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).

BOZAR
Ravensteinstraat 23
Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Région de (fr), Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (nl), 1000
Belgium

Adele LUTA

Adele M. Luta's research focuses on operations, teams, and advanced cognitive skills in life-critical, time-limited, restricted communication environments. She was inspired to explore cognitive neuroscience through her roles in the Mission Control Center as a flight controller and astronaut instructor at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She enjoys challenging her own cognitive processes by flying and SCUBA diving.

Bart MARIS

A Belgian improvising trumpet player. Active since 1990 in a very large variety of projects and bands in very large variety of styles, and very often guest musician on records or concerts. Due to his special focus on improvising and creating: Bart focusses on new voice for the trumpet, creating new approach of the role of the instrument, and therefore works in most divers contexts: solo.

Bea ERCOLINI

Pioneer in fighting against street harassment and sexism. She founded Touche Pas A Ma Pote in 2012, a non profit NGO that sends actors to schools and Planed Parenthood to educate students (from 11 to 20 years) about sexism. TPAMP also creates campaigns to change minds, works with the City and police of Brussels, and lobbies for political solutions. Believing in a more gender-balanced world, Bea Ercolini launched the Belgian edition of ELLE magazine. She was the editor in chief and editorial team director and used her title to promote gender equality topics. As a journalist, she runs a chronicle in Le Vif L’Express called Women In Numbers, which focuses on gender inequality and women’s advancements. Last October, she launched a women’s social club in Brussels called BEABEE. Its purpose: empowerment, networking, and fun!

Christel MORVAN

With the complexity of the music, it may surprise you to find that Empusae is actually a project created by a single man, Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sal-Ocin. Empusae exercises a surreal science of structure that throbs and pulsates in an almost obsessive manner. The music is almost suggestive of a mechanical assembly line in its clock work clunks and clangs. It builds into a tense, yet haunting soundscape and rivets itself into the memory and refuses to be forgotten. It is serious music who's architecture has formed for itself a solid foundation, rather than sounding as if its trying to tear itself apart! When listening to Empusae's music,you're lost in dark melancholy, tribal electronic athmospheres and scarefull ambient rituals. Christel Morvan FREELANCE ART DIRECTOR & MOTION DESIGNER LATEST PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS: Animation + illustration for Prosthetic Reality (2016) Gif exhibition at HEY! (15.04.17, Paris, France) Live video performances : Maschinenfest (27.08.17, DE), Dommune live (21.07.17, JP), Ogentroost, Ancienne Belgique (09.04.17, BE), Kinky star (07.01.17, BE), Dark Rapture Festival (13.01.17, PL), Bring You Own Beamer (23.011.16, BE), festival Hradby Samoty (16.07.16, CZ), Circular Soundscapes (30.04.16, DE)

Christel & Nicolas MORVAN & VAN MEIRHAEGHE

With the complexity of the music, it may surprise you to find that Empusae is actually a project created by a single man, Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sal-Ocin. Empusae exercises a surreal science of structure that throbs and pulsates in an almost obsessive manner. The music is almost suggestive of a mechanical assembly line in its clock work clunks and clangs. It builds into a tense, yet haunting soundscape and rivets itself into the memory and refuses to be forgotten. It is serious music who's architecture has formed for itself a solid foundation, rather than sounding as if its trying to tear itself apart! When listening to Empusae's music,you're lost in dark melancholy, tribal electronic athmospheres and scarefull ambient rituals. Christel Morvan FREELANCE ART DIRECTOR & MOTION DESIGNER LATEST PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS: Animation + illustration for Prosthetic Reality (2016) Gif exhibition at HEY! (15.04.17, Paris, France) Live video performances : Maschinenfest (27.08.17, DE), Dommune live (21.07.17, JP), Ogentroost, Ancienne Belgique (09.04.17, BE), Kinky star (07.01.17, BE), Dark Rapture Festival (13.01.17, PL), Bring You Own Beamer (23.011.16, BE), festival Hradby Samoty (16.07.16, CZ), Circular Soundscapes (30.04.16, DE)

Damya LAOUI

Damya Laoui is a research scientist tumor-immunology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels and VIB. She graduated in Bio-Engineering Sciences and obtained a PhD degree in 2014. After her post-doc in the De Palma lab at the ISREC Institute in the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne, she came back to Brussels and started leading her own team focusing on tumor-immunology in the lab of Jo Van Ginderacter. She is exploring the role of the immune system in tumor progression and is developing new personalized immunotherapies based on dendritic cells to win the battle against cancer, for which she received the Dunia Award (African Awards) and the MIT Innovator under 35 Europe Award 2017. She was recently nominated for the Woman in Technology and Science award and is encouraging young women to start studies and pursue careers in STEM.

Dries DEPOORTER

"Assembling, sharing and experimenting with private data of himself and random people found on the internet, digital artist Dries Depoorter tackles in a thought-provoking way issues like social identity, surveillance, encryption and (the lack of) protection of our online privacy. Media artist and concept provider Dries Depoorter attracts worldwide attention with media installations that prove how innovations such as facial recognition and the Internet of Things can turn against you. Do you want to report a jaywalker when it suits you, or literally peak over the shoulder of the Seattle police force through a webcam?""Assembling, sharing and experimenting with private data of himself and random people found on the internet, digital artist Dries Depoorter tackles in a thought-provoking way issues like social identity, surveillance, encryption and (the lack of) protection of our online privacy. Media artist and concept provider Dries Depoorter attracts worldwide attention with media installations that prove how innovations such as facial recognition and the Internet of Things can turn against you. Do you want to report a jaywalker when it suits you, or literally peak over the shoulder of the Seattle police force through a webcam?"

Françoise CHOMBAR

Françoise Chombar is CEO and cofounder of Melexis. She has held executive positions with a number of tech companies. Ms Chombar is currently member of the Board of Umicore, a global materials technology and recycling group. She is equally president of the STEM platform, an advisory board to the Flemish government, aiming to encourage young people to pursue a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics education. She was a mentor to the SOFIA Women’s Network for 17 years, a coaching, networking and educational program for women active in the profit sector. Françoise Chombar’s long-term commitment to actively advocating more STEM and more gender balance is driven by the profound belief in their positive societal impact. She was the 2016 recipient of the Vlerick Award, which the Vlerick Business School grants annually to a “visionary business leader who guided his company to the international top with sustainable results.”

Georges UGEUX

Georges Ugeux is a dual citizen of Belgium, his native country, and the United States and was Group Executive Vice President of the New York Stock Exchange from 1996 to 2003. His banking career began in the 1970s in Europe, and he is currently the CEO of Galileo Global Advisors, a New York-based investment bank catering to emerging markets. He is a notable member of the Belgian diaspora, due to his influence in the world of international finance.He is a frequent public speaker and an op-ed contributor to the Huffington Post. A doctor of law, he has lectured at various universities:Catholic University of Louvain and the College of Europe in Bruges.

Gert OLEFS

Born and raised in Brussels near the European Institutions he obtained a Master's degree in bio-engineering. As a professional he became a world citizen, traveling extensively worldwide and having lived and worked in Belgium, Singapore, HongKong and Saudi Arabia. He is fascinated by developing the human potential,and he is passionately committed to do whatever he can to help the world become peaceful by 2035. To this end he has written the book "World Peace 2035" and founded a non profit organisation "World Peace 2035".

Gianpiero LOTITO

Gianpiero Lotito is Founder, with Mariuccia Teroni, and CEO of FacilityLive, the Italian high tech startup, which develops an innovative software platform that includes a next generation search engine with patents granted in 44 countries of the world. FacilityLive has raised over 32 Million Euro in private capital; its current company valuation is 225 Million Euro. Gianpiero started his career path in the music industry, then he moved on to forge a path as a pioneering digital technologist in the world of publishing. He was Adjunct Professor of Multimedia Publishing at the University of Milan and wrote books and articles on technology for major Italian editors like Bruno Mondadori, Sperling and Gruppo Espresso. From 2014 to 2016 Gianpiero was Ambassador of e-Skills for Jobs: a project under the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs of the European Commission. In 2015 he received the Gold Medal of the city of Pavia for his commitment and contribution to technology innovation. In 2016 he was the Innovative Entrepreneur that the Italian Minister for Economical Development chose to represent Italy at the European Council for Competitiveness held in Amsterdam. In 2017 he was nominated Ambassador of the second phase of Watify – Boosting Technological Transformation: a new project of the EU Commission for the modernisation of Europe’s industry. He’s a technology expert, he has a clear vision of the future and he is often interviewed on TV, radio and in the press by prestigious global media like BBC World News (3 times on TV and 1 on radio), Süddeutsche Zeitung, Daily Telegraph, CNBC Global, Franceinfo, RAI, Politico, Huffington Post UK, Radio 24, Corriere della Sera, L’Espresso.

Heather GRABBE

Heather Grabbe is a political scientist who advocates for the open society to the EU institutions and governments, with a particular interest in the interaction between politics and society. She was ranked 5th in Politico’s 2017 list of “women who shape Brussels” and appears regularly in the media on open society issues – from populism to technology’s impact on voters’ expectations of democracy. She spoke recently to the Belgian Senate in the Superdemocracy series on how post-truth politics affects the openness of societies and quality of democracy. From 2004-2009 she was Senior Advisor to then European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, responsible for EU policy on the Balkans and Turkey. Before joining the Commission, she was Deputy Director of the Centre for European Reform, the London-based think-tank. She did academic research on European politics at the European University Institute (Florence), Chatham House (London), Oxford and Birmingham universities, and teaching at the London School of Economics. Her publications include The Closing of the European Mind – and How to Re-Open It; Can the EU Survive Populism? and The EU's Transformative Power: Europeanisation through Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe (2006, Palgrave).

Howard GUTMAN

"Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman is the Managing Director of The Gutman Group. His career has spanned the public and private sectors, both sides of the Atlantic and both sides of the political aisle, from K Street, to Silicon Valley, to Wall Street, to Hollywood, then to Brussels, the heart of the European Union and NATO, and now across the globe.. Dubbed by European press as “The Ambassador Who Makes Us Love America Again “ and “the most popular ambassador ever in Belgium,” Ambassador Gutman in mid-2013 completed four years of service as the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, the third longest serving such ambassador in over 100 years. According to the May 2012 Gallup International Poll, Belgium in this period finished first in the world with the highest increase in its favorability towards U.S. leadership. Ambassador Gutman has long become one of the most well-known and admired public figures in the heart of Europe, having appeared on European television well over 100 times, ranging from Sunday news shows to late night entertainment programs to awarding the final award for “Song of the Year” on the equivalent of the Belgian Grammy awards. In May 2017, Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman was presented The Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown. It is the highest medal bestowed by Belgium, and was awarded by the King on the recommendation of the Foreign Minister and presented by the Vice Prime Minister of Belgium. Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman brought a rich and diverse background to both The Gutman Group and the diplomatic corps. He previously was a senior partner with the Washington D.C. law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP. Identified as one of “Washington’s Top Lawyers” by Washingtonian magazine (December 2004, December 2007) and selected to numerous “Superlawyers” and similar attorney award lists, Mr. Gutman’s areas of practice spanned the full gamut of litigation, investigation, and counseling matters. Earlier in his career, during the Reagan administration, Ambassador Gutman served as a Special Assistant to F.B.I Director William H. Webster, focusing on counter-terrorism and counter-intelligence; as a law clerk to Justice Potter Stewart (Rtd.) on the United States Supreme Court; and as a law clerk to Judge Irving L. Goldberg on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a 1980 graduate of Harvard Law School and a 1977 graduate of Columbia University. Ambassador Gutman has served as an adviser to a variety of candidates, including assisting in races for President, Governor, Senate, and Congress. Ambassador (Rtd) Gutman also is a widely-featured commentator and media guest. In the United States, he appears regularly on Fox News and Fox Business News (though a Democrat) speaking on such issues as American and global politics, terrorism, foreign affairs, the Holocaust, and geopolitical events. Ambassador (Rtd) Gutman is a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, Politico and Huffington Post. In Europe, Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman appears regularly on Belgian television, including on the leading Flemish programs De Zevende Dag, Van Gils & Gasten, and Terzake. He was the in-studio election commentator on VTM television throughout Election night 2016, the election of Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. Ambassador (Rtd) Howard Gutman is also a sought-after and widely-booked speaker throughout Europe and the United States, having given literally hundreds of speeches in Belgium and the United States, as well as in Denmark and the United Kingdom. A leading thinker and speaker of our time, Ambassador Gutman speaks often to business and investment gatherings, civic groups, universities, government gatherings and more. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Exmar, a publicly-traded Belgian-U.S. liquefied natural gas shipper and liquefactor, see http://www.exmar.be/en and DTH Capital, a large holder of New York apartments formed by the partnership of a large insurance company and high net worth family interests. See http://www.dthcapital.com/. In addition to being a contributor to numerous television and radio programs, Ambassador (Rtd) Gutman is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild, having appeared in several episodes of the HBO series “K Street,” playing (not surprisingly) a Washington attorney and has made other movie and media appearances, including playing Tim Robbins’ lawyer in “Noise” and a high school parent in the 2009 release of “Fame.” Ambassador Gutman is a 1977 graduate of Columbia University and a 1980 graduate from Harvard Law School. He is married to Dr. Michelle Loewinger, a dentist turned consultant, and has two grown sons. "

Jochanan EYNIKEL

Jochanan Eynikel (°1981) is business philosopher at the thinktank of ETION, a Belgian forum for business leaders and decision makers. He thinks, writes and speaks on the interplay of ethics, entrepreneurship and future thinking. In 2017 his book on the ethics of technology was published (in Dutch: Robot aan het Stuur, Lannoo Campus). The book engages with the ethical and societal impact of disruptive technologies such as smart robotics and artificial intelligence. Jochanan holds a Master in philosophy from the University of Leuven (Belgium) and Stellenbosch (South-Africa) as well as a master in journalism.

Jonathan KUBBEN-QUINONEZ

Jonathan was on the eve of his 27th birthday. He finished his studies of communication and business management, and was working as a consultant in Brussels. In short, this was the life that his parents wanted him to have. Most of his friends were in relationships, some had children. The kind of life he also wanted to have… but not right away. He still had a dream to fulfill: to make a world tour. He decided to gather all his friends to celebrate his birthday. He announced he quit his job and sold his car to finally travel. On March 20, he left Belgium. Proud of his Mexican heritage, it is in Latin America that he landed a few hours later. Cuba, the first country he visits, does not allow him to communicate with his friends and family. The internet is not easily accessible, telecommunications are expensive, not to mention time differences between Cuba, Belgium and Mexico. His mother, worried, knows the passion of her son for adventure and asked him to reassure her.

Kristien HEMMERECHTS

Kristien Hemmerechts (°1955) is one of Belgium’s most acclaimed authors. Her work has been translated into French, German and English, an awarded prestigious prizes. She also lectures creative writing at the University of Leuven (Belgium).

Marion VAGNER

"Marion Vagner is a journalist and producer who covers science, technology, and education. She is a former software engineer and has been working as a technical consultant within the Financial sector for more than 12 years, engaged with clients across the globe (Europe, Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and the Americas). Through this first professional experience she has been able to observe cultures and collect information on education, citizenship, science, which has led to a strong understanding of the importance of backgrounds and perspectives. In 2014 she graduated from the Superior School of Journalism of Lille with a master in epistemology. She moved to Brussels to cover European news and produce pedagogical reports, while starting a blog on education. She believes in meaning-based content and on-the-ground reporting as a way to empower the informed. "

Martin BELL

Martin Bell is the Chief Architect of Rocket Internet’s 100 day launch process through which he led 20 startups. This gave him experience across all functions, and from day one to IPO. Prior to this he studied at Wharton and Harvard. Currently he advises companies on how to build new ventures at lightning speed. Martin’s fundamental belief is that in a brave new world of rapid change, innovation is an imperative rather than an option, disruption is an opportunity rather than a threat, and entrepreneurship is for the masses rather than the few. He believes that success in venture building is not a matter of luck, but something that can be triggered by following a step-by-step launch process, which he can teach, and you can learn.

Miel HORSTEN

As a small-town boy born in Hoogstraten, Belgium, Miel decided to leave the intimacy of his father’s pharmacy in 1997and started a career in the maintenance department of ALD Automotive, Belgium’s largest car leasing company based in Brussels. After spending parts of his career in the UK, Spain, France and the United States he moved back to Belgium in 2012 to become CEO of the company where he started his career. Since 2016 Miel combines his role with the one of President of Renta, the Federation of Car Leasing and For Term Rental companies in Belgium. He also sits on the board of Kowo, a Brussels based start up in the field of ride sharing. Miel holds positions in the Operating Board and Innovation Board of ALD in Paris and is President of the Board of ALD Re, a Dublin based reinsurance company. In 2015 Miel was elected CEO of the Year by Peoplesphere Magazine for his efforts to modernize human resources management and put talent at the center of his company. Miel is 44 year old and father of two children.

Nicolas VAN MEIRHAEGHE

With the complexity of the music, it may surprise you to find that Empusae is actually a project created by a single man, Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sal-Ocin. Empusae exercises a surreal science of structure that throbs and pulsates in an almost obsessive manner. The music is almost suggestive of a mechanical assembly line in its clock work clunks and clangs. It builds into a tense, yet haunting soundscape and rivets itself into the memory and refuses to be forgotten. It is serious music who's architecture has formed for itself a solid foundation, rather than sounding as if its trying to tear itself apart! When listening to Empusae's music,you're lost in dark melancholy, tribal electronic athmospheres and scarefull ambient rituals. Christel Morvan FREELANCE ART DIRECTOR & MOTION DESIGNER LATEST PUBLICATIONS AND EVENTS: Animation + illustration for Prosthetic Reality (2016) Gif exhibition at HEY! (15.04.17, Paris, France) Live video performances : Maschinenfest (27.08.17, DE), Dommune live (21.07.17, JP), Ogentroost, Ancienne Belgique (09.04.17, BE), Kinky star (07.01.17, BE), Dark Rapture Festival (13.01.17, PL), Bring You Own Beamer (23.011.16, BE), festival Hradby Samoty (16.07.16, CZ), Circular Soundscapes (30.04.16, DE)

Petra DESUTTER

Was born in the body of a man, she already felt like a woman from a young age. Professor of gynaecology at Ghent University. European elections, she was second on the list for the Flemish Green party., 2014. Was co-opted by her party for a seat in the Belgian Senate, making her one of the few openly transgender politicians in Europe. Has been serving as member of the Belgian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 2014. "Love is very important. What can I say? I love my partner, my friends, my animals, nature… but I also try to live a little bit as a Buddhist, and love everybody and everything. Only in this way the world can become a better place, for all of us."

Stephanie ROLAND

Born in 1984, Stéphanie Roland is a visual artist who lives and works in Brussels. Her practice brought her to develop an international network through which she is called abroad to participate in many different artistic research projects and residencies. She has already participated in several international exhibitions, notably in Athens (Benaki Museum), Barcelone, Brussels (Bozar, Botanique),Buenos Aires and Los Angeles (MOPLA). Graduated from a Belgianvisual art school, La Cambre, she won a impressive number of prizes and grants: the Médiatine award in 2011, the Full Contact award in2012, the Vocatio Grant, and was recently shortlisted for the HSBC photography award and the Leica Oskar Barnack award. In 2017 her artwork was exhibited in the Antarctic Pavillon for the 57th VeniceBiennale. Roland considers her studio as a laboratory; this space becomes a placewhere she explores notions of Timethrough both Memory and Anticipation perspectives. There she uses a multidisciplinary approach to work with a variety of media, making use of photography, film, printmaking, sculpture,installation, and digital technologies. Her strong interest in scientific disciplines like neurosciences, psychoanalysis, and astronomy also reveals new perspectives for her work.

Sylvie DEPAUW

Belgian Soprano, Sylvie De Pauw, her professional singing career began in 1999 with the “Flemish Opera” as a Blumenmädchen (Parsifal-S.Zoltesh). She then performed the part of Sacerdotessa (Aïda-R.Werthen) in “Opera Hall” and also the part of Anna (Nabucco-K.Kessels) throughout Europe. In collaboration with the Belgian writer, Kristien Hemmerechts, she produced several productions and in September 2013 they were awarded a 4-star review by the ‘De Standaard’ newspaper for their production ‘Herman’ (about the life of poet Herman De Coninck). They were on tour with ‘Shakespeare in love’, dramatizing the life of this famous writer. This season they made ‘Brave New Maria’, a Jazz Lab production with Jazz Trompetist Bart Maris about the life of Maria Nys Huxley, first wife of Aldous. It got a positive review in ‘De Standaard’. They also made a CD recording of the production (Negocitorecords).