Asia is a multi-award-winning software engineer, mentor, and inspirational speaker whose extraordinary journey spans continents and defies expectations. After fleeing war-torn Somalia and growing up in the UK foster care system in her teens, often labelled “troubled” as a child, Asia defied the odds. 

By teaching herself to code during lockdown, eventually becoming a prominent figure in fintech and a multi-award-winning engineer. She has mentored dozens of aspiring technologists and advocated for greater diversity in tech, especially for women of colour and those from underrepresented backgrounds.

​Asia’s life took another dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in the midst of her rising career. Her resilience in overcoming multiple relapses, a stem cell transplant, and the loss of her physical identity has made her a powerful voice on what true resilience really means; 

Asia continued to inspire, despite the obstacles against her.

Jess Robinson is a multi-award-winning impressionist, singer, comedian, actor, author and voice artist, known for her extraordinary vocal range and ability to transform into some of the world's most recognisable voices.

A long-standing cast member of BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers, Jess was also the lead female voice in the reboot of Spitting Image. Her work spans television, radio, live comedy, cabaret, voiceover and corporate speaking engagements.

Her acclaimed Elton Reimagined enjoyed a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Jess is also the author of Life Is Rosi: Grandma, Me and Our Diaries at 23, exploring identity, survival and inherited family patterns.

At TEDxNorthernQuarter 2026, Jess explored how borrowing qualities we admire in others can help us rediscover confidence in our own voice.

Jessica Southworth is a hospitality leader with more than 20 years' experience in the industry and is Cluster Sales and Marketing Director across Hotel Football and Stock Exchange Hotel Manchester.

Having been part of Hotel Football's journey from the beginning, Jess has helped build a brand deeply connected to Manchester, its people and its communities.

She is a passionate advocate for collaboration over competition and believes hospitality is ultimately about how people feel, the experiences they remember and the opportunities organisations can create for others.

Jess is also Vice Chair of the Meetings Industry Association, helping represent and shape the UK's meetings and events sector.

At the heart of her approach is a simple philosophy: whenever possible, leave people better than you found them.

Jsky is a Manchester-based singer, songwriter, broadcaster and creative whose career spans music, fashion, television & live events.

Over the past 15 years, he has built a distinctive public profile while working across some of the city’s best-known cultural spaces, developing a reputation for individuality, professionalism and refusing to be confined to a single creative path.

Jsky is particularly interested in identity, representation, authenticity and the way social media shapes how we see ourselves and other people. His TEDxNorthernQuarter talk, The Cost of Being Seen, explores our growing dependence on likes, followers, views and online validation, and challenges us to think more carefully about the role we all play in creating the digital spaces we inhabit.

At the heart of his work is a belief that being visible is not the same as being understood, and that real connection comes from seeing people beyond labels, numbers and public personas.

Matty White is a Manchester-based presenter, broadcaster, DJ and live event host whose career has spanned radio, television and some of the city’s biggest stages. Known for his warmth, humour and distinctly Mancunian perspective, he's built his reputation by being unapologetically himself, something he credits as central to the way he connects with audiences.

His journey into broadcasting was far from conventional. After experiencing homelessness when he was younger, Matty was supported into accommodation, found work in hospitality and later went on to college and university before finding his way into the BBC and media. He now uses his platform to champion Manchester, support homelessness charities and highlight the stories of everyday people, believing that some of the most powerful stories are found away from celebrity culture.  

Matty joins TEDxNorthernQuarter as the event MC, bringing his experience, humour and love of Manchester to the TEDx stage.

Scott Thomas is a British television personality, entrepreneur and keynote speaker best known for his breakthrough appearance on Love Island in 2016, where he reached the final and became a familiar face on UK screens.

Since then, Scott has built a successful career beyond reality TV: he’s the founder and CEO of The Social PR, a creative agency and talent management business, and has launched podcast projects like Learning As I Go and Mancs on the Mic with his brothers. Drawing on his experience in media, business and personal development.

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Scott speaks with energy and insight about entrepreneurship, resilience and navigating life in the public eye.

Thomas Gionis is a physician, surgeon, public health specialist and lawyer whose career has spanned cardiovascular surgery, emergency medicine, healthcare leadership, public health and telemedicine.

He began medical school at 17 and completed his medical degree at 21 before moving into cardiovascular surgery and later emergency medicine.

As healthcare evolved, Thomas's education across business, healthcare administration, public health & law, allowing him to understand medicine not only from a clinical perspective but also through the systems, organisations and policies surrounding healthcare.

His own experience of sleep apnoea led to a particular interest in increasing public awareness of the condition, its warning signs and the importance of appropriate testing and treatment.

At TEDxNorthernQuarter 2026, Thomas challenged audiences to stop dismissing snoring simply as an annoyance and recognise when it may be a warning sign worth investigating.