Talk Matters / 2:00pm - 2:20pm

Nick Hammond

My quest is to use mindfulness as a tool to support both individuals and businesses in the areas of mental health, wellbeing, and an overall improved approach to living.

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My approach combines a passion for mindfulness, a range of mindfulness teaching qualifications and an understanding of the business world based on 30+ years’ experience.

TED Speaker. RSA Fellow. Mindfulness Teacher, Charity Trustee and Poet.

Talk Matters / 1:25pm - 1:55pm

Ayo Sokale

A generation of young people have grown up following Ayo at the BBC – most prominently as the co-presenter on CBeebies of Get Set Galactic.

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In recent years, Ayo has felt more able to talk about being on the autism spectrum. She has a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome and is an empathetic and inspirational keynote speaker on neurodiversity, mental health challenges and how to overcome them. She is writing her first book in the field of self development to support these endeavours.

Talk Matters / 1:25pm - 1:55pm

Rachel Eden

Rachel Eden is the founder of local business, Holy Brook, working with charities and small businesses with a heart.

She is a Councillor for Whitley ward first elected in 2010 and was Mayor of Reading 2021-2023. She stood for parliament in 2017 and 2019 and is passionate about mental health issues, as well as a mum to two amazing young people.

Talk Matters / 4:00pm - 4:30pm

Danyl Johnson

Reading based Danyl Johnson rocketed to fame on The X Factor in 2009 with his version of Joe Cocker’s With a Little Help from My Friends. 

Danyl hosted a weekly radio show for BBC Berkshire and went on to create 2 podcasts called Best Thing & Little Help. Now working with the People’s Postcode Lottery, Danyl can regularly be seen on television presenting. Danyl is also an ambassador for several charities, both local and national, including Launchpad in Reading and the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. 

Mindful Matters / 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Davinder Ojalla

Having left the corporate world as a Director for a large FTSE 100, Davinder's world crashed as she was thrown into her first Spiritual Awakening over 20 years ago...

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Courageously facing her past demons, re-united with her Spirit Guides, Davinder worked day and night to find Holistic solutions to overcome her Eating Disorder, Chain Smoking, Addictions, Abuse, Childhood Trauma, Back Injury, Suicidal Anxiety, PTSD, Heavy Pain Body & Destructive Shadow...

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Having watched her schizophrenic mum's constant suicide attempts as a child Davinder adopted the belief she too was powerless to change her destiny. Absorbing deep suffering as a Sensitive/ Empath Davinder was riddled with pain & suffering on many levels. Was it really possible to survive all this, let alone THRIVE?.

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Davinder is PROOF, no matter what life challenges have been thrown on your path, you too can call in your SOUL, activate your spiritual power & choose to liberate yourself...

But you're going to have to show up & do this work.

Davinder is the founder of: MedYoga Therapy, The 7 Keys Meditation & The Awakening Process. 

Music Matters / 3:00pm - 3:20pm

Shocka

Shocka, aka Kenneth Erhahon, is rapper and mental health advocate from Tottenham, London. He gained recognition for being one/third of Grime collective Marvell alongside Double S and Vertex.

After dealing with mental health issues himself, Shocka became a Mental health advocate to help those suffering from their own problems with his music. He has since aimed to raise awareness of mental issues and has been a speaker on TED and a guest on numerous talk shows.

His October 2018 single, Self Love reflects his personal journey with mental health issues and how he has come to terms with these difficulties.

Shocka believes self love is part of the cure for mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and low self image. By teaching someone how to love and appreciate themselves – no matter what their background or identity is – he believes it will drastically improve their ability to go through life positively.

Shocka released his debut album Impact Over Numbers on 16 May 2020, The album was noted for exploring a variety of topics including mental health, friendship, and miscarriage.

Talk Matters / 5:00pm - 5:20pm

Hari Sewell

Hári Sewell is founder and Director of HS Consultancy and is a former executive director of health and social care in the National Health Service in the UK. He has worked for the Department of Health in regulation and policy.

Hári is a writer and speaker in his specialist area of social justice, equalities and ethnicity, race and culture in mental health. 

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Hári worked with another local campaigner to secure services for survivors of sexual violence and currently runs a campaign “Men Supporting Women’s Rights” including “Men Against Rape”. He is increasingly studying forms of masculinity and the possibilities in practice and employee relations to recognise the intersections between masculinity and other aspects of identity.

Talk Matters / 1:00pm - 1:20pm

Dr Carly Jones MBE

Carly is 41 ,Diagnosed Autistic at 32 years of age, and a mother of 3 daughters 2 of whom are also Autistic.

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A British Autism Advocate since 2008 . Her advocacy work for the inclusion of Autistic women and girls has included speaking on News channels, Universities, Parliament she became the first British Autistic woman to address the United Nations on Autistic females rights.

Carly was made an MBE in the 2017 New Years Honours list for services to Autism . Her book Safeguarding Autistic Girls Strategies for professionals was published globally December 2021.

Carly now works as NHS Lead of Co production for Autism and Learning Disabilities London , sits as an independent member of his majesty the Kings community and voluntary Honours committee and as an Independent member of the Ministry of Justice within the public appointments system.