Theme: LEGACY

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).

David Braley Health Sciences Centre Auditorium
100 Main St W
Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 1H6
Canada

Alex Leonard

Founder & CEO of AL Media

Alex Leonard is the founder of AL Media, a Sustainable Media company that is Helping Brands Talk About Sustainability. Through video strategy and production for environmental organizations, AL Media helps Canadian and global social enterprises break through a noisy digital environment. Alex is also the director behind the award-winning documentary, "Humans and Elephants", which premiered worldwide at the International Vegan Film Festival. Alex is the host of The Creative Kind Show and The Sustainable Kind Show, speaking with entrepreneurs about their secrets to success in the media and environmental sectors. He has his Masters in the Environment and Sustainability program at Western University and a Bachelors in Communications, Cultural Studies, and Philosophy from Concordia University. Alex plans to continue developing his artistic skills in mural painting and video production, working to raise awareness around important environmental issues that impact communities across Canada.

Emily Nichols

P.Eng, B.Sc.(Eng), MA.Sc.(Eng) and S.e.n.s.e. (of Humour)

Originally from Blenheim, Ontario, Emily Nichols grew up on the family farm where her early jobs included hoeing beans, grading onions, picking rocks, and making boring tasks fun for her sisters. Emily went on to earn a B.Sc. in Systems Engineering at University of Guelph, and after five years in industry, she went back for a M.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. Speaking from the stage or the factory floor, Emily Nichols nudges technical people to embrace their human skills, so they can become better problem solvers, team players, and leaders. A professional engineer with decades of experience in manufacturing and innovation, Emily has worked with organizations like PepsiCo, PPG, Janssen, and Henkel, improving products and processes from breakfast cereal to automotive paint and electrical steel. Emily easily connects at all levels of organizations, inspiring deeper understanding and collaborative teamwork. And she makes learning fun!

Fatima Babakura

Founder, CEO, and Designer of Timabee

Fatima Babakura is the founder, chief executive officer and designer of Timabee, an accessories brand that “redefines luxury in Africa and beyond” and Yerwa Secrets, a perfumery brand. Her sharp eye for design, curiosity and yen for imagining a product and bringing it to life motivated her to start Timabee. Babakura began the brand in her first year while at Mcmaster university. Fatima has received multiple global awards inclduing being listed on Forbes' 2022 30 under 30

Jeff Joslin

Former UFC Fighter & First Canadian to Win an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament

Jeff “The Inferno” Joslin is a martial artist in the truest sense of the term. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Jeff grew up engulfed in the martial arts. His father, Rick, a three-time Canadian karate champion, opened up the family academy back in 1967. Starting his training at five years of age, he won over 200 first place finishes in multiple styles of martial arts during a competitive career that spanned more than two decades, was the first Canadian in history to win a major international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament (Pan/American BJJ Championship 2002), and has developed tremendous depth in his martial arts skills. As a coach/instructor Jeff has worked with thousands of students since he first began teaching full-time back in 1994. He has trained many champions over the years including UFC Fighters, professional Kickboxers and pro Submission Wrestling/BJJ competitors. He now runs a highly successful martial arts school in Hamilton.

Jessica Weiss

Expert in happiness, leadership, culture, and organizational development

Jessica has spent the last 15 years doing endless research, speaking to thousands of people, all about happiness. Her work brings positive psychology tools and academic research to organizations across the United States. In her work, Jessica shares powerful information from psychology, neuroscience, social science as well as her own practical experience that shows how happiness leads to success in life and at work. She has helped thousands find more happiness at work and helped leaders and exec teams learn how to lead with the tools necessary to drive happiness productivity, engagement and performance. Her clients include Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Coca Cola, LVMH, Hearst, American Express and more. Jessica is an expert in happiness, leadership, culture and organizational development. She worked for a number of years as a management consultant with a focus on organizational transformation. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and has an MBA from Columbia University.

Krista Carvin

Registered Social Worker

Krista Carvin (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario, Canada. She is the Founder of The Curious Collective, a virtual psychotherapy practice. Krista is deeply curious by nature. Her curiosity led her to a diagnosis of Adult ADHD, the Neurodiversity Movement, and later a therapy specialization. As a human first and as a therapist second, she learned that between the hard work, humour, and heartache of learning you have ADHD, there is an opportunity for joy and justice. Krista values neurodiversity, or the diversity of human minds. She believes all brains and bodies are valuable and worthy of authenticity. Her therapy, education, and activism work is focused on helping neurodivergent people feeling safe, well, and accepted.

Laura Roy

Egyptologist, writer, and founder-director of Ancient Egypt Alive

Laura Ranieri Roy is an Egyptologist, writer and founder-director of Ancient Egypt Alive–an organization that seeks to inspire passion about Egypt’s past. She creates and leads enriching history content, exciting online events, in-depth ancient history courses, and curated small-group tours to Egypt. Laura holds an MA in Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations with a focus in Egyptology from the University of Toronto. In her diverse career, she has been an actress, TV host, songwriter and senior writer for leading businesses. For more than 12 years, she has created and led specialized educational tours through Egypt and through Egypt collections at museums around the world. An engaging and in-demand speaker, Laura has taught at museums, historical societies, and academic conferences across North America. She is a regular lecturer at the Later Life Learning Institutes of various Canadian Universities, and has also spoken for private international groups around the world.

Nick Petrella

Professor + Coordinator for the Health, Wellness and Fitness program at Mohawk College + Mental Health First Aid Instructor

Nick grew up as a competitive athlete, however, many surgeries and concussions had a devastating physical and emotional impact on his athletic career. In 2006, Nick graduated from Brock University with a MSc degree. He entered the PhD program at Western University until hired by Mohawk College in 2009 where he has been a professor since. Nick is a two-time recipient of an Instructor Appreciation Award and Everyday Hero Award. He is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and speaks on behalf of the CMHA's Talking About Mental Illness program, and a recipient of the St Joseph’s Hospital Spirit of Hope and the YMCA Peace Medal. He is a co-founding member of the Mohawk Mental Health in Motion peer to peer support initiative and has been selected by the CAMIMH's Faces of Mental Illness in Canada where the goal is to reduce stigma while promoting recovery. Primarily, Nick is a husband and a father while working globally as a mental health advocate.

Shalicia Harris

Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of In Charge

Shalicia is the Founder & CEO of In Charge with a corporate background in innovation, marketing, and project management. She is a problem solver who turned her lack of financial literacy and poor financial services experience into her start-up In Charge. Now she is revolutionizing the financial services industry with her comprehensive framework the 5 Key Pillars of Personal Finances. Leveraging this framework, she provides individuals with personalized financial literacy that empowers individuals while enabling them to access better and faster financial solutions. She believes everyone should feel comfortable, knowledgeable, and confident when making financial decisions. Shalicia’s goal is to modernize financial services while building trust, transparency, and knowledge for future generation.