Theme: The road less traveled by

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).

Global Tower, Al Shuhada Street
Block 7
Sharq, Al Kuwayt (Al ٰĀşimah)
Kuwait

Angie Hani

Angie Hani is a professional visual artist with a degree in art education from the Australian Catholic University in Sydney. She specializes in visual arts education for the International Baccalaureate Organization. Angie has over eighteen years of teaching experience, including ten for the Board of Studies in Sydney, Australia and eight at the American International School Kuwait. Angie has exhibited in Sydney, Beirut and Kuwait. Her artwork is a conceptualized body of works, defining the context of the themes and ideas she explores within her own search for self-identity and understanding of cultural content. Focusing on mixed media, collage, drawing, painting, photography and printmaking, Angie’s works are a fusion of layered materials and media. This mixed media allows Angie to layer meaning into her work by incorporating painterly surfaces, transparent layers of text and combined compositions. Art education and curriculum development and implementation are her strengths.

Dr AlAnoud Al Sharekh

Dr Al-Sharekh conducts research on regional socio-political, cultural and security issues, and has been Visiting Fellow conducting research on GCC demographics at the LMEI, SOAS, Senior Fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Senior Political Analyst at the Kuwait National Security Bureau and worked as a gender politics consultant for UNIFEM, Freedom House, and the UNDP on academic and social outreach projects in Kuwait and the GCC. She holds a BA from King’s College, London and a Master’s and PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Her teaching posts include Kuwait University, Gulf University of Science and Technology, the Arab Open University, visiting lecturer at Uppsala University, Sweden, and Fulbright Scholar on Women and Islam at Whittier College, USA. She has published several books and articles on gender and kinship policies in the GCC, including The Gulf Family, and Popular and Political Cultures of the GCC.

Heather Busch

Heather is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst who has been working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2002. Heather completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology specializing in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) at the University of Nevada, Reno. She also attended Arizona State University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Heather began as an instructor in early intervention ABA programs, served as case adviser in discrete trial and precision teaching centers, and worked in the US and Kuwait providing therapy and consultation services. Heather is the Co-founder and Clinical Director for the Applied Behaviour Center of Kuwait (ABC), which provides early intervention services to children with Autism and related disorders based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Noor Al Qatami

Noor Al-Qatami is a Bentley University Graduate specialized in Management of Teams. She is the founder and co-owner of Hala Cafe, Hamad and Shahad, Saveco and its subsidiary companies.

Shaima Ghafoor

An experienced online specialist and strategy expert with a history of successes in professional and voluntary work, Shaima Ghafoor has a real passion for the MENA region, and its ongoing development…

Sheikha Fatima Al Sabah

Sheikha Fatima Al Sabah’s mission is to make a difference by empowering people to achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the community. As a young girl she dreamed of helping animals; this dream became a reality when she began supporting the Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat, also known as K’S PATH. After years of volunteering, her persistence and hard work was recognised when she was named Vice Chairperson of K’S PATH in May 2013, and then Executive Director in April, 2015. She enjoys bringing awareness to the plight of animals by planning fundraising events, mobilizing the community and networking to make Kuwait a better place for all living beings. Fatima is passionate about creating a link between caring for the environment and animals, and being a proud member of society. She uses her love for Kuwait as motivation to encourage people to ‘think before they act’.

Tara Sillery

Irish born and raised, Tara Sillery is one of the most prominent Fashion PR figures in the Middle East. Hailed as the regions PR Empress by a leading publication she is the owner of PR Passion and has more recently founded H.O.P.E. (Hope of Positive Education), a charity to provide education to Syrian and Lebanese children in Lebanon, and to raise public awareness on the issues they face. Tara has worked with top international designers such as Christian Lacroix and Andree Putman and a number of well recognised and up and coming artists and designers from Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, London, Paris and LA. She is a regular figure on MTV and regional TV networks giving her fashion and trend advice and has also appeared on networks in LA.