Theme: The Elephant In The Room

These are times of incredible advancements but also undeniable disunion, but are we really addressing the issues that are most important? The TEDx Vlerick 2017 will bring you a line up of speakers talking about issues that are there, but are somewhat neglected by most: "“The Elephants in the Room”".

Belvédèrestraat 27
Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Région de (fr), Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (nl), 1000
Belgium

Dietmar Hertsen and Edward De Vooght

Dietmar Hertsen A failed suburban rap artist, kicked out of school at sixteen, Dietmar Hertsen has spent his teenage years listening to foul ganster rap. After a short stint as a butcher, he eventually went to university and became a chemical engineer. He fared so well in this habitat that he decided to obtain a PhD in quantum chemistry, which he will defend this summer. This story could be the plot for a subpar play, but the engineer missed the music. Most talks, speeches and keynote lectures lacked musicality and persuasion. Scientific conferences seemed to be temples of bad speech. Frustrated, embittered, convinced that public speaking was beyond broken, he almost gave up. Then Edward De Vooght stepped in. Together, Dietmar and Edward founded De Redenaar (The Orator) in 2015 to revamp public speaking and rhetoric. They sought and found the perfect mix of theatre, motivational guru sessions and university lectures. Based on classical rhetoric and new insights, they playfully show what speech can do. This hobby project soon outgrew a small room filled with a couple of friends. By now, they have taught hundreds of students, coached CEOs and helped to write major political speeches, with music. Edward De Vooght Cicero, characteristic shirts and a glass of Verdicchio. As a student Latin and Italian Literature and Linguistics at the University of Ghent, Edward De Vooght is enchanted by Cicero, inspired by classical rhetoric and passionate about language. He enjoys reading verses of D’Annunzio at sunset with a glass of Verdicchio. Fired up by the lack of good rhetoric in modern society, he also battles for the revival of eloquence. His goal is to arm students with rhetorical bullets, reinforce debaters with deadly comebacks and sharpen the blades of political speeches. Moreover, before entering the rhetorical battlefield, appropriate rhetorical strategies are in order. Therefore, Edward aims to establish a new rhetorical science, which studies verbal persuasion in a cognitive way. Theory without practice, however, quickly becomes an ivory tower. And that is where Dietmar Hertsen stepped in. Together Edward and Dietmar founded De Redenaar (The Orator). They teach students to speak persuasively, counsel politicians effectively and train debaters meticulously. Public speaking is Edward’s passion and speaking in front of an audience, wearing one of his characteristic shirts, has even become an addiction of his.

Bruce Douglas

CEO & COO

Bruce Douglas has been working in, and passionate about, renewable energy for 20 years. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of SolarPower Europe, a member-led association based in Brussels representing over 200 organisations active along the whole solar value-chain. He is also the elected Chairman of the Global Solar Council (GSC), the representative body for the entire global solar PV sector at an international level.

Dietmar Hertsen

PhD

Together Edward De Vooght and Dietmar Hertsen founded De Redenaar (The Orator) to revamp public speaking and rhetoric. Together, they teach students to speak persuasively, counsel politicians effectively and train debaters.  Based on classical rhetoric and new insights, they playfully show the power of speech.

Edward De Vooght

Student

Together Edward De Vooght and Dietmar Hertsen founded De Redenaar (The Orator) to revamp public speaking and rhetoric. Together, they teach students to speak persuasively, counsel politicians effectively and train debaters.  Based on classical rhetoric and new insights, they playfully show the power of speech.

Gilles Ledure

CEO

Gilles Ledure is the Managing Director of Flagey Institute, an iconic cultural center in Brussels. In Belgium and abroad he has facilitated a holistic approach for culture as being an integral part of the political and social agenda with a strong focus on youth empowerment.

Lode Dewulf

Physician

Lode Dewulf is a physician with a passion for patient perspectives, he advocates that a true understanding of the patient experience is key to improve health care for all, and that patient engagement is a requirement for true patient understanding. He has practiced medicine in Belgium and South-Africa. He is the co-founder of Planet Medica, the first healthcare internet portal in Europe. Lode, worked as Chief Patient Officer at UCB Belgium and from December 2016, he a medical coordinator and consulting physician for Doctors of the World.

Marianna Fotaki

Professor

Marianna Fotaki is Professor of Business Ethics at Warwick Business School. She has a PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science and was an Edmond J. Safra Network Fellow at Harvard University in 2014-2015. Before joining academia, Marianna worked as a medical doctor for humanitarian organizations Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde and as the EU resident senior adviser to the governments in transition for 10 years.

Sony Kapoor

Economist

Sony Kapoor is an influential economist, financial sector expert and development practitioner. As Director of the international think tank Re-Define, Sony advises multilateral organisations, investors, central banks, as well as European and emerging economies on economic and financial policies. As CEO of the boutique Court Jesters Consulting, Mr. Kapoor advises several large long-term investors on investment strategy. He has been elected a Young European Leader by Friends of Europe, a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Sony is an alumnus of the London School of Economics, the University of Delhi and the Indian Institute of Technology.

Wendy Lampen

Professor

Wendy Lampen is a lecturer for a university of applied sciences. She leverages her international experience to study how different cultures look at autism or ‘disorders’ in general. Wendy is an advocate for a neuro-diverse society.  She was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome herself and currently manages her own company where she focuses on the competences and the possibilities of the different brain-types and how they each can contribute to a richer life.