Theme: Virtual Summer Camp

Since 2013, TEDxStormont hosted events on the theme of “Imagine” – we were looking forward and imagining the kind of future we could have together as a society in Northern Ireland and beyond. This year the Imagine theme could not be more relevant.

The future has never felt so uncertain. There are deadly perils to be dealt with, starting with a global pandemic. Yet we also now have an opportunity to rebuild our world in a better, fairer, more beautiful way. We believe passionately that the global TED community has a key role to play here. We are all believers in human creativity and our collective ability to imagine our way out of this mess. More than ever, we need to connect with each other and figure out how to build back better.

In a run up to TEDxStormontLive on 1 August 2020, build around the talks from the first-ever virtual TED Conference, TED2020: Uncharted we will host one week Virtual TEDxStormont Summer Camp to bring our community closer together.

TEDxStormont Virtual Summer Camp will run from Monday, 27 July to Saturday, 1 August 2020.

Virtual Summer Camp
Stormont Estate
Belfast, Antrim, BT4 3XX
United Kingdom

Aoibhéann McCann

Actress and Activist

Aoibhéann McCann is an Irish actor, based between Dublin, Belfast and London. She trained at The Oxford School of Drama, after studying French & Sociology at Maynooth University. She works extensively in screen and theatre, recently winning the Best Actress Award in the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020 for her role as Blanche Dubois in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Lyric Theatre, Belfast). She has been a public advocate for ‘slow fashion’ since 2017; she describes this topic as a ‘gateway’ to discussing environmental practices across the board, both public & personal.

Astra McNicholl

Creative Strategist

Astra McNicholl is the founder and creative strategist at Itty Bitty Book Co. Astra is passionate about gratitude, happiness & positive mental health. Her company is working to make it easier & more fun for everyone to bring positive mental health practices into everyday life. With tiny shifts in daily habits and focus, Astra believes we can change the trajectory of our lives and our communities.

Bláthnaid Carlin

Mother, Doctor, Eco-campaigner

Bláthnaid is a doctor, wife and mother of two who describes herself as a family woman to the core. Bláthnaid is a classically trained violinist and singer and is no stranger to the stage. She toured as an Irish dancer with the National Dance Company of Ireland and represented her county in the 2006 Rose of Tralee International festival. Bláthnaid is passionate about celebrating diversity and promoting equality. She is an LGBTQI ally and is fervent in the fight against climate change.

Candice Mama

Author and Forgiveness Advocate

Candice Mama is the author of “Forgiveness Redefined” who started her work in forgiveness, reconciliation and trauma after her story of forgiving apartheid assassin and her father’s murderer, Eugene De Kock, made international news. Having been inundated with requests to show people how to forgive she went on to become an award winning international speaker who’s story has been heard by the Dalai Lama. She has also starred in over half a dozen documentaries around the world including New York, Netherlands, Paris and Cape Town She was named Vogue Paris’s 1 of 33 most inspiring women in the world alongside: Nicole Kidman, Michelle Obama and Malala.

E. Louise McCavana

Lawyer, Strategist, Entrepreneur

Silicon Valley based but very much Belfast proud, Emma Louise McCavana is a U.K. Barrister (trial advocate) and U.S. Attorney-at-Law admitted both in California and Arizona. Her practice has included criminal defence, human rights and complex commercial and appellate litigation. Louise is also a fashion technology entrepreneur having developed an app for the fashion runways of the World. Merging her experience in ideation, media and fashion, Louise offers strategic and legal counsel to emerging brands, designers, influencers, and start-ups in the influencer marketing and fashion law space. An astute problem solver and passionate advocate for and mentor to others, Louise seeks to lead with kindness, excellence and compassion every day and to empower others to follow their purpose.

Ian Wolter

Award Winning Sculptor

UK based artist and sculptor who is concerned with the abuse of power in society and with how art is used to project status and authority. He uses many different media and techniques, and often uses this choice to carry meaning, making art from clay and steel but also Vaseline, springs and the human voice. A graduate of the Cambridge School of Art, he’s been awarded the Global Sustainability Art Prize, the Arte Laguna Prize (Venice) and RomArt Sculpture Prize (Rome). He lives and works near Cambridge with the author Clare Mulley, their three daughters and a lurcher.

Karise Hutchinson

Educator

For almost 20 years Karise has been at the forefront of higher education in Northern Ireland, holding significant senior roles within Ulster University and working with organisations – large and small, local and international, to deliver innovative business collaborations. As Professor of Leadership and Provost of the Coleraine campus, Karise is an enthusiastic educator, passionate about changing the way we think and practice leadership. Her research has been published across both academia and industry and her book, Leadership and Small Business: The Power of Stories has been acclaimed as an authoritative text on the importance of storytelling in leading personal and professional growth.

Matthew Cavan

Actor, Drag Performer

Matthew Cavan is a Belfast based Actor and Drag Performer whose life took a massive turn 11 years ago after he contracted HIV. Matthew has dedicated a lot of his life now to educate people about HIV and the Stigma surrounding it. Matthew grew up in a Christian family who are the epitome of unconditional love and support. Going from being a child and teenager attending church 4 times a week then to being a young adult attending gay bars and clubs and then going on his journey with HIV, Matthew faced adversity and stigma everywhere he turned.