Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022 has unveiled its full programme of panels and keynotes- tickets are now on sale.
Christopher Wylie, Gail Porter, David Harewood, Mary Beard, Rosie Jones, Simon Jordan and Gareth Thomas amongst new names announced joining Yotam Ottolenghi, David Olusoga at this year’s Leeds International Festival of Ideas.
Tackling some of the most crucial questions of our time, Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) has just launched its full panel and keynote speakers for 2022. From the future of technology, to climate justice and the social duty of sports professionals, this will be an international festival to remember.
Consisting of four keynote talks and six panels from Thursday 22 September – Sunday 25 September 2022, LIFI will take place in Leeds’ new premier venue, Howard Assembly Room and Howard Opera Centre.
At each event, a host of household names and industry experts will debate and discuss thought-provoking subjects, and more, at length in expertly chaired panels.
Joining the previously announced chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi and British-Nigerian historian and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE in delivering the festival’s keynote addresses, an array of speakers have been added to this exciting line-up.
Award-winning stand-up, writer and actor, Aisling Bea, and classicist and national treasure Mary Beard have been added to the keynote line-up, whilst Christopher Wylie, best known for his role in setting up – and taking down – the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica, will join the Sonia Sodha-chaired panel ‘Is social media ruling the world?’.
Sodha, chief leader writer and columnist at the Observer and Guardian, will also be joined on the panel by Dr Al Baker, editorial director at misinformation-fighting tech start-up Logically and consultant, speaker, writer and podcaster Africa Brooke.
Award winning journalist, author and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon will host ‘How do we talk about mental health?’, where her panel will discuss if there is still more to be added to the conversation, or if it has now been normalised.
Environmental activist, and honorary president of Black Environment Network, Judy Ling Wong CBE will also be joining the LIFI panel alongside policy and advocacy expert Pauline Castres, president of Swedish youth organisation Sáminuorra Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, climate justice activist Dominique Palmer, Miami-based artist Lee Pivnik and wildlife cameraman and photographer Hamza Yassin.
David Olusoga, speaking at Leeds International Festival of Ideas says: “The world is in a strange place right now and having festivals like this, bringing people together to discuss topics is exactly what is needed. I will be talking about the history of great inventions and the inventors and can they ever be separated.”
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Over the four days, each household name will chair a panel of events, with headline questions like: ‘is the metaverse our future reality?’ hosted by Lara Lewington, and ‘how do we talk about mental health?’ with mental health campaigner, journalist and author Byrony Gordon.
With the full programme now revealed, tickets are on sale now. Explore the full line-up and buy tickets from the Leeds International Festival of Ideas.
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