Theme: The Hummingbird Effect

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).

Flagey Building
Place Sainte-Croix
Brussels, Bruxelles-Capitale, Région de (fr), Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (nl), 1050
Belgium

Adélaïde Charlier

Student, Climate Activist

Adelaide,a Belgian student, has seen her life and environment change in the past months. She decided, with Adelaide Charlier and Kyra Gantois, to support her friend and idol, Greta Thunberg, and stand by her convictions for climate actions, this trio has become the face of what a whole generation fights for. Besides founding the movement Youth For Climate that gathered hundreds of thousands in our streets since the beggining of this year, they also support organisations such as Sign for my future that truely implement actions. At only 17, 20 and 18 years old, these young activists have one powerful message to share: "each can act and impact its environment".

Aïda Axelsson-Bakri

Social Entrepreneur and co-founder of the LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub

Aida Axelsson-Bakri is Ethiopian and Swiss, and is a social-entrepreneur at heart. Since the foundation of her company ADS Insight in 2001 she has been ardently fostering EU partnerships based on genuine dialogue and long-term engagements, aiming for realistic and higher social and environmental standards. It was this curiosity, passion, and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs - in terms of lack of policy and lack of funding - that pushed her to co-found her new non-profit association: The LadyAgri Impact Investment Hub, which she believes is the vehicle with which women agricultural entrepreneurs will finally be able to reach their potential and bring quality, security, and jobs to Africa’s food systems. Aida has lived in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Switzerland, and currently lives in Belgium. She holds a Masters’ in Environmental Science, speaks five languages, and hopes to inspire other women and the youth to embrace social entrepreneurship.

Anuna De Wever

Student, Climate Activist

Anuna,a Belgian student, has seen her life and environment change in the past months. She decided, with Adelaide Charlier and Kyra Gantois, to support her friend and idol, Greta Thunberg, and stand by her convictions for climate actions, this trio has become the face of what a whole generation fights for. Besides founding the movement Youth For Climate that gathered hundreds of thousands in our streets since the beggining of this year, they also support organisations such as Sign for my future that truely implement actions. At only 17, 20 and 18 years old, these young activists have one powerful message to share: "each can act and impact its environment".

Bruno Colmant

Serial author & economist

Titular Member of the Royal Academy of Science of Belgium, President of the Belgian Finance Club, Head of macro research at the bank Degroof Petercam, after working most of his life in the financial sector all around the world Bruno Colmant is a banker and an academic that teaches finance and monetary theory on several Belgian and foreign universities. He has authored more than 75 books. He has obtained his MBA from Purdue University (IN, USA) and his Ph.D. From the ULB. His recent research adresses climate change and the financing of the transition.

Cedric Engels

Sound Identity, Artist & Engineer

Born in 1987, Cedric started his musical career around the turn of the century. Hermanos Inglesos was born. An album followed on PIAS, which led to a signing with Sony Music.Cedric's parents always had been most supportive of his choices, but his father insisted he'd have a back up plan ready. So while working on music, Cedric went to Law school and specialised in Copyright Law. In 2011 he started his adventure in London with two goals: learning as much as possible at SAE/Middlesex University and inhaling the inspiring power of the Thames' shores. More than ever Cedric realised that he wanted to continue in sound. And he did. Back in Belgium, he founded Roundhouse to focus on ’Sonic Branding’ as a true pioneer. Last year Cedric partnered up to take this story to the next level, a new chapter under a new name: Sonhouse works on the development of sound identities for film and brands in an international context.

Frédéric Pivetta

Founder of Dalberg Data Insights & Advocate of Tech that matters

Frederic Pivetta is the Founder and Managing Partner of Dalberg Data Insights, co-Founder of Real Impact Analytics and is on the Board of several tech companies and international organizations. Frederic defined a global leadership in Social Impact, Big Data and AI being part of panels at e.g. Harvard University and the World Economic Forum. Frederic has been co-leading the National Artificial Intelligence Plan for Belgium launched in 2019. Previously, he has been with McKinsey & Company for 8 year. Frederic graduated from Harvard University and Brussels University (ULB).

Olivier De Schutter

UN independent expert and ecologist

Expert in economic and social rights and on the relationship between human rights and governance, Olivier De Schutter served as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food from May 2008 until 2014. In 2013, he was awarded the Prix Franqui, Belgium’s top scientific award, for his contribution to the advancement of EU law, the theory of governance, and human rights law. Olivier De Schutter is the first chair of the Belgian Advisory Council on Policy Coherence for Development and he co-chairs the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, a group of experts from various disciplines and regions who work together towards developing proposals for food systems reform. Olivier De Schutter is a Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and at the College of Europe (Natolin). He is also a Member of the Global Law School Faculty at New York University and is Visiting Professor at Columbia University.

Stella Bida

International Speaker, Award-Winning Entrepreneur

Stella Bida is a game changer, a disruptor of the norm and the typical. She is driven by her fundamental motto: “When it comes to success, everybody deserves it!”. She believes that change and transformation are the ultimate conditions to make people and companies grow. With the right strategies in their hands, they can use them as a success tool to build a sustainable competitive advantage. International Speaker, Stella has shared international stages with thoughtful leaders across the world such as Steve Wozniak Apple Co-founder, Mel Gibson and Michael Douglas Oscar winning actors, or Olympic Gold Medallist Steven Bradburry. Multi-Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Stella’s work and projects have been recognised worldwide. In 2018, she has been awarded as a “New Leader for Tomorrow” by the Crans Montana Forum, in presence of the Former President of Mali Dioncounda Traore and the Minister of State in Belgium Herman De Croo.