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).

Dalhousie University
6299 South Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2
Canada

Colette O'Hara

Chief Strategy Officer at Saltwire Media

A spirited leader, Colette uses design thinking, communication and creativity to inspire transformative growth among teams and organizations. Currently, she is the Chief Strategy Officer at SaltWire Network where she works with teams at news publications across the Atlantic region to rethink the role of local media and innovate the model for the future. In her early career, Colette was part of the senior management team at Revolve Branding, led communication efforts for Acadia University's $50-million capital campaign, helped to establish Nova Scotia's gaming industry as a world leader in social responsibility and developed brand strategies for some of the region's most prominent clients. She believes in heart-centered leadership and is on a mission to create the conditions that allow people to bring their whole selves to work. She gets out of bed every morning and asks: what can we do today to make business more human and loving?

Darren Steeves

Owner of Vendura Wellness

Darren Steeves is passionate about improving the health of his community. He is a professional Exercise Physiologist and has worked in the health and performance field for nearly 25 years. He has consulted with corporations, Olympic Medalists, and World Champion athletes. He has presented in front of too many people to count. Currently Darren is leading a 3-year study in resilience in university age students in Halifax.

Elsy Makhlouf

Public Relations Student

Elsy Makhlouf is a public relations student at the Mount and CEO of Lively Public Relations and Branding Inc. Elsy, who moved to Halifax from Lebanon in 2015, is an avid volunteer and was on the winning team for Youthful Cities' 30 Lab Project, which enables youth to affect change in their communities.

Jeff Chant

Prosperity Architect

Jeff is known as a thoughtful, engaging presenter and a compassionate coach who closes the gaps between seemingly separate worlds with his deep understanding of both the human condition and his strategic business focus. Drawing on his experience in pastoral psychology and education combined with his years as an international corporate executive and consultant, Jeff encourages us to accept that we prosper when we are both people and profit focused. In a unique way, Jeff works with organizations to connect them to their people and purpose as much as their bottom line. With 20 year’s experience leading, advising and coaching to a range of organizations and companies, Jeff instills the required clarity for results and accountability as well as a culture of care and compassion.

Jennifer Gillivan

President and CEO of IWK Health Centre Foundation

Jennifer Gillivan is President and CEO of the IWK Foundation. Before joining the IWK Foundation, she worked for CBC at the regional and national level for 14 years. Gillivan was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada to serve as a member of The Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments in Nova Scotia. She is the Honorary Lieutenant colonel 3 Intelligence Company, Canadian Armed Forces and holds multiple board seats including Save the Children International, Children’s Hospital Foundations Board (Vice Chair) and the Atlantic Ambassador for Women Get On Board. Gillivan has been honored by many awards including Halifax Business Person of the Year 2017 by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Top 50 CEO Award 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2018 by Atlantic Business Magazine, one of the Top 25 Immigrants in Canada, and one of the Top 25 Immigrants in the Maritimes in 2017 and many more.

Kendra MacDonald

CEO of Canada's Ocean Supercluster

Kendra MacDonald is the inaugural CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster responsible for driving innovation and growth in the ocean economy. Kendra was previously a Partner in Deloitte's Risk Advisory practice and the Chief Audit Executive of Deloitte Global. She has worked with a number of clients across industries small and large, public and private in the areas of governance, risk management, cyber security, internal and external audit. Kendra is a frequent speaker and facilitator on the topics of innovation, future of work and disruptive technologies and is currently the Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries. Kendra has had the opportunity to live and work in Ottawa, Montreal, Australia and Hong Kong.

Melanie Little

CEO and Co-Founder of Vlife

Melanie started her career as an elementary school teacher, but from day one in the classroom she realized that the school system didn’t allow her to facilitate learning in the way that children learn best. She stopped teaching when her children were born and stayed home to raise and then home-educate them. It was then that she was finally able to facilitate learning in the way that she’d learned in her BEd Program – from a place of interest and relevance. Melanie was fascinated with the ease with which her own children learned and flourished compared to her public-school students. Pursuing further educational research, she is writing a book to help disseminate the vast body of knowledge on how humans learn best and get it into the hands of parents, educators and policy makers. In addition to her ongoing book research and writing; Melanie is the CEO and co-founder of vlife: a support-local online marketplace exclusively for small independent businesses.

Musemo Handahu

Fashion Creative

Musemo Handahu is multi-faceted fashion creative based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a writer she has contributed to The Huffington Post and covered fashion weeks in Toronto for Fashion Magazine and in Johannesburg & Cape Town for Essence Magazine. When not creating content for the many brands she partners with, she's using her fearless sense of style and eye for the cool and buzz worthy to moonlight as a style expert and host on the East Coast for CBC, CTV and Global News. Musemo uses her love for the digital arts and fashion to inspire her community, especially by championing for the increased visibility of plus size women and African Nova Scotians in the arts where a lack of representation is unmistakable. For her work, she’s been awarded the Entrepreneurship, Youth Involvement and Outstanding Community Service Award by the Black Business Initiative and was also honored with the Founders Choice Award by Body Confidence Canada.

Nick Cardone

Owner and Lead Clinician at Free Range Therapy

Nick Cardone is a Registered Counselling Therapist in Nova Scotia. He is also the Owner and Lead Clinician at Free Range Therapy – a private therapy clinic specialized in working with men and adolescent boys. With 20 years experience in school, institutional, community-based and private practice mental health settings, his clients are invited to explore new ways of ‘doing’ therapy. Utilizing evidence-based modalities like adventure-based therapy, physical movement, creative expression or exposure to nature, clients engage while on a hike, journaling, rock climbing, playing guitar or using a mousetrap!

Paul Tingley

Paralympic Gold Medalist

Sailing since he was ten years old, Paul Tingley was born to be in the water. After a skiing accident at age 24 left him paralyzed from the waist down, Paul made the decision to channel his energies back into his passion-sailing. Despite the rigorous training; his work ethic, competitive spirit, and passion for the sport never wavered. A year after the accident, Paul would return to the water and begin racing competitively. Tingley has since won three paralympic medals, including Gold in Beijing 2008. He now assists others to become involved in parasport programs and experience the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Quentrel Provo

Activist, Stop the Violence

Quentrel Provo is a singer, songwriter, and activist. He is the Founder and CEO of Stop the Violence Brand and Movement which he started after the tragic killing death of his close cousin Kaylin Diggs in August 2012. He took his hurt, pain, anger and frustration and turned it into something positive to create change and make a difference. In April 2015 he started the Stop the Violence Clothing Brand--the first brand of its kind in Canada geared towards spreading a message of love and standing against violence. Provo also serves as a Justice Champion for the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. In June 2016 Provo made history in Canada as June 10 was declared “Stop the Violence Day” in Nova Scotia with the signing of the Proclamation by Premier McNeil. Nova Scotians are asked to wear red to mark this day of awareness and perform an act of kindness towards a fellow citizen.

Rana Zaman

Social Activist

Rana Zaman is a Pakistani Canadian Social Activist and mom of three who came to Canada at the age of six. She is recognized as a strong leader and mentor for social justice causes. She is sought after to speak on subjects such as Racism, Islamophobia, Feminism, Volunteering and has been a panelist to discuss the Ivany Report for CBC. Zaman is a Halifax VOW Board member and has been chosen to be a delegate to the United Nations for the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women to be held in March 2019. She mentors youth and women to take leadership roles in community activities and has worked with politicians at all three levels. She is currently serving on more than 13 non-profit committees. She’s founding member of United for One Association and raised $200,000 for Syrian refugees. She has received numerous awards and recognitions including RBC’s 2018 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award, The Coasts 2018 Bronze Activist Award and The Fearless Woman Award.

Rouge Fatale

Drag Queen

Originally from Glace Bay, Cape Breton Rouge is a well-established drag legend with over 15 years of experience and success. She is the only drag queen to be inducted into the Coast’s Best of Halifax Hall of Fame after being voted the best drag performer for 10 consecutive years. Rouge has produced and hosted numerous shows throughout Canada including a four-season run of her fan-favourite Rouge Fatale & Friends at Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax. When it comes to performance style, she excels at combining classic comedy, modern chicness and deep emotion that audiences have fallen in love with again and again. With her large plethora of trophies and awards tucked under her red bouffant wig for comedy, impersonation, makeup, lip-sync, and performance Rouge Fatale will not only have you laughing in the aisles but will leave you wanting more!

Savvy Simon

Educator

Savvy Simon is an educator, entrepreneur, activist, mentor and entertainer. She is the first, First Nation woman to reach the rank of Diamond as an Essential Oil Educator at dōTERRA International. She was the only First Nation to speak on stage in front of 12,000 at WE DAY Halifax and was awarded Top 40 Female Change Makers in Canada. Savvy is a part of the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau and is the creator of the #SpeakMikmaq Language revolution from Mi'kmaq tribe of Elsipogtog in New Brunswick. Encouraged by her work, the language hashtag movement has been adopted and emulated by an increasing number of tribes throughout North America. She is a mother of a toddler and expecting her second. Savvy's approach to sharing positive vibes in a real and authentic way has gained a following of over 45,000. Savvy spreads love throughout the world, and has worked alongside Dolly Parton, National Chief Shawn Alteo, Comedian Don Burnstick, and Buffy St-Marie to name a few.