Theme: Throwing out the Box

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

BVI International Arbitration Centre
3rd Floor Ritter House
Wickham's Cay 2
Road Town, Tortola, Virgin Islands, British, VG1110
Virgin Islands, British

Dane Hunter

Filmmaker

A Virgin Islander at heart, Dane Hunter was raised on Virgin Gorda from the time he was six months old, leaving at eighteen to pursue a degree in Film. After being awarded Best Director alongside other accolades his final semester, Dane returned home with the goal of becoming a Caribbean Filmmaker. Being an active member of Virgin Islands Search And Rescue as well as a volunteer swim instructor, Dane balances pursuing an ambitious career with a determination to better his community. Dane Hunter currently resides on St. Thomas working on television and commercial sets that include The Bachelor, The Marriott, and The Travel Channel.

Jeffery Sterling

President and CEO, Sterling Initiatives, LLC and SI-STEMS (Sterling Emergency Medicine Solutions)

Dr. Jeffrey Sterling is a leader in community-based medicine, health care, organizational operations and efficiency. He serves as President and CEO of Sterling Initiatives (SI), an international healthcare consulting and implementation firm providing entities with clinical, operational and financial best practices. He also serves as President & CEO of Sterling Medical Advice, an international public health initiative and telemedicine call center providing personal and immediate healthcare information and advice to consumers and clients. Dr. Sterling also is President of 72 Hours Life, a lifestyle community that promotes and teaches greater efficiency as a means of improving quality of life. Dr. Sterling founded the Minority Association of Pre-health Students, an American organization of premedical and other health career aspirants with chapters in over 300 colleges.

Luvvie Ajayi

Writter, Speaker & Activist

A thirteen-year blogging veteran, she is the voice behind Awesomely Luvvie, a widely-respected humor blog that covers everything pop culture – from TV, movies and technology to travel, race and life’s random adventures. It was her blog that inspired Luvvie’s debut book, I’M JUDGING YOU: The Do-Better Manual, which was released in September 2016, and instantly hit the New York Times best-seller’s list. It is a collection of essays that critiques our fame-obsessed, social media-centric lives, while encouraging us to do better. The book is the good, yet snarky, angel on your shoulder, in word form. The drive to leave the world better than she found it is the foundation of her work with The Red Pump Project. In 2009, she partnered with Karyn Brianne Lee to create The Red Pump Project, a nonprofit that raises awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. As Executive Director, she leads the national executive team and network of ambassadors in four states.

Orandae Pitt

Owner, Sealingo Watersports BVI

I'm Orandae Pitt, a self driven, ambitious, and determined young adult who is also the owner of Sealingo Watersports BVI. Sealingo Watersports is a combination of fun in the sun on our pristine beaches or crystal clear waters in natures little secret, the BVI. The company focuses on offering exciting activities for both locals and tourist to enjoy, from wake surfing or water skiing to glass bottom kayak tours to the baths!

Richard Georges

Author and College Lecturer

Richard Georges was born in Trinidad and raised in the British Virgin Islands where he lives and works today. His poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Prelude, Smartish Pace, The Puritan, WILDNESS, The Caribbean Writer, The Rusty Toque, Wasafiri, and elsewhere. He is the author of the collection Make Us All Islands (Shearsman, 2017).

Taddy Blecher

CEO of the Community and Individual Development Association (C.I.D.A.) which founded the Maharishi Institute (MI).

MI facilitates university education, vocational training and employment for unemployed youth. A qualified actuary and management consultant, Dr Blecher is passionate about the approach of Consciousness-Based Education, a system of education developing the full potential of every student. This has led the Maharishi Institute to winning the first prize in a global competition to find the most innovative education initiative in the world. Through his work with C.I.D.A, over 15,250 unemployed South Africans have been educated, found employment and moved from poverty to the middle-class. They now have combined salaries in excess of R820 million p.a. and expected life-time earnings of R18 billion. Over 600 000 young South Africans in schools have been reached with one-week education and life-skills training courses. Dr Blecher co-founded the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship with Sir Richard Branson.