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).

Covey Center for the Arts
425 W Center St, , UT 84601
Provo, Utah, 84601
United States

Ashish Gadnis

Co-founder / CEO

Ashish Gadnis is the Co-founder/CEO of BanQu, the world’s first and largest supply chain sustainability platform that enables end-to-end transparency, traceability, and equitability all the way down to the first contributor. BanQu has helped global brands such as ABInBev, Coca-Cola, and Solvay ensure true sustainability and impact. In turn, traditionally economically invisible farmers, waste collectors, and laborers that live in extreme poverty gain digital financial proof of their business transactions to build better lives. Ashish has a bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering from Bombay University, MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Carlson School, and Executive Education in Global Leadership and Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. BanQu has won many accolades including TIME Magazine Innovator of the Year, Meaningful Business Leaders, World Economic Forum/Accenture Circularity, Reuters Social Innovation, and SEAL Sustainable Innovation awards.

Byron Adams

Scientist & Professor

Byron Adams is a biologist who loves searching for patterns in the natural world and then figuring out the processes by which they came to be. He is a big fan of science education and curiosity-driven, exploratory research. With the support of the US National Science Foundation, Byron has spent the past 20+ years studying the terrestrial ecosystems of Antarctica. His work sheds light on the organisms that live there, how they survive such harsh conditions and how they are responding to climate-driven environmental changes. As a professor at Brigham Young University, Byron oversees the graduate biology program and teaches courses in introductory biology, molecular biology, evolutionary medicine, coevolutionary analysis, and how to thrive in grad school. Raised in Susanville, California, he did his undergraduate work at BYU, Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska, and a postdoc at the University of California-Davis.

Clare Davenport

Founder & CEO

Clare Davenport, the founder of Designing4Better, is a positive psychology expert, life design coach, CEO and published author. Clare began her career at Goldman Sachs, followed by over 20 years in strategy management for Fortune 500 companies. She has parlayed her business acumen, life experience and learning to become a change agent for well-being. Leveraging Clare’s leading-edge Ivy League research on managing transitions, Designing4Better develops ideas, frameworks and tools to help individuals, groups and teams evaluate and improve their well-being, resulting in increased satisfaction, productivity and performance in life, retirement, work and beyond. Designing4Better’s energetic style is smart, accessible and innovative, offering practical ideas for handling daily demands and accessible paths to successfully optimize well-being. Clare lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband, four children and two dogs.

Dejan Eskic

Senior Research Fellow

Dejan Eskic is a senior research fellow at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. He is involved in housing, construction and real estate research. His professional career has focused on providing the best information to key decision-makers, whether they’d be local or state officials, executives of national retailers or publicly listed REITs. Prior to joining the Gardner Policy Institute, he worked as a site selector for major grocery chains throughout the US. Additionally, he has worked on a number of public-private-partnerships relating to Tax Increment Financing, along with numerous real estate market studies and economic development plans. Before earning a Master’s in Real Estate Development, Eskic earned a B.S. in Urban Planning, both from the University of Utah. He also serves as an adjunct professor of Real Estate Market Analysis at the University of Utah.

Fidalis Buehler

Artist

Fidalis Buehler, Professor of Art at Brigham Young University: Is an artist living in the Mountain West region (Utah) of the United States. His life is a blending of two cultures - one being of Euro-American descent and the other of Pacific Island heritage. His work is a reassembling of personal histories that embody fear, anxiety, mythology, dreams, revelations, magic, mysticism, and ritual. Fidalis embraces his cultural heritage and finds them both equally valuable. He lives in the space between in a state of flux exploring who he is through various forms of expanded and contracted narratives. He and his wife Karen are the parents of five children. The familial pod and the domestic experience reinforce his personal mythology and art making. Fidalis has been recognized for his artistic merit and exhibits his work in regional, national, and international venues.

Jodi Wellman

Founder + Speaker

Jodi Wellman is a leading authority on living lives worth living. As a speaker and facilitator, she helps her clients live squander-free lives while they’re lucky enough to still be above ground — while cleverly beginning with the “big end” in mind. She named her business Four Thousand Mondays because it shines the light on the finite number of weeks we have to live like we mean it. Jodi holds a Master’s of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also an Assistant Instructor. As a certified coach with 25 years of corporate leadership experience, she helps executives, teams, and high performers work well and live even better.

Julie Valentine

Associate Dean

Dr. Julie Valentine conducts sexual assault research and practices as a certified sexual assault nurse examiner. She applies her research findings to inform interdisciplinary practice and legislation. Dr. Valentine and her research team currently have multiple research studies utilizing their database of ~9,000 sexual assault cases. They are keenly aware that each sexual assault case represents an individual who suffered trauma and strive to represent these survivors’ voices. Dr. Valentine created a middle-range forensic nursing theory, the Constructed Theory of Forensic Nursing Care, as an international framework for forensic nursing education, practice, and research. Her primary goal is to instigate social and criminal justice system changes to reduce sexual violence. Dr. Valentine is an Associate Dean and Associate Professor at Brigham Young University College of Nursing. She is lovingly supported by her large family of 8 children, 5 grandchildren and her husband.

Kelly Terbasket

Program Director

Kelly Terbasket is known for her dynamic energy and out-of-the-box workshops. Having both Syilx Okanagan and European heritage, Kelly has intimate experience navigating the complex relationships between Indigenous and settler peoples. As Program Director of IndigenEYEZ and its social enterprise kinSHIFT, she focuses on supporting natural champions in communities rebuilding from the impacts of colonization. With 30+ years of community development work behind her, Kelly is sought out for her capacity to help deepen relations at a time in history when connections across differences are the key to our collective future.

Ofi (Oh-Fee)

American Singer/Songwriter

Ofi (Oh-Fee) is an American singer/songwriter, entertainer, and advocate for teen mental health from Victorville, CA. He is an up-and-coming rock and pop artist currently recording his much-anticipated debut album. He and his band will journey on their first US tour later this year.

Pamela Jo Brubaker

Communication Scholar

Pamela Brubaker is a communications scholar and professor of public relations at Brigham Young University. Her research explores how social media and online communications are used—and can be used more effectively—to strengthen relationships. She is an ardent scholar of today’s digital media environment. Her exploration of mass communications and strategic communications has led to a greater understanding of the impact communications has on individuals, organizations, and society. She earned a doctorate in mass communications from The Pennsylvania State University as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from BYU. Her research emerged from her public relations experience in the technology industry where she worked in media relations as well as corporate and marketing communications.