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).

Alte Universität Graz
Hofgasse 14
Graz, Steiermark, A-8010
Austria

Alexandra von Quadt

Alexandra’s educational roots lie in art and design. Driven by a holistic approach to the creative process from idea to realization, she branched out into media production, then specialized in communications within editorial and marketing teams. She works as a project lead for interdisciplinary projects between commerce, culture and collaboration.

Ali Mahlodji

Ali ist Wiener mit persischen Wurzeln und hat als offiziellen Jobtitel Chief Storyteller auf seiner Visitenkarte stehen. Er ist damals als Flüchtlingskind nach Traiskirchen gekommen und aufgewachsen und hat in seinem Leben über 42 verschiedene Berufe ausgeübt und hatte oft das Problem, dass er nicht wusste, was er mit seinem Leben anfangen möchte. Deswegen hat er aus seiner Kindheitsidee die Plattform whatchado gegründet, um andere dabei zu unterstützen, den Beruf zu finden, der zu ihnen passt — sie zu motivieren, ihrer Berufung nachzugehen. 2013 wurde Ali von der Europäischen Union als Jugendbotschafter auf Lebenszeit ernannt.

Bronnie Ware

Bronnie Ware is the author of the international bestseller, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Applying the wisdom of dying people to her own life, Bronnie created new directions and has now become the person she hoped to, and more. She will be sharing the importance of courage and conscious choice to create a life free of regrets.

Clemens J. Setz

Clemens J. Setz, geboren 1982 in Graz, studierte Mathematik und Germanistik. Seit 2007 veröffentlicht er Romane und Erzählungen und arbeitete als Übersetzer international erfolgreicher Werke. Seine Literatur wird von Kritikern als der „Ästhetik des Unheimlichen“ verwandt beschrieben. Im Herbst 2015 erschien sein neuer Roman „Die Stunde zwischen Frau und Gitarre“.

Keith Andrews

Keith Andrews is a tenured associate professor at the Institute for Information Systems and Computer Media (IICM) at Graz University of Technology, in Austria. Having done work in the fields of computer graphics, 3d worlds, hypermedia, and the web, he is currently pursuing research in the fields of information visualisation and usability. Keith helped organise the very first IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization (InfoVis) in 1995, was program co-chair in 2001 and 2002, and general chair in 2005. He also co-chairs the UX Graz meetups and UX Day Graz conference series.

Kilian Kleinschmidt

Kilian Kleinschmidt is an international networker, humanitarian and refugee expert with over 25 years experience in a wide range of countries, emergencies and refugee camps as United Nations official, Aid worker and Diplomat. He is the founder and Chairman of the Startup Innovation and Planning Agency (IPA) which aims at connecting the millions of poor and dispossessed with the idle and under-utilised resources and modern technologies of the 21st century through its project SWITxBOARD. He is part of a number initiatives and Projects which aim at global connectivity through better use of globalisation. He advises the Austrian Ministry of Interior on Refugee issues.

Martin Lesjak

Lesjak’s foresight and expertise in architecture, design, and craft and an affinity for art has led the award-winning designer in innovative directions globally. Lesjak is also a recognized educator and thought leader. He is a frequent lecturer at regional universities and speaks around the world representing his work and his home city of Graz as a UNESCO City of Design. He communicates the creative and economic effects of the interdisciplinary approach at a regional and international level. In addition to his numerous international awards, Lesjak was named “2015 Designer of the Year” by the prestigious Contract magazine (USA).

Michael Roach

Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton University graduate who spent 25 years in a Tibetan monastery and is the first American to be awarded the degree of Geshe, or Master of Buddhism. He utilized his monastery training to help build a major New York corporation which reached $250 million in annual sales, and was sold to super-investor Warren Buffett in 2009. Michael used a large portion of his business profits, and support from companies like Hewlett Packard, to found a 25-year effort to train and pay Tibetan refugees to input thousands of their endangered ancient books and make them available online for free.

Michael Siegmund

Michael Siegmund has a business background and specializes on substance-oriented management. Born in Munich, now living in Vienna, he has been working for many leading organizations including the United Nations in New York as well as big companies and start-ups in Singapore, Germany and Austria. Together with his team, he utilizes innovative management approaches in order to help businesses simplify their structures, create win-win situations and mobilize employees.

Raoul Haspel

The Austrian artist and designer was nominated for the „communicator of the year 2015“ and is a true crossover-artist notably with his concept of CorporateArt, complex processed fine art prints, large scale installations and last but not least „a minute of silence“ that was heard worldwide this summer.

Thomas Schwarzl

Thomas Schwarzl ist Initiator und Vorstandssprecher des MakerSpace Graz, einer Bewegung zur beschleunigten Umsetzung innovativer Produktideen. Mit dem MakerSpace Graz geht er einen neuen innovativen Weg als Inkubator, indem er dort betriebswirtschaftliche und technische Kompetenz mit einer modernen Werkstatt, einem sogenannten FabLab, und einem klaren Projektmanagementkonzept unter einem Dach vereint. Als Vor- und Querdenker in den Bereichen Collaboration, Open Source und neuer aufstrebender Technologien ist er seit nun fast zwei Jahren als Inkubationsmotor, Business Angel und Serial Entrepreneur tätig.

Victoria Coeln

Victoria Coelns erste große Liebe war die Mathematik. Bald folgte die intensive Auseinandersetzung mit Farbe, Licht und Raum. Heute entwickelt die international renommierte Künstlerin und Gründerin des Atelier Coeln „Chromotopia“ für die ganze Welt. Zu ihren bekanntesten Arbeiten in Österreich zählen CHROMOTOPIA HELDENTOR (Heldenplatz, Wien 2014), CHROMOTOPIA PLANAI (Schladming 2013) und CHROMOTOPIA ST. STEPHAN (Stephansdom, Wien 2011-13).