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).

Arendal Kulturhus
Arendal
Arendal, Aust-Agder, 4801
Norway

Alexander Refsum Jensenius

Professor, University of Oslo

Alexander Refsum Jensenius is a music researcher, musician, and Professor of Music Technology at the University of Oslo, where he directs the RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time, and Motion. His research explores the relationships between sound, space, and the human body, focusing on how people move to music and applying this knowledge to create music with unconventional instruments. He has authored works like Sound Actions and Sonic Design. Alexander holds degrees in music, mathematics, musicology, and applied information technology, with a PhD in music technology from the University of Oslo. He has been a visiting researcher at UC Berkeley, McGill University, and KTH, and previously served as Head of the Department of Musicology and as Chair of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (2011–2022).

Celine Sandberg

CEO, Agoprene

Celine Sandberg is the founder and CEO of Agoprene, a startup on a mission to reinvent furniture foam using seaweed and natural materials. Born from a mix of entrepreneurial curiosity and a drive for sustainability, Celine’s journey started in a small kitchen, experimenting with seaweed during her studies at NTNU. With no intention of following the typical tech startup path, she embraced the challenge of tackling foam—a material responsible for millions of tons of CO2 emissions annually. Her great-great-grandfather once revolutionized flatbread production in Norway, and now, generations later, Celine is aiming to shake up the furniture industry in her own way, showing that even small startups can have a big impact.

Dagny Thurmann-Moe

Creative Director at Koi Colour and Design Studio

Dagny Thurmann-Moe is a renowned Norwegian color expert and designer, celebrated for her pioneering approach to urban color design. As founder of Koi Fargestudio, she leads projects that transform architecture, urban spaces, and interiors through strategic color use. Collaborating with cities, architects, and developers, Dagny revitalizes public spaces, making them more vibrant and welcoming while enhancing residents' quality of life. Her work also extends to educational institutions, where she designs color guidelines that support focus, creativity, and well-being. Dagny’s influence has shaped urban and educational environments across Norway, establishing her as a leader in color design and its role in creating harmonious, functional spaces.

Inda Pereda

Physical comedian / Clown

Inda is an actor, clown, director, and teacher with a lifelong passion for theatre. His journey began with a background in Sign Language Interpretation and work in social projects for people with disabilities, leading him to explore nonverbal communication and the transformative power of laughter. Pursuing physical theatre and clowning, he has performed with numerous international companies on stages like Sadler’s Wells and Southbank Centre. In 2016, Inda founded the Inda Pereda Company, dedicated to creating physical comedy without text. His acclaimed trilogy—TRAPPED, LUBBERT, and THE HERO’S JOURNEY—has toured globally. Driven by his belief in laughter’s impact, Inda continues merging social and artistic endeavors in his work.

Kjetil Krogstad

Speaker and joy spreader. Purple Cow Entertainment.

Kjetil Krogstad is an internationally recognized leader, speaker, and joy-spreader, celebrated for his talent in blending dance, music, and creativity to inspire positive energy. Known for his ability to engage and uplift, Kjetil has performed globally, encouraging thousands to embrace the magic of dance and find joy in the present. His charismatic approach makes him a sought-after speaker, where he shares insights on how joy, dance, and creativity can enhance life and work. Often called “the crazy freedom you didn’t know you needed,” Kjetil reaches a massive online following, spreading joy and offering tips for workplace well-being. With his unique life approach, Kjetil takes audiences on a journey, showing how enthusiasm and creativity drive growth, innovation, and transformation.

Marte Ruud Sandberg

Partner & Senior Adviser at First House

Marte Ruud Sandberg is Partner and Senior Adviser at First House, Norway’s leading communications agency. Sandberg is also a profiled poker player with international merits. In 2023, she became the first woman to win a mixed event at the Norwegian Championship of Poker.

Michael Scheldrick

Co-Founder of Global Citizen

Michael Sheldrick is a policy entrepreneur, author, and Co-Founder of Global Citizen, where he leads campaigns to end extreme poverty as Chief Policy, Impact, and Government Affairs Officer. His Amazon best-seller, From Ideas to Impact, offers a playbook for change-making. Michael’s work bridges pop culture and policy, partnering with artists like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, and leaders including PM Justin Trudeau and PM Mia Mottley. He co-produced the Global Citizen Festival, One World: Together at Home, and Mandela 100, securing $40 billion for critical resources. In 2021, as a ‘friend of COP26,’ he advanced corporate climate commitments and is now part of the Bridgetown Initiative for climate finance. Michael’s insights feature in Forbes and on CNN, and he serves on the boards of the Ban Ki-moon Centre, Benjamin Franklin House, and more.

Pavan Ramdya

Director of the Neuroengineering Laboratory at EPFL

Dr. Pavan Ramdya is Firmenich Next Generation Chair and Director of the Neuroengineering Laboratory at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. His lab studies the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to unlock insights for designing advanced AI and robotics. By reverse-engineering Nature, they investigate how flies excel in sensing, decision-making, and action. The lab modifies the fly’s genome, maps its brain, and creates a digital twin to inspire autonomous robots for complex environments. Dr. Ramdya earned his PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University, followed by postdoctoral work in Robotics, Neurogenetics, and Bioengineering. His team’s pioneering research has been widely recognized, receiving awards and coverage from outlets such as BBC World Service, National Geographic, and Nature magazine.

Saeid Hosseini

Co-Founder & CEO of Vilje Bionics AS

Saeid Hosseini was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Norway in 2011 to join his father, a human rights activist who sought political asylum. Grateful for the opportunities that Norway and the democratic world provided his family, Saeid is driven by a deep desire to make positive contributions globally. In 2020, at the age of 24, he co-founded Vilje Bionics alongside a professor in robotics, a neurologist, and two fellow students. As CEO, Saeid leads the company in developing the world’s first full-arm assistive device for people with arm paresis, combining shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand support in one innovative system. With a background in engineering, entrepreneurship, and politics, Saeid is passionate about impact-driven technological and social innovations. His vision is to create a world where technology bridges physical limitations, empowering individuals to live independently and pursue their dreams.

Stine Lise Hattestad Bratsberg

Partner Management Consulting Company, Implement Consulting Group

Stine Lise Hattestad Bratsberg has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor. The last 14 years specialized within the Sustainability/ESG field. She has contributed to start two NGOs and supported many more and she has started, build, and sold two companies. Pure Consulting was established in 2010, only working with sustainability strategies, and sold to KPMG in 2020. After building a strong ESG/Sustainability service in KPMG Norway Stine became Head of ESG EMA Hub on strategy and transformation. Her experience ranges from Nordic to global tier1 clients to the Norwegian Government and SMBs. She is specially known for her capabilities to embed sustainability/ESG into core business, on how to transform strategy to action throughout a hole organization. She is a highly trusted advisor for management, boards and owners.

Thomas Hylland Eriksen

Professor, University of Oslo

Thomas Hylland Eriksen is a social anthropologist. A man who loves his job where he studies human diversity. He is a great public speaker enabling autienes to realise that they, too, had more passions and curiosity than they were aware of. Thomas has devoted much of his efforts to understanding local responses to global processes, and a key term in his thinking is overheating, referring to accelerated change in domains such as technology, energy use, thinking (!), trade and communication. Trying to understand the world as well as what it means to be a human being, the most fundamental question, and one that we should never stop asking, is “What is the meaning of the word we?”

Thor Pedersen

Adventurer

Thor Pedersen is a Danish adventurer and motivational speaker best known for “Once Upon A Saga”—his record-breaking journey to visit every country in the world without flying. Over nearly a decade, Thor traveled to 203 countries solely by ground and sea, making him the first person to achieve this incredible feat. Driven by curiosity and resilience, Thor’s journey highlights the power of perseverance, adaptability, and human connection. Along the way, he navigated diverse cultures, forged lasting friendships, and faced numerous challenges. As a TEDxArendal speaker, Thor shares insights on setting ambitious goals, embracing discomfort, and the life-changing impact of determination. His story is a testament to the courage needed to keep moving forward, regardless of obstacles. Thor’s inspiring journey has garnered worldwide media attention, motivating audiences to pursue their dreams with audacity and passion.

Vibeke Gwendoline Fængsrud

CEO of House of Math

Vibeke Gwendoline Fængsrud is a leading educator, mathematician, and the founder of House of Math, Norway’s fastest-growing EdTech platform for mathematics. With a master’s in Mathematics and Physics and another in Mathematical Finance from the University of Oslo, alongside executive training from Stanford and Harvard, she merges academic rigor with entrepreneurial vision. Vibeke has authored 27 books, including a complete set for Norway’s math curriculum. Her #ViTarAnsvar initiative brings math tutoring to underserved schools, and her Math for Ukraine project supports Ukrainian youth in crisis. Beyond House of Math, she contributes as a board member for companies like Hav Group ASA and advises on education policy in Oslo. Vibeke’s innovative approaches continue to shape math education and inspire learners globally.