Meet our event team

The Organisers

Lindsay Arthur
Organiser

Lindsay, based in Manchester, was motivated to bring a TEDx event to the city that champions and nurtures local, diverse speakers eager to share their unique ideas and stories.

With a background in healthcare, Lindsay is also a passionate advocate for the creative industries, spanning art, film, and video games.

Hosting the 2025 event was one of the highlights of her year and she's looking forward to bringing TEDxNorthernQuarter back to her home town of Manchester for 2026.

Innovating for a Sustainable Future

Andy Coley

Co-Organiser

Andy is a Leadership Development Trainer and Author of Leadership is a Skill as well as being an award-winning TEDx Speaker (The Speaker Awards).

He is passionate about supporting people to share their stories from stage and is very much looking forward to supporting Lindsay and the rest of the team in bringing TEDxNorthernQuarter to the streets of Manchester.

You can view Andy's TEDx talk at :
https://leadershipisaskill.com/andyctedx

Andy is also a highly experienced Master Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and works with a range of businesses from Computer Games companies, to Charities through to Healthcare organisations.

Simran Whitham
Co-Organiser

Simran is the CEO of the award-winning FORMAT Group and a massive advocate for the power of community and bringing people together to share experiences.

Simran planted the seed for the original TEDx event to happen and his talk 'Bring the Vibes, Bring the Tribe: Finding your community' has been viewed over 35,000 times so far on the TEDx channel.

As a Mancunian, Simran is passionate about promoting what the amazing city of Manchester has to offer and for the 2026 event has stepped up to be a part of the organising committee.

Watch his TEDx talk in full

Could this be you?
Event MC

Our MC for 2025 (The awesome Josh Strife Hayes) is one of the 2026 speakers.

So... do you have what it takes to step up on to the stage and MC the event

Can you hold the audience in the palm of you hand

Can you keep your cool as the tech blips, the order changes and the coffee isn't ready...

Email tedxnorthernquarter@gmail.com to apply for the MC role for the 2026 event.

Jon Torrens
Speaker Coach

I’m an introvert. I studied art and design, then graphic design, got a job as a video game level designer, fell in love with performing stand-up comedy, became a full-time stand-up, didn’t become a star and so gave it up, went back to games and started a family.

While working at a games company I saw a really bad presentation and realised that all the writing and performance skills I’d learnt as a stand-up needed to be put to good use. I decided that things needed to change. If an introvert like me can do it, then I think anyone can transform into a confident communicator.

In 2013 I set up my own coaching business, working with groups in Cambridge and London. After much hard work I have flourished, having found my place in the world. Clever me, eh?

Elliot Kay
Speaker Coach

Elliot Kay is the CEO of the Speaker Awards and Summit, and a leading expert in impactful leadership communication.

With a career focused on helping speakers and leaders communicate with authenticity and influence, Elliot empowers professionals to lead with clarity, purpose, and connection.

A passionate advocate for speaking as a tool for leadership and legacy, he has supported executives and thought leaders across sectors to elevate their voice and impact. Elliot’s work champions integrity, service, and the transformative power of spoken word.

Steve Payne
Speaker Coach

Steve Payne is a professional speaker, performance coach, actor, and founder of the Academy of Coaching and Training. He is a member of the training and accreditation panel for the Association for NLP and specialises in leadership, communication, and personal growth.

Trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Steve spent over a decade acting in theatre, radio, and film, with appearances in many of the UK’s best-loved TV series. He has directed and written for award-winning film projects and co-authored the acclaimed book My 31 Practices.

His clients include leading global brands such as IBM, Cisco, RayBan, and IKEA, and he was recently shortlisted for Best TEDx Speaker at the 2024 Speaker Awards in London.