Theme: THRIVE

This year, the TEDxMcMasterU event will follow a hybrid format, consisting of a virtual conference followed by an in-person meet and greet with our speakers. Attendees have the option to purchase one of two ticket types: virtual or hybrid. The details of our event are outlined below.

VIRTUAL EVENT: (virtual + hybrid ticket access)
Location: Hopin Virtual Conferencing Platform
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EST
What does it entail?
1) Pre-recorded TEDx talks delivered by our 10 speakers
2) Live fireside chats and Q&A with our speakers
3) Performances by Mac Choirs and Mac Pop Orchestra

IN-PERSON: (hybrid ticket access)
Location: David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8P 1H6
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM EST
What does it entail?
1) Round table meet-and-greet with each individual speaker
2) Opportunity to network with speakers and attendees
3) TEDxMcMasterU photo booth
4) VIP TEDxMcMasterU merch package
*Attendees will be designated with a specific time slot for arrival to control crowd flow to ensure COVID-19 protocols are met.
*Note that hybrid ticket holders have access to both the virtual and in-person components.

Hopin Virtual Conferencing Platform
VIRTUAL
Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8
Canada

Fuad Ahmed

Film, Television and Theatre Actor

Fuad Ahmed (fka Gabe Grey) is a film, television and theatre actor. He was born in Pakistan and raised in the Far East, Atlanta and Toronto. Fuad recently wrote an essay about the reclamation of his birth name that was shared widely around the world. Fuad is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre's Actors Conservatory and a recipient of REEL Canada's RBC Emerging Artist Award. Best known for his breakout role as Dr. Ned Patel in the World War II drama BOMB GIRLS (Global). Upcoming projects include CLIVE BOOMER'S SUCCESS and STEALING VOWS.

Jacqueline Kerr

Mom and Behaviour Scientist

Dr Jacqueline Kerr is a mom, behavior scientist and burnout survivor. She is in the Top 1% of Most Cited Scientists worldwide and her work has informed the US Center for Disease Control Community Prevention Guide. Dr. Kerr left her position as a public health professor in 2018. She now hosts the Podcast 'Overcoming Working Mom Burnout' where she interviews researchers, diversity experts, and leadership coaches. She is on a mission to dismantle the causes of working mom burnout with individual, organizational and cultural change through behavior change science. Connect with Jacqueline Kerr on LinkedIn and YouTube @Dr Jacqueline Kerr.

Jennifer Whitmer

Speaker, Writer and Enneagram Coach

Jenn Whitmer helps teams and leaders solve conflict and personality clashes. She speaks, writes, and coaches about hard topics with infectious joy. Through working with Jenn, people improve communication, work through conflict, and build self-awareness with the Enneagram. She asks big questions that lead to big dreams and big ideas and big living. Usually, that means laughing. Specializing in interpersonal conflict resolution, leadership, and the Enneagram, Jenn helps others communicate through difficulty so they can live powerful, connected, and wholehearted lives.

Joe Kim

Associate Professor at McMaster University

Dr. Joe Kim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University, where he teaches introductory psychology and directs the Education and Cognition Lab. A common link in his work is the desire to implement evidence-based practices to promote lifelong learning.

Joze Piranian

Forbes Featured International Speaker

Joze Piranian is a lifelong stutterer turned Forbes featured International Speaker on Inclusion and Resilience. Born and raised in Lebanon, Joze avoided speaking for more than 25 years out of the fear of being judged for being different. Then, everything changed. He won the Inspirational Speaker of the Year and performed stand-up comedy in 3 continents and 4 languages, most recently for a CBC television taping at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Joze has since delivered hundreds of stand-up comedy and speaking engagements about Inclusion and Resilience at Google, Tesla, TikTok, Dell, IBM, Rogers, BCG, TD, Scotiabank and Manulife. For more information, check out his website: www.jozepiranian.com.

Lisa Shen

Writer and Spoken Word Artist

Lisa Shen is a writer and spoken word artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her work centers on feminism and gender-based violence. Lisa was the first place winner of the 2021 Mississauga Poetry Slam, and has been commissioned to perform at several Canadian arts festivals, including the JAYU Human Rights Film Festival and Humainologie Short Story Festival. As an experienced teacher, Lisa is interested in the intersection of the biological sciences, education, and human rights. She is working with the non-profit Hamilton Youth Poets to bring the joys of spoken word into classrooms.

Rafael Chiuzi

Organizational Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga

Dr. Rafael Chiuzi is an accomplished Organizational Psychologist with a strong, demonstrated capacity to leverage human capital for the benefit of organizations and people alike. In his fifteen years of innovative practice in North & South America, and the Middle East, he has been able to overcome widespread organizational challenges, and successfully implement lasting and meaningful change. Rafael is also a published author and TEDx Speaker. He is also known as “Prof. Chiuzi” by his students at the University of Toronto Mississauga where he teaches organizational behaviour.

Samantha Walkes

Film, Television and Theatre Actress

Born and raised in Hamilton, Samantha has made a career in theatre across the country. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she was living and working in New York on Broadway. Since then, stages have struggled to remain open and so her passion to tell stories found a new home in film and television. She now plays Rose King on the new drama series, "The Kings of Napa", an OWN and Warner Bros production. Through these last few years, Samantha has found what it truly means to thrive when life strips you down and takes it all away.

Samra Zafar

Best-Selling Author, Speaker and Educator

Samra Zafar is an award-winning internationally renowned speaker, bestselling author, and educator for equity, mental health, and human rights. She has been recognized twice among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada. She is also named among the Top 25 Most Inspirational Women in Canada, and Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. Samra's book, A Good Wife: Escaping The Life I Never Chose, based on her journey of escaping an abusive child marriage to pursue her education and shed light on gender-based oppression, is an international bestseller, and is being adapted to a premium TV series. Samra is currently pursuing her MD at Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

Thiviyaa Sehasothy

Fine Artist, Entrepreneur & Project Manager

Thiviyaa Sehasothy is a Toronto landscape and abstract fine artist with over 20 exhibition features including Nuit Blanche. Her work and brand, Art By Thiviyaa, has received critical acclaim as juror's choice. She is a painter, project manager, entrepreneur and an advocate for the arts. Her art is commissioned by collectors across the world, published in three art books and used in brand, fashion and creative shoots. She has shared her journey through various public speaking events, podcasts and interviews. She hopes her artistic journey will inspire others to quiet their self-doubt and take their first step into their dreams.