Do Lectures

Do Lectures
Name	Do Lectures
Type	Conference series
Founded	2008
Founders	Barny and Clare Hilsdon; David Hieatt
Headquarters	Pembrokeshire, Wales
Area served	International

Do Lectures

Do Lectures is an annual series of invitation-only gatherings and talks held for makers, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and thought leaders. It was founded in 2008 in Pembrokeshire, Wales by Barny Hilsdon, Clare Hilsdon and David Hieatt and has since inspired satellite events, films, podcasts and curated programming that bring together figures from business, design, technology, literature and activism. The series emphasizes practical creativity, sustainable practice and storytelling, attracting participants from diverse fields including publishing, fashion, engineering, science and social enterprise.

History

Do Lectures began in 2008 on a farm in Pembrokeshire with roots in the independent publishing and design scenes associated with Hay Festival, Port Eliot Festival, Glastonbury Festival, EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival), and the broader UK festival circuit. Founders drew on networks that included contacts from IDEO, R/GA, Pentagram, The Guardian, Financial Times, and The Independent. Early years featured talks and workshops by practitioners with backgrounds at organizations like Nike, Apple Inc., BBC, Channel 4, The New York Times and TED Conferences alumni. The event’s ethos was influenced by figures from Bristol and Cardiff creative communities and by entrepreneurial stories connected to Yeo Valley, Dyson, Sainsbury's and small-scale makers inspired by Warwickshire craft traditions. As it expanded, Do Lectures established partnerships and offshoots in regions that included California, Vancouver, Melbourne, Auckland, and Lisbon.

Format and Themes

The format combines short talks, workshops, outdoor activities and communal meals similar to gatherings at TedMed, Aspen Ideas Festival, Skoll World Forum, World Economic Forum, and South by Southwest. Sessions often foreground topics drawn from the practices of speakers associated with IDEO, Frog Design, Patagonia, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Banksy-adjacent street-art communities, and sustainable-food movements like Slow Food. Themes commonly intersect with entrepreneurship represented by founders of Kickstarter, Etsy, Square (company), and authors from publishing houses such as Penguin Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, and Random House. The pedagogical approach echoes workshop traditions present at Somerset House, Royal Society, and British Museum residencies while emphasizing applied storytelling in the vein of Simon Sinek-style leadership narratives and project-based case studies like those of Ben & Jerry's and The Body Shop.

Speakers and Selection

Speakers are typically selected through a curatorial process informed by experience in startup ecosystems like Y Combinator, Techstars, and social enterprise networks including Ashoka and Skoll Foundation. Past presenters and affiliated guests include entrepreneurs and creators connected with Richard Branson, Anita Roddick-influenced activists, designers from Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood, journalists from The New Yorker, Wired (magazine), and The Economist, as well as scientists and communicators associated with Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, NASA, CERN, and University of Oxford. Selection favors individuals who have delivered notable work at institutions such as IDEO, Google, Microsoft Research, BBC, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, Amnesty International, Oxfam, World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, UNICEF, United Nations Development Programme and cultural figures from National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Tate Modern and British Film Institute.

Impact and Criticism

Advocates compare Do Lectures to influential fora like TED Conferences, Ignite (event), 99U, and PechaKucha, citing effects on participants’ careers in startups, publishing and creative industries, with alumni going on to work with firms like Patagonia, Nike, Airbnb, Uber, Monzo, TransferWise and initiatives connected to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Clinton Foundation. Critics argue that curation and access mirror broader debates about exclusivity observed in events like World Economic Forum and Davos and raise questions similar to critiques of TEDx about commodification of personal narratives. Other critiques reference concerns about sustainability and local impact reminiscent of debates around Glastonbury Festival and COP (United Nations Climate Change Conferences), while supporters point to collaborations with nonprofits such as Ashden Awards winners and community projects akin to Nesta grants.

Locations and Events

The primary location remains a coastal farm in Pembrokeshire near St Davids and Cardigan Bay, with offshoot events staged in cities and regions connected to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Melbourne, Auckland, Lisbon, Dublin, Edinburgh and London. Pop-up and satellite editions have adapted local partnerships with institutions such as Barbican Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Somerset House, Southbank Centre and university programs at University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College London, Imperial College London and University of Edinburgh. Special themed gatherings have paralleled formats from SXSW, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Berlin Biennale, and Frieze Art Fair.

Media and Distribution

Do Lectures produces filmed talks, podcasts and short documentaries distributed through channels similar to those used by TED Conferences, NPR, BBC Radio 4, iTunes, Spotify, and independent platforms like Vimeo and YouTube. Media collaborations and editorial features have appeared alongside outlets such as The Guardian, The New York Times, Financial Times, Fast Company, Wired (magazine), Monocle (magazine), and The Economist. Audio and video productions often highlight narratives that intersect with projects supported by Wellcome Trust, Arts Council England, Prince's Trust, and philanthropic initiatives tied to Nesta and Leverhulme Trust.

Category:Conferences