Headline Speakers

Brian is a Fellow of the Royal Society and Professor of Particle Physics at The University of Manchester and is an incredibly popular TV and radio presenter on shows such as BBC2’s Solar System.
Famed for making the exploration of the universe engaging and accessible, Professor Brian Cox inspired our students with his experience, and also ignited the curiosity young people need to drive change.

Pioneer, role model, science communicator and world-class inspirational speaker, Helen became the first British Astronaut in May 1991, aged 27, when she spent 8 days orbiting the Earth. Chosen out of 13,000 people, Helen underwent rigorous training and preparation for her orbit, and now inspires others with her story.

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is an award-winning technologist, author and STEM advocate recognised for her work on innovation, technology and the future of work. She has been named the UK’s most influential woman in tech by Computer Weekly and served as President of the British Science Association from 2022 to 2023.

William Hague is Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a former UK Foreign Secretary and Conservative Party leader. With a long career in British politics, diplomacy and public life, he is also an experienced writer and speaker, bringing senior-level insight into international affairs, leadership, government and political decision-making.

An endurance swimmer, maritime lawyer and UN Patron of the Oceans, Lewis was the first person to complete a long-distance swim in every ocean of the world. He was also the first to swim across the North Pole and the full length of the English Channel. Through his work, Lewis has helped protect over 3.5 million km² of vulnerable marine ecosystems and continues to inspire global audiences to think differently about challenge, impact and responsibility.

David Olusoga is a British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster, and filmmaker who has made TV series including Empire and the BAFTA winning show Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners. His award -winning book Black & British: A Forgotten History was also made into a major BBC TV series.

As vice chairman of marketing powerhouse Ogilvy UK, Rory pioneers behavioural science and creativity over data. Rory introduces you to his idea of psycho-logic – his insight into how our brains work emotionally not rationally. And why creative, even weird ideas, often lead to the best results. As he famously said “A flower is just a weed with an advertising budget.”

Baroness Shami Chakrabarti is a lawyer and a member of the British House of Lords who served as director of the human rights group Liberty, campaigning against “excessive” anti-terror legislation. A frequent public speaker, she has been described as “the most effective public affairs lobbyist of the past 20 years”.

He co-founded and built the brand LOVEFiLM, eventually to become Amazon Prime, prior to joining Amazon as the worldwide creative lead. The first person to be made Chief Creative Officer of the company, he has received many accolades in recognition for his achievements, including an Emmy nomination in recognition of his innovative Alexa Super Bowl campaign, and acknowledgement from the Vatican for his Christmas 2016 Amazon Commercial.

Marcus is one of the UK’s leading scientists and the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. He has written many books on mathematics, AI and science. His fascinating speaking topics include The Secret of the Winning Streak: The Story of Maths and Why Beckham Chose the 23 Shirt.