Theme: A Shift In Thinking

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).

Bell Performing Arts Centre
6250 144 Street
Surrey, British Columbia, V3X 1A2
Canada

Ana Carrizales

Ana Carrizales is a Peruvian-Canadian writer, filmmaker and producer based in Vancouver, BC. She has directed and produced a number of films and short docs that have screened internationally in prestigious film festivals like Tribeca, Hot Docs, and Palm Springs. Her latest film was the recipient of the Harold Greenburg Fund and the BC Arts Council Media grant. Most recently, her feature documentary ‘Chemical Consent’ received The Rogers’ Developmental Fund and was accepted by the Whistler Documentary Lab and the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Breakthrough Program. An engaged community member with a passion for supporting underrepresented voices in the arts, Ana develops art programs for non-profit and arts organizations focused on newly arrived, low income families and communities at risk. For six years, she was the lead trainer of The Richmond in 3D Anti-Bullying Project in high schools, in which she wrote and directed a film and educational tool kit documenting the process. The program was awarded The City of Richmond’s Innovation Award. Ana has served on the boards of The Documentary Organization of Canada – BC Chapter (2017-2019), and Vancouver Playback Theatre (2018 – Present). She also served as a juror for the DOXA Film Festival, Vancouver International Women in Film and Television Film Festival, and in Whistler Film Festival. In addition to raising her three year old daughter Gabrielle, Ana is an instructor at Vancouver Film School, where she teaches film production.

Denise Withers

Talk Title – How to Make Change Easier with Narrative Intelligence Denise Withers is a story coach who’s helped leaders make change for 35 years through her work as an award-winning filmmaker and innovator. For the first two decades of her career, she made 100+ documentaries to help organizations across sectors tackle issues from HIV to acid rain. Together, she and her clients inspired millions of people to take action for change through Discovery Channel, the CBC and national news chains. When reality TV wiped out the documentary market, she returned to grad school at SFU Surrey to study the way we learn and solve problems. Through her research, she discovered that we can use stories to do more than just influence others; we can use them to mobilize the world’s biggest dataset – our collective stories – to solve the world’s toughest problems. Since then, Denise has worked across the globe helping leaders shift the narrative on critical social and environmental issues. Recent clients include Vancity, Fraser Health, the Vancouver Economic Commission, SeaLegacy, and the WILD Foundation, along with half a dozen universities. Denise has a coaching credential from the International Coaching Federation, an MSc in design and a certificate in adult education. To help as many leaders as she can, she shares her insights through publications like SSIR and her podcast “Foreward: How stories drive change“. She also wrote the popular innovation handbook “Story Design: The Creative Way to Innovate“. And she serves on the Board of CPAWS, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. Learn more about her work: denisewithers.com.

Dr. Lara Boyd

Dr. Lara Boyd is a Professor and Wall Scholar at the University of British Columbia. She is both a Neuroscientist and Physical Therapist. At the University of British Columbia Dr. Boyd directs the Brain Behaviour Lab, which performs research that tests ideas surrounding how behaviour and brain health affect learning. Dr. Boyd was recruited to the University of British Columbia in 2006 to take a Canada Research Chair position. Since that time, recruited and trained over 75 graduate students, published more than 200 papers and been awarded over $20 million in research dollars. With her mom she has written a children’s book on the brain titled “What’s Under My Hair”, and is currently working on a book on brain health for adults. Her 2015 TEDx talk on learning and brain plasticity (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHBMFCzznE) has been viewed by over 30 million people.

Dr. Petra Zebroff

Relationship Counsellor & Sex Therapist

Petra Zebroff, has been an avid student of human sexuality for over 25 years. First as a PhD student, then learning from clients as a sex therapist and now with sex research. After founding, Libida, the first women’s online sexual magazine and community, Petra went on to write for popular magazines and websites such as Psychology Today and focuses on sex research and innovation to understand the areas of sexual initiation and eroticism. All through that journey, there has been one common thread, and that is — what lights people up sexually. While the majority of sex research and therapy emphasize the problems of sex, Petra has focused on what ‘works’ sexually, specifically what sparks up the erotic part of the brain. For the last decade she has surveyed more than 10,000 people and worked extensively with hundreds of couples in long-term relationships, to answer the question, “how do I get that first-time spark back?”

Dr. Riley Moynes

Riley has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning four decades in both public and private sectors. In public education, he served as a teacher, Department Head, a Superintendent and a Director of Education. He also authored several textbooks including a History of Russia, and a World Religions text. In the private sector, he was a Founding Partner of a national wealth management firm, author of a book entitled The Money Coach which enjoyed sales of over 200,000 copies in six editions, and co-author of several editions of Top Funds. Since stepping back from day-to-day involvement in financial services, Riley researches and writes reader-friendly publications on topics of general interest, and presents Workshops across the country based on those publications. One of his most recent books, The Four Phases of Retirement, became a Canadian best-seller within 12 months of publication, and is the basis of his TEDx Talk. In the book, he explains how he waltzed through Phase One of retirement, struggled in Phase Two, tried a dozen ventures in Phase Three and now in Phase Four, assists others as they navigate their way through the psychological changes and challenges almost everyone faces in retirement.

Dr. Robert McDermid

Intensive Care Physician

Rob completed his medical degree at the University of British Columbia in 1997, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine, Respirology and Critical Care at the University of Alberta and a Cardiac Ultrasound fellowship at Vancouver General Hospital. He was an attending physician in the University of Alberta Hospital Intensive Care Unit prior to moving to British Columbia in 2014. He is an intensive care physician, the former Site Medical Director of Surrey Memorial Hospital and the current chair of the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee for Fraser Health. He is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia and is an author on more than 40 scientific publications and book chapters. Rob has participated in committees and presented at conferences nationally and internationally.

Dr. Sharlene Gill

Dr. Sharlene Gill is a Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Medical Oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies at BC Cancer – Vancouver. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Pharmacy followed by her medical degree (MD) from the University of British Columbia in 1996, and then completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. Dr. Gill subsequently undertook a research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and a Master’s of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health (Boston, MA). In 2011, she spent a year as a Visiting Professor at the Sun-Yat Sen University Cancer Centre in Guangzhou, China. More recently, she graduated with an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina in 2017. With 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Gill is also actively engaged in education and research, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters to her credit, and has presented widely at national and international cancer conferences. She is committed to scientific research as the path to progress in cancer care, and is the Chair of the GI Disease Site Committee for the Canadian Clinical Trials Group (CCTG). Dr. Gill also believes that mentorship and advocacy are critical to a sustainable cancer care system – she serves as Chair of the UBC Medicine Mentoring Committee, and as the President-Elect for the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists.

Dr. Simon Donner

Simon Donner is an interdisciplinary climate scientist and professor at the University of British Columbia, where he teaches and conducts research at the intersection of climate change science and policy. He holds appointments in the university’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Geography Department, and Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. He is a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent Sixth Assessment Report and is a member of the Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which advises the federal government on pathways to eliminating climate-warming emissions. Simon is passionate about telling stories about science to a variety of audiences. He volunteers his time to relate climate change science for media, government, and communities, which includes appearing regularly on radio and television, speaking to groups ranging from villages in Pacific Island countries to North American pension boards, and filming videos about climate change while cycling to work. For these efforts, he is a recipient of a UBC’s Public Award for Education through the Media, a Google Science Communication Fellowship, and a Leopold Leadership Fellowship. The longtime water sports enthusiast has been described by his family as an aquatic plant – needing sun and water to thrive. Starting in 2020, Simon dipped into the cold ocean near his Vancouver home every day for over a year.

Fatima Zaidi

Biotope Leadership Expert

Fatima Zaidi is a motivational, leadership and two time TEDx speaker with a vision to develop leaders who inspire change, improve lives and uplift humanity. She is a leadership Strategist and transformation expert, who developed the Biotope Leadership approach to help leaders become clear about their purpose so they can make decisions that align with their vision and values helping business leaders create transformational change through clarity around their identity, feeling more empowered and less overwhelmed reaching their goals faster.

Frances Litman

Frances Litman’s passion for showcasing and sharing positive solutions that offer transformational possibilities for a more just and sustainable world, led this award-winning professional photographer and multi-media artist to apply her skills to organizing some of Canada’s largest zero-waste Earth Week festivals, founding a free community solutions hub: CreativelyUnited.org, and producing and hosting a popular Climate and the Arts webinar series. A creative problem solver, Frances believes there are plenty of inspiring and practical solutions to address the biggest issues of our time, but first we must ask better questions. A lifelong resident of Vancouver Island in Canada, Frances’ affinity for the natural world has resulted in her bringing attention to the connection between social justice, climate and the environment and showcasing solutions both creatively and collaboratively. Thousands of people have annually attended the many online and in-person events she has voluntarily organized since 2012. In addition to working for a daily newspaper for more than a decade and three decades as one of Victoria, BC’s leading freelance photographers, Frances has been published in numerous magazines and books, written scripts, created 58 Solutions for Lighter and Healthier Living guide (available on CreativelyUnited.org), as well as produced three short films: The Harmless Home – A Building Revolution, Awaken – A Forest Ballet, Trees Matter, and numerous videos.

Kevin Lamoureux

Kevin Lamoureux is a Faculty member at the University of Winnipeg and a well known public speaker. He has served as Associate Vice President for the University of Winnipeg, Education Lead for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, and as Scholar in Residence for several school divisions. He is an award winning scholar with an impressive publication and research grant record, and has consulted for governments, organizations and institutions across Canada. His most recent book contribution, for Ensouling Our Schools with Dr. Jennifer Katz, is being used by educators across Canada working to create inclusive spaces for all students. He has been seen on TV, in documentaries, in print, and in the media. More than anything, Lamoureux is committed to reconciliation and contributing to an even better Canada for all children to grow up in.

Suzanne Venuta

Suzanne is a mental health educator, advocate, consultant, writer, mentor and inspirational speaker. She does this through the lens of lived experience and has been speaking to public and professionals about living with a mental illness, her healing journey, the importance of compassion, and the power of connection for the past 16 years. While this was not Suzanne’s” intended career”, her lived experience and journey brings a unique perspective to the table of the many boards and organizations she is involved in. Her story always includes hope. Her heartfelt, authentic, and inspiring work has helped many. Suzanne speaks to post-secondary psychology, nursing, and social work students, parents, and teachers. Professional developments, transition societies, and various youth groups have been highlights over the years. She councils’ doctors on how to best support patients with mental health challenges, and better understand the implications of adverse childhood experiences. Suzanne has been featured on C.B.C. Radio “Out Front”, various podcasts, and has written magazine articles. In 2018 she received the Coast Mental Health Courage to Come Back Award, in the Mental Health category. Suzanne is part of the Child and Youth Matter Comox Valley, a local group of community members increasing awareness and access services supporting children and youth in the Comox Valley. An upcoming event is the ACES Trauma Awareness Campaign in the Comox Valley. She is an avid Outward Bound Canada Alumni, ambassador and is a board member of the Federation of British Columbia Writers, and is working on her memoirs.