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).

Australian International School
1 Lorong Chuan
Singapore, North East, 556818
Singapore

Darren Ang

Darren is a 22-year-old law student at the National University of Singapore. As a full-time freelance musician who specialised in arrangements and orchestration, he had never expected to pursue a law degree. Music remains one of the main passions in Darren’s life, and he has, for the last three years, been uploading live piano arrangements of video-game-music tracks to his Youtube channel and other digital music-streaming services. Darren hopes to inspire others to seize opportunities as they arise by harnessing the power of passion to drive yourself forward.

Dylan Alexander

Dylan Alexander is a self-acclaimed chatterbox with no volume control. Dylan has spent the last two years emceeing for the Music and Drama Company of the Singapore Armed Forces. There are few military functions where Dylan’s voice hasn’t accompanied the proceedings, from overseeing officer commissioning parades to award dinners at the Istana. Despite the short time in the job, Dylan was afforded the opportunity to work on both the 2018 and 2019 National Day Parades as a stand-in host. In this talk, Dylan shares some communication tips and tricks he’s learnt in this job- including how to kick stage fright and “colouring” your speech.

Jessie Williams

Jessie Williams is a young, athletic teenager who enjoys her time reading, playing sports and bingeing TV shows. She has lived in and called Singapore home since 2006 when her family migrated from Melbourne, Australia. She is 16 years old, considers herself an average student and like many others in the world has dyslexia. Currently, in grade 10 and studying for her IGCSEs, she is passionate about Drama, English and Sports Science along with Basketball, theatre and enjoys the local hawker food. This TEDx conference gave Jessie something to reflect on her life and her passions; she came to the revelation that having a learning disability is not something that should hold you back from doing what you love to do. Jessie will be sharing her experience with dyslexia and she hopes to inform people what it actually means to have dyslexia.

Kiana Seneviratne

Kiana Seneviratne is a 12-year-old girl who is passionate about all aspects of learning. She often receives comments of disbelief as she shares her love of studying and the process of learning different things. Her open mind and positive attitude towards life, powers Kiana to participate in anything she possibly can. Although born in America, she has spent almost 12 and a half years in Singapore. Kiana actively hears information about the Earth and climate change through adults, the news and other students. Her inspiration for her speech blossomed from the recurring question ‘what if I don’t do anything?’ that runs through her mind. She desperately wants to share and warn others on this massively important topic and craves to spread ‘The Key To The Environment’.

Kiana Severitane

Kiana is a 12 year old student at AIS Singapore who is passionate about issues and challenges facing the world. Intelligent, curious and informed, Kiana is articulate and mature in her thinking and expression. She has a particular interest in interactions between humans and the elements of the natural environment. Thoughtful in her appraisal of solutions to problems, Kiana identifies pro-action on a personal level that could be part of broader solutions.

Peter Ma

Since his earliest memories as a child, Peter has always been interested in stories which offer him a window to greater worlds beyond his own. Growing up in Beijing and moving to Singapore at the age of 10 has enabled Peter to view the world around him through two distinct cultural lenses, offering him a unique perspective on the rapidly changing world around him. During his studies, Peter has always been fascinated by how even the most bizarre events in real life can be a revealing reflection of the true nature of our society. Peter believes that mundane, down-to-earth events are the key ingredients to unravelling the nature of our modern world through anecdotal storytelling that strikes pertinent issues at its core. In order to make a positive impact on his community and the wider world, Peter will continue to strive to explore and create grounded narratives which reflect the world around us to challenge the way people think and perceive the world at large.

Shivankari Sivarajah

Shivankari Sivarajah is a Year 10 student who, surrounded by an ever-changing lifestyle, has found a constant in nurturing a passion for music. Having found friends and a community as well as a renewed sense of self through music, Shivankari now devotes the majority of her time to the arts - she practically lives in the school music department. She aspires towards a career in the performing arts and seeks to share her love of music by encouraging discussion with regards to the very definition of art. Born in Perth, raised in Singapore and currently studying at the Australian International School, she is well-versed with the concept of change and acknowledges the importance of fluidity in order to grow. In a chaotic world, she hopes to inspire unity by means of a familiar international language: Music.