Theme: Fast Forward

Humanity is making rapid progress. An exciting future awaits us in which artificial intelligence, robotics, digital manufacturing, synthetic biology, and other exponentially growing technologies will enable us to make greater gains in the next two decades than we have in the previous 200 years. We will soon have the ability to meet and exceed the basic needs of every person on the planet. Equity and Abundance for all may well be within our grasp.

The 2023 TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhail conference will view the future from a techno-optimistic lens and explore what the future might look like based on some of the incredible innovations being carried out by our best and brightest minds today.

The theme, Fast Forward, encourages speakers to explore what’s happening that’s exciting today and present their vision for a hopeful tomorrow.

GEMS Wellington Academy, Al Khail
Dubai Hills
Dubai, Dubayy, 391922
United Arab Emirates

Charlotte Haydn-Higgins

Educator

With a contagious love for learning, Charlotte is highly passionate and enthusiastic about both the process of learning and the study of mathematics. She holds a first-class degree in Mathematics and possesses over 10 years of teaching experience with a specialisation in innovative teaching methods. She is also certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and her teaching expertise has been recognised through numerous acknowledgements. Charlotte is dedicated to inspiring students worldwide to reach their full potential and fall in love with Mathematics through mindful mathematical techniques.

Dimitri Andronikos-Emiris

Student

Dimitri is a visionary Year 9 student, who likes to explore the transformative potential of generative AI in education. He envisions a future where AI-powered personalized learning empowers students, fostering creativity and critical thinking while revolutionizing the educational landscape globally.

Garv Lamba

Student

Garv is a Year 11 student at WEK with a profound fascination with space and the cosmos. This has driven him to immerse himself in extensive research on the subject. Garv aspires to become an astrophysicist and is inspired by brilliant minds such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Hawking, whose contributions to the field have inspired countless scientists and enthusiasts alike. He wants to help ensure a stable and secure future for humanity that lies beyond our planet.

Heather Broderick

Educator

Heather is a Leadership Coach committed to workplace well-being and helping companies and leaders to support their workforce and reduce overwhelm, stress and burnout. As a strong advocate for mental health awareness, she is passionate about helping people to feel supported, challenged and valued in the workplace, and ultimately, happier and fulfilled in their lives.

Kashish Khattar

Student

Kashish is an outstanding Year 9 student at the Academy who has a strong passion for artificial intelligence and psychology. As a career, she would like to pursue psychology, to create a more inclusive society and bring positivity into people’s lives. She has committed to multiple school leadership roles such as house leaders and student council to bring innovative ideas to the school.

Lubna Ghaffar

Educator

Lubna is the Founding Head of Alternative Pathways at WEK and a strong advocate of the need to develop inclusive pathways for all. She has a keen interest in creating opportunities to identify, adopt and adapt innovative teaching approaches and curricula for pupils that are tailored to their individual needs. Her ambition is to see a more widespread understanding of how alternative provision can provide an improved learning experience for many and not just a select few.

Mahmoud Moursy

Student

Mahmoud is a Year 10 student and self-proclaimed programming nerd with contributions to high-profile open-source projects like NodeJS and Rust. He has a strong passion for all things relating to computer science but also enjoys debate and political literature. He takes an optimistic view of society and humanity’s capability to adapt.

Malavika Chakravorty

Student

Malavika is an exceptional year 11 student at the GEMS Wellington Academy. She has a strong passion for the culinary arts and medicine. Her ultimate goal is to pursue a career in medicine, driven by a desire to alleviate pain and suffering and make a positive impact on people's lives. Throughout her six years at GEMS, Malavika has actively contributed to the school's mental health committee, eco committee, and student council, consistently working towards creating a better and more inclusive school environment.

Navaal Ghazanfar

Student

Navaal is a Year 11 student at the GEMS Wellington Academy, where she is a prefect. Navaal aspires to become a physicist. Her interests lie in math, literature, cinema, and all forms of art that inspire her. She hopes that one day she will be able to set up institutes for physics and math in areas where students do not have access to quality education and be able to contribute to society. One of Navaal’s firm beliefs is that it is essential to have bold discussions to be able to bring any change in society.

Ruqaiya Khomosi

Student

Ruqaiya is a motivated and ambitious year 13 student at the Academy. She has a fervent passion for the United Nations and has actively participated in multiple Model United Nations (MUN) conferences over the past few years. With a proven track record of leadership as a former head girl at her previous school and as the head of the events committee at the Academy, Ruqaiya has honed valuable skills in teamwork, organization, and strategic planning. Inspired by her keen interest in business and finance, Ruqaiya aspires to pursue a career as a corporate lawyer. Her ultimate goal is to leverage her skills and experiences as a woman in the corporate world to contribute to the growth and success of her family business, striving to elevate it to new heights of excellence.