TEDxStormont makes return to Parliament Buildings for 10th anniversary

TEDxStormont returned to Parliament Buildings yesterday (Saturday, 25 March) for its 10th anniversary event.

Speaking on the theme of “YES”, a superb line up of speakers including Northern-Irish-Ghanian music artist Winnie Ama, Sky News Ireland Correspondent David Blevins, Senator Emer Currie, and Derry journalist and author Leona O’Neill, took to the stage to share their ideas on hope, peace, stability, and possibility for Northern Ireland and beyond.

The day long event, supported by Herbert Smith Freehills, Smarts Agency, Allstate NI and compered by former BBC editor and commentator Mark Devenport, saw 200 guests fill the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings.

As TEDxStormont celebrated its 10th anniversary and Northern Ireland gears up to celebrate 25 years of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, speakers stood on the iconic red dot to share their ideas on a multitude of topics ranging from homelessness and leadership to life after death, and the power of music.

Beginning as a four-day conference in California, TED and the TEDx programme has grown to support world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives like TEDxStormont, which since 2013 has organised over 20 events and meet-ups, including TEDxStormont, TEDxStormont Women, Salons, City 2.0, TED Global viewing parties, TED Circles, Countdown, and a week-long virtual Summer Camp.

Across the span of a decade, TEDxStormont has hosted some of the most acclaimed speakers including Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, Lyra McKee, Ana Matronic of the Scissor Sisters, and astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

The event gathered individuals from an array of background such as academia, journalism, music, business, and sport.

Six months ago I couldn’t talk about the murder of Lyra McKee or what happened afterwards in my life without crying. I couldn’t talk about having PTSD or about the impact of the nightmare that was thrust upon me had on myself and my family. It was too much, too painful 1/ pic.twitter.com/UC912VY6XZ

— Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) March 25, 2023

Lisa McLaughlin, Managing Partner of Herbert Smith Freehills’ Belfast Office said: “It has been a privilege to once again support TEDxStormont, especially in what is a milestone year for the series.

“Original ideas and inspiring individuals are the twin pillars of progress, so it has been brilliant to help give a platform to those who can develop the foundations on which our collective futures are built.

“We are thrilled to have been able to support efforts to ensure their vision of change becomes a reality”.

Eva Grosman, Curator of TEDxStormont 2023 concluded: “It has been fantastic to be joined by some of the most inspiring and respected individuals from various fields at this year’s TEDxStormont.

“Taking place in the historic backdrop of the Great Hall at Stormont, it has been moving and encouraging to listen to our fantastic speakers as they have helped us imagine how ideas, solutions and fresh opportunities for change and progress are always within reach”.