Theme: It's up to us

It’s up to us, all the change we want to see personally, globally, and local to Victoria. This year’s TEDx will bring our community together for inspiring conversations that help us understand, explore, and motivate change. Whatever that change looks like, here’s to ideas worth spreading.

McPherson Playhouse
3 Centennial Square
Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 1P5
Canada

D'Ari Lisle

Artist

Mel and D’Ari are on a mission to use the power of pop culture for purpose. Through their charitable organization, Darkspark, they aim to reduce prejudice and promote intercultural understanding through digital storytelling, experiential education, and song. Their intergenerational and intercultural approach to program design earned Darkspark an Intercultural Innovation Award from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

Daniela Damian

Professor of Software Engineering

Daniela is a professor of software engineering and the ECS-CAPI Chair in Inclusive Science, Technology, and Engineering at UVic. Fascinated by the power of diversity in technology, she has worked in multicultural research teams around the world, engaging with technology design in startups and large organizations. As a recipient of the UVic REACH Award for Excellence in Experiential Learning, she is passionate about bringing the real-world engineering into the classroom. Daniela leads the UVic INSPIRE program in which students ideate technology solutions to community problems, supported by a network of academics, industry mentors, and community partners. INSPIRE creates a vibrant space of innovation, collaboration, and experiential learning.

Douglas Neasloss

Chief Councillor

Douglas Neasloss is the elected chief councillor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation in Klemtu, BC. Under his leadership, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation played a key role in establishing Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest. Through the work of their stewardship office and community-owned eco-tourism operation, Klemtu transformed a 90% unemployment rate into a highly successful conservation-based economy. In 2017, Klemtu worked with provincial and federal governments and other Nations to establish province-wide hunting bans for grizzly bears, and recently announced a black bear hunting ban with the Gitga’at Nation in their respective territories to protect the rare DNA of the spirit bear. The Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation has protected 50% of its landmass in conservancies, and the 2022 declaration of the Gitdisdzu Lugyeks marine protected area marked the beginning of an ambitious plan to protect 3500km² of ocean in coming years.

Jonathan Reimer

Senior Incident Commander

Jonathan Reimer has led the response on hundreds of emergency incidents across the country, including Canada’s largest wildfire disaster. His research draws from real-world experiences to help emergency decision-makers meet challenges with innovative, evidence-based methods. He is currently a Senior Incident Commander and Emergency Manager based in Victoria, and previously the Director of the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre and a member of Canada’s National Incident Management Team. Jonathan holds an M.Sc. in Environment and Management and is a Certified Wildland Fire Manager with the Association for Fire Ecology.

Kevin Vos

Scientist

Kevin Vos is bridging the gap between the world of scientific curiosity and the dynamic landscape of business development. As VP of Business Development at VoxCell BioInnovation, he’s leading initiatives to 3D bioprint artificial human tissue samples. This groundbreaking approach aims to mitigate the risks associated with clinical trials. Hailing from Victoria, Kevin achieved a B.Sc. in Biochemistry followed by a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from UVic. He then embarked on a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Calgary in collaboration with the World Health Organization, focusing on the decontamination of personal protective equipment amidst the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Kristi Rivait

Social Entrepreneur

Kristi Rivait is a social entrepreneur, passionate about the power of non-profit organizations. In 2014, she co-founded Scale Collaborative and has since helped hundreds of non-profits establish revenue streams that support impactful programming. Kristi also co-developed Thriving Non-Profits, a revenue diversification leadership program that was originally a local initiative in Victoria. Today, it’s one of Canada’s leading non-profit innovation and learning hubs. Her other ventures include co-founding the Thrive Impact Fund which provides patient, flexible capital to non-profits, charities, and social enterprises across BC. Kristi co-owns theDock Center for Social Impact in Victoria—a coworking and event space dedicated to organizations and businesses striving to make a positive difference.

Lily Grace

Author

Lily Grace is a young Canadian author. She self-published her debut novel, Last Summer, in November 2023 when she was fourteen years old. After being diagnosed with general and social anxiety in middle school, she turned to writing as a way to cope. Last Summer tells the story of a teenager living with anxiety and their journey to recovery. At eight years old, Lily started writing reviews for children’s books at an independent bookstore where she now works part-time. She is currently in grade nine and lives in BC with her family and golden retriever. Lily is constantly working on new projects, including her upcoming dystopian novel.

Luke Mari

Land Economist + Urban Planner

With fifteen years of experience as a land economist and professional urban planner, Luke is on a mission to demystify and disrupt the development industry. As a principal at Aryze, Luke is an advocate for data-informed design and diverse housing in all neighbourhoods, which means fostering a strong vision for what a city can be—and acting on it. This approach has resulted in award-winning projects from missing middle townhomes to transitional housing units for vulnerable residents built from repurposed shipping containers. Luke has participated in more than thirty national and international housing panels and serves on the board of directors for the Greater Victoria Housing Society.

Mel Larkin

Artist

Mel and D’Ari are on a mission to use the power of pop culture for purpose. Through their charitable organization, Darkspark, they aim to reduce prejudice and promote intercultural understanding through digital storytelling, experiential education, and song. Their intergenerational and intercultural approach to program design earned Darkspark an Intercultural Innovation Award from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

Micheal Green

Architect + Author

Michael Green is an award-winning architect, speaker, and author known for using design to create meaningful, sustainably built environments that benefit both people and planet. A leader in wood and bio-based construction and innovation, he has completed some of the most significant timber buildings in the world and has been recognized with over fifty international awards for design excellence, including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Firm of the Year, Best in North America Firm Award, and four Governor General’s Medals. Lecturing internationally on mass timber and new building technology, Michael’s two previous TED talks include “The Natural Building Blocks of Sustainable Architecture” in 2023 and “Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers” in 2012.

Moronke Harris

Deep Sea Explorer

Moronke Harris is an award-winning deep-sea explorer with experience in climate engineering, blue economy, and intergovernmental research expedition planning on the high seas. Currently completing graduate studies in Oceanography at UVic, her research focuses on sustainable innovations provided by the most unexplored areas of the ocean. Moronke specializes in the alien world of seafloor superheated geysers and has spent over 110 days of her life exploring Earth's final frontier using submersibles. Beyond academic pursuits, she is the founder of The Imaginative Scientist, a science communication and creative consulting brand blending traditional outreach and artistry.

Rosie Bitts

Performer + Author

Rosie Bitts is a multi-award-winning performer, producer, author, educator, and Tantrika. She is a Vajrayana Buddhist from the Shangpa Kagu lineage, a practitioner of Authentic Tantra (from one of the only government-certified programs in the world), and a professional sexologist. She brought the art form of burlesque to Vancouver Island and has held performances and workshops for thousands of people across North America. Rosie teaches people how to connect with pleasure and weave together their spiritual, sexual, and creative selves. She believes that pleasure is our best conduit to healing and leading fulfilled lives.

TJ Watt

Nature and Conservation Photographer

TJ Watt is an award-winning nature and conservation photographer. Combining his passion for rainforest conservation with professional photography, he sheds light on endangered old-growth forests in BC to help see them saved. TJ is a co-founder, campaigner, and photographer with the Ancient Forest Alliance and was named a National Geographic and Royal Canadian Geographical Society Explorer after receiving support from the Trebek Initiative. His work continues to play a pivotal role in raising widespread awareness of ancient forests in BC and has helped to secure the protection of renowned areas such as the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew.