Theme: Breakthrough

Join us for the first TEDxChamonix event on the 10th June 2017. In the intimate setting of the EMDI we’ll explore the theme of ‘Breakthrough’.

Who will be there?
We’ll have an array of inspirational speakers exploring aspects of the theme. Both local and international speakers, along with video content from TED.

Chamonix is a rich canvas for people in many fields and endeavours who are creating breakthroughs. It’s also a location that inspires personal journeys where anyone can push past their previous limits. We’ll be reflecting these rich possibilities with a range of speakers and performances.

When is it happening?
TEDxChamonix takes place on 10th June 2017 at Ecole de Musique et de Danse Intercommunale, 381 Rue du Lyret, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc from 13:00.

Where is it?
The EMDI is right in the centre of Chamonix, close to the Aiguille du Midi lift station. It’s a beautiful, intimate facility where we’ll bring together just under 100 attendees, speakers and performers for the first TEDx in Chamonix. Don’t miss it!

Ecole de Musique et de Danse Intercommunale
381 Rue du Lyret
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Haute-Savoie, 74400
France

Alexa Sadier

Evolutionary biologist, alpinist + freeride skier

Dr Alexa Sadier researches evolutionary biology by studying bats in Dr Karen Sears’ lab UIUC now UCLA. She’s from Chamonix, France and is also an alpinist and a freeride skier. Breaking through her physical limits inspired her to push the limits of scientific research. In her own words: “I quickly understood that exploring science is not so different from exploring the mountains.”

Alyoscia D’Onofrio

Senior Director at the International Rescue Committee

Alyoscia D'Onofrio is the Senior Director of the International Rescue Committee’s Governance Technical Unit. In this role, he oversees a team of technical advisors supporting IRC and partner programmes in conflict-affected and fragile settings around the world. Alyoscia writes about governance, the international aid industry, urban crises and other development challenges and has been published in peer-reviewed journals and a number of aid blogs.

Anne Lassman-Trappier

Environmentalist

Anne Lassman-Trappier is a Chamonix-born environmentalist. She is involved in environmental campaigns at a European level, as well as in Paris with France Nature Environment, a national NGO. She leads Inspire, a Chamonix-based non-profit with the aim of improving air quality in the Mont Blanc area. Anne was awarded the French national Legion of Honour in 2016 for her environmental work.

Ellen Brennan

Wingsuit BASE-jumper

Ellen Brennan follows her passion of Wingsuit BASE-jumping to explore the boundaries of what we think is possible. Her dedication to the sport has led her to become one of the top female athletes in her field. Best known for her feats in wingsuit competitions, Ellen has become known as the “Fastest Flying Woman in the World.”

Heba Aly

Journalist; Director of IRIN News

As director of www.irinnews.org, Heba Aly strives to put quality, independent journalism at the service of the most vulnerable people on earth.

Jean-Charles Rollier

Orthopaedic surgeon

Dr Jean-Charles Rollier is a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon. He has worked to develop new implants and to perfect surgical methods for knee and hip replacements. His goal is for injured athletes to regain their sporting level as quickly as possible and for anyone with a prosthesis to continue to pursue the physical activities they love.

Lise-Anne Putnam

Mathematician

As a student, Dr Lise-Anne Putnam chanced upon an abstract algebra class, and so began a lifelong passion for mathematics. This led to her pursuing a Phd in mathematical probability and statistics at Columbia University, where she won the thesis of the year award. Her strong desire is to communicate what mathematical probability and statistics say about the real world. It is Dr Lise-Anne Putnam's commitment to find the many ways to share what probability and statistics say about the real world and to make these ideas resonate with as many people as possible, that has resulted in multiple teaching awards from multiple universities. She aims to prove that you, too, can be mathematical.

Marion Poitevin

Mountain guide + Mountain rescuer

Marion is as enthusiastic as she is passionate about the mountains and overcoming challenges. Her unique career is a result of breaking through gender barriers, working in what some consider ‘man-only’ environments, while blazing a path for other women to follow. After being the first woman in the mountaineering teams of the French army and police, she has gone on to participate in mountain expeditions on nearly every continent and continues to inspire and encourage women to take a leading role in the mountains.

Misha Gopaul

Entrepreneur

Misha Gopaul is a serial entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience founding and running successful technology companies. Combining his passion for mountains and technology, his ambitious current project is FATMAP: the most precise and detailed 3D map of our planet ever created. His goal is for it to make it easier and safer to go on adventures in the world’s wild places.

Naomi Swickard

Director, Land-based Frameworks at VCS

Naomi Swickard has worked on climate change and sustainable development issues for more than a decade. She’s an original tree-hugger, whose efforts focus on the agriculture and forestry sectors, seeking to reduce deforestation and drive positive change in the land-use sector. Naomi currently focuses on broad green-growth strategies and the promotion of sustainable production in countries around the world.

Tim Smith

Head of Collaboration, Devices and Applications Group at CERN

Dr Tim Smith works to encourage and improve knowledge sharing in science. He leads the Collaboration, Devices and Applications Group at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory. Tim drove the launch of CERN’s Open Data Portal to share LHC big data with the world, as well as the Higgs Boson webcast which shared its discovery live around the globe. He also instigated and nurtures Zenodo within the European Commission’s OpenAIRE project as an open data service for world-wide science.