Video Listing
Mr Shay's Beatbox Set | Akshay Sharma
Mr Shay performs his unique beat-box warm-up set. Popularly known as Mr Shay, Akshay Sharma is a poet, producer and loop pedal artist from Leicester, who fell into the music scene after he was noticed creating live beats on a small stage using his mouth as his instrument. Mr Shay produces his own music; ranging from UK Hip Hop to Trap by fusing beat-box and freestyle rap/poetry, and often touches on topics relating to young people and the community.
He has performed at various festivals and shows around the UK and regularly hosts local music events. Through his social enterprise, The Underground Creatives, Shay offers a distinct and uplifting sound for community music projects to engage teenagers and young adults facing various social barriers.
Buttons | Shruti Chauhan
Shruti Chauhan is a British Indian poet and performer from Leicester. She has performed at Royal Albert Hall, Southbank Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Rich Mix, the US Embassy’s American Centre in New Delhi, the Green Mill in Chicago and widely across the UK. In 2015, she toured Three the Hard Way – Part 2 with Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze MBE and Lydia Towsey. Shruti was voted Best Spoken Word Performer at the 2018 Saboteur Awards and won the National Poetry Library’s Instapoetry competition the same year.
Shruti wrote the song lyrics for the BBC Four documentary, My Asian Family – The Musical (2018), directed by the BAFTA award-winning Brian Hill as part of the BBC’s Big British Asian Summer season. Her pamphlet, That Which Can Be Heard, is published with Burning Eye Books. Words have power, and Shruti Chauhan actualises that power through her words. Shruti Chauhan is a British Indian poet and performer from Leicester, who has performed on several occasions on a wide range of topics in different parts of the world. She has performed at Royal Albert Hall, Southbank Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Rich Mix, the US Embassy’s American Centre in New Delhi, the Green Mill in Chicago and widely across the UK.
In 2015, she toured Three the Hard Way – Part 2 with Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze MBE and Lydia Towsey. In 2018, Shruti was voted the Best Spoken-word Performer at Saboteur Awards and won the National Poetry Library’s Instapoetry competition that same year. Shruti also wrote the song lyrics for the BBC Four documentary, My Asian Family – The Musical (2018), directed by the BAFTA award-winning Brian Hill as part of the BBC’s Big British Asian Summer season. Her pamphlet, That Which Can Be Heard, is published with Burning Eye Books.
We don't need to be afraid of Reform | Rabiha Hannan
Rabiha is a troublemaker. Her general direction in life, has been to stir things up and cause mayhem wherever possible. She co-founded New Horizons in British Islam, a forward-looking organisation that engages in critical discussions around Muslim identity and reform to challenge Muslims to think critically about the big issues of our times.
She co-edited the book ‘Islam and the Veil’ and regularly appears on various BBC local and national radio programmes. She has been actively engaged in getting women more involved in the leadership of community groups and also undertaken work with young people to support, nurture and mentor them.
Rabiha is passionate about bringing people together and building bridges between communities; she won an Award from the Christian Muslim Forum for her work in Interfaith Relations and was finalist for ‘Muslim of the year’ Award at the British Muslim Awards. She co-founded ‘Dine@Mine’ to encourage people from different backgrounds to meet over food and ‘Eat’n’meet’ to support the homeless of Leicester.
She trained as a Clinical Pharmacist and holds an MA in Muslim Community Studies and amongst other local positions, chaired the ‘Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education’ (SACRE). In her spare time (and because she has lots of it) she is currently doing a PhD in Gender equality and Islam and is a mother of four (or five, if you count the husband) Rabiha is a troublemaker. Her general direction in life, has been to stir things up and cause mayhem wherever possible. She co-founded New Horizons in British Islam, a forward-looking organisation that engages in critical discussions around Muslim identity and reform to challenge Muslims to think critically about the big issues of our times. She co-edited the book ‘Islam and the Veil’ and regularly appears on various BBC local and national radio programmes. Rabiha won an Award from the Christian Muslim Forum for her work in Interfaith Relations and was finalist for ‘Muslim of the year’ Award at the British Muslim Awards. She co-founded ‘Dine@Mine’ to encourage people from different backgrounds to meet over food and ‘Eat’n’meet’ to support the homeless of Leicester. She trained as a Clinical Pharmacist and holds an MA in Muslim Community Studies and amongst other local positions, chaired the ‘Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education’ (SACRE).
Alchemy at my Fingertips | Vimi Joshi
VIMI JOSHI is a self-confessed “global nomad” whose style is infused with a rich and eclectic range of global cultures. She’s also the director of makeup at the Bollywood Oscars (known as the IIFA). Born in Africa, into a traditional Indian family, she grew up in Leicester, England before moving to Dubai where she now works as M·A·C Global Senior Artist.
Having a backstage pass to all the most glamorous events around the world, she’s worked with many celebrities, from Bollywood to Hollywood. Vimi is also part of the global beauty trend-setting team, with backstage passes at New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Week, working with all the top designers and super models. She also headed a section of the Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Vimi infuses this beauty and knowledge, back to the Middle East and bridges the link from global into local. She’s been nominated as one of the most influential people of Dubai and has been on the HOT 100 List 3 times in a row. Vimi believes in expanding her knowledge into the digital platform as the world is becoming a smaller and a more beautiful place, and finds her inner peace and balance through meditation, yoga and makeup. VIMI JOSHI is a self-confessed “global nomad” whose style is infused with a rich and eclectic range of global cultures. She’s also the director of makeup at the Bollywood Oscars (known as the IIFA). Born in Africa, into a traditional Indian family, she grew up in Leicester, England before moving to Dubai where she now works as M·A·C Global Senior Artist.
Vimi is part of the global beauty trend-setting team, with backstage passes at New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Week, working with all the top designers and super models.
She also headed a section of the Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremony. Vimi infuses this beauty and knowledge, back to the Middle East and bridges the link from global into local. She’s been nominated as one of the most influential people of Dubai and has been on the HOT 100 List 3 times in a row.
Brexit: How, When and What? | Tor Clark
Brexit: How, When and What? Brexit is dividing the UK like nothing else in recent memory. How did we get here? Where will it lead us and is there a reasonable way out of this bitter battle between two entrenched sides?
Attempting to analyse Brexit from as non-partisan a position as possible, long-time political journalist and journalism academic Tor Clark suggests reasons from our past why Brexit is affecting the British people and politicians in such extreme ways and suggests a way the warring parties might eventually be able to repair their divisions. Tor Clark is Associate Professor in Journalism and programme director of the new Journalism degree at the University of Leicester. Tor entered journalism 30 years ago as a reporter on free newspapers in East Anglia, rising to become editor of Britain’s oldest newspaper, the Rutland & Stamford Mercury. He also edited the Harborough and Lutterworth Mail in south Leicestershire. For the last 15 years Tor has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio Leicester, offering analysis of politics and journalism. As a political journalist Tor has covered every general election since 1992, the last three with BBC Leicester, where he offers analysis on the station’s live all-night election broadcast team.
He has co-edited several recent books on journalism and politics, including Brexit, Trump and the Media, published by Abramis in 2017. He has just launched the University of Leicester’s first ever Journalism degree, which will be welcoming its first students in two weeks’ time.
Existing Beyond Your Reality | Alex Ruhl
Alex Rühl (The Drum’s 50 under 30 women in digital) is an award-winning virtual reality filmmaker and founder of CATS are not PEAS, a production studio that specialises in creating immersive experiences that impact people’s lives. Formerly a TV producer, Rühl got the bug for VR when she picked up her first 360 camera rig in 2015 and quickly became a thought-leader in the space winning the Pioneers of Immersive Realities Awards in 2018. Her work includes speaking on the new storytelling language in immersive arts and producing narrative-driven experiences for the commercial and entertainment sectors. Ruhl is a keen believer in “tech for good.” She created the I Experience VR initiative in partnership with Leicester charity LOROS, which aims to enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of hospice patients nearing end-of-life using mindful virtual reality experiences. She has also worked with Sheffield-based youth empowerment project Chillypep to create VR experiences for young people struggling with mental health issues as well as mentoring on schemes such as the VR Diversity Initiative which aims to upskill underrepresented groups to ensure future opportunities for all in this new industry.
Alex Ruhl (The Drum 50 Under 30) is an award-winning Virtual Reality filmmaker who delights in using VRs as the new way of expression. Alex won the Pioneers of Immersive Realities Awards for 2018 for her work in the space and she advises companies and brands about the creative process behind VRs, as well as the behaviours of the audiences who experience it. Her company CATS are not PEAS is an immersive storytelling studio specialising in virtual reality projects. She is the curator for Phoenix Leicester’s VR cinema strand supported by the BFI and has co-created the I Experience VR programme. Alex has partnered with LOROS Hospice to bring Virtual Reality to patients nearing the end of life. She will be speaking globally on the topic of Next Generation storytelling and the potential impact VR will have across all sectors.
Forward Together : A Reflective Journey | Dr Allan Hayes
fter a career in Mathematics (PhD Cambridge, MIT, Purdue University and The University of Leicester, followed by work with Wolfram Research, makers of Mathematica), Allan has devoted himself to bringing people, religions and science together. He has served nationally on the boards of Humanists UK, The Sea of Faith Network, and All Faiths and None; and locally as President of Leicester Secular Society; in 2015 he set up TEDxLeicester.
At 86 he is on Leicester Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, and particularly looks forward to meeting young people, both as a School Speaker for Humanists UK and as a member of the CofE St Philips Travelling Roadshow for Faith and Belief. He finds the diversity of Leicester stimulating and rewarding, and campaigns for replacing Religious Education in schools with a national course on humanity and learning how to live well together. After a career in Mathematics (PhD Cambridge, MIT, Purdue University and The University of Leicester, followed by work with Wolfram Research, makers of Mathematica), Allan has devoted himself to bringing people, religions and science together.
He’s served nationally on the boards of Humanists UK, The Sea of Faith Network, and All Faiths and None; and locally as President of Leicester Secular Society. In 2015 he founded TEDxLeicester. At 86 he’s a member of the Leicester Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, and particularly looks forward to meeting young people, both as a School Speaker for Humanists UK and as a member of the St. Philips Travelling Roadshow for Faith and Belief. He finds the diversity of Leicester stimulating and rewarding, and campaigns for replacing Religious Education in schools with a national course on humanity and learning how to live well together.
My Toy Story Vs the Big Bad Plastic | Johan Adda
Johan Adda is a product, app and service designer with over a decade spent on mobile. His last app was featured seven times in the Apple and Google stores.
Previous to that, he was Lead Designer for Apple, working on iAd, Apple Pay, Marcom.
Johan is a recognised expert, innovator and contributor in product experience. He developed with a British animatronic expert a beautiful flower robot.
He has recently founded a toy company for kids under six made of ocean plastic.
To help both kids imagination to grow and save the planet of plastic waste. Johan Adda is a product, app and service designer with over a decade spent on mobile. His last app was featured seven times in the Apple and Google stores. Previous to that, he was Lead Designer for Apple, working on iAd, Apple Pay and Marcom. Johan is a recognised expert, innovator and contributor in product experience. He developed with a British animatronic expert, a beautiful flower robot. He recently founded a company that make toys from ocean plastic for kids under the age of six to increase their imagination, and save the planet of plastic waste.
“Living Without Answers” | Sophie Hainsworth
Sophie Hainsworth is the CEO & Co-Founder of multi award winning app LoyalFree. LoyalFree is a place app which promotes offers, tourism information, events, digital trails & more in various towns and cities across the UK, supporting the #shoplocal narrative for the high streets.
Founded in 2016 the app has been launched in 14 UK towns and cities and has many international opportunities. The business is based from Leicestershire and employs individuals from the East Midlands.
Named as Leicester Mercury’s Entrepreneur of the Year Sophie has had a varied career, from working at multi nationals in London to small agencies.
A keen traveller Sophie has visited 47 countries and created a business to cater to a lifestyle of flexible working around the globe. Along the way challenges have come in many shapes and sizes, from the pressure of cultural and societal expectations to battles with mental health.
Sophie will share her experiences and coping strategies which she has used to enable her to scale a company incredibly quickly and follow through on her ambitions. Sophie Hainsworth is an entrepreneur and co-founder of LoyalFree; a company designed to boost high street footfall for businesses in towns and cities throughout the UK. Just last year, Sophie’s company, LoyalFree won an award within the ‘Business Improvement Through Technology’ category at the East Midlands Chamber Awards. Sophie was crowned ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Leicester Mercury Women in Business Awards that same year.
“Soulless Media“ | Akshay Sharma
Popularly known as Mr Shay, Akshay Sharma is a poet, producer and loop pedal artist from Leicester, who fell into the music scene after he was noticed creating live beats on a small stage using his mouth as his instrument. Mr Shay produces his own music; ranging from UK Hip Hop to Trap by fusing beat-box and freestyle rap/poetry, and often touches on topics relating to young people and the community. He has performed at various festivals and shows around the UK and regularly hosts local music events.
Through his social enterprise, The Underground Creatives, Shay offers a distinct and uplifting sound for community music projects to engage teenagers and young adults facing various social barriers. Popularly known as Mr Shay, Akshay Sharma is a poet, producer and loop pedal artist from Leicester, who fell into the music scene after he was noticed creating live beats on a small stage using his mouth as his instrument. Mr Shay produces his own music; ranging from UK Hip Hop to Trap by fusing beat-box and freestyle rap/poetry, and often touches on topics relating to young people and the community.
He has performed at various festivals and shows around the UK and regularly hosts local music events. Through his social enterprise, The Underground Creatives, Shay offers a distinct and uplifting sound for community music projects to engage teenagers and young adults facing various social barriers.
"Inclusive Innovation Starts From Within" | Dr Jessica Ocampos
Dr Jessica Ocampos is co-founder and CEO of Camnexus; start-up of the University of Cambridge and technology transfer platform that responds to global challenges for sustainable development through digitalisation and smart transformation in key productive sectors. She is also a senior consultant in innovation and technology transfer for the International Outreach Programme of Cambridge Enterprise and an expert research fellow in innovation policy and governance at the Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance (C-EENRG) at the University of Cambridge Her solution; Camnexus-IoT© is a response to her motivation to bridge the gap between developing and developed regions, providing inclusive connectivity and data with sense.
Dr Jessica Ocampos holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, a degree in Biotechnology Engineering from the University of Chile, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Chile. Dr Jessica Ocampos is co-founder and CEO of Camnexus; start-up of the University of Cambridge and technology transfer platform that responds to global challenges for sustainable development through digitalisation and smart transformation in key productive sectors. She is also a senior consultant in innovation and technology transfer for the International Outreach Programme of Cambridge Enterprise and an expert research fellow in innovation policy and governance at the Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance (C-EENRG) at the University of Cambridge Her solution; Camnexus-IoT© is a response to her motivation to bridge the gap between developing and developed regions, providing inclusive connectivity and data with sense.
Dr Jessica Ocampos holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, a degree in Biotechnology Engineering from the University of Chile, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Chile.
Mr Shay Beat-Box Jam Session ft. Nidah Hanif & Ethan Tailor | Akshay Sharma
Mr Shay closes TEDxLeicester #FastForward 2019 with his unique beat-box audience interaction Popularly known as Mr Shay, Akshay Sharma is a poet, producer and loop pedal artist from Leicester, who fell into the music scene after he was noticed creating live beats on a small stage using his mouth as his instrument. Mr Shay produces his own music; ranging from UK Hip Hop to Trap by fusing beat-box and freestyle rap/poetry, and often touches on topics relating to young people and the community.
He has performed at various festivals and shows around the UK and regularly hosts local music events. Through his social enterprise, The Underground Creatives, Shay offers a distinct and uplifting sound for community music projects to engage teenagers and young adults facing various social barriers.
The Future of Music | Rekesh Chauhan
Rekesh Chauhan is a British Indian pianist and composer. Having studied western classical music on both the guitar and piano from an early age he went on to train in Indian classical music. Rekesh is the winner of numerous awards including the NIAA Young Musician of the Year 2018 awarded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London. In 2019 he was awarded Alumnus of the Year by the University of Leicester and he is also the recipient of the Eastern Electronica Prize.
His knack for amalgamating both eastern and western styles has brought him much recognition and glittering invites to appear in concerts all over the world: including the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, Southbank Centre (Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Festival Hall) to name just a handful of prestigious venues. His musical journey began supporting MOBO award-winning jazz pianist Zoe Rahman. His collaborations range from Mercury Prize award-winner Talvin Singh OBE at Ronnie Scotts to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Bollywood A-lister Govinda. Rekesh has performed with his own ensembles in arenas to over 60,000 people.
As a 4th generation member of the Indian diaspora, his influence is considered pivotal. Rekesh holds a first class honours degree in Economics and is a published book co-author. In 2018 Rekesh was selected as one of the 35 under 35 India-UK Young Leaders.
His critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Beyond Roots’, won him spectacular praise from tabloid press to prime-time radio play. Rekesh’s latest release ‘Avartan’ in 2018 earned him a no.2 chart position on the iTunes World Music Charts. Rekesh Chauhan is a British Indian pianist and a composer. He began his training in western classical music on both the guitar and piano and later went on to study Indian classical music. Rekesh was awarded the Young Musician of the Year 2018 at the NIAA Southbank Centre awards, London and is the recipient of the Eastern Electronic Festival Prize and Alumni of the Year 2019 award from the University of Leicester.
His collaborations include Mercury Prize award-winner Talvin Singh OBE Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Hans Raj Hans to name a few and has supported MOBO award-winning jazz pianist Zoe Rahman. He is a featured introducing artist on BBC radio and has performed with his own ensembles in arenas to over 60,000 people. Rekesh’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Beyond Roots’ (featuring BBC Symphony Orchestra violinist virtuoso, John Garner), won him spectacular praise from tabloid press to prime-time radio play.