On Friday 5 September the Berry School of Arts came alive with Ignite Berry, a night of fast, funny and thought-provoking lightning talks that left the audience inspired. You can see the presentations as they are loaded here
I’ll be sharing the highlights of Ignite Berry in a series of blogs, with each one capturing a different part of the night. In this blog, the spotlight is on the organiser, Stephen Lead, whose vision and dedication make the whole event possible.
Spotlight on Stephen Lead. The Spark Behind Ignite Berry ……
Last night’s Ignite Berry was nothing short of extraordinary. A sold-out crowd filled the Berry School of Arts, eager for a night of short, sharp, and inspiring lightning talks. Over fifteen presenters took to the stage, each with only five minutes to share their passion, their insight, or their big idea. The result was a fast-paced evening that left the audience buzzing.
At the heart of it all is Stephen Lead, a software developer, geospatial expert, and the driving force behind Ignite Berry. By day, Stephen is a specialist in building geo-spatial applications and customising ArcGIS tools, making complex mapping systems more intuitive and accessible for users. With thousands of hours of development and presentation experience, he brings both technical precision and a gift for communication.
In his spare time, Stephen’s love for connecting people and ideas shines brightly. He is the organiser of Ignite Berry, managing everything from booking the venue and curating more than fifteen speakers, to coaching presenters on delivering effective lightning talks. He also takes the stage himself as host, ensuring the night runs seamlessly.
Watch Stephen present on 19 September 2023, at the Oxford Art Factory
Stephen is deeply involved in the tech community, serving on the organising committee for the GeoNext conference, the GeoRabble meetup group, and working as a regular MC for the Web Directions conferences. His knack for bringing people together, combined with his enthusiasm for storytelling and innovation, has made Ignite Berry one of the region’s most anticipated community events.
The 5th of September was another reminder of how important it is to create spaces where ideas can be shared, whether big, small, quirky, or profound. Thanks to Stephen’s vision, Berry continues to ignite curiosity, creativity, and connection.
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