Our Speakers
At TEDxGuildford, we bring together a diverse line-up of speakers who are pushing boundaries, challenging conventions, and inspiring change. Each individual featured on this page brings a unique perspective, drawn from their personal journeys, professional expertise, and bold ideas worth spreading.
Whether they’re innovators, storytellers, educators, or activists, these are the voices shaping the conversation in Guildford—and beyond.
SPEAKERS
Obi Abuchi is known as the Jedi of Personal Leadership.
He is a husband, father, transformational speaker, executive coach, and author of Leading from Your Core.
As the CEO of CORE Leaders International, he is dedicated to equipping leaders to transcend the ordinary by focusing on the inner alignment needed to thrive in today’s complex world.
With over 20 years of experience working with, training, and coaching leaders across global organisations, Obi has seen firsthand the struggles of leadership—burnout, disengagement, and the pressure to perform at the cost of personal well-being and personal congruence. His CORE Leader Model challenges traditional leadership paradigms, offering a fresh, sustainable approach that integrates personal, relational, professional, and spiritual alignment.
Obi’s own personal experiences, struggles, and insights have resonated with leaders worldwide, from corporate executives to entrepreneurs, inspiring them to lead with clarity, purpose, and resilience.
He believes that the future isn’t just built by strategy—it’s shaped by leaders who are deeply aligned and equipped to inspire lasting impact.
Here's a short video of Obi - https://youtu.be/xtJNS-C336Y
Kat is a portrait and self-portrait photographer, curator, mentor, author, and speaker based near London. Through therapeutic photography and her Felt Sense methodologies, she creates safe, embodied spaces for people to connect more deeply with themselves.
She’s trained in the Look Again mindful photography method, qualified in Therapeutic Photography at Robert Gordon University, and is currently studying with the British Focusing Association.
Her work includes person-centred photography (Face to Face® and Freedom Shoots), Feltful Photography (her mindful approach), and Felt Photographic—an online gallery guided by the Felt Sense. She also mentors and delivers corporate workshops, using the Felt Sense to enhance leadership qualities like intuition, emotional intelligence, and creativity.
After healing from long-term depression through a self-portrait in 2018, Kat now helps others access their Felt Sense for mental wellbeing.
A regular speaker at The Photography Show and contributor to the RPS Women in Photography, she was praised by Judy Weiser as "amazing and pioneering" and interviewed by Rankin for her innovative use of photography for good.
Vicky O’Farrell is a speaker, business owner, and advocate for emotional intelligence and human connection.
Fascinated by people from a young age, she has long been intrigued by how we communicate—through words, reactions, and body language. This passion fuels her mission to help others recognise and respect our differences, and to better understand “what makes us human”.
With a deep belief that we can’t change others’ DNA but can change how we impact those around us, Vicky challenges people to reflect on how their words and behaviours influence others—positively or negatively. She’s particularly concerned about how digital dependency is affecting younger generations, often blurring the lines between opinion and fact.
Now in her 50s, Vicky draws on her own life experiences—including navigating challenging environments and emerging stronger—to help others live more consciously and authentically. She brings warmth, honesty and humour to her work, empowering others to choose a healthier, more connected path.
Future Circumnavigator in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race (27-28) & current Guinness World Record holder. Matt brings 26 years as a business owner, 6 years in the Armed Forces and 42 years of adventure racer, whilst raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities.
Super proud co owner of Millwood Servicing ltd (BCorp), Co-Founder Woodmor Foundation CIC. Father to four amazing daughters.
Freedom of the City of London holder and serial fundraiser and adventure racer; He has been talking (and more importantly listening) in this space for over 30 years.
Sally leverages her three decades working in communication and her relentless passion to unleash the power of communication as a catalyst for a better future.
Sally has been fortunate enough to advise over 200 organisations, including some of the worlds largest and best workforces as well as practicing what she preaches leading her own employee-owned, B Corp communications agency.
Founder and CTO of BreatheHR, ultimately becoming MD. Guiding the business from start-up to a value approaching 200 million whilst having an enviable culture of individual growth and responsibility.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethburrows/