Theme: Innovation for Equality

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).

Following the resounding success of TEDxGulshan 2020, TEDxGulshan is back with TEDxGulshan 2023 in the essence & spirit of TEDx!

This time around, we are taking you on a fulfilling expedition of innovation and equality at the spectacular Aloki, Tejgaon-Gulshan link Road. With an amazing pool of speaker and performers, we are inviting you to TEDxGulshan 2023 for the biggest TEDx experience in the region, to live THE TEDx journey, bringing together leaders, intellectuals, and creators not just from Bangladesh but beyond.
In a world driven by innovation, TEDxGulshan 2023 explores the power of creativity and equality. Join us as we showcase inspiring talks that challenge norms, spark conversations, and drive change towards a more equal society.

Aloki Gulshan
211 Tejgaon link road, Dhaka
Dhaka, Dhaka, 1208
Bangladesh

Abeer Rajbeen

Head of Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company, Bangladesh

Abeer Rajbeen, the Marketing Lead at Coca‑Cola Bangladesh Ltd, boasts a rich background with a BBA degree from IBA, DU, and 13+ years of expertise in Brands. Her journey in FMCG has been marked by iconic milestones, including hosting the FIFA WORLD CUP TROPHY TOUR in 2022 and the launch of Coke Studio in Bangladesh. A passionate storyteller, she relishes brand marketing for the opportunity it provides to delve into the diverse stories of consumers from various walks of life.

Abul Kalam Azad

Former Principal Secretary, Co-Chair, Smart Bangladesh Network

Abul Kalam Azad, the former Principal Secretary and Co-Chair of Smart Bangladesh Network, is a driving force behind sustainable development in Bangladesh. With unparalleled decision-making skills, he transformed the Civil Service into a pro-people administration during his tenure at the Prime Minister’s Office. Azad’s expertise extends to coordinating administrative processes, spearheading economic zones, Hi-tech Parks, and Public-Private Partnership initiatives. His adept negotiation skills and leadership in 'Digital Bangladesh' initiatives have not only streamlined services but also led significant administrative reforms, including the Annual Performance Appraisal system, shaping the nation's economic landscape.

Ankita Bakshi

Content Strategist, APAC

Ankita Bakshi is the Content Strategist for BBC World News’ commercial creative advertising team, BBC StoryWorks, for APAC. After completing her studies in Journalism and Mass communication, Ankita began her storytelling journey in the media industry with a production house where she learnt the art of delivering meaningful stories in an impactful way. She continued creating engaging content at Discovery Communications India as a Producer- Brand Solutions before moving to BBC StoryWorks.

Dr. Rubana Huq

Vice Chancellor, Asian University For Women & Chairperson of Mohammadi Group

Dr. Rubana Huq, a dynamic and accomplished leader, serves as the Vice Chancellor of Asian University for Women, steering the future of education. Her remarkable journey includes breaking barriers as the first female President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in four decades. She is the Chairperson of Mohammadi Group, a family business conglomerate whose journey began exporting readymade garments, and has since diversified software, digital distribution, real estate, power generation and media. Internationally recognized, she featured in the BBC 100 Women list (2013 & 2014) and received the 'Human Rights Award' at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards during Milan Fashion Week in 2022, highlighting her dedication to sustainable fashion. Holding a PhD in English Literature from Jadavpur University, she's also an associate at Harvard University's Asia Center.

Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

Hon’ble Speaker, Bangladesh National Parliament

Hon. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP is the first woman Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament and has experience of working with Commonwealth countries and governments. She was involved in implementing the Commonwealth Gender Plan of Action and held the Commonwealth Gender Chair for two years. Bangladesh hosted the 10th Commonwealth Women Affairs Ministers’ Meeting in 2013 under her leadership. As State Minister for Women and Children, Dr. Chaudhury promoted gender equality and contributed in formulating National Women Development Policy, Children Policy and Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act. As a Commonwealth Scholar she completed Doctor of Philosophy in Law from University of Essex, UK (2000) and was conferred an Honorary Ph.D. (2014). Dr. Chaudhury was awarded Asia Society’s Humanitarian Services Award in 2010 for her role in preventing violence against women and has been a practising Advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court since 2009.

Dr. Syed Muntasir Mamun

Director General, International Trade, Investment and ICT

Dr. Syed Muntasir Mamun holds a PhD in regional economic integration. A Trained financial analyst turned career diplomat, who studied and taught in the University of Oxford on strategy and innovation. Dr. Mamun’s commitment to innovation is evident in his esteemed position as Chief Innovation Officer at the MOFA in Bangladesh. Beyond diplomacy, he is an accomplished author, credited with the publication "Blockchains: Gaming and Collusion - A Reading in Political Economy." His academic interests lies in blockchain, finTech and Artificial Intelligence.

Iftekhar Rafsan

Entertainer & Content Creator

Iftekhar Rafsan, also known as Rafsan the Chotobhai, is a Bangladeshi YouTube personality hailing from Dhaka. Renowned for his engaging food vlogs, he embarked on his YouTube journey in 2017. Apart from his YouTube ventures, Rafsan is a skilled esports athlete, showcasing his prowess in the professional gaming arena. His talents and dedication were duly recognized in 2020 when he was honored with the prestigious title of "Top Content Creator of the Year (2019)" by the esteemed state ICT Minister of Bangladesh, Zunaid Ahmed Palak. Through his creative content and gaming expertise, Rafsan continues to captivate audiences, leaving a lasting impact on the digital landscape of Bangladesh.

Imtiaz Ilahi

Triathlete

Imtiaz Ilahi's journey is a testament to resilience and determination. A former PARA-Commando, IT professional, and accomplished triathlete, he faced immense challenges head-on. A parachute landing accident from a daunting 200-foot height resulted in a fractured spine, sparking an extraordinary path to recovery. Imtiaz's unwavering dedication and unwavering discipline not only saw him regain the ability to walk but also achieve the remarkable feat of running 100 and 200 metres through relentless practice. His story is an inspiration, showcasing how dreams can be transformed into reality through sheer determination and indomitable spirit.

Kebria Sarkar

Founder, Studio of Creative Arts Ltd & RJ

Md Golam Kebria Sarkar is the founder of "Studio of Creative Arts Ltd" He has completed MPhil form Dhaka University. Also known as, RJ Kebria, is a beloved radio jockey and television presenter hailing from Bogra, Bangladesh. Kebria's innovative program planning and hosting skills have played a pivotal role in the revival of radio audiences in Bangladesh. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping the country's media revolution, making him a prominent figure in the industry.

Md. Abdul Quayyum

Head of Communications, UNDP Bangladesh

With over two decades of experience in development communications, including a decade in leadership roles, Md Abdul Quayyum consistently driven impactful communications strategies in diverse settings. His expertise spans media management, digital communications, behaviour change campaigns, crisis communications, and partnership building for resource mobilisation. Currently, as Head of Communications at UNDP Bangladesh, Md Abdul Quayyum led transformative efforts, elevating digital presence and media reach and fostering a culture where communication is key to success. With academic roots in Mass Communication and Journalism, he is poised to drive positive change through strategic communication.

Moutushi Kabir

Senior Director People, Culture and Communications BRAC

Moutushi Kabir completed her bachelor’s in business administration specialising in marketing from the Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka and master’s in business administration specialising in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Nottingham, UK. She joined BRAC in January 2018. She has over 20 years of international, senior leadership experience in diverse sectors namely advertising, telecommunications and healthcare. Prior to joining BRAC, she was heading Global Leadership and Associate Communications at Sandoz International, a division of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, based in Germany. Ms Kabir has been part of large-scale organisational transformation and culture change initiatives throughout her career. She has also been part of the Executive Leadership Team of Novartis Bangladesh, leading a transformation process that turned the company into the best performing team in Asia.

Praveena Yagnambhat

Chief of Staff & Boeing Global Engagement Leader Boeing India & South Asia

In her role as Chief of Staff and Boeing Global Engagement Leader for India and South Asia, Praveena is responsible for developing a strong connect for Boeing with its stakeholders across the aerospace ecosystem. On the community engagement initiatives front, Praveena works with several NGOs in the areas of education, skill development, veterans’ reskilling, healthcare andsanitation. Praveena’s role as the Boeing Global Engagement lead in India has helped positively impact over 5,00,000 lives across India, significantly in remote and rural areas of the country where communities most need access. Recently, Praveena was named among top 100 executives on the global 2023 Empower Role Model List for advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. When not at work, Praveena likes to spend time with the communities she works with, especially engaging with students and youth in rural areas. She also likes to travel and read in her spare time.

Ritu Raj

Musician & Performer

Rituraj is a musician who is deeply inspired from the traditional understanding of music fused with the contemporary exposure to the sounds we listen to. He presents modern musical expressions combined with his traditional learning through his work which appeals to people of all ages, from toddlers to the ones who grew up listening to musical maestros over the radio. The role sounds play in our lives and the capacity to which it influences us is what he wishes to fully realise. Born into a musical family, Rituraj was initiated into North-Indian classical music at a very early age by his mother, Srimati Durba Chowdhury. He had participated in the national musical reality show Closeup 1 in 2012, and stood among the top 5 participants.

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob

Bangladeshi Singer & Songwriter

Shayan Chowdhury Arnob is a versatile Bangladeshi singer-songwriter, musician, painter, filmmaker, animator, and producer. Arnob co-founded the indie folk band Bangla, which was active for a decade before going on hiatus. He continued performing with his project, Arnob and Friends, and briefly collaborated with Prayer Hall. Arnob gained fame as a solo artist with the title track "She Je Boshe Ache" for the 2004 TV drama Offbeat. This track was part of his debut solo album "Chaina Bhabish" released in 2005. He went on to release two more solo albums, "Hok Kolorob" and "Doob." Arnob has seven solo albums as of 2022 and composed scores for Bengali films. He is considered to be one of the greatest singer-songwriter, composer and esraj player in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Arnob has received numerous awards, including two Channel i Music Awards, for the artwork of his second album Hok Kolorob and for Bujhcho as a member of Prayer Hall.

Vashkar Bhattacharjee

National Accessibility Consultant, a2i

Vashkar Bhattacharjee a person with visual disability serving as the national accessibility consultant for the a2i program. He is also working as inclusion advisor for YPSA (Young Power in Social Action). With 18 years of experience, his work promotes inclusive development, humanitarian action, climate change, disaster management and digital accessibility in both public and private sectors, developing several award-winning solutions. As a recognition, his biography is featured in class six life and livelihood textbook Vashkar, serving as vice president of the internet society accessibility standing group, country representative of G3ict, Focal point of DAISY consortium, Bookshare and (ABC) of WIPO. He has received numerous awards including the UNESCO/ Emir Jaber Prize for digital empowerment (2018/19), Henri Viskardi Achievement award (2017). D-30 Impact list honoree (2021) and was recognized as a successful person with a disability by Bangladesh’s HPM (2016).