In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Operaplan 5
Umeå, Västerbottens län, 903 29
Sweden

Abrak Saati

I’m a political scientist with a great interest in issues that deal with democratization – particularly in societies that are recovering from war – but also in peaceful societies. I’m currently conducting a research project which is partly based at the British Institute for International and Comparative Law in London, partly at the American Bar Foundation in Chicago and partly at the Department of Political Science at Umeå University. My research has been published in scientific journals such as the Journal of Politics and Law, and the International Journal of Constitutional Law; presented at international conferences such as the International Political Science Association; and at seminars at the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University.

Caroline Ravn

For many years I thought I was going to be a preacher. I studied theology for almost five years before I finally understood that I was, and have always been, a magician. Since 2014, I’ve been performing magic full-time all over the world. I’ve received several awards, in Sweden and internationally, for both magic and my line of playing cards. I want to create magical memories in a world where virtual reality and artificial intelligence are changing everything we know at a lightning speed.

Fredrik Lindegren

I’m Fredrik Lindegren and I work as the Head of Culture at Umeå Municipality. I have been engaged with culture in various forms since the early 1990s, including art, theatre, film, opera and most recently being the Artistic Director for the European Capital of Culture in 2014.

Johan Persson

I have a 20-year track record in customer insight, innovation and industrial design. I’m the founder of C’monde Studios – often named among Hong Kong's top innovation and industrial design agencies. I was one of the early influencers in Sweden to identify the challenge of a widening gorge between market insight and production output, and in 2005 was one of the early movers from the service industry to arrive to Hong Kong with the investment backing of two renowned Scandinavian design agencies – No Picnic and Veryday. In 2010, I founded C’monde Studios in Hong Kong at the best possible location for its unique access to China's Greater Bay Area. The company’s aim is to serve global companies with insight, innovation and industrial design with focus on user driven innovation for the Chinese customer.

Lovette Jallow

I am a 30-plus-year-old female based in Sweden who is also a published author, activist, and Youtuber. After spending almost 10 years in England studying, I returned to Sweden and started Scandinavia’s largest forum for black women, men and non-gender binaries as an attempt to bring together black people of all genders with one aim of increasing inclusion in the beauty industry. This became a gateway into a world where exclusion of black people and POC became even more noticeable, and my voice grew. On the Facebook forum, I wrote and had published Europe’s first beauty manual for darker skin tones again as a way of showing that beauty has no colour and all shades should be worthy of celebration, in contrast to the message that has been projected onto us via media and marketing. In 2017, when news broke of the Libyan refugee crisis, I sprung to action and organized what would become one of the largest demonstrations against modern-day slavery in Sweden with over 7000 attendees and powerful speakers. This also sparked the creation of an organization that is and would journey to Libya to provide aid and assistance in refugee camps where many sub-Saharan Africans are held in transit. These days you can occasionally find me on YouTube sharing my daily life, struggles and joy. I’m also on Instagram, where I share information from my perspective as a black woman, encouraging and sharing tools that anyone can use in daily life in order to tackle racism and exclusion.

Malcolm Fairbrother

I am a professor of sociology at Umeå University and a researcher at the Institute for Futures Studies in Stockholm. My career has taken me around the world. I am originally from western Canada, and have also lived in the United States, Mexico, England, and now Sweden. My research is mostly about public attitudes towards environmental issues and policies, and in other projects I also study trust and globalization.

Mattias Goldmann

Middle-aged, white, heterosexual male… I know I wouldn’t. If you do, it is to learn from my mistakes and failures - because at least I admit them. At TEDxUmeå, I will focus on my obsession with being efficient, and how I am really not. I promise to be brief (though I might fail on that one too).

Siduri Poli

I’m just the little person with a great idea. I’m the co-founder of Changers Hub, an innovative entrepreneur hub with two locations in Stockholm, Sweden. The goal is to create a more equal society where all young people have the same chance to succeed with their ideas. Beside a co-working space, this hub also offers courses, lectures, coaching and an innovation studio. Changers Hub started in late 2015 and has been growing rapidly. Today, Changers Hub has over 1000 members which makes it one of the biggest hubs in Sweden. And soon in the world.

Stina Hägglund

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Thor Rutgersson

My name is Thor Rutgersson and I’m a writer. Of course, that could mean a lot of things. I’ve written fictional books about real issues, like mental illness and homelessness. I’ve also written textbooks on democracy, non-formal and informal learning and equality. But what it really means is that I’m constantly questioning everything. Mostly, I’m questioning myself – and with that I try to find and address topics that are hard to approach. Things like masculinity, vulnerability, self-injury and self-hatred. If I think it’s hard to write about, I’m probably on to something!