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).

University of British Colombia
2185 E Mall
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4
Canada

Ananya Nakra

Hearing-impaired Advocate

Ananya Nakra was born deaf and diagnosed with profound hearing-loss at the age of 18 months. She got her Cochlear Implant surgery at the age of 2.5 years. Since she was one of the first recipients In North India to get this done, she and her family had to overcome a multitude of trials to get her to where she is today. Currently, she is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Psychology at the University of the British Columbia with the hope of going to law school and becoming a lawyer and help people. She has worked with several organisations to help spread awareness about hearing-impairment and has written multiple articles for the same. She was invited to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference in 2018 as well. Coming from India, a country that lacks awareness and faces countless issues, she aims to bridge the gap between the global north and the global south through campaigns for changes in policies. She wants every hearing-impaired child to feel like they belong.

Khatira Daryabi

Women and Children rights activist

Khatira Daryabi is on a mission to promote equality, see Afghan girls go to school, bike, and prevents their dreams being bombed. She was born and raised in Afghanistan, and the challenges that she faced there, from the violation of children and women's rights to discrimination against her Hazara ethnic group, inspired her to bike to school and teach other girls to do the same. Despite the threats and traumatic repercussions, she ran biking protests for peace and equality in Kabul. She left Afghanistan alone at the age of 14 and started a new journey in Canada as a refugee. She was placed in foster care but used every opportunity to thrive - which included becoming a finalist for the 2020 International Children’s Peace Prize. She is currently studying for a dual degree bachelors of Psychology and International Relations, as well as a Master of Business Management at Sauder school of business with a full scholarship.

Mikey Jose

PhD Neuroscience Student, Music Artist

Mikey Jose is a PhD Neuroscience student at UBC pursuing research in clinical music neuroscience. Having completed a BSc in Cognitive Systems, Mikey is well-versed in multidisciplinary research, and aspires to bridge the gap between the arts and health/medicine. As a member of UBC’s Transcending Boundaries and BC Brain Wellness teams, Mikey is focused on translating his research into tangible clinical applications towards improving brain health in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of his academic pursuits, Mikey is a composer, songwriter, and musician; at 15, he co-wrote 15 songs for an original musical that raised over $250,000 for local and global charities. Most recently, he released an EP on commercial platforms in late 2020, which has accumulated over 1 million streams collectively in 125 countries. His passion for creating music and deep interest in neuroscience intertwine, driving him to understand more fully the incredible holistic power of music.

Sang Le

Social Entrepreneur

Sang Le is a Vietnamese-born social entrepreneur and co-founder of Peko Produce, Vancouver’s first online grocery dedicated to reducing food waste. Sang is also pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business. Having started multiple businesses since she was 11 years old, Sang is an award-winning changemaker who was most recently named DMZ’s Woman of the Year 2022. Her track record includes bringing free e-learning access to 60,000 university students, scaling grocery delivery adoption during the height of COVID-19 in North America, and building one of the first e-wallets for 100,000,000 Vietnamese at 18 years old. Sang is especially passionate about breaking glass ceilings, experiential learning & social entrepreneurship. She's also a foodie, coffee aficionado, art lover, and avid traveler.

Tina Yong

Student Journalist

As a student reporter and club leader, Tina is deeply enmeshed in the UBC community. Since immigrating to Canada, she has overcome significant language and cultural barriers while falling in love with this country and all that it has to offer. Beginning in high school, she became actively involved in community service and was crowned Miss Teenage British Columbia. She used her platform to speak out about the necessity of multiculturalism and raised money for various charities. She is currently studying political science and hopes to pursue a career in journalism or the nonprofit sector. She is deeply interested in the process of cultural assimilation and the politics of immigration. In her free time, Tina engages in competitive debating about pressing social issues and niche internet discourse.