Theme: EMERGE

e·merge (/əˈmərj/) — to come forth, appear, or become visible.

TEDxKanata is re-emerging on May 15, 2024. Sparking conversations on the constantly evolving nature of our world and how individuals, ideas, social movements, cultural trends, and new technologies emerge to shape the present and future.
Tickets will be available through a lottery application process, starting March 15, 2024.

Brookstreet Hotel
525 Legget Dirve
525 Legget Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K2K2W2
Canada

Arun Munje

Engineer and Technology Enthusiast

Arun Munje has studied Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from IIT Kanpur. Having founded startups like AIHEARU and Vayyoo, he considers himself a tech entrepreneur with a passion for solving real world problems using cutting edge technology. He likes to work on all aspects of the solution, from understanding the needs of the end user, to enhancing user experience, to implementing and creating secure innovative models and efficient algorithms. Across many companies Arun has been an inventor of more than 36 patents. He likes to keep his vision world-embracing and seeks in his work to walk with practical feet.

Byron Holland

Expert in Internet Governance

Byron Holland (MBA, ICD.D) is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain and developing new cybersecurity, DNS, and registry services. Byron is an expert in internet governance and a seasoned entrepreneur. Under Byron’s leadership, CIRA has become one of the leading ccTLDs in the world, with over 3 million domains under management. Over the past decade, he has represented CIRA internationally and held numerous leadership positions within ICANN. He currently sits on the Board of the Toronto Internet Exchange, and as Director of CENTR, the Council of European National Top-Level Domain Registries. He lives in Ottawa with his wife, two sons, and their Australian shepherd, Marley. Byron enjoys the outdoors and is an avid skier and mountain biker.

Geoffrey MacKay

Creative Innovator obsessed with sustainable living

Geoffrey is a creative innovator obsessed with sustainable living. With a background in waste reduction education and social/ environmental impact work he realized that the core of the global single-use packaging waste problem is rooted in systemic distribution infrastructure that limits sustainable consumer opportunity. He founded The Aggressive Good (TAG), a company that designs waste out of supply chains with tech driven solutions that transform wasteful food distribution models to make zero-waste supply chains easy, safe, and efficient. TAG was a winner of Google’s global single-use plastics challenge in 2023 and is piloting in multiple Google HQ locations. Geoffrey’s goal is to provide inclusive, accessible, user-friendly tools to businesses and citizens that accelerate the shift to sustainable consumption. He lives in Ottawa where he continues to work with the Ottawa Fire Service, enjoys outdoor activities, sustainable home renovation and throwing sticks for his dog Charlie.

Heather Coleman

Leader in Financial Wellness

Heather Coleman, Vice President of Operations at Enriched Academy, is a dynamic leader dedicated to fostering employee financial wellness. Armed with a newly acquired MBA, Heather specializes in integrating financial education into corporate cultures. Leading the Associations and Corporations division, she actively collaborates with Canadian companies, guiding them in establishing a robust culture of financial well-being among employees. Beyond her corporate prowess, Heather is a passionate ringette player, showcasing her commitment to both teamwork and athleticism. An ardent Ottawa Senators fan, she brings the same level of enthusiasm to her professional pursuits as she does to cheering for her favorite team. Heather's multifaceted approach underscores her commitment to holistic well-being, both in the workplace and on the ice.

Helen Hirsh Spence

Social Entrepreneur

Following a 30-year career as an educational leader and a decade devoted to global, not-for-profit endeavours, Helen shifted gears in her late sixties to reinvent herself as a social entrepreneur. She role models what it means to age in the 21st century despite living in North America’s youth-centric culture which promotes a fear of growing older. Helen founded Top Sixty Over Sixty, a niche, age diversity consultancy, after she witnessed firsthand how ageism was impacting her generation, and how the upcoming demographic shift would affect North America's social and economic fabric. A well-respected and sought-after thought leader, Helen has appeared in several major national media outlets, on television, podcasts, and radio. She advocates, writes, and speaks about the damaging impacts of ageism. She believes the way forward calls for intergenerational collaboration and age equity. Her mindset is longevity focused!

Ksenia Yadav

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Expert

Ksenia Yadav holds the position of Director of Data Engineering and AI/ML at Enablence Technologies, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Carleton University and the Communications Research Centre Canada in 2012, specializing in the design and fabrication of novel silica glass meta-materials. Her current research expertise lies in the design of optical chips, leveraging AI and machine learning for the design and manufacturing of opto-electronic components. She serves as the Chair of the Industrial Advisory Board for the Department of Electronics at Carleton University, advising on educational challenges in rapidly evolving technological fields, lowering barriers to STEM in underrepresented populations, and effective collaborations between public and private sectors.