Theme: The Future You

As one of the leading educational institutions in the Middle East, the American School of Dubai inspires its students to adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The ideas shared at TEDxYouth@ASD 2018 will seek to expand on this message through the exploration of the conference theme, the Future You.

Guided by three sub-themes (The Future Me, The Future Us, and The Future World) the thought-leading speakers at TEDxYouth@ASD - ranging from CEOs to students to world renowned composers - will explore a diverse range of perspectives on how we can foster an environment of improvement in ourselves, our communities, and our world as they seek to enlighten the audience and community at-large on their groundbreaking new concepts.

American School of Dubai
Al Barsha 1, Hessa St. 1st Al Khail, Opp Saudi German Hospital
Dubai, Dubayy, 00000
United Arab Emirates

Amanda Lee Falkenberg

Award-Winning Composer/Performer

Australian-born pianist Amanda Lee Falkenberg is an international award-winning composer who began her journey into composition through the hours spent in the ballet studio as dance accompanist with the Australian Ballet company. In 2004, she moved to Dubai, and has been composing for film, ballet, animation, TV, theatre and concert hall. Music has the power to help tell a story and composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg will walk us through her creative process by showing how this is possible by combining a good dose of imagination with the careful crafting of music. Her latest project, THE MOONS, a multi-movement work, is inspired by the recent discoveries of moons in our solar system and is an example of her creative process which illustrates the blend of music with science.

Amira Rashad

CEO & Entrepreneur - Bulkwhiz

Amira is the CEO of BulkWhiz, the first bulk grocery e-commerce platform in the Middle East, powered by home grown artificial intelligence. She was also recently the regional Head of Brand for Facebook Middle East, North Africa & Pakistan, working closely with leading global and regional companies as well as the startup and VC ecosystem. She has advised Fortune 500 companies as a senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, and led teams at PepsiCo, Yahoo, Dun & Bradstreet, and Leo Burnett Advertising, while working in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Africa. Amira holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is s a UK Foreign Office Chevening scholar.

Anthony Awad

Student - American School of Dubai

Antony Awad was born in London and moved to Dubai at the age of six, and has been interested in STEM for as long as he can remember. At ASD Antony has had the opportunity to further his interests, developing into a passion shared with his co-speaker, Zain, for physics and aerospace.

Arman Sadighian

Student - American School of Dubai

Arman Sadighian is a junior at the American School of Dubai and has been attending ASD for 12 years. Ever since he was a young child, he has always had a sincere passion for leadership, theater, and wrestling. From being middle school student body president to being grade representative in his freshman year, and now currently being the Publicist for the SGA, Arman has truly learned the importance of communication and publicity when leading any initiative.

Damla Gundogdu

Student - American School of Dubai

Damla Gundogdu has been living in Dubai since 2009 and is in her first year at ASD. Although she doesn't posses the "three season athlete grind," she does play tennis and enjoys topics regarding biology and psychology.

Dr. Paul Richards

Superintendent - American School of Dubai

Dr. Paul Richards leads the American School of Dubai, having served as a Superintendent in Saudi Arabia, and a HS Principal in London and the Boston area. His dissertation was a study of the academic stress culture in high achieving schools. His personal passions including teaching about race and culture topics, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).

Esther Park

Student - American School of Dubai

Esther is passionate about discussing the effects of social media on modern society, believing that that many cite negative phenomenons regarding attention span and superficiality. However, one important perspective in determining the value of social media in our world is its use in sociopolitical activism. Esther is excited to discuss the role of media in sociopolitical activism, given that it has given birth to many of the iconic movements of our century. Through her talk talk she will be analyzing #Activism.

June Lee

Student - American School of Dubai

June is excited to speak about overcoming weaknesses and manipulate these weaknesses into passions or service opportunities. She believes that anyone can embrace their weakness and make them their strengths and will use her personal experiences as an example of this. June hopes to help her audience to turn their weakness into passion just like she was able to do.

Kaustubh Ray

Student - American School of Dubai

Kaustubh Ray is a senior at ASD who has lived in Canada, New Jersey and Dubai for most of his life. From a young age, he's always had a desire to influence and change the world around him. He learned over time that to change the world around him, he would first have to start with himself.

Oscar Tusa

Student - American School of Dubai

Oscar Tusa has lived in Dubai for ten years. Prior to this he has lived in Tokyo and London. Oscar loves olympic weightlifting and playing the drums. He has been vegan/vegetarian for a year and has never knowingly eaten a dog.

Taimur Amanullah

Student - American School of Dubai

Taimur Amanullah is 16 years old and has been at ASD for 3 years. He was born in Pakistan, but has lived in Cairo, the US and Dubai. Currently a Junior, he looks forward to speaking about how his past experiences have defined him and how battling with diseases and moving several times have molded his character today.

Zain Asghar

Student - American School of Dubai

Zain Asghar has a passion for aerospace and physics. Since moving to Dubai from Virginia at the age of eight, he has attempted to further his knowledge and engage with the STEM field—particularly in the aerospace industry.