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).

Pusnes Mekaniske Verksted
Skilsøveien 386
Arendal, Aust-Agder, 4813
Norway

Birgit Skarstein

Paralympic athlete

Birgit Skarstein is a Norwegian athlete and Paralympic Rowing Champion skilled in disruptive change, resilience, adaptability and strategic work. She is six times World Rowing Champion and winner of the Word Cup in both rowing and Nordic Skiing. At age 19 Skarstein was severely injured in a diving accident that later left her paralyzed waist down. The journey back to life made her develop a skillset concerning radical transformation, problem solving, resilience, and strategic thinking. Her adaptive mindset and team spirit has later made her a successful athlete and societal game changer. Skarstein has a track record of engagement and contribution to societal change from a broad list of board work and impact projects. She has been an elected member of the Oslo City Council as well an appointed member of the Norwegian Advisory Board of Biotechnology.

Bjørn Utgård

Cleantech engineer, entrepreneur and CEO of Hyke

Bjørn Utgård is a Norwegian cleantech engineer and entrepreneur whose 18-year international career is committed to accelerating the transition to zero-emission energy and mobility. Bjørn is the CEO of Hyke, which is revolutionizing urban mobility for good through new and better waterways, leveraging decades of iconic product innovation at Eker Design and performance boat manufacturing at Hydrolift. Hyke’s zero-emission, autonomous-ready water shuttles are already in operation in Norway and are set for global launch during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. Prior to joining Hyke, Bjørn played leading commercial roles in transforming EVBox from a 50-person Dutch EV charging startup into a global EV charging champion. He has also built several successful cleantech ventures, provided cleantech strategy advisory to businesses and governments, and played an analyst/activist role in driving climate action at the Bellona Foundation.

Gabriella Mathisen

Ultra runner

Gabriella Mathisen, a remarkable ultra runner from Norway, etched her name in the annals of ultramarathon history by becoming the first female to conquer the grueling Beyond the Ultimate (BTU) Jungle Ultra in Peru. This prestigious five-day stage race is renowned as one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons, with only a select few daring to take on its brutal challenges. Gabriella’s triumphant journey through the Peruvian jungle not only showcased her physical prowess but also highlighted her indomitable spirit and incredible resilience. But Gabriella’s achievement in the heart of the Peruvian jungle is even more astonishing when you delve into her personal journey. Raised in a tumultuous and troubled environment, she endured a challenging childhood that could have easily derailed her life.

Hassan Damluji

Senior advisor and author

Hassan is a senior executive, advisor and author on global affairs, with a track record of building and leading teams, organizations and large-scale initiatives, working in complex stakeholder environments. He is a co-founder of Global Nation, a think/do-tank aimed at improving global cooperation. Global Nation advises the world’s leading institutions working on tackling humanity’s greatest challenges, including the Gates Foundation, WHO, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Wellcome Trust, and national governments. It also receives grant funding to pursue thought-leadership and movement-building for a fairer international system. Hassan has written extensively about global development and politics. His first book, The Responsible Globalist, was published by Penguin Allen Lane in 2019. It was described by Bill Gates as “thoughtful and well written”, by Riz Ahmed as “visionary” and by Richard Curtis as “the book I would have written if I was smart enough”.

Judge the Poet

Poet

Judge The Poet has created and performed his unique verses all around the world. He has performed for King Charles III (three times), Queen Elizabeth II (four times), Nelson Mandela, Princes Charles, William and Harry, and countless other celebrities. Judge has appeared on many television and radio programmes, including BBC1 TV’s ‘The One Show’, BBC Radio Five Live, and numerous shows across the globe. In the UK, venues where Judge has performed include Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St. James Palace, Kensington Palace, Chequers, Wembley Stadium, Earls Court, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Glastonbury Festival. Internationally, he has appeared at venues and festivals in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Barbados, Hong Kong, Dubai and many other countries. Judge is the author of three published books of poetry.

Kjetil Skaugset

Corporate senior adviser and adjunct professor

Dr. Kjetil Skaugset holds a PhD degree in Marine Structures/Hydrodynamics/Cybernetics from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 2003. He has worked as a postdoc at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. Since starting in Statoil/Equinor 2005, he has had various leadership and professional roles ranging from research and development, field development, venture and business development, project- and line management. Skaugset has also held the corporate technical authority position as chief researcher in Equinor for 7 years. He has been heading up Fusion Energy in Equinor for more than 4 years. Kjetil is a corporate senior advisor in Equinor across value chains. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at NTNU in Trondheim.

Levi Westerveld

Geographer and senior engineer

Levi Westerveld, hailing from a rural farm in France, pursued human geography as a student fueled by his passion for the environment and people. He quickly developed a deep fondness for map making, which combines data analysis, scientific methodology, and artistic design. Levi’s visionary cartographic projects are dedicated to advancing the very language of cartography itself. Recognizing the pivotal role of maps in comprehending the magnitude and intricacies of contemporary issues, he also acknowledges the potential disconnection arising from their abstract and simplified nature. In his talk, Levi delves into innovative approaches that amplify cartography’s power, not only in fostering understanding but also in forging an emotional bond with the world.

Marekvist Marekvist

Marekvist have in short time been noted as one of the rising stars in the Norwegian underground with their original brand of folk-infused rock. Their debut album "Solrenning" was named as “probably the best debut album of 2021” by Norway Rock Magazine. Since the release of Solrenning, Marekvist has toured throughout Norway - from the smallest clubs in Kristiansand to the massive festival stages at Midgardsblot, leaving audiences all around craving for more. Boasting two drummers, heartbreaking vocals, and a wall of distorted guitars and Hammond organs, Marekvist invites you to a show where only one thing is for certain; you will not be same afterwards.

Megan Strand

CEO Impact Hub

Megan Elizabeth Sommer Strand emigrated from the United States to Norway almost 20 years ago. She is passionate about her work with inclusion, and she strongly believe that helping people to thrive leads to economically strong and vibrant communities.

Morten Longum

Business unit manager

Morten Longum has an architectural masters degree from NTNU in Trondheim from 1997. After working in a company doing residential development he started architectural company TAG arkitekter in 2009. TAG arkitekter is from 2023 part of Sweco Architects. He has since 2015 been part of developing future plans for transforming the industrial place Pusnes, into a new town on Tromøya, Arendal. He is based in Oslo, working as a business unit manager in Sweco Architects.

Nicolas Bras

Instrument builder, musician, composer and video content creator

He’s classically trained for guitar and percussions but still consider himself self-taught after 15 years of manufacturing his own instruments and more than one thousand prototypes. He travels all over the world for concerts, talks, workshops and any creative invitation that will allow him to progress in his quest for musical instruments. Back to his workshop, he shares his projects and creative processes on Youtube and other social media platforms to hundreds of thousands of followers.

Nora Savosnick

Visual Journalist

Her work focuses on humanitarian crises and covering conflict, driven by a commitment to amplifying the voices of those central to these narratives. Growing up in Oslo as a granddaughter of a Jewish Holocaust survivor, Nora was deeply affected by the realization that the Nazis had captured most images from Auschwitz during the war. This drove her determination never to let perpetrators control the visual narrative and to challenge journalists’ authenticity. Her work has led her to report on conflicts in Ukraine, Haiti, Israel, and the Palestinian territories while also covering politics across America. In 2018, Nora received the Reuters scholarship for visual journalism at the International Center of Photography. She is currently based in New York, and her work can be seen in publications such as The New York Times, Reuters, Aftenposten, Aftonbladet, and others.

Pamela the Pam

Drag queen

Pamela the Pam – a Norwegian dragqueen who has been doing drag for 6 years. She was the main judge On «Drag me out» on TVNorge and one of the main characters in «Drags» On TV2. She has a passion for fashion and designs most of her own costumes. She is the winner of «Eurovison lipsync contest» and creator of her own drag competiton «Miss Iconic». In 2022 she hosted Oslo pride and has travel around Norway to spread the joy of drag.

Petter Mørland Pedersen

Olympic sailor and Engineer

Growing up in the coastal town of Arendal, Petter Mørland Pedersen was captivated by the sea and the art of sailing from a young age. He set his sights on some of the world’s most renowned regattas, nurturing a clear aspiration to become a dedicated sailor. His unwavering commitment propelled him to podium finishes in numerous national and international sailing championships, including an impressive 4th place at the 2012 London Olympics. In parallel with his sailing endeavors, he pursued an engineering degree in marine technology. Following his Olympic journey, he ventured into the oil and gas industry, where he gained valuable experience. After seven years in this field, driven by his profound passion for the ocean, fascination with technology, competitive spirit, and a strong desire to create something meaningful, he founded Lift Ocean AS.

Silas Henriksen

Ballet dancer

Silas Henriksen has been working professionally as a dancer since 2007 with The Norwegian Opera and Ballet and The Netherlands Dance Theatre. He has been dancing at some of the worlds leading stages such as The Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatre in Russia, Lincoln Center in New York and The Sydney Opera House in Australia. In 2010 he was rewarded the Tom Wilhelmsen Opera and Ballet Award, and was appointed principal dancer with The Norwegian National Ballet in 2018. Henriksen has been collaborating with artist Nils Bech for several occasions, and together with cinematographer Cecilie Semec he made the dance film Apart which had its premier at the opening exhibition ‘Jeg kaller det kunst’ at the new national museum in Oslo in 2022.

Torbjørn Dyrud

Musician, composer and lyricist

Torbjørn Dyrud is a musician, composer and lyricist. His work is characterized by great versatility. From Grammy-nominated choral music, via songs about tired parents to organ improvisations, and more recently “More than brain – a podcast about the experience of life near death.”

Willy Pedersen

Professor of Sociology at University of Oslo and NOVA/OsloMet

Professor Willy Pedersen has led numerous research projects on a variety of themes. He has supervised more than 50 master students and 25 PhD candidates. He has also been a central public voice when it comes to drug policy and has advocated reforms. He is regularly invited to essential arenas to lecture on key youth policy aspects.