PRESS RELEASE
TEDxGalway returns with eight inspiring voices and a powerful evening of ideas
Town Hall Theatre, Galway — Thursday, November 12
TEDxGalway returns to the Town Hall Theatre on Thursday, November 12, bringing together eight thought-provoking speakers from the worlds of sport, science, medicine, journalism, academia, creativity, disability rights and advertising for an evening dedicated to challenging assumptions, sharing new perspectives and inspiring change.
Under the TEDx banner of ideas worth spreading, this year’s event brings together an unusually diverse group of speakers, each with a different story to tell and a different way of looking at the world.
Among the speakers is Des Ryan, Director of Sport & Physical Wellbeing at the University of Galway. Des has spent more than two decades working at the highest levels of sport, including nine years as Head of Sports Medicine & Athletic Development at Arsenal Football Club Academy, as well as senior roles with Connacht Rugby and the IRFU. He is also a member of the Sport Ireland High Performance Committee and the European Football Clubs Medical and Performance unit.
Grace Barnes, a Researcher, explores stereotypes surrounding disability, gender and sexuality. Her work examines the desexualisation of disabled women in human rights law and how this shapes their sexual and reproductive rights, bringing an important perspective to questions of equality, identity and human rights.
From the world of journalism comes Harry McGee, political correspondent of The Irish Times. A former journalist with The Irish Examiner, RTÉ and The Sunday Tribune, and former editor of Magill, Harry has spent decades reporting on Irish politics and public life. He is also the author of the bestselling The Murderer and the Taoiseach and a regular contributor to political and current-affairs broadcasting.
Annette Kent, Clinical Director at medical-device company Endowave, brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical and medical-device sectors. With previous roles at FIRE1, ICON, Amgen and United Drug, and a PhD in Pharmacology, Annette works at the intersection of clinical research, innovation and healthcare, with a focus on improving patient outcomes.
Dr. Kristin Ruane, a board-certified and licensed Behaviour Analyst and educator, has more than 20 years' experience in applied behaviour analysis and child development. Her PhD research at the University of Galway examined language development, parent-child interactions and the effects of parental smartphone use. Her recent podcast, Fck Your Phone*, tackles smartphone addiction and the impact of technology on human connection.
The event also features Jessamyn Fairfield, lecturer in the Schools of Natural Sciences and English, Media & Creative Arts at the University of Galway. A passionate advocate for democratising knowledge, Jessamyn spent ten years directing Bright Club Ireland, bringing academic research to audiences through stand-up comedy. Her creative work combines science, performance and storytelling to explore subjects ranging from the Corrib River to the climate crisis.
Galway-born Vinny Warren brings a remarkable international advertising career to the TEDx stage. After studying marketing at UCG and working in New York for advertising legend Ed McCabe, Vinny spent ten years at DDB Chicago as a writer and creative director working on the Budweiser and Bud Light brands. Five of his advertisements aired during the Super Bowl and he was twice nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Commercial of the Year — although, as he puts it, he lost both times.
Completing the speaker line-up is Michelle Bergin, an occupational therapist, lecturer and researcher at the University of Limerick. Her work examines the everyday environments in which people play, learn, work and live, with a particular focus on children's outdoor play, public spaces and human rights. Her research into unequal restrictions on children's play in schoolyards contributed to the EU Horizon 2020 P4Play project, and she recently completed the first national evaluation of play rights in Irish schools.
Together, the eight speakers represent the spirit of TEDxGalway: different disciplines, different experiences and very different perspectives — brought together on one stage to spark ideas and conversations.
From elite sport and medical innovation to journalism, disability rights, technology, science, advertising and the places in which children grow and play, the evening promises a thought-provoking exploration of some of the issues shaping how we live, work and connect.
TEDxGalway — Ideas Worth Spreading
Thursday, November 12
Town Hall Theatre, Galway
Tickets are available from the Town Hall Theatre:
ENDS