Theme: Building Sustainable Communities

November 7th we celebrate communities coming together under TEDxUSVT.
We take our community building role as Universities are places for life-long learning and meaningful connections.
TEDx USVT is talking this fall about BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

The theme "Building Sustainable Communities" explores sustainability from a complex perspective, centered on the interconnections between people, the environment, and the communities in which we live. It goes beyond environmental protection, extending to the creation of a conscious, ethical, and inclusive way of life where every individual has the responsibility to contribute to overall well-being and intergenerational equity. Through this theme, TEDx aims to redefine the concept of a sustainable community by introducing innovative solutions that blend technology, education, social innovation, and economic development to build a fair and sustainable future for all.

USVT - Life Science University of Timisoara 'King Mihai I'
119 Calea Aradului
Timisoara, Timiș, 300645
Romania

Adrian Muntean

Plant Manager

Adrian Muntean is the Plant Manager at B. Braun Pharmaceuticals and Head of Global Shared Services Romania, with extensive international manufacturing management experience across Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Germany, covering industries such as pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods, and automotive. Adrian is skilled in Continuous Improvement, GMP, TPM, Production Management, Manufacturing P&L, Investment Planning, People Development, and quality standards like OHSAS 18000, FSSC 22000, and ISO/TS 16949. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Polytechnic University of Timisoara (2008-2010) and a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) from USAMVB Timisoara (1998-2003). He studied Informatics at Traian Doda High School (1994-1998). Adrian is married and has two children.

Andy Trincia

Storyteller

Andy Trincia is a writer, editor and communications consultant. A former newspaper reporter and communications executive, he also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania. Besides journalism, his career has spanned Fortune 500, C-suite corporate communications and government relations and PR agency management, with a strong international emphasis. His passion for travel and adventure – to nearly 60 countries and 49 of the 50 U.S. states – led him to become a longtime expatriate. An American, he’s now living in Romania for the third time. Andy has a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and MBA from Northeastern University in Boston. Remaining close to his journalism roots, Andy writes freelance for various publications, mostly about travel and expat life, and edits books. In 2023, he bylined a major feature about Timisoara, Romania, in the Travel section of The New York Times.

Birgitta Persson

Innovation Porfolio Manager

Birgitta Persson has a long international experience from developing organisations and building networks in the cultural and creative sector and industries. She is recognized for her ability to engage people to come together and collaborate for a joint purpose. She works today as project manager at the innovation platform Future by Lund in Sweden where she coordinates innovation projects which involves very different types of stakeholders: academia, public authorities, companies and civil society. For 12 years she was the Secretary General of Trans Europe Halles, an international network of cultural centres. She is often asked to be a consultant, trainer and mentor in cultural management and leadership as well as board member in cultural organisations. She started her career as producer, promoter, fundraiser, marketing manager etc at the cultural centre Mejeriet in Lund, Sweden.

Gabriel Titus Almajan

Timisoara City Architect

Titus Gabriel Almăjan is currently the Chief Architect of Timișoara, Romania, a role he has held since May 2021. He oversees urban and territorial planning for the city. His career in architecture spans over two decades, during which he has accumulated extensive experience in architectural design, urban planning, and project management. He is also a researcher in a doctoral program at the West University of Timișoara, focusing on contributing to the integrated territorial planning and urban development of metropolitan areas. He has also served as a certified judicial expert in architecture and urban planning. He holds a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, with advanced studies focusing on the restructuring of historic buildings. Throughout his career, Almăjan has contributed significantly to Timișoara’s urban development and is known for his strategic approach to modern urbanism.

Julien Lefort

Success Coach / Director of Coaching Education

Julien is an ICF Professional Certified Coach with a focus on resilience, strengths and transition with a passion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. He loves supporting his clients to achieve their personal and professional goals with proven tools and methodologies so they can grow from good to great. Julien’s coaching style is warm, creative, innovative, and expanding horizons while creating an environment of accountability, trust and actionable results. Julien is a certified practitioner of numerous assessments and methodologies, including DISC, MBTI, Strengths Profile and EQi 2.0 & EQi 360. He works in diverse industries, including financial services, technology, manufacturing, media, retail, transportation and government. Julien currently serves as the Director of Education for the Diversity for Performance Professional Coach Training Certification, and is Director of membership Engagement for ICF NYC and a volunteer for the non-profit Coaching For Everyone.

Laetitia Manach

Head of International Projects

Laetitia is a director and team leader of international projects in the public and non-profit sectors. She is currently based in Istanbul, where she works at GIZ, the Federal German Development Agency, leading an EU Technical Assistance project for the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology. Her 20+ years of professional experience in international cooperation, working for the British Council, NGOs and on multiple EU projects, has nurtured a solid savoir-faire in conceiving and managing large-scale innovative programmes responding to challenging contexts, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. With a background in the cultural sector and the creative economy and an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development at the Bartlett-University College London (UCL), she has developed a unique expertise in creative practice and environmental politics.