Theme: The Good Room

TEDxTralee will take place on Thursday the 6th of October at Siamsa Tíre Theatre, Tralee, County Kerry www.siamsatire.com from 9am – 9pm. This is an independently organised event, licensed by TED, will feature 14 local, national and international voices along with TED Talk videos under the theme of ‘The Good Room’. The event is licensed to 100 Ticket Holders and if last year’s inaugural event was anything to go by it will be another sell-out. The 2022 event is run in conjunctions with Kerry County Councils ‘An Turas Mór’ Homecoming Kerry month-long Festival supported by Fáilte Ireland as part of their Global Irish Festival Series.

Launched in 2009, TEDx is a program of locally organised events that bring the community together to share a TED-like experience. Some of the best talks from TEDx events have gone on to be featured on TED.com and garnered millions of views from audiences across the globe with 32 Million subscribers alone on the TEDx YouTube Channel.

TEDx Tralee will feature Foyer activations, short Films and main Stage presentations from an eclectic group of Speakers from a variety of backgrounds and unique experiences all sharing their Stories and Big Ideas. From an initial submission of fifty four, the following fourteen speakers have been selected to date.

Siamsa Tíre Theatre
Tralee Town Park
Denny Street
Tralee, Kerry, V92 XW44
Ireland

Bernadette Sheehan Gilroy

Lecturer / Researcher / PKU Rare Disease Advocate

PKU and the Empowering Role of Advocacy - Bernadette Gilroy is Chairperson, PKU Association of Ireland (PKUAI), a Lecturer at Munster Technological University Kerry and Researcher at Dublin City University. She lives with Phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare metabolic condition that affects a person's ability to metabolise protein, which if left untreated, can lead to devastating neurological complications. She has been involved in the PKU Associations campaigns with key objectives to empower the PKU community by raising awareness, improving health services, and accessing innovative treatments. Bernadette is a graduate of the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPOSI) Patient Education Programme, a member of the IPPOSI Board, University College Dublin Public and Patient Involvement Ignite Executive Committee, the EUPATI National Platform and an Irish Delegate for the European Society of PKU and Allied Disorders.

Ciaran Prior

Crime Scene Investigator

Ciaran works as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) with An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s Police Force, having served on the front line for the past 32 years. A lifetime dealing with death, trauma and tragedy has given him a deep insight into the fragility of this life that we live and a first-hand knowledge of how suddenly and violently it can be taken away. This career journey has given him a profound perspective and grounding on the trials and tribulations of life. Long before the term “Life Coach” was invented, Ciaran was using his personality to connect with people to listen and help. Blending his natural ability to connect on an individual and group level with his unique backstory as a CSI, Ciaran engages, entertains and fascinates with his seminars, talks and presentations. This unique life experience sees him now working in the educational and corporate sectors presenting on leadership, wellbeing, life skills and dealing with adversity.

Franciska Acs

Marketing Communications Manager

Franciska Acs is a Marketing Manager at the IT company, DocuSign and recently graduated from the London School of Design and Marketing with her Masters degree in Marketing. As a passionate hobby baker, she founded Consider it Cakes in 2020 - a nationwide initiative with over 600 hobby bakers who make free birthday cakes for asylum seekers, homeless, and refugees to make them feel special and valued on their birthday. She believes that people often underestimate the power of small acts of kindness. Her initiative shows how much happiness something as small as a personal birthday cake can bring to the community. The home-made birthday cakes make the recipients feel special and loved which can mean the world to someone who feels lonely and isolated. In her TEDx Tralee speech, Franciska wants to encourage the audience to think about how they can use their own passion to make the world a happier place in their own way.

Iulia Potor

Net Zero Marketing Manager

Iulia is Marketing Manager at sustainable building systems company Partel in Galway, dedicated to driving progress towards a net-zero future between products, brands, and society. She started to practice her passion for marketing in Romania, her native country, more than ten years ago, supporting business growth across the Construction, Retail, FMCG and Pharma sectors. Involved in many different advertising and communication campaigns ranging in scale and complexity, the results demonstrated to her that every target is achievable when you are all in, consistent, and collaborative effort is at the core. In a fast-moving world, where advertising and consumerism have a significant impact on climate change, Iulia believes that marketers can empower sustainable behavior change for a carbon-neutral future. Net-zero marketing is part of the solution that could help both the private sector and governments.

Jana Osta

Hypnotherapist, Holistic Life Coach & Yoga Teacher

Jana became mesmerized by the power of the mind after experiencing severe stress and feeling lost within corporate environments. She now supports business professionals who feel overloaded, anxious and overwhelmed in getting unstuck, elevating their habits and living life in full alignment with their true potential. She uses a variety of modalities such as hypnotherapy, holistic coaching and yogic teachings to provide one-on-one and group support.

Martin Mahon

Human Rights Activist

Martin Mahon is an Actor & Playwright. Martin has been involved within the arts from a young age. Martin was introduced to acting through the ‘Free Radicals Youth Theatre’ in Tralee. From Joining Aidan O Carroll from the ‘Lost Society’ to John Connors ‘Acting Academy’ Martin has developed his acting skills and his creative writing technique. Martin was invited and took part as a panelist on the Claire Byrne show discussing racism towards Traveller and also was an interviewee alongside Hughie Maughan on an RTE show called ‘Our Land’ which highlighted the issues in which the Black Lives Matter movement was experiencing. Martin has written and performed Monologues from his ‘One Man Show’s’ throughout Ireland for various arts projects. More notably his written piece ‘Prisoner’ for ‘Travellers Together Preventing suicide’ event in 2021.

Ra James

Regenerative business revolutionary

Ra James integrates transformational ancient wisdom for future-ready leadership. He focuses on revitalizing people and organizations globally through restoring kincentric worldview, right-relationship and reciprocal action. Mentored by various indigenous elders from around the world, Ra brings aspects of these global wisdom traditions forward as medicine for modern times. Through his speaking, consulting, online group-courses and leadership guidance, he focuses on regenerating the future through non-linear thinking, deep curiosity, redefining purpose and remembering what it truly means to be human. He is the founder of FutureElders, an 8-week online un/school focused for elders-in-training, (re)Biz, a 31-day workshop that restores right-relationship between business & Earth, and Pueo, a regenerative business consulting company.

Sharon McCarthy

Lecturer, author and parent, Sharon is an autistic person and and adhder who strives to ensure all neurodivergent people are afforded every opportunity to be their authentic self

Sharon has both worked in and studied the autism field in a number of different capacities for over 25 years. She is also parent to multiply identified neurodivergent children. She is an author and the founder of both the Autism Journeys Podcast, a neurodiversity-centred show which is listened to in 27 countries, and the Autism Journeys Consultancy which provides support to neurodivergent people and their families from both an educational and advocacy standpoint. Sharon lectures in University College Dublin, and regularly delivers neuroaffirmative and autism specific training to educational and disability services around the country. She has previously spoken at a number of national and international events. Sharon is passionate about progression in the field of disability and autism and strives to ensure those working in business, education and support sectors are equipped to respectfully meet the needs of neurodivergent individuals.

Thaler Pekar

Recognised pioneer of institutional narrative, leadership storytelling, and persuasive communication

The Pleasures of Paradox - Thaler Pekar is a communication pioneer, focusing on speaking, listening, and narrative. The BBC and Smithsonian Institution hail Thaler as one of the world's leading experts on institutional storytelling. For 17 years, she and her team at Thaler Pekar & Partners have advised leaders around the world on gaining confidence, insight, and influence.

Tony P Murphy

Director of the GLOBE Program Implementation Office

Tony Murphy is director of The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program Implementation Office (GIO). Tony is proud of his association with the GLOBE Program, he first served the GLOBE Program in Washington DC in 1995. He notes that "Being involved at the ground level and working with scientists to create materials that would be used by teachers and students nationwide and globally was an incredible opportunity." GLOBE is funded by NASA, with additional support from NSF, NOAA, and. Dept of State.

Tricia Healy

Artist, Dreamer, Singer and a Writer who works as a Psychotherapist

Tricia Healy is an artist and psychotherapist who specialises in working with the palliatively ill and the dying. She is a passionate advocate of clear and open communication about dying and death. She has witnessed the benefit of it with the dying, their loved ones and everyone who wants greater meaning in their living. She has created Stepping Stones, a facilitated group for people who wish to explore their living and dying in a vibrant, social and creative way.

William Micklem

The GO! Rules -How to run your own race...Coach, Author, Inventor and Presenter

William's primary focus is on the creation of innovative and memorable strategies for performance improvement, including Going Over The EDGE for adults, and The GO! Rules for young people. A sports coach and coach educator for 50 years, he recently celebrated his 41st year as a Fellow of the British Horse Society. His book, the Complete Horse Riding Manual, is the world's top selling equestrian manual, and he designed the multi-award winning and game changing ergonomic Micklem bridle. He is a founding and current director of Festina Lente in Co. Wicklow, that currently employs a team of 60 working weekly with over 400 students with intellectual and physical challenges. Born in Cornwall, UK, and now living in Co. Wicklow, Ireland. His wife, Sarah, and their three children, have all represented Ireland internationally in a variety of sports.