Theme: Ambition

On December 13th 2019, a group of exceptional speakers gathered in Hamilton, Ontario for a full-day of thought-provoking presentations and mind-blowing conversations. A total of 11 business leaders, academics, artists, athletes, and activists took the stage to share their stories and perspectives. The speakers explored the theme of “Ambition” as it relates to their lives, experiences, and careers.

We aim to bring thinkers, visionaries and change agents together to foster innovation and strengthen communities. TEDxMcMasterU wishes to extend a big thank you to our speakers and partners who have helped make this event possible.

TEDxMcMasterU was a one-day event and took place on December 13th 2019 at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre located in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. Tickets included full access to all TEDx talks and musical performances, delicious food, and access to an exclusive post-event social at the Art Gallery of Hamilton including complimentary gallery access.

For more, please visit: www.tedxmcmaster.ca

David Braley Health Sciences Centre Auditorium
100 Main St W
Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 1H6
Canada

Derek Thong

Resident Doctor and Medical Device Innovator

Dr. Thong is currently a PM&R resident at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. In this capacity he serves individuals living with chronic illnesses and impairments to improve their quality of life. Prior to medicine, he earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto, and worked as a strategy and finance consultant at Accenture and E&Y in Asia and North America. More recently, Dr. Thong has been involved with medical device innovation and has completed his fellowship in Biodesign at Stanford University.

Dylan Horvath

CEO & President of Cortex Design, XPRIZE Winner

Dylan Horvath is an engineer, industrial designer and entrepreneur who explores how to use design to improve human experiences. He is the President and CEO of Cortex Design, an award-winning product design firm based in Toronto. Dylan and his team design medical devices and consumer products that foster human connection, improve health outcomes, and allow people to do things that they couldn’t before -- everything from wearable devices to portable 3D printers to musical instruments.

Gwen Madiba

Women & Children's Rights Advocate, Former Model & Designer

Gwen Madiba is an award winning international speaker, women and children's rights advocate. She is the President of Equal Chance, an NGO focused on the promotion of the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of black communities across Canada through the development of projects, programs, activities, events and policies. In 2018, she launched the Education Fund for Orphans in Africa (specifically in Gabon, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo) as she deeply believes that education is a fundamental human right.

Jeff Joslin

Former UFC Fighter & First Canadian to Win an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament

Jeff “The Inferno” Joslin is a martial artist in the truest sense of the term. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, he grew up in a family of martial artists. Starting his training at five years of age, he won over 200 first place finishes in multiple styles of martial arts during a competitive career that spanned more than two decades. As a professional MMA fighter Jeff endured a long, challenging road to reach the pinnacle of the sport, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He now runs a highly successful martial arts school in Hamilton.

Kayl McCann

Training Director at McCann Professional Dog Trainers, 20 Time Agility World Champion

Kayl McCann is a Professional Dog Trainer specializing in Dog Agility. She is a 20 time World Champion who has been competing Internationally since 2002. Kayl is the Training Director for McCann Professional Dog Trainers, the business her parents started in 1982. It is the largest dog training school in the world, training over 500 family dogs weekly. Along with teaching at the school, Kayl travels across the world teaching seminars and coaching aspiring Agility Trainers. It may seem that she was born into this career, but the ability to remain at the top of her game requires immense hard work, talent and ambition.

Mark John Stewart

Executive Advisor at Empowerment Squared, Managing Director of Wentworth Strategy Group & President of FlyPrint

Mark John Stewart is an award-winning entrepreneur, charitable advisor, public speaker, and instructor. He is the Managing Director of Wentworth Strategy Group and the President of marketing agency FlyPrint. Mark John consults on strategy, marketing, communications, and governance with organizations across the world, and is an instructor in the McMaster-Syracuse Master of Communications Management program. An experienced board director, he is also an Executive Advisor with Empowerment Squared, a Canadian charity dedicated to empowering newcomers and marginalized youth and communities in Canada, Liberia, Ghana, and South Africa.

Maureen MacDonald

Dean of Science & Professor at McMaster University

Maureen MacDonald is the first woman to serve as Dean of Science at McMaster University. A highly respected researcher and regarded expert in cardiovascular health, exercise physiology, spinal cord injury and aging, she leads important research into the effectiveness of exercise as a way of preventing illness, improving health status and lifestyle. Maureen is a professor with the Department of Kinesiology and a visiting professor with the School of Sport Science Exercise and Health at Loughborough University. Her commitment to students was recognized in 2018 with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Mentorship Award.

Narinder Dhami

Top 40 under 40, Managing Director of LEAP

As a leader in social finance, Narinder Dhami catalyzes large-scale change and equips the next generation of leaders to “do good, better”. She is a Top 40 Under 40 2019 honouree, is the Managing Director of LEAP | Pecaut Centre for Social Impact, an innovator in venture philanthropy. Dedicating her life to social impact, Narinder has been recognized as a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader and formerly sat on the Global Council for Pro Bono. She has also worked across West Africa, growing the Première Agence de Microfinance across Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire and deploying impact investments to social enterprises across Ghana and Nigeria with Acumen.

Natalie Schmitt

Conservation Scientist & Science Documentary Presenter

Natalie is a conservation scientist and documentary film presenter in major media. Her research has spanned from small marsupials to Tasmanian devils, snow leopard, humpback whales, and the largest of them all, the Antarctic blue whale. Her work with whales has helped inform Australia’s policy position at the International Whaling Commission. She is currently developing a paper-based species detection technology which may completely revolutionize the ability to monitor wildlife. She wants to show how a simple method to detect snow leopard in the field, has expanded to new, unlimited levels for wildlife conservation by simply trusting her heart.

Pauly Plewa

Race Car Driver & Recovering Paraplegic

Pauly is a true racer at heart, having raced motocross for 11 years at the highest level of amateur racing in Canada and the USA. In 2012, on the verge of his AMA professional debut, he suffered a bad crash leaving him instantly paralyzed from the chest down. Being the ambitious child athlete that he was, Pauly taught himself how to walk and race again by applying the tools he learned from his racing career to his rehab. Today, Pauly is chasing championships on four wheels, teaching people about safe driving, and sharing his story about overcoming disability and envisioning wellness.

Riya Karumanchi

CEO of SmartCane & High School Student

Riya is a 16-year-old student from Toronto, Ontario. She is the CEO of SmartCane and is extremely passionate about harnessing technology to better people’s lives. Riya is an Innovator at The Knowledge Society, an avid ML developer and she was recognized as one of the Top 20 Teen Entrepreneurs Worldwide. She’s also very honored to be recognized as Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21, having spoken at conferences worldwide, including WE Day, the MoveTheDial Summit and Pharma Blockchain UK.