Theme: Today For Tomorrow

Through our theme, Today for Tomorrow, TEDxYouth@Kenyalang aims to showcase how the different aspects of our world are connected. By using a transdisciplinary lens, a variety of systems and subjects will be explored. Shaped by their incredible stories and ideas, our speakers will explore paradigms that will inspire, empower, and motivate participants to embrace new perspectives.

Sarawak State Library, Kuching
Jalan Pustaka, Petra Jaya
Kuching, Sarawak, 93050
Malaysia

At Adau

Musicians

At Adau is an Experimental World Music Band originated in Sarawak. At Adau combines the traditional Bornean sounds with other instruments that are from other parts of the world. At Adau experiments with the fusion of modern and traditional instruments to create innovative and timeless music, that are accepted by many. We believe that music transcends cultural, gender, age, language, and ideological differences. We believe in our motto which is “Music that Heals” and thrive to contribute on making a better world for everyone. Our core values lie on appreciating tradition, roots, and spreading love, hope, harmony, peace, humanity, awareness with all. We would like to bring Borneo to the World and let people experience and appreciate Borneo.

Charles Liew

Founder of SHiNE Pharmacy

Deciding to return to Sarawak in 2011 after spending a decade overseas, Charles Liew embarks on a crusade to empower lives through what he calls the Art of Going Home. He has discovered that there is a direct correlation between the idea of home and the innate desire to make meaning. A lawyer by profession, Liew founded SHiNE Pharmacy. Liew is fascinated by the irony of formal education, and he champions the movement of constantly stretching reality, driving home the fact that just because things are doesn’t mean they should be.

Esther Michael

Doctor / Beauty Queen / Humanitarian

Dr. Esther Michael is a Sarawakian of mixed Bidayuh-Chinese-Iban parentage who graduated with honors from the First Moscow State Medical University. She has been a finalist in the Miss Malaysia Earth 2013 & Miss Global International 2014 and went on to represent Malaysia in the Miss Princess of the World Pageant at Czech Republic in 2014. A humanitarian at heart, she has served in several humanitarian missions in Asia and co-founded HelpSomebody – a community initiative that connects people to make a difference in the community. She strongly believes in reaching down and lifting people up.

Marian Chin

Marian Chin has taken a trip round the world in her lifetime but has always held her own culture and tradition close. After spending most of her adult life in New York and Europe, working with words and images for magazines and major companies, she returned to her hometown of Kuching five years ago to bring the knowledge that she had gained to a deeply personal project – KINO Kuching In & Out, a magazine to highlight the culture and heritage of her home state. Featuring food, history, mysteries, personalities and even bus maps, her brainchild is now well-established as an eye on Sarawak life, past, present and future.

Mark Smalley

Technologist / FinTech

Mark Smalley is a highly reputable technologist in the Southeast Asia region. He was the first qualified MongoDB Master in Southeast Asia, where he won an award for his open-source NoSQL Content Management System. He is the CEO of Neuroware, where they are developing a range of specialised non-financial protocols that enable the creation and management of distributed applications. Born in UK and having grown up in Miri, he is definitely excited to be back in Sarawak soon.

Md. Ariff Azahari

Speaker/ Trainer / Life Coach

Md. Ariff Azahari is the Principal Consultant of Positive Impressions, a Malaysian based HR training and consultancy firm established in 2003. Prior to his career as a professional speaker and trainer, he has served several multi-national companies including HSBC, ROCHE and Maybank Investment Sales Manager. He is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and was appointed as Toastmasters International Region Advisor for South East Asia. To date, he has inspired change in thousands of his participants. He enjoys having an active role in youth development in Sarawak. His passion is to create future leaders through verbal, visual and behavioural effectiveness.

Salihin Abang

Born and bred in Sarawak, Salihin set out his life and entrepreneurial vision to start and nurture a homegrown accountancy firm while massively impacting the world around him. As an award winning young entrepreneur with a fast-growing business, he is very passionate about youth and community development. His visionary leadership, ingenuity and genuine concern for the youth and the nation led him to establish the world’s first teaching accountancy firm to bridge the gap between theory and practice, produce youth entrepreneurs and world-class industry-ready graduates. Also, he innovated the first ever zakat and endowment accounting software to sensitise and enable SMEs discharge their charitable obligations. Salihin is a strong believer of touching lives through charitable activities, inspirational talks and sharing of experiences.

Sarah Lasung

Youth Advocate / Educator

Sarah is born in a family of educators and grew up to stories of her late father and how education made a difference in his life. As a former teacher at SMK Green Road, Kuching and currently serving as a teacher coach in Teach for Malaysia, she hopes that every child, especially in the interiors of Sarawak will have access to good education. Sarah is deeply passionate about 3 things besides Education: the Arts, youth development and good coconut milkshake. She also fundamentally believes in the endless potential of young people, and the good they can bring to society.