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).

Vantage Venues
50 Carroll St., Suite 111
Toronto, Ontario, M4M 3G3
Canada

Ajay Kochhar

Energy Storage Expert

Ajay has led the successful scale-up of Li-Cycle to address urgent global energy storage challenges . Prior to Li-Cycle, Ajay gained deep technology and project development experience through progressive roles with Hatch’s Industrial Clean Tech and Advisory practices. His technical expertise spans the entire project lifecycle, from conceptual and pre-feasibility studies to construction and commissioning. Following his work in the industrial clean tech engineering field, Ajay worked as a Management Consultant with Hatch’s Advisory practice. In this role, he led teams to deliver financial and technical reviews of multi-billion-dollar investment opportunities, including technologies and assets across the li-ion battery value chain.

Allie Rougeot

Climate Activist

Aliénor (Allie) is an economics and public policy student at the University of Toronto. From a young age, she started working on tackling environmental and human rights issues, and has since high school been focused on climate justice specifically. Since January 2019 she has been the lead coordinator of the Fridays for Future movement in Toronto. Fridays for Future is a worldwide movement where students around the world have been striking and protesting to demand bold climate action from all levels of government. She has been recognized for her work by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace with the Kim Phuc Youth Award, in Toronto Post Magazine in “20 under 20”, and in Corporate Knights. She was born and raised in France and now lives in Toronto.

Blair Feltmate

Climate Adaptation Scientist

Blair is the Head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo. He has written textbooks on Sustainable Banking (University of Toronto Press), and Aquatic Ecology (CAB International). Blair is Chair, Adaptation Committee, Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, Environment Canada (ECCC). He is a member of the Sustainable Finance Advisory Committee, Global Risk Institute. Blair is on the Advisory Board on Climate Change, Minister of Environment, Ontario. He was Chair, Government of Canada Expert Panel on Climate Adaptation, and Chair, Electricity Transmission and Distribution Adaptation Standard, Canadian Standards Association. He is former Chair of Pollution Probe, and he was Chair/Founding Member of the Sustainable Electricity Program, Canadian Electricity Association. Blair was an NSERC Canada Post-Doctoral Fellow. He holds a Ph.D in Theoretical and Applied Ecology, Masters in Sustainable Development, Masters in Zoology, and a Hon. Bachelor’s in Life Sciences.

Irwin Adam Eydelnant

Creative Scientist and Food Futurist

Combining a background in engineering, biology, and technology with his passions for eating and design Irwin explores global eating futures. He is a thinker and maker who creates defining multi-sensorial food experiences including products, new technologies, immersive dining installations, and interactive workshops. As Founder and Creative Scientific Director of Future Food Studio, Dr. Irwin Adam leads multi-disciplinary teams in re-imagining how we interact with food at every scale. Major projects have included Museum of Ice Cream (NYC/LA), wndr Museum (Chicago), Food Loves Tech (NYC), and Sensorium (Toronto). Brand collaborations include Pepsico, Unilever, General Mills, Campbell’s, Kraft, & ABI InBev with projects in the US, Canada, Middle East, and Europe. He holds a B.Eng. and M.Eng. (Chemical Engineering) from McGill University and a PhD (Biomedical Engineering) from the University of Toronto.

Kelly Drennan

Circular Economy Activist

Kelly founded Fashion Takes Action out of her desire to create a better, more sustainable future for her two daughters. Determined to making fashion circular, Kelly convenes the Ontario Textile Diversion Collaborative (OTDC), with more than 30 stakeholders committed to increasing textile diversion, while unlocking local solutions for reuse and recycling. Kelly is also a member of the City of Toronto’s Circular Economy Working Group and their Fashion Industry Advisory Panel. Most recently, Kelly has taken on the role of chairing a task force and committee to develop a circular fashion standard for Canada, with the Canadian Standards Association. Kelly also produces the annual WEAR conference, and is a sought after consultant for fashion designers and brands looking to embrace CSR and sustainability. In 2017 Kelly was recognized as a Canadian environmental leader with the esteemed Clean 50 Award for her work in Education & Awareness, and is the first fashion industry recipient.

Madhav Malhortra

Climate Activist

Madhav Malhotra is a young innovator researching solutions towards a sustainable economy. At the age of 17, he started The Plastic Shift – a project to research the root causes of plastic pollution. Now, he has acted on his research to work with companies and nonprofits to share resources helping prioritise solutions for this issue. Recently, he also launched a podcast called The Knowledge Archives. There, he works to interview researchers at the forefront of their fields, like in a recent series connecting the dots on the effects of climate change – from food security to water resources. On the side, he’s training to be an entrepreneur, hoping to leave a lasting change for this planet in the future. And also, he goes to school sometimes 🙂

Mary Trudeau

Water Scientist

Mary Trudeau has dedicated her career to water. She is a professional engineer with 15 years of experience managing municipal water infrastructure and 15 years of experience as a consultant providing advice bridging science and policy, in particular concerning water environment protection. She completed Ph.D. research on the topic of urbanization and its effects on rivers and fish communities. In her non-work world, Mary is the proud mother of two sons and lives in constant amazement at the opportunities offered by circumstance and nature.

Mira Bhattacharya

Technology Innovator and Activist

Mira Bhattacharya is a 17-year-old Toronto-based innovator, who is passionate about using upcoming and exponential technologies to impact billions. From a young age, she became interested in tackling both social justice and environmental issues. She has competed and presented her research on environmental sustainability on two occasions at the Canada Wide Science Fair, garnering her two silver medals, as well as the Youth Can Innovate award. In March of 2020, Mira Co-Founded “Disable the Difference”, a Non-Profit Organization with a mission to raise awareness, provide support, and advocate for policy change for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Patricia Rea

Youth Genetic Engineering Researcher

Patricia Rea is a 15-year old protein engineer, and one of the world’s top teenage genetic engineering researchers. She is currently focused on creating a strain of yeast that can survive the hostile environment of Mars. Patricia views DNA as a three-dimensional coding language that can be programed to biomanufacture materials within cells – from pigments and fragrances, to food, plastic and silk –all with a far greener carbon footprint than traditional manufacturing methods. She is about to begin laboratory testing on a synthetic antifreeze protein with the cryoprotective potential to significantly reduce the temperature at which cells freeze. Patricia has presented her research at MIT and has been selected three times to represent Canada at international science fairs. She was the recipient of the IARC Young Scientist Award this February in Barcelona, Spain, and was recently presented with the WISEST Externship Award at the continental INSPO Research and Innovation Competition.

Richard Blundell

Adjunct Professor and Associate Graduate Faculty at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto

Richard has over 35 years of senior executive management and consulting experience in the global environmental services and technology sectors and has completed over $500 million in combined corporate M&A transactions and private equity funding for early-stage companies. He has held founder and/or executive management positions in ten early-stage, cleantech companies, including a number of Board of Directors appointments. Richard previously lead the applied innovation network at MaRS Discovery District and is currently Pantonium Inc. Head of Strategy where he focuses on the on-demand digital infrastructure solutions that will enable cities to dramatically improve public bus transit access and productivity. He is an Executive-in-Residence, Adjunct Professor and Associate Graduate Faculty at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He is also an advisor to the Prince of Wales Accounting for Sustainability charity.