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).

AHHAA center
Sadama 1
Tartu, Tartumaa, 51004
Estonia

Allan Kasuk

ALLAN KASUK is a musician and a songwriter. He is currently a member of the musical group Kruuv and you’ll recognise him as the one with a guitar or a ukulele in his hands. In addition, Allan has written songs for numerous Estonian artists, including Indrek Ventmann, and his songs have made it to the Estonia’s Eurovision National Selection (Eesti Laul) five times. At the TEDxTartu ED 2023 conference, Allan will talk about ways of finding creative inspiration and productive motivation. And of course, he will also sing a couple of his songs!

Anu Tähemaa

Expert in public speaking and presentation, TeamBuilding trainer, professional speaker

Anu Tähemaa is an expert in public speaking and presentation, a TeamBuilding trainer, and a professional speaker, who has more than 30 years of expertise in management, culture, education, and performing arts (music, drama, film). All her doings have revolved around the stage, since, through the years, she has worked as a performer on the stage, as a conductor before the stage, and as a director, facilitator, or organiser behind the stage. Using the aforementioned experience, she has developed the Corporate Maestro system, which solves the issues stopping a team from performing more effectively by using the best practices from performing arts, or increases the team’s motivation, and therefore productivity by creating a better work atmosphere. Just like a conductor guides and inspires the orchestrators to make heard the once written-down melodies, a leader orchestrates and aligns the different departments of his/ her enterprise to work on a common goal.

Aune Valk

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Tartu

Since 2018, Aune Valk has worked as the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at The University of Tartu. She’s a leader by profession, an analyst by vocation, and a psychologist by education. Aune has previously worked at the Ministry of Education and Research as both the head of the analysis department and the head of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) in Estonia. She was the director of the Open University, conducted by the University of Tartu and has worked as a researcher and senior researcher in various institutions. Aune has a doctorate in cross-cultural psychology, due to which she has researched national identity and ethnic relations for over 25 years and has taught various subjects related to cross-cultural psychology and ethnic relations. Aune cares deeply about quality and equality in education: general education, which supports social integration, and higher education, which is internationally competitive.

Eero Lundén

Founder of Lundén Architecture Company, Architect SAFA, FRSA

Eero Lundén is the founder and director of Lundén Architecture Ltd. Since 2008, his company has participated in over 300 projects while focusing on the development and innovation of the built environment, architecture, and urbanism. Eero has obtained two Master of Science degrees from his studies at the Oulu University in Finland and at the Columbia University in New York, USA. Today, Eero has almost 20 years of experience in various construction and urban planning projects. The common factors of his projects are interdisciplinary, innovative, and demanding. Several projects are experimental research projects, for example related to wooden structures, energy self-sufficiency, or climate change visualization.

Getter Marie Lemberg

Junior research fellow at the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy (University of Tartu)

Getter Marie Lemberg is a Ph.D. student in the Exercise and Sport Sciences programme at the University of Tartu, and a junior research fellow at the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy (University of Tartu). In her research, she focuses mainly on how the school environment affects physical activity among students while concentrating more specifically on recess (outside of the schoolhouse) and schoolyards. Getter Marie has also obtained a bachelor’s degree in sports psychology, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Western Kentucky University (USA).

Joosep Heinsalu

Senior specialist at the Education and Youth Board and a lecturer at the University of Tartu

Joosep Heinsalu is a senior specialist at the Education and Youth Board and a lecturer at the University of Tartu, while also currently pursuing his master’s degree at the UT’s Institute of Education. Furthermore, Joosep has previously worked as an English teacher at Jõgeva Primary School and as a supervisor of student companies and research papers at Tallinn 21st School. However, he started contributing to the educational landscape through various fields, roles, and institutions when he was still in high school. Joosep has actively participated in various discussion groups, articles, workgroups, and decision-making bodies focused on the topic of education. Currently, he is mainly doing it as a student representative in the Senate of the University of Tartu, as the chairman of the council in the Federation of Estonian Student Union, and as a member of the higher education evaluation board in the Estonian Quality Agency of Education.

Karin Künnapas

Co-Director at kood/Jõhvi

For the past 10 years, Karin Künnapas has been active in the field of startups and has thus become acquainted with business development and investing. She has studied at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and, in addition to that, has an academic degree in history from her studies at the University of Tartu. Karin has also worked in the Estonian Business Angels Network and in the European Innovation Academy, where she organised international programmes for more than 1000 speakers annually. The aim of these programmes was to develop an existing idea into a startup. This undertaking turned out to be popular around the world: programmes were held in Portugal, Italy, Qatar, Hong Kong, and China; the mentors were from the Silicon Valley and Europe (including Estonia). At the moment, Karin is leading kood/Jõhvi: a new type of coding school which has its roots in the private sector and functions without teachers, relying on independent studying.

Kristel Leif

Chief Executive Officer at Solaride

Kristel Leif is the CEO of the educational project Solaride and has a decade-long experience in the banking sector where she worked in the sales and marketing department and led different teams. She has a bachelor’s degree in history (University of Tartu) and a master’s degree in organisational behavior (Tallinn University).

Kristen Tamm

CEO & co-founder of Futuclass - Science education in VR

Kristen Tamm is an entrepreneur in the technology sector and, since 2019, the founder and CEO of Futuclass Ltd. Kristen believes that many of the problems in society can be solved with good education, but to ensure that students actually remember what has been taught to them, it is necessary to convey that knowledge in an engaging and interesting way. Therefore, Futuclass Ltd. develops virtual reality (VR) learning games about chemistry and physics that allow, while wearing special glasses, to learn by raising a ruckus in a safe and memorable way. Today, such learning games are used by thousands of students in nearly 35 Estonian schools. Kristen has also helped to establish the Estonian Virtual and Augmented Reality Association (EEVR) and has been the leader of the popular virtual reality center chain Futuruum. He has also had a career in the development and real estate sector.

Maria Rahamägi

Founder and CEO of Edumus School

Maria Rahamägi is the Founder and CEO of Edumus School, an online school that focuses on developing 21st-century skills in upper secondary school students. With a background in business and IT, Maria has been working in education for five years and has written multiple op-eds about the future of the education system. She is particularly interested in the incentive structure and economics of the education system. Maria is also an active mentor and volunteer, having volunteered for Junior Achievement Estonia and being one of the founding members of EdTech Estonia. Her dedication to education and desire to make a difference in the industry is evident in her work with Edumus School. Overall, Maria's expertise and passion for education shine through in her work, and she continues to contribute towards the development of the education system both professionally and volunteer basis.

Märt Aro

Co-founder of DreamApply.com

Märt Aro`s involvement in the field of educational development dates back to his secondary school years, which saw Märt organizing educational events for peers on a national level. But this was just the beginning: since 2004, he has established numerous organizations and companies in the area of educational development. For example, Märt is the co-founder of DreamApply.com Student Application Management Platform, which was launched in 2011 and is currently used by more than 300 universities from across 40 countries. Märt also serves as Chairman of the Board at NGO EdTech Estonia, which brings together 45+ founders of education innovation initiatives from Estonia with the aim of sharing experience and fostering cooperation. In order to drive education forward, Märt regularly collaborates with the United Nations, the European Union, the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, and many others.

Minimal Wind

MINIMAL WIND took the Estonian music world by storm in 2022 when the group entered the Eurovision National Final (Eesti Laul) as a dark horse, coming in second place. However, this sudden breakthrough meant that a couple of year’s work had to be squeezed into a couple of months: from creating an hour-long concert programme to setting up a personal website and coming up with ideas for merchandise. “hi.” is Minimal Wind’s debut album, which tells – through different characters – a story how an unexpected breakthrough took five bandmembers, all used to playing music in small cafes, to the biggest stages in Estonia. Minimal Wind’s music is a mixture of RnB, rock, pop and indie, and can be characterised by having a broad spectrum of sound: there’s intimacy, there’s aggression, and everything in between.