Theme: Winds of Change

‘Winds of Change’, TEDxLAU’s main event theme this year, will take you flying through time with 13 amazing speakers, each with their own story of change.

The main event will also feature performers, screening of TED talks, and an interactive social space that will prepare you for what will be an event to remember.

Be ready to experience the onset of your change, or perhaps the comfort of satisfaction just the way you are.

One ticket grants you access to our full day of events as you engage with 13 speakers, a social space and different performers. A ton of activities await!

Tickets are sold at 20$ and cover food, coffee breaks, social space activities, and lots of goodies!

Join us on Saturday, June 30, 2018 from 10:15 am - 4:30 pm.

Registration starts at 10:15 am.
Theatre doors close at 11:00 am.
Location: LAU Beirut

Irwin Hall
Lebanese American University Beirut
Beirut, Beyrouth, 10001
Lebanon

Bayan Itani

Researcher and Writer

Bayan Itani is a Lebanese writer and researcher. She comes from a conservative and closely knit family from Ras Beirut. Becoming a single mom by the age of 24 has given her a new perspective on life, with broader questions on agents in the society within. She has had several work experiences in the public and private sector, which, in addition to her personal journey, molded her thoughts on society. She enjoys writing socially themed Arabic short stories for children to fulfill her passion for writing.

Circo Pro

The founding team of CircoPro includes Maykel el Hajj, Freddy Ashoua, Mohamed Darwish, and Adam Carrera. These 4 artists share a record of having many years of experience in the circus and entertainment world. Around 5 years ago, in 2013, their paths crossed and they have been, since then, training and working together as freelancers. Now, after having bonded and grown with each other professionally, they have decided to officially form a team through which they can share with people their love for the circus and art and provide them with entertainment acts of the highest standards.

CircoPro .

The founding team of CircoPro includes Maykel el Hajj, Freddy Ashoua, Mohamed Darwish, and Adam Carrera. These 4 artists share a record of having many years of experience in the circus and entertainment world. Around 5 years ago, in 2013, their paths crossed and they have been, since then, training and working together as freelancers. Now, after having bonded and grown with each other professionally, they have decided to officially form a team through which they can share with people their love for the circus and art and provide them with entertainment acts of the highest standards. You can find them on Instagram as CircoPro.

George Abboud

Expert in renewable energy

George Abboud is a renewable energy and energy efficiency integration expert with over 15 years of professional experience in diverse fields. With a bachelor degree in business marketing and an MBA, he co-founded Earth Technologies group in 2010 and currently acts as its Chief Operating Officer. He also ventures in the fields of aquaponics, hydroponics, telecom technologies, and IOT. George is highly dedicated and focused on technologies which he believes are an integral driver for human development as well as Earth preservation.

Ibrahim Ezzeddine

Educator

As surprising as it may seem, Ibrahim Ezzeddine was born inside a school. From the moment he opened his eyes to this world, Ibrahim was surrounded by a family of educators. He worked as an educator himself for 5 years until he got his degree in mechanical engineering from the Lebanese American University. He is a firm believer that the educational systems we have today are misleading and outdated, unable to catch up to the technological revolution. With that in mind, he is now the co-founder and CEO at Cherpa, an online platform equipping youth with skills needed for future jobs.

Jad Abdallah

Professor of Pharmacy

Dr. Jad Abdallah has a Ph.D D.Sc. in Proteomics from the University Paris Diderot (Paris 7). He is currently an assistant professor of medical biochemistry at the LAU School of Pharmacy. His research interests focus on chaperone proteins protecting cells against protein denaturation and possible degradation of misfolded proteins, which can lead to protein aggregation, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. He currently serves as the local ambassador of the Biochemical Society. His students in class or working on research projects under his supervision say he gives them “the motivation to achieve, inspiration to learn, guidance to proceed, and advice to succeed”.

Jad El-Khoury

Artist and Activist

Jad El Khoury is an artist, currently living and working in Beirut. He holds a degree in interior architecture from the Lebanese University. His goal is to shed light on social and political issues through public art installations. His latest projects included WAR PEACE, 2015-17 and BURJ EL HAWA 2018. Jad strongly believes that urban art interventions can make the city dream.

Joelle Firzli

Fashion Researcher

Joelle Firzli is an independent fashion researcher, writer and ethical stylist with a global outlook on fashion and a first-hand knowledge of the industry. She believes fashion can serve as a tool to drive change, disrupt the status quo, and make a more sustainable way of living. She holds an MA in Fashion Studies from Parsons with a deep and varied knowledge of fashion history and theory. Her research interests include sustainability, Non-Western fashion and textiles, fashion photography, and experimental design. Speaker and critic, her work has been featured in several renowned publications.

Jomana El-Aridi

Professor of Chemisty

Jomana Elaridi is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Natural Sciences Department at the Lebanese American University. She is passionate about teaching and research which is primarily in the field of organic chemistry and food analysis. She’s also a devoted and proud mother of two beautiful boys. As a working mother, Jomana is familiar with challenges associated with juggling family and career – two very important aspects of her life. She firmly believes in the importance of highlighting some of the physical and emotional struggles faced by working mothers.

Mahmoud Majed Kebbi El-Halabi

Mental Health Activist

Mahmoud Majed Kebbe El Halabi is a chief pharmacist in Jbeil. He graduated from the Lebanese American University and holds a bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Balamand. He’s the Youth Ambassador of “It Gets Brighter”, an NGO that aims to spread awareness about mental health. The mind and its disorders have always intrigued him. The area of mental health has always been shadowed and considered as taboo in our society and Mahmoud focuses on eliminating this stigma.

Mira Alameddine

Gifted Learning Program Coordinator

Mira Alameddine is a parent of two gifted boys; this prompted her to seek her Ph.D. in gifted education from the Doctorate School of Humanities and Literature at the Lebanese University and become a consultant and teacher trainer in the field. She’s the coordinator of the Gifted and Talented Program which she developed and is running at the LWIS-City International School in Beirut-Lebanon. She believes that gifted children, particularly in Lebanon, need assistance to thrive. And her ‘crusade’ now, is to provide them with the aid they so much deserve.

Nizar Haddad

Eco-conscious Architect

Nizar Haddad holds a specialized graduate degree in architecture from the Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA). Son of Georges Haddad, a veteran Lebanese architect renowned for being among the pioneers who introduced modern architecture to Lebanon, Nizar hopes to use the knowledge passed down to him in a bid to bridge the divide between modern man and nature in terms of his designs. He developed the LIFEHAUS while revisiting and applying multiple long forgotten ancestral building methods and employing the knowledge of these masters to produce the most optimal, ecological, self-sufficient and economical prototype.

Noor Tofaili

Political Science Student

Noor Kassem Tofailli is a political science in international affairs and international business student at the Lebanese American University in Beirut. Both her majors shed light on and enhance her skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and analysis. Besides education, she possesses a special love for volunteering, serving, talking to people and learning new things. Noor believes in the importance of taking advantage of whatever life throws our way and making the best out of it.

Rami El-Ali

Professor of Philosophy

Rami El Ali is an assistant professor of philosophy and head of the philosophy program at the Lebanese American University. His work revolves around three main areas of philosophy. His primary interest is the philosophy of mind, and in particular, perception and misperception. He is also interested in the early 20th century phenomenological movement, which feeds into much of his work. Rami’s interests also include the philosophy of technology. Most recently, he has been looking into virtual reality and the status of ‘the virtual’.

Sylvie Koshkarian

Human Resources Manager

Sylvie Koshkarian is a human resources professional and has been working in the humanitarian and development sectors for more than 12 years. She is also the founder of Save a Career which aims to empower individuals for holistic development through offering a network of resources and support, and maximizing their potential for academic achievement, career development, and community engagement. Through counselling, mentoring, and creation of networks, they allow individuals to become meaningful participants in a rapidly changing society.