If you’re an event planner searching for a speaker who can deliver powerful ideas, unforgettable storytelling and meaningful audience impact, TEDx Talks are often the perfect place to start.
At Saxton Speakers, we regularly watch TEDx talks to discover insights, explore speaker styles and see how ideas translate on stage. TEDx is where many of today’s most compelling keynote speakers share the ideas that shape business, leadership and culture.
Below are some TEDx talks our team has watched recently from speakers you can book for conferences, corporate events and leadership summits.
From resilience and courage to the future of human connection, these talks offer a preview of the kinds of ideas that can transform your next event.
Bryony Cole – Where AI Meets Human Connection
Bryony Cole is an internationally recognised speaker exploring the intersection of technology, intimacy and human connection.
In this thought-provoking TEDx talk, Bryony explores how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are reshaping the way humans connect, communicate and experience relationships.
Her central idea is both surprising and insightful: innovations in technology often reveal deeper truths about what humans truly need from connection.
Rather than replacing human interaction, technology can expose our fundamental desire for intimacy, empathy and authenticity.
The talk challenges audiences to rethink assumptions about the future and asks an important question:
What does meaningful connection look like in an increasingly digital world?
As AI continues to transform workplaces, industries and communication, audiences are hungry for human-centred perspectives on technology.
Bryony’s talks are particularly powerful for:
- Innovation conferences
- Future of work events
- Technology and leadership summits
- Marketing and digital transformation conferences
👉Bring these powerful insights to your stage, book Bryony Cole for your next event
Lucy Hone – The Three Secrets of Resilient People
Dr Lucy Hone is a leading international authority on wellbeing and resilience, and her TEDxChristchurch talk has become one of the most widely shared presentations on resilience in recent years.
In this deeply personal talk, Lucy explores how resilience is not simply a personality trait but a set of practical skills that anyone can develop. After experiencing the tragic loss of her daughter, Lucy turned to the science of resilience she had spent years researching to understand how people can navigate adversity and rebuild their lives.
In the talk, she shares three powerful insights:
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Resilient people accept that adversity is part of life
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They focus their attention on what they can change rather than what they cannot
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They constantly ask whether their actions are helping or harming their ability to move forward
For organisations navigating uncertainty, change or workplace wellbeing challenges, Lucy’s work offers practical strategies for building resilient teams and leaders.
Why this matters for event planners
Resilience, well-being and mental fitness are among the most requested keynote themes for conferences and leadership events. Lucy’s blend of research, storytelling and actionable tools resonates strongly with corporate audiences.
👉 Bring this TEDx insight to your stage, book Lucy Hone for your next event >
Nik & Harry Robinson – The World Doesn’t Need More Ideas - It Needs Braver Failures
Entrepreneurs and creative thinkers Nik and Harry Robinson, founders of Good Citizens, are known for their energetic and unconventional approach to business storytelling.
Their TEDx talk explores failure as a pathway to creativity and success.
The father and son duo reveal that their journey to global recognition involved thousands of failed ideas, rejected pitches and experiments that didn’t work.
But rather than viewing failure as something to avoid, they argue that experimentation and persistence are the foundations of innovation.
Their talk highlights several key lessons:
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Creativity requires permission to fail
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Iteration is more powerful than perfection
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The best ideas often emerge after hundreds of attempts
With humour and storytelling, Nik and Harry show how embracing failure can unlock innovation, resilience and bold thinking.
Why this matters for event planners
Innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking are core themes for many conferences.
Nik and Harry bring high energy, practical creativity frameworks and entertaining storytelling, making them ideal for:
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Innovation conferences
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Marketing and brand events
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Startup and entrepreneurship forums
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Creative industry summits
👉 Bring this TEDx insight to your stage, book Nik & Harry Robinson for your next event:
Nadine Champion – 10 Seconds of Courage: Life Lessons from a Fighter
Nadine Champion is a martial arts expert, keynote speaker and courage creator who helps organisations develop resilience, confidence and mental strength.
In her TEDx talk, Nadine shares lessons from her journey to becoming a full-contact martial arts champion, revealing how courage is not something people are born with but something that can be developed through deliberate practice.
She introduces the concept of “micro-bravery”: the small acts of courage people perform every day when they step outside their comfort zones.
Her message is clear:
Courage is built through consistent action, discipline and the willingness to face discomfort.
By reframing fear as an opportunity for growth, Nadine shows how individuals and teams can build stronger mindsets and perform under pressure.
Why this matters for event planners
Nadine’s talks are particularly powerful for organisations seeking to inspire:
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Leadership courage
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Personal resilience
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High-performance culture
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Confidence in challenging environments
Her blend of storytelling, martial arts philosophy and practical mindset strategies makes her a standout keynote speaker.
👉 Bring this TEDx insight to your stage, book Nadine Champion for your next event
Himal Pillay – What We Lose When Families Live Apart
Himal Pillay is the founder of REALIGN Global, helping leaders and organisations reconnect with purpose, alignment and authentic leadership.
In his TEDx talk, Himal explores a powerful idea: many people achieve success externally while feeling internally disconnected from purpose and values.
He argues that true performance and leadership emerge when individuals realign their actions with their deeper motivations.
His talk encourages audiences to reflect on:
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The difference between achievement and fulfilment
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The importance of self-awareness in leadership
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How alignment creates stronger performance and engagement
Through personal storytelling and coaching insights, Himal invites audiences to rethink how success is defined.
Why this matters for event planners
Purpose-driven leadership and authentic culture are major themes in modern organisations. Himal’s keynote presentations resonate strongly with audiences interested in:
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Leadership development
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Personal performance
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organisational culture
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purpose-driven business
👉 Bring this TEDx insight to your stage, book Himal Pillay for your next event
Lila Landowski – Brain Hack: 6 secrets to learning faster, backed by neuroscience
Dr Lila Landowski is a multi-award-winning neuroscientist and science communicator who helps people understand how the brain works and how we can use that knowledge to learn more effectively.
In her TEDxHobart talk, Lila reveals something many people are never taught: how learning actually works in the brain.
As a neuroscientist and university lecturer, she has seen firsthand how many students struggle with learning, not because they lack intelligence, but because they’ve never been shown the science behind how the brain absorbs information. Her talk explores the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to physically change and form new connections in response to experience.
Lila then introduces six science-backed ingredients that help people learn faster and retain information more effectively:
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Attention – minimising distractions to allow the brain to focus
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Alertness – using exercise, stress and environment to activate the brain
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Sleep – consolidating memories and strengthening learning
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Repetition – reinforcing neural pathways through practice
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Breaks – allowing the brain time to process information
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Mistakes – using errors as powerful learning signals for the brain
Her message is empowering: when we understand the biological mechanics of learning, we can dramatically improve how we study, work and develop new skills.
Why this matters for event planners
In today’s knowledge economy, organisations constantly ask employees to learn new skills, adapt quickly, and process complex information.
Lila’s keynotes translate neuroscience into practical tools for improving focus, productivity and lifelong learning, making her an ideal speaker for events focused on:
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Leadership and high performance
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Workplace learning and development
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Education and skills transformation
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Future of work and productivity
Her engaging storytelling and accessible science help audiences walk away with simple strategies they can immediately apply to improve how they learn and perform.
👉 Bring this TEDx insight to your stage, book Lila Landowski for your next event
Tully Mahr – A First Nations vision for space exploration
Tully Mahr is a First Nations aerospace engineer, speaker and STEM advocate who is helping reshape how we think about the future of space exploration.
In her TEDx talk, Tully asks a powerful and timely question: What if humanity repeats the same mistakes in space that we have made on Earth?
Drawing on her experience as a Gundungurra woman and aerospace engineering student, Tully explores how the race to explore and potentially colonise the Moon and Mars raises important ethical questions about responsibility, ownership and stewardship.
Rather than viewing space purely as a new frontier to claim, she invites audiences to rethink exploration through the lens of Indigenous knowledge systems, which emphasise responsibility, connection and care for the environments we inhabit.
Her talk highlights several key ideas:
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Why exploration should prioritise responsibility before rights
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How Indigenous knowledge can inform scientific and technological progress
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The importance of collaboration and care when exploring new worlds
Tully’s message challenges audiences to imagine a future where space exploration is guided not only by technology and ambition, but also by ethics, cultural knowledge and collective responsibility.
Why this matters for event planners
As industries grapple with the rapid pace of technological innovation, audiences are increasingly interested in conversations about the human values shaping our future.
Tully brings a unique perspective to conferences focused on:
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The future of science and technology
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Diversity and inclusion in STEM
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Indigenous knowledge and leadership
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Responsible innovation and ethics
Her ability to combine complex scientific ideas with cultural insight makes her an inspiring speaker for audiences exploring the intersection of technology, culture and the future of humanity.
👉 Bring this TEDx insight to your stage, book Tully Mahr for your next event
Why Event Planners Use TEDx Talks to Discover Speakers
TEDx Talks have become one of the most effective ways for event organisers to evaluate potential keynote speakers.
They provide a real-world preview of how a speaker:
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Delivers ideas on stage
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Connects emotionally with audiences
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Communicates complex concepts clearly
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Uses storytelling to drive impact
Watching a TEDx talk allows event planners to see not just what a speaker says, but how they make audiences feel.
Planning Your Next Conference? Bring TED-Level Ideas to Your Stage
If you’re searching for speakers who can deliver insight, inspiration and practical takeaways, these TEDx talks are a great place to start.
The speakers featured above regularly deliver keynotes at:
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corporate conferences
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leadership summits
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innovation forums
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industry events
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organisational offsites
👉 Explore more speakers or enquire about availability
