Theme: Diverse Brilliance

TEDxHKUST's theme 'Diverse Brilliance' illuminates a significant aspect of our speakers' backgrounds - their experiences in diverse cultures. All our speakers, besides emerging from different professional arenas, have had remarkable success in different cultures. And they are all set to blow you away with their brilliant ideas.

Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Clear Water Bay
Kowloon
Hong Kong

Lawrence Sullivan

Here he is – the Magic Man of Hong Kong. Magic came naturally to Lawrence. He mastered his first card trick at the tender age of 7 and his fascination for illusions and deceptions led him to learn the toughest magic tricks effortlessly. As an American growing up in Asia, Lawrence has developed a modern conjuring style and technique vastly different from the stereotypical "rabbit and hat" magician's act. In addition to his expert proficiency in sleight of hand, years of experience have taught him how to quickly read and adapt to multicultural audiences, presenting magic in a way that is elegant and dynamic. Believe it or not, he has performed for Michael Jordan, Snoop Dogg, David Beckham, Rihanna, Jackie Chan, even President George Bush. Wicked right?

Jennifer Murray

Jennifer entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1997 as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe in a helicopter, raising over $100,000 for charity. In 2000, she became the first woman to fly solo in a helicopter across the world without auto-pilot. With daring and wild adventures like flying a helicopter to the south pole and finishing third in an air race from London to Sydney on one hand and a career in textile design on the other, her life is quite an epic! Her amazing story of hardship and determination is told in her book, Polar First, that records the 33,000-mile helicopter journey around the globe. This was her second attempt at this feat; the first one had ended in a near fatal crash in Antarctica. Jennifer, who spent three years preparing for her second attempt says, “You’ve not failed until you stop trying.”

Peter Schindler

Peter gives the customs officials a hard time when he crosses a border by car. It all started when he was a lot younger and raced cars in Europe – Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula Super-V and Renault Elf. He claims his passion for driving was put on hold when he entered the ‘dark years’ of his life during which he studied I.T. at M.I.T. and business at INSEAD. Although painfully, he even heaved himself up to become an associate partner in Accenture’s China practice. But he soon realized it was time to move on and relive his passion. And then came along, numerous wild road adventures and troubles with cops. Having driven over the years a million-plus kilometers on roads in Europe, the U.S. and Asia, and loving every moment of it, Peter now quenches his thirst for driving by taking to the roads of China. And chances are, he is carrying a driving license of your country of choice.

Nury Vittachi

The stories of top Hong Kong-based author and journalist Nury Vittachi range in genre from drama to science-fiction to crime. He is also noted as the founder of Asia Literary Review, the Hong Kong International Literary Festival and the Man Asian Literary Prize. Through his blog, The Curious Diary of Mr. Jam, Nury and his gang record the absurd customs of Earthling society. These diary notes appear regularly in newspapers, magazines, and on TV and radio in at least a dozen countries. Nury thinks the next generation of entertainment blockbusters is already under production. The only thing is -- they're trapped inside your brain. At TEDxHKUST, Nury will be handing you the key.

Steve Vickers

Resolving international kidnapping and product extortion cases, launching operations against Triad and Asian Organized Crime groups, commanding the Royal Hong Kong Police Force's Criminal Intelligence Bureau and being chased by top corporations for expert security advice. If this sounds too cool to be true, meet Steve Vickers who will gladly say "been there, done that". Steve is the founder and CEO of Steve Vickers and Associates, a specialist risk and security consulting company. Formerly serving as the head of an international risk advisory firm, Steve has had unrivalled experience in conducting sensitive business intelligence projects, major financial investigations and crisis containment assignments – all that while speaking fluent Cantonese!

Ben Goertzel

Ben Goertzel is an author and prolific researcher in the field of artificial intelligence. He leads dual AI software companies in the US and his work on use of artificial intelligence for the analysis of financial markets has been reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He is focused on creating benevolent superhuman artificial general intelligence, pursuing vocations like bioinformatics, computational neuroscience, avant-garde fiction, cosmic engineering, weird music and philosophy and lots of other crazy stuff. One day, he hopes to become radically transhuman – to live indefinitely. Beat that.

Larry Feign

Larry is an American writer, animation director and cartoonist, whose mother still wishes he was a doctor. His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, Fortune, The New York Times, The Economist and numerous other publications. He has also directed animation for Cartoon Network and Disney, published some 16 books and received a number of awards. He lives in a small village on an island in the South China Sea with his wife, children, and the occasional uninvited Burmese python. If you believe that success is based on talent, hard work or tiger mothers, think again. Larry reveals the mathematical formula which determines our future happiness, or at least looks impressive on paper.

Marcus T. Anthony

“There is more to the future than flying cars and a faster Internet. At the heart of the future lies the soul of humanity.” So believes Dr. Marcus T. Anthony who is a provocative futurist, intuitive analyst and author. An elected member of the World Futures Studies Federation and the prestigious Darwin Project Council - a think tank comprising many leading futurists, academics, philosophers and scientists, Dr. Marcus speaks passionately about a wide array of subject matters including the futures of human civilization; education, learning and intelligence; consciousness studies and spirituality; the philosophy of science; and the development of China and Asia. While most futurists today, focus on economics and technological innovation, Dr. Marcus extends his thinking to far more profound realms.

James Law

To put simply, James is an architect; considering he has a degree in architecture from University College London. But what he does, goes beyond the realms of architecture. James is a Cybertect. By coining the notion of Cybertecture, James leads the charge in blending new materials and technologies within architecture, to pave the way for innovating the fabric of mankind. Accredited as a Young Global Leader 2010 by World Economic Forum, James Law has won numerous international awards on architectural design and leadership. He believes, the future is Cybertecture. Live the future.

Yvette Jong

Yvette is not just your “cool, calm and collected” New Yorker in Hong Kong, but so much more. There is a never a dull moment with her - her passions are so varied that she has a wall full of ideas and to-do lists that are miles long. She is a globetrotter at heart and has worked in hospitality for 13 years, wearing many hats in the private and non-profit sector after graduating from Cornell University. She has most recently started her own company offering creative and operational strategies in the lifestyle and hospitality sectors. She also runs a blog discussing the good, the bad and the ugly. Other passions: to be a philanthropist/ jeweller/ ranch owner. Her next dream holiday: a cattle drive. Told you, no dull moments.