Swindon will host its first TEDx event on 19 June 2026, marking a new chapter in the town’s cultural growth. TEDx Railway Village will take place at the historic Town Hall Studios, bringing together a mix of internationally recognised speakers and influential local voices for a full-day programme of talks.
Set within the Railway Village, an area closely tied to Swindon’s industrial heritage, the event introduces a locally driven platform for ideas at a time when the town is actively shaping its future identity. With ambitions to be recognised as a UK City of Culture, TEDx Railway Village places Swindon’s thinking into wider national and global conversations.
Licensed by TED, the global platform for “ideas worth sharing”, TEDx Railway Village is independently organised under the TEDx licence. The programme is curated and delivered locally, built around the theme “Lines of Connection”, exploring how ideas intersect across technology and humanity, art and science, and the relationship between local communities and wider change.
Speakers announced
The programme brings together a diverse line-up of speakers, each offering a distinct perspective across culture, science, society and leadership:
Amanda Klapish – Why Silence Protects the Wrong People: Author, advocate, and co-director of Sounds Like Women.
Andrei Malaev-Babel – Why Acting Is Not a Miracle: Director, actor, Professor of Theatre at Florida State University, and leading expert on the Demidov School of Acting.
Bob Wright – Rethinking Heritage: Chair of Swindon Heritage Preservation.
Diane Curley – Somewhere Between “Be More” and “Be Less”: Founder of Celebrating Women LLC.
James Phipps – What Male Ignorance Costs Women and How Men Can Change the Culture in Society: Swindon philanthropist and entrepreneur.
Jeremy Holt – How Couples Meet: Founder of the UK’s first specialist computer museum.
Malcolm Martin – We Are Not Separate: Teacher at the Ordinary Mind Zen School.
Marcus Weston – Title to be announced: Globally recognised speaker and advisor on conscious leadership and ego-mastery.
Nyasha Gwatidzo – Walk With Me: Award-winning social entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and author.
Pearl Jordan – Permission to Go Solo: Author of Dancing to the Rhythm of Your Life.
Dr Roderick Hebden – Are Scientists to Blame for Misinformation: CEO of Swindon Culture Collective and founder of the Festival of Tomorrow.
Sonal Shah – Title to be announced: Award-winning author and financial services vice president.
Soumik Datta – Title to be announced: Aga Khan Award-winning musician, TV presenter, and Artistic Director of the Soumik Datta Arts Charity.
Tickets now available
Tickets for TEDx Railway Village are now available, with options for both individuals and organisations. Individual tickets offer access to the full programme, while corporate bundles provide an opportunity for teams to attend together.
Book your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tedx-railway-village-swindon-tickets-1989739287772
A platform for Swindon’s ideas
TEDx Railway Village is led by founding licensee Robert Jandy and co-founder and speaking coach Debbie Bryan under Lines of Connection CIC. The initiative aims to establish a long-term platform for ideas emerging from Swindon, shaped by both its heritage and its future direction.
Co-founders Robert Jandy and Debbie Bryan said:
“Bringing TEDx to Swindon for the first time reflects something that has been building for a while. There is a depth of thinking, creativity and leadership here that deserves a wider platform. This event creates space for those ideas to be shared, challenged and developed, while connecting Swindon into a much broader conversation.”
