Theme: Redefining Limits

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxKinnaird, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxKinnaird event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

This year's TEDxKinnaird conference will present a lineup of amazing speakers who have redefined limits in their lives and work. The attendees will get a chance to network with these speakers and with other like minded attendees in social spaces designed specially to spark new ideas.

Hladia Hall
93 Jail Road
Lahore, Punjab
Pakistan

Forman Symphonic Strings

Orchestra Group

Forman Symphonic Strings is a small ensemble consisting of 4 violinists, Hamza I. Butt, Qasim Zafar, Muhammad Hassan Haider and Azriah Wilbur John, which was founded in early 2014 at Forman Christian College University (FCCU), Lahore, Pakistan. It was formed amongst a group of introductory violin class students by Hamza I. Butt, one of the current members of the group. Forman Symphonic Strings aims at promoting acoustic bowed string music which conforms to the principles of harmony, playing coordination and is audibly pleasing.

Ambreen Zaman

Medical Doctor, Renaissance Scholar, Social Entrepreneur, Tech Entrepreneur, Advocate of Women’s Rights

Ambreen Zaman (Riaz) is a Medical Doctor, Renaissance Scholar, Social Entrepreneur, Tech Entrepreneur and advocate of women’s rights who divides her time between Turkey and Pakistan. Her organization, 'I Change Her Life' provides financial support to women living in some of the most impoverished communities in Pakistan and Turkey. I Change Her Life is a social enterprise based on 'Theory of Change'. It highlights the significance of economic empowerment as a means to create long-term social impact. Ambreen has travelled extensively all over the world and has lived as an expatriate in many countries. Currently, she is leading a campaign against gender violence in Pakistan and Turkey.

Arfa Chaudhry

Arfa has personified the arts of performance in music and theater. Along with being a Cultural Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, she has played the “sitar” to many woeful and cheerful tunes at Nescafe Basement, has won a gold medal at the All Pakistan Music Conference 2014 and has directed two 2 performances staged at Kinnaird College. Her tutor and muse, Ustad Muhammad Saleem Khan has progressively brought her to this meticulous and skilled art. The seemingly docile ‘sitarist’ has also remained a National Taekwondo Champion and a black belt holder, being among the first few female Pakistanis to be recognized internationally in the latter field.

Bakhtawar Bilal Soofi

Lawyer, Educationist

Bakhtawar Bilal Soofi is the co-founder of Next Generation Pakistan (NGP), a youth based charity working towards social development in the country. He is also the founder of SOAS Law Journal and is currently practicing law in Karachi, Pakistan. Bakhtawer Bilal likes to write on issues of socio-legal importance and his articles have been published in some of Pakistan’s leading newspapers.

Nabeel A. Qadeer

Project Manager

Nabeel Qadeer is a Project Manager by profession, with over ten years of managerial experience working in the areas of management information systems, business analysis and project management. His software development & consultancy firm, which he co-founded in Scotland, now has a client base spanning across the Middle East, Asia and United Kingdom. As the Director for Entrepreneurship & Enterprise development at the Punjab IT Board, he is steering government-backed initiatives for tech entrepreneurship that include PLAN9 (incubator), PLANX (accelerator) & Techhub Connect (co-working space). Nabeel is passionate about adding value to the lives of the youth. Using entrepreneurship as a tool, he is empowering the young ones in Pakistan to dream and be on the driving seat of their future.

Raza Naeem

Social Scientist, Book Critic, Translator, Dramatic Reader

Raza Naeem is a Pakistani social scientist, book critic, translator and prize-winning dramatic reader based in Lahore. He is presently working on three books, namely, translations of Saadat Hasan Manto’s Letters to Uncle Sam and other essays, and a volume of short stories by Krishan Chander from the Urdu; and on the contradictions of bourgeois democracy in Pakistan. Raza has curated and moderated a first-ever edition of Banned Books Week in Pakistan in collaboration with Olomopolo Media in Lahore in September 2014 and a second edition in September this year (2015). He is the recipient of a prestigious 2013-2014 Charles Wallace Trust Fellowship in the UK for his translation and interpretive work on Manto's essays, and has also previously dramatized the work of Manto at the Lucknow and Delhi Literature Festivals in India and at the Kabir Festival at LUMS and the Rafi Peer Youth Performing Arts Festival in Pakistan, as well as the work of Ismat Chughtai, Krishan

Rehan Bashir

Fashion Designer, Visual Arts Professor, Yoga Teacher

Rehan Bashir is fashion designer, an assistant professor in the MA Visual Arts program at the NCA, a yoga teacher since 2014 and has been training to become a classical dancer since 2011, under the guidance of Nahid Siddiqui. Rehan draws great inspiration from his teacher, Nahid Siddiqui, and serves as a great mentor for his students, facilitating and mentoring them to further their studio practice. He designs bespoke bridal couture at The House of Kamiar Rokni, which has been regularly showcasing its work in Lahore and recently in Paris as well.

Roohullah Gulzari

Human Rights Activist

Roohullah Gulzari is a human rights activist who has been vocal for the rights of minorities and voiceless communities in Pakistan. He has also been involved with number of civil society organizations and campaigns in different capacities from the past 8 years. He is a fellow at Washington based US think tank ‘Atlantic Council – South Asia Center’ and Young Connectors of Future fellow at Swedish Institute. Currently Roohullah is affiliated with Lahore based Youth Development Foundation – Pakistan, for making a pluralistic, inclusive, and tolerant Pakistan through peace building efforts focusing youth. He has contributed for number of Pakistani newspapers as a blogger.

Saba Mohsin

CEO of Picture Autism

Saba Mohisn is an autism mom. Her vision is to acculturate Autism in our community through perseverance and adopting autism as a part of empathetic thoughts. Saba formed Picture Autism in 2012 to help parents and caregivers understand the unique abilities of their children and connect them with typical families to flourish in a balanced environment. Picture Autism promotes empathy, acceptance and inclusion in the community we live in. Currently, she is on the mission to introduce and set up the inclusive education units within the mainstream schools so the young children with different abilities reach their optimal potential and become a functional member to the community.

Saifullah Minhas

Entrepreneur

Saifullah Minhas is a 21 year old entrepreneur. He is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of MARO Tandoors, an initiative to make ‘naans’ look cool and revolutionize the tandoor culture of Pakistan. Saifullah is a passion driven person who, despite being a computer science student, is pursuing his passion for marketing. He believes that our jobs don’t have to be defined by our degrees and each of us can do whatever we set our minds to, given that we put in our best efforts and hard work.