is an ambassador for two charities.
Michelle Ackerley
Television presenter
Nicola Green is a critically acclaimed artist and social historian, and expert on identity, race, allyship and inclusion.
Nicola Green
Identity expert, artist
Best known as the Sinnerman on the hugely popular ITV quiz show ‘The Chase’, Paul has been a successful comedian for a number of years.
Paul Sinha
‘The Sinnerman’
Former Executive Secretary of South Africa’s post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Paul works for social change in a multitude of ways.
Paul Van Zyl
Social change convener
An expert on how business can create a better world for everyone, Peter is a very experienced speaker who has hosted conferences, debates and awards ceremonies.
Peter Holbrook
CEO, Social Activist
Heidi and Phil once worked for big brands on their marketing. Now they help brands, business and nonprofits think and behave more like social enterprises.
Phil White & Heidi Schoeneck
Brand builders, change makers
Professor Nicola Rollock is an academic, consultant and public speaker specialising in racial justice in education and the workplace.
Prof. Nicola Rollock
Racial justice consultant
Rachel is is a leading figure in physical and creative activities that improve wellbeing, and an award winning entrepreneur.
Rachel Conlisk
Creative wellbeing champion
Originally from Sheffield, the Reverend Kate Bottley is a priest in North Nottinghamshire. Since appearing on Gogglebox, she’s also a broadcaster.
Rev Kate Bottley
Priest, broadcaster
Rob Stephenson is an international keynote speaker and mental health campaigner who is on a mission to help create happier, healthier and higher performing workplaces.
Rob Stephenson
Mental health guru
A regular on TV and in stand-up shows around the country, Shaparak (Shappi) Khorsandi first came to the UK when her family were forced to flee Iran
Shaparak Khorsandi
Asylum speaker, comedian
Lenny is one of Britain’s best-known comedians, as well as a writer, an award-winning actor and co-founder of Comic Relief.
Sir Lenny Henry
Comedian, campaigner
Steven is one of Europe’s brightest young CEOs, host of podcast ‘The Diary of a CEO’ and, at 29 years old, the youngest ever Dragon on Dragon’s Den.
Steven Bartlett
Young CEO, Dragon
Susan is the founder of Homes For Good, Scotland’s first social enterprise letting agency, with the aim of changing the private rented sector for people who need homes most.
Susan Aktemel
Housing crisis expert
Dr Tamsin Edwards is a climate scientist specialising in quantifying the uncertainties of climate model predictions, particularly for the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet contributions to sea-level rise.
Tamsin Edwards
Climate scientist
Futurenauts Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson are united by the potential of a common future which is sustainable, equitable, humane and just.
The Futurenauts
Future solutions thinkers