Every Tuesday 5.15pm-6.30pm during term time @Griffin Bar
'That's how people change their world. One conversation at a time...'
Informal roundtable seminars inspired by big questions, and offering the chance to meet influential changemakers.
Special guests - authors, medics, journalists, artists, CEOs, academics, activists - will be joining us throughout the year. It's a chance to meet experienced Changemakers & have an actual, meaningful conversation away from the formalities of a lecture or large-scale presentation. There are drinks and snacks, and an opportunity to develop the skill of having better conversations.
All are welcome - no booking required - just drop by!
Michaelmas 2024
8 October - Welcome to Michaelmas 2024
Our first Changemakers Conversation of the term is a chance to join us in the Griffin Bar, meet new people, and enjoy some drinks. There's no guest, no agenda just an invitation to drop in. See you there.
15 October - Tom Wilson: Running against Rishi
Join us for an evening with Tom Wilson, a Homerton alum who ran against Rishi Sunak in the recent General Election. Tom will be reflecting on his experience as Labour Candidate for Richmond and Northallerton, running against the Prime Minister and sharing his experiences of the 2024 General Election. This is a joint event with Homerton Changemakers and the Homerton Politics Society.
22 October - Building a Diverse and Equitable Workplace
As part of Black History Month, Homerton is hosting a panel exploring diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. Continue the discussion in the Griffin Bar after the event. This event starts at the slightly later time of 5:30pm.
29 October - Dr Michelle Darlington: Draw Yourself Smarter
Come to the Griffin Bar for an evening of mind expanding drawing. Michelle Darlington, cofounder of the Thinking Through Drawing Project, will take us through some interactive drawing activities which are designed to help us think more deeply and encourage creativity. Pencils provided!
5 November - American Election Special
You are invited to an event marking the 2024 American Presidential Election. The evening starts in the Griffin Bar with American themed refreshments, followed by a discussion of the 2024 campaign, and some informed speculation about the much anticipated result. Information on the panel will be posted soon. This is a joint event with Homerton Politics Society and Homerton History Society. Details of the Panel will be announced soon.
12 November - Sue Keogh: On Brand
We hope you can join us for an opportunity to meet communications consultant and branding expert Sue Keogh. Sue has a wealth of experience in writing, editing, content creation and broadcasting. She is head of Sookio a communications consultancy which advises on content strategy, copywriting, event management and social media marketing.
19 November - Julian Huppert: Politics, Science, and Power
Meet Julian Huppert, former MP and Director of the Intellectual Forum for a discussion of everything at the intersection of science and politics. Expect a conversation on topics such as AI ethics, medical technology, social media and the environment.
26 November - Bastian Giegerich & Julia Muravska: Defence Industry
Come and meet Bastian Giegerich Director-General and Chief Executive of The International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Julia Muravska Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Freeman Air and Space Institute. Together, they have worked for government, worked in academia and with NGOs. Consequently, they have considerable experience and expertise in the field of industry, policy, and innovation.
3 December - Dr Liam Loftus: Food for Thought
Come and join us in the Griffin Bar for a conversation with Liam Loftus, a GP who also works on behalf of Cambridge City Food Bank as a health inequalities consultant. We will be discussing issues to do with food, poverty, health, and well-being.
Previously...
Easter 2024
30 April - Rupert Baines
Rupert Baines is a serial entrepreneur and has a wealth of experience leading technology companies. He is currently the CEO of QPT, a company that is developing the next generation of electric motors.
In his previous role as the CEO of UltraSoC (recently acquired by Siemens), he led a successful spinout venture which pioneered a revolutionary approach to semiconductor technology, and won multiple business awards in the process.
He participates in the startup mentoring program of Cambridge Judge Business School, and is also the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Cambridge Innovation Capital.
From 2020, Rupert has been actively involved with Changemakers, giving pro bono talks and workshops; mentoring Catalyst Fund winners; and donating the ‘Ivan Baines Prize’ to one of the Catalyst Fund winners; as well as funding the Changemakers in the Community Initiative.
7 May - Susie Hart MBE
Susie Hart is the Founder and Overseas Director of Artizan International.
She is a serial Social Entrepreneur; pioneer; artist and designer; who is passionate about opportunities for differently-abled people, particularly in the developing world. She has founded 3 international charities in five countries, in the UK, Africa and Latin America.
She has been awarded an MBE and a Woman of the Year award, and the entirely deaf-run restaurant that she founded in Tanzania won the Telegraph award for the "Best British-Run Restaurant Overseas in the World" two years running.
14 May
An informal gathering, with dinner afterwards for Changemakers Ambassadors.
21 May
An informal gathering, with the chance to consider some thought provoking conversation starters.
28 May
Play the L-Game! Devised in 1967 by Edward de Bono, the L-Game helps develop lateral thinking. You can learn more about the L-Game here.
4 June
Play Kensington! Voted Game of the Year in 1979, Kensington takes a minute to learn, and a lifetime to master. It is almost certainly the best game based on a rhombitrihexagonal tiling matrix ever devised! You can learn more about Kensington here.
11 June
Play Edward de Bono's Category Game! Find out more here.
back to all events
Lent 2024
23 Jan - Michelle Darlington
Dr. Michelle Darlington serves as the Head of Knowledge Transfer at the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation. In this role, she focuses on developing and disseminating best practices in social innovation. Her responsibilities encompass translating research for non-academic audiences, organizing academic and practitioner events, and creating blended learning materials. Additionally, Dr. Darlington is a co-founder of the Thinking Through Drawing project, an educational research network, professional development provider, and consultancy specializing in visual approaches to learning and research. She also contributes to teaching in the MSt in Social Innovation.
30 Jan - Theo Hacking
Before entering academia, Theo spent 15 years in industry and consulting, specializing in environmental management and sustainable development. Following his pHD joined Cambridge’s Engineering Department in 2008, as a Senior Research Associate, overseeing an industry-funded program on energy efficiency in the built environment. Later, I transitioned to the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, managing the development and delivery of business-focused, part-time graduate courses.
6 Feb - David Belin
David is a professor of behavioural neuroscience and director of studies for PBS at Homerton College. His work explores issues related to compulsion and addiction, with a particular focus on the role lead by the brain in neuropsychiatric conditions such as drug addition and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
13 Feb - Ben Brown
Ben holds the role of CTO at Cambridge Mechatronics (CML) where he is responsible for steering the technical development of CML’s ground-breaking SMA actuator technology. Prior to CML, Ben started a company based on a novel pumping technology for micro fluidic applications. At The Technology Partnership in Cambridge, he developed a novel electrostatic printing technology and led a multi-million-dollar R&D programme for piezo inkjet technology.
20 Feb - Alasdair Tait
Alasdair has performed in many of the world’s major concert halls and is also much sought after as a chamber music coach. Prior to his current role as Chief Executive of Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT), he held senior teaching posts at GSMD, RNCM and the Reina Sofia in Madrid and continues as a regular professor at Britten Pears Arts, Banff Centre, Stanford University, and ProQuartet in Paris. He is frequently invited as jury member on international competitions such as Melbourne, London and Banff.
27 Feb - Priscilla Day-Walsh
Priscilla is a Next Generation Fellow at the Centre for Trophoblast Research working in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Dr Day-Walsh’s key research interests are in understanding how the human gut microbiome can be utilised as a novel tool for predicting, preventing and treating pregnancy complications and their associated morbidities and mortalities. In particular Dr Day-Walsh’s research aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of how the maternal gut microbiota affect maternal-placental-fetal physiology and the impact this has on pregnancy outcomes and health across the life-span.
5 March - Susie Hart
Susie is the Director of Craft Aid International. She previously founded and Directed Neema Crafts Centre in Tanzania, a large social enterprise which provides training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and also strives to change negative attitudes towards differently-able people locally, nationally and internationally. The centre has a large number of craft workshops, a physiotherapy unit for disabled children, a guest house staffed by people with disabilities and a restaurant entirely staffed by deaf people, which won the Telegraph award for the "Best British-run Restaurant Overseas in the World" in 2010.
12 March - Philip Graham
Philip is a postdoctoral ‘UKRI Design Innovation Scholar’ at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). He is also an architect at Cullinan Studio, London and a visiting lecturer in sustainable housing design at Tampere University, Finland.
Michaelmas 2023
14 Nov - Kevin Powell
Kevin was CTO at Mondelez International, ranked 108 in the Fortune 500 list of largest United States corporations by total revenue at the point Kevin left. Mondelez has an annual revenue of about $26.5 billion and operates in approximately 160 countries. Among other things, as CTO Kevin was responsible for the global production of Oreo! In the last couple of years he has de-corporatised and is now working with environmental groups and mentors social entrepreneurs. I will be buying Oreos to accompany our conversation.
7 Nov - Andrew Dickinson
Andrew is from Farsight Consulting - a consultancy working to bring digital transformation to the public sector. Farsight works with the Ministry of Justice, Department of Education, the NHS, the Home Office, the Department for International Development and other government departments. Andrew works primarily with the Department of Health.
31 Oct - Frances Rayner
Frances is Communications Lead for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland, an organisation dedicated to reprogramme the economy to put people and planet first. She has a great deal of experience in campaigning roles for social and environmental causes. Frances is Chair of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.
24 Oct - Esther Loukin postponed
Esther is a disability rights activist and co-founder of the disabled-led organisation Reasonable Access. She challenges and works with organisations to hold them to account on disability access.
17 Oct - Olu Orugboh
Olu is the CEO and Founder of Synergy Solutions, a specialist management consultancy practice, which helps companies face the challenges of an ever changing world. Olu is a mother to two wonderful children and is passionate about growing the impact of digital technology in underrepresented communities. She is also the Deputy Chair of Cambridge Wireless Board
10 Oct - Prof Maggi Dawn
Maggi is a songwriter, a theologian, and a Priest. She is based at Durham University and specialises in theology and the arts.
Easter 2023
20 June
Changemakers Summer Party - on the Griffin terrace! All students invited!
13 June
With Changemakers Student Ambassadors
6 June Dr Edge Watchorn, Deputy Director of the Westminster Abbey Institute
Edge is Deputy Director of the Westminster Abbey Institute, which works with the public service institutions around Parliament Square to revitalise moral and spiritual values in public life. She is also a Non-Executive Director and a Justice of the Peace. For 13 years she was an executive and strategist at the House of Commons, UK Parliament, leading on participation, education and people development. She has also been Chair of Trustees for the Young Citizens Charity. She has demonstrable interests in citizenship, active participation in public life and social change.
30 May Dr Alison Wood, Changemakers Academic Director
16 May 'London Recruits' - A private screening of Gordon Main's new film
We were delighted to host this event that included a panel discussion with the director Gordon Main; producer Colin Charles (AfroFuturist Arts); 'Recruit' Steve Marsling; and two special guests, Ronnie Kasrils and Amina Frense.
Ronnie was Minister for Intelligence Services in South Africa between 2004-8. He joined the ANC in the 1960’s and was a central member until 2007. He has since been critical of the ANC under Zuma’s leadership. Ronnie has dedicated his life to anti-apartheid struggles. He features in the film as the main recruiter of the ‘London Recruits'. Amina was a journalist covering South Africa's liberation struggle and was Associate Producer of the film 'Mandela Son of Africa'.
2 May Dr Una McCormack, Feminist Science Fiction writer
Una is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling science fiction writer who continues to mentor writers, particularly those working towards completion of their first novel.
Lent 2023
31 January Prof Kamal Munir Pro-Vice-Chancellor (University Community & Engagement) and Professor of Strategy and Policy at the University of Cambridge.
Kamal has published several articles on issues ranging from organisational inequality to institutional change in leading organisational and management journals. He has also published in economics, history and policy journals.
7 February Pedro Gil Architect, Founder + Director of Studio Gil Ltd
Pedro was appointed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, a group of fifteen community and arts leaders tasked with influencing positive change in London’s public realm that truly reflects the city’s diverse constituency.
14 February Dr Sofia Singler Junior Research Fellow in Architecture
Sofia's research interests lie in the history and theory of modern architecture, with particular focus on ecclesiastical architecture, Nordic modernism and Alvar Aalto.
21 February Prof Alan Blackwell Professor of Interdisciplinary Design at Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge
Alan is also Director of the Crucible network for research in interdisciplinary design and Co-Director of Research for the University of Cambridge Global Challenges Initiative. Crucible is a research network within and around the University of Cambridge. Its purpose is to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration of technologists with researchers in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
28 February Rosie Dawson BBC correspondent
As a journalist and documentary maker, with more than 25 years experience with the BBC, most of Rosie's time was spent with the Religion and Ethics department, where she won many industry awards for her work.
7 March Dr Samara Linton, award-winning writer and multidisciplinary content producer.
Samara's work includes The Colour of Madness: Mental Health in Race and Technicolour (2022) and Diane Abbott: The Authorised Biography (2020). She previously worked as a medical doctor and has written for platforms including gal-dem, Metro, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She is a University of Cambridge and University College London graduate.
Michaelmas 2022
18 October Professor Charlotte Sleigh Author, Academic, Historian of Science
'Charlotte Sleigh was one of those kids who could never make up their mind between science and the arts at school. Born in London and educated at Cambridge, she is now an honorary professor at UCL and writes mostly about science from the point of view of history, literature and the arts. Besides doing research and writing, she is also a freelance editor, teacher and speaker.'
25 October Dr Susi Hunt, NHS medic and founder of the pioneering Doctors-for-Doctors
Susi established frontline clinician support at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her work supports, promotes and defends the wellbeing of NHS clinicians, both medics and non-medics. It's pioneering, human-centric, psychologically astute, and essential.
8 November Deborah Curtis, artist & Gavin Turk, artist
Deborah is an artist, creative, activist and maker of imaginative educational experiences. She's recently founded The Great Imagining, a place for collaborative, public learning adventures on analogue & digital hybrid platforms, inspired & initiated by young people.
Gavin is an international artist known for his pioneering, bold forms- his Adrianne Unwrapped is installed outside Cambridge Train Station. You can find more on his work on instagram; and see his current exhibition at the Heong Gallery, an exhibition to coincide with the permanent installation of Adrianne Unwrapped in Cambridge.
Curated by Dr Robin Bunce & Dr Alison Wood
