Theme: Countdown

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).

NIPA Information and Conference Centre
NIPA, Dushambe Road
Lusaka, Lusaka, 10101
Zambia

Adrian Chibanga

Agronomist

Adrian Chibanga is an Agronomist with 15 years’ experience in crop seed systems, crop nutrition and climate smart best practices for maize, soybeans and wheat, working with both small and large-scale farmers. His work history includes positions at SeedCo, Monsanto, Omnia Fertilisers and the Conservation Farming Unit. During COVID, Adrian supported the development of an agronomy app, called Seedney that gives farmers step-by-step crop production guidelines, among other things. Adrian is passionate about transforming farmers’ lives through improved crop production and productivity.

Chriss Njamba

Poet

As an artist, Chriss is a writer who combines topics such as activism, mental health, and Christianity with spoken word poetry to creatively share his ideas and thoughts. To create his poems, Chriss draws inspiration from his experiences and the environment around him. Chriss is founder of a poetry hub for young poets called ndAKAtulo poetry, where he helps nurture their poetry through performance and workshops. Chriss has gained recognition for his art by winning the 2020 Alliance Francaise Spoken Word Slam, among other accolades.

Grace Chikumo Mtonga

Housing & Development Expert

Grace Chikumo Mtonga is a development expert who has worked as an auditor and accountant in the private sector and as a housing specialist at Civic Forum on Housing and Habitat Zambia with its consortium of 34 network members. She has led various campaigns on land and housing rights in Zambia and Southern Africa. Grace serves on numerous local and international boards, including on two parliamentary committees that discuss policy implementation and provide recommendations to enhance policy formulation, service delivery, systems and practices in Zambia. Grace works closely with communities and supports groups with skills that contribute to improved livelihoods, safe housing and habitat.

Griffin Kaize Shanungu

Conservation Ecologist

Griffin Kaize Shanungu has decades of experience in the environment and conservation sectors in Zambia and Southern Africa, working for the government of Zambia and for international organisations such as the Zambia Wildlife Authority, WWF Zambia, and the International Crane Foundation. His work explores the interactions between wetland vegetation, threatened wetland birds such as cranes, and large mammalian herbivores such as the endemic Kafue Lechwe antelope in relation to environmental conditions in Zambian freshwater wetlands.

Harry Malichi

Sustainable Honey Entrepreneur

Harry Malichi is co-founder of Wuchi Wami, a company that specialises in sustainable bee-keeping practices and training and processes organic honey and beeswax. In 2021, Wuchi Wami won the UN SEED Climate Adaptation Continental Award, and in 2022, Harry was recognised as Entrepreneur of the Year at the Quality Awards Zambia. The honey and beeswax company has improved the lives of over 2500 farmers and employs 22 full-time staff. Wuchi Wami exports honey and beeswax to five countries.

James Milanzi

Ecologist

James Milanzi is an ecologist who has been in the ecology and wildlife sector for decades. Previously he worked for the Zambia Wildlife Authority (now Department of National Parks and Wildlife) before joining African Parks as Regional Operations Manager and later Country Director for Zambia. James has a keen interest in sustainable protected area management, which African Parks developed as a model that is currently practiced in 22 parks in 12 countries.

Jonathan Kampata

Water and Sanitation Engineer

Jonathan Kampata holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering and a master’s in water resources engineering. He has 3 decades’ experience as a specialist in sanitation, water supply and water resources management. From 2017 to 2022, Jonathan led the Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company, responsible for a US$665 million portfolio of water and sanitation projects that included water supply development, on-site sanitation, faecal sludge management and sewerage systems. Working with various partners, he led the utility in adopting City Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) and started a faecal sludge management intervention that constructed over 5,000 household toilets in some high-density, low-income communities in Lusaka.

Machaya Chomba

Conservationist

Machaya Chomba is a researcher and conservationist with a keen interest in the social, economic, and political dimensions of the management and governance of natural resources. His focus is on the role of institutional and organisational design in influencing ecological and social outcomes; social learning and stakeholder engagement; and the role of culture and heritage in natural resources management. He holds a Master of Philosophy (Monash University) and PhD (KwaZulu Natal University).

Musonda Kapena

Indigenous Knowledge Storyteller

Musonda Kapena is a guardian of global nature-based solutions in green enterprise development of non-timber forest products, sustainable forest and natural resource management - with an emphasis on women as custodians and stewards of indigenous knowledge. She has over two decades' experience promoting indigenous knowledge systems towards sustainable management of forest resources and environmental justice. Musonda is a champion for positive interventions in the extractives industry that advocate for just and fairer economies.

Namushi Likolo

Water Management Expert

Namushi Likolo is a Water Management Expert and Executive Member of the Mutama-Bweengwa Water Users Association. Mr Likolo has effectively implemented projects on water harvesting techniques that mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.

Ninza Sichinga

Founder and CEO, Eneri

Ninza Sichinga is a passionate engineer and technology enthusiast who offers holistic support to Eneri Platforms, as it pioneers private sector participation in the commercial forestry industry in Zambia. When he served as a Business Development Director and CEO at Copperbelt Forestry Company (CFC), one of Zambia’s largest wood processing companies, Ninza discovered a growing wood deficit crisis. He then formed Eneri with the goal of facilitating investments in commercial forests and enhancing climate smart initiatives. Ninza previously held a position at Deloitte (Canada) and is a graduate of the University of Waterloo.

Priscilla Chomba Kinywa

Digital Transformation Strategist

Priscilla Chomba Kinywa is a digital transformation strategist whose mission is to help organisations 'do good better' by sitting at the intersection between technology and the global grand challenges that humanity is facing.

Priscilla Sichone

Conservationist

Priscilla Sichone is leading the establishment of Eden Reforestation Projects in Zambia that collaborate with local communities to design and implement restoration projects in landscapes that have been critically impacted by deforestation. Having committed two decades of her life to conservation, focusing on wildlife research and protected area planning, Priscilla advocates that biodiversity conservation is central to our quality of life as humans and has long-term impacts on planetary health.

Sebastian Scott

Farmer & Educator

Though Sebastian Scott began a career in rural development, in 2001, he took the unorthodox route of becoming a ‘small-scale, hand-hoe farmer’ in order to learn the art of agriculture in-depth. He continues to farm and researches sustainable farming in Kafue. Sebastian also works for the Grassroots Trust, an NGO that aims to empower communities with regenerative natural resource management skills.

Tawonga Mkandawire

Sustainable Agriculture Expert

Tawonga is a dedicated advocate of sustainable agriculture in Zambia. She has experience in agricultural extension, sustainable agriculture practices, strategic planning, and implementation of various agricultural interventions. Her work has positively impacted the lives and incomes of many farmers. She has partnered with organisations such as CABI, GiZ, and specialised agencies of the United Nations, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme, to increase awareness of sustainable agriculture interventions through the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture.

Theresa Ng'ambi

Musician

Theresa Ng'ambi is a multi-faceted artist from Lusaka, Zambia, excelling as a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. Her music honours her Zambian heritage while incorporating global elements. She gained international recognition touring with the legendary Zamrock band WITCH in 2023. A recipient of the Best Singer award at the Zambia Women in Music Awards, Theresa uses her platform for social impact by advocating for environmental conservation. She has been featured on international platforms like BBC Africa and has ventured into blockchain technology with the release of her first NFT track.