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).

The High School
Zion Road
Rathgar
Dublin, Dublin, 6
Ireland

Arthur Godsil

Founder of Godsil Education

A frequent media commentator, keynote presenter and consultant on international and domestic educational matters, Arthur is committed to a strengths-based educational philosophy. He holds an MA degree from Trinity College Dublin and a Masters in Educational Administration and Management from The College of New Jersey. Arthur has been involved in international education as a teacher and administrator for 36 years. For 23 of those years, he was Headmaster of St Andrew’s College, Dublin. For two decades, Arthur also served on the Joint Managerial Body, the organisation which provides a range of advice and support services, in addition to negotiating on behalf of school management in the network of 400 Voluntary Secondary Schools in Ireland. He has been President of the Irish School Heads Association, and is still a member, and is also a member of the Academy for International School Heads. In 2001 he received the ECIS Award for the Promotion of International Education.

Ben Scallan

Student

It is Ben’s penultimate year. One of Ben’s favourite pastimes is boxing. He also has a keen interest in current affairs and would consider himself open to new ideas.

Chupi Sweetman-Pell

Jewellery Designer

Chupi​i​s an award winning jewellery brand founded by former Topshop designer Chupi Sweetman-Pell. Irresistibly drawn to “wild and natural things”, Chupi’s signature aesthetic is casting from real feathers and leaves, creating delicate jewellery made for your inner magpie. Chupi is currently stocked in key boutiques and high end department stores nationwide, with a successful export there are Chupi fans around the world including Japan and Peru. Everything we make is designed, manufactured and finished in Ireland.

Colm O'Gorman

Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland

Colm is currently executive director of Amnesty International in Ireland, a non-profit global organisation that is committed to human rights. He also founded ‘One in Four’, an Irish charity that supports men and women who have been sexually abused or suffered from sexual violence. In 2007 he ran for a position in the Senate, and won it, and now represents Wexford. Prior to this he has worked in a wide range of careers, from being a radio DJ to a minicab driver. He is qualified as both a physical therapist and psychotherapist.

Dr Mary Aiken

Director of the RCSI CyberPsychology Research Centre.

Mary is a leading cyber psychologist, who acts as Academic Advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre at Europol. A Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Cyber Analytics, Mary is a Fellow at the Network Science Research Center, as well as a lecturer in Criminology, and a Research Fellow at the School of Law at Middlesex University. She is involved in numerous Forensic CyberPsychology research areas. Mary is recognized as an international expert in policy debates on the intersection of technology and human behaviour. She recently co-led a White House research team focused on “Tackling Technology-Facilitated Human Trafficking.” In 2013 she was appointed by the Department of Communications to the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group. She is a spokesperson and expert contributor to the European Commission’s Safer Internet Day, and an Observer to the Interpol Specialists Group on Crimes Against Children.

Dr Mary Costello

Lecturer in Biotechnology

Mary grew up in south Dublin and carried out her undergraduate studies in UCD graduating with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry. Her doctoral studies in Molecular Biology were carried out in UCD and the University of Calgary, Canada. Mary then moved to Sydney, Australia, where she initially was employed by Mauri Laboratories who produce bacteria for the dairy industry. Starting work as a Senior Research Scientist, followed by promotion to Research Manager – Product Development, with responsibility for managing the bacterial strain system worldwide and provision of technical support to the marketing and sales team. In 1994 Mary moved back to Ireland and was employed as Technical Services Manager, before becoming a lecturer. Mary has enjoyed lecturing in several areas of Biotechnology in ITT Dublin since 1996 and has a keen interest in the effect of the bacteria in the gut on health.

Emily Clinch

Student

Currently in her first year of secondary school, Emily plays hockey and has an interest in debating.

Gary McDartby

Engineer/Educator/Founder

Gary is a founding director of Camara Education, an organisation that distributes refurbished computers in the developing world. He is also the mastermind behind the L​i​berties Computer Clubhouse, a state of the art technology learning centre enabling disadvantaged youth. He is a founding board member of T​echspace,b​a new technology driven initiative to enable and empower youth groups using refurbished technology and Clubhouse pedagogy. In addition, Gary is an originator of the SMART project, an initiative that develops communication and control technologies for people who have suffered severe spinal injury. By profession, he is a technology consultant, with a background in Electronic Engineering and Neuroscience. He has a 1st Class honours degree in Electronic Engineering, a Master's Degree in Engineering Science and an MIT endorsed PhD in Biomedical Engineering.

Ifedayo Akinsuli

Student

Ifedayo is a fifth year student. He enjoys playing sports, particularly rugby. Ifedayo takes part in many extracurricular activities including Model United Nations and European Youth Parliament. If he had to describe himself in one word it would be ‘active’.

Jack Scollard

Student

Jack is in his fifth year of secondary school. He enjoys running and is a prominent member of the school’s running team, winning medals often. He is also heavily involved with school activities and is well known among everyone

Jane Anne McKenna

Director of Médecins Sans Frontieres, Ireland

Jane-Ann is Director of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders in Ireland. Prior to joining the Irish office, she worked in financial and project management roles with Médecins Sans Frontières in Darfur in Sudan, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, and the Central African Republic. Since being appointed Director, she has undertaken further emergency assignments in South Sudan, Iraqi-Kurdistan, Jordan and Ethiopia. Jane-Ann graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Commerce and a Masters in International Business, and is a qualified ACCA accountant.

Jillian Godsil

Journalist

Jill is a well-known writer, journalist, and self-confessed “accidental activist”. Thanks to this activism, the country’s law was changed in 2014 to allow bankrupt people to run for public office. Jill then promptly ran for Europe herself! In a mere four weeks, on a non-existent budget and with no political party behind her, she polled an impressive 11 500 votes, not enough to get elected but enough to make a difference. She is currently completing a masters in Screenwriting in IADT, and will launch her next career after that.

Lucy Masterson

Co-founder of Hireland

Lucy, who has twenty years experience in marketing both national and international brands, is co-founder of Hireland, the multi award-winning social project dedicated to “Kickstart a burst of job creation in Ireland”. She is also co-founder of ItsBesideYou.com, an Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start Up. She is board director at Champlain College Dublin where she is also a lecturer in social and not-for-profit marketing to US students studying abroad. She has won a multitude of awards, including those from Enterprise Ireland HPSU Competitive Start Up Fund, the Ireland Funds Award, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Elevator Award, Arthur Guinness Fund, Social Entrepreneur Start Up Award, and was recognised by Forbes magazine as “Leading the Charge with Social Entrepreneurship”.

Mark Griffen

Doctor/Actor

Mark (25), a medical doctor from County Clare, trained at UCC, where he was heavily involved with the Drama Society, appearing in numerous award-winning productions. He has continued his work in theatre and film in tandem with his medical career. He currently works as a locum Senior House Officer, primarily in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin. His first short play, In a League of his Own, was a finalist in the British Theatre Challenge last year. Mark is an award-winning filmmaker: his first short film D​rift​won Best Film, Best Director, and Best Cinematography prizes in the national March On Film Competition. Earlier this year, he won the Budweiser Dream Job Competition, and as a result is able to focus on writing and filmmaking for the next year. Most recently, he starred in T​he Turn of the Screw,​in both Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, and The Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork. He has co-written his second short A​way w​ith his brother Edward.

Sarah Webb

Student

Currently in her first year of secondary school. Sarah like to go swimming and enjoys listening to music as well as painting.