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).

BT Arena
Str. Uzinei Electrice
Cluj Napoca, Cluj, 400375
Romania

Adela Pârvu

Interior Designer

Adela Pârvu is a distinctive voice in the world of aesthetics and functionality. With a long-standing presence in the interior design world, starting with the first specialized magazines in Romania in 1998, Adela Pârvu is known in multiple roles: interior designer, blogger, vlogger, set designer, and TV host (currently hosting EuroDesign on Euronews), and recently as a founding member of the Romanian Association for Design and Innovation (ARDI). Adela Pârvu brings to the forefront trends and creative ideas, inspiring the community to redefine their spaces. With her passion for psychology and human analysis, she explores the depths of human behavior and the connections between people, history, art, and technology. Through her social media contributions, Adela challenges us to reflect on how human relationships and knowledge shape our world and provokes us with her well-known slogan: We only have one life, let it be colorful!

Alina Buteică

Leadership Coach

Alina Cristina Buteică is a seasoned leadership and wellness coach, and a growth hacker. She's passionate about empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. With a focus on female leadership, she helps individuals and businesses cultivate intuition, creativity, and connection. Alina has a deep understanding of organizational dynamics, having worked in diverse industries and cultures. She has a talent for identifying growth opportunities and implementing innovative solutions. Her expertise lies in leadership development, strategic planning, and change management. Alina's work is grounded in a holistic approach that combines traditional business practices with mindfulness and personal growth principles. She believes that by fostering a positive and supportive work environment, organizations can achieve greater success and employee satisfaction.

Andrei Hasna

Entrepreneur

Andrei Hasna is the CEO and co-founder of a collective innovation hub, established in 2022 together with his wife, Diana Hasna. Andrei dedicates his work to supporting innovation and innovative thinking. Within the hub, he invests heavily in research and development, supporting young minds through various mentorship and scholarship programs. In collaboration with prestigious universities, Andrei aims to revitalize research in Romania, creating an environment conducive to global-impact scientific and technological discoveries. As an active investor, he supports various startups in the fields of biotechnology and alternative medicine. In addition to his entrepreneurial initiatives, Andrei is a proponent of mind training and human potential development. He firmly believes that every person has the ability to maximize their potential through education and continuous self-development.

Cornelia-Mădălina Suta

Principal Economist

Dr. Cornelia-Mădălina SUTA is a Principal Economist at Cambridge Econometrics (Belgium). She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and a PhD in Agri-Environmental Economics from the University of Kent, UK. Before joining Cambridge Econometrics, she worked for the European Commission. Currently, Mădălina leads studies on the future of the labor market, with experience in the labor markets of Romania, the UK, Spain, and Belgium. Regarding women's rights and gender equality, Mădălina has led the following studies: Study on assessing the fiscal and employment benefits on gender equality through institutionalized childcare services in the Republic of Moldova; Study on the Economic Benefits of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in the Western Balkans six (WB6); and “What-If” Scenario for Jordan’s transport sector to measure impact on women and youth of increased public transport routes.

Dan Vodnar

Researcher & University Professor

Dan C. VODNAR is a Professor of Molecular Gastronomy and Food Biotechnology at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Since 2019, Elsevier and Stanford University have consistently recognized Dan in the annual world ranking of the top 2% of scientists worldwide. This year, Dan is nominated in the top 0.05% of scientists in the world following an analysis of the results of over 30 million researchers included in this ranking on the ScholarGPS™ platform. A member of the Academia Europaea, alongside 80 Nobel laureates. He is the author of 5 patents and has launched a food supplement on the market, following the results of research conducted over the past 15 years.

Gabriel Diaconu

Psychiatrist

Gabriel Diaconu is a psychiatrist with extensive practical experience and heads a psychiatry and psychotherapy clinic in Romania. His work has been published in some of the world's most prestigious medical journals. In 2008, he returned to Romania and began collaborating with the Department of Social Psychology at the University of Vienna, engaging in studies on wartime psychiatry, a collaboration that continues to this day. Since 2012, he has been a member of the section on the consequences of torture within the World Psychiatric Association, leading this section for five years. He has also been a censor and reviewer for specialized articles within the same association. He has been a protagonist and participant in most of the crises that have marked Romania in the last 15 years, starting with the Giulești fire, the Montenegro accident, the Colectiv fire, or the COVID pandemic, providing therapy voluntarily to the victims of these tragedies.

George Roman

Programs Director

George Roman is a Programs Director at Save the Children, dedicated to child rights protection since 1993. As a father and a Save the Children member, George is committed to ensuring a prosperous and safe future for all children. His professional focus has been on upholding the best interests of the child, a fundamental principle in developing policies and laws that directly or indirectly affect children. George has contributed to significant legislative advancements, such as the prohibition of all forms of violence against children, regulations for the care of children with parents working abroad, and the establishment of a Children's Ombudsman. He has also been instrumental in developing guidelines to prevent bullying in schools and strengthening legal protections against child sexual abuse. George’s academic interests lie in the history and anthropology of childhood.

Hanne Beirens

Director Migration Policy Institute Europe

Dr. Hanne Beirens is the Director of the Migration Policy Institute Europe. She is a leading expert in European Union policies related to asylum and migration. With extensive experience in both academia and the non-profit sector, Dr. Beirens has worked on numerous international projects, including those for the European Commission and the United Nations. Known for her ability to facilitate dialogue between policymakers, civil society, and international organizations, Dr. Beirens has been instrumental in shaping EU migration policies. Her research has focused on a wide range of issues, including human trafficking, labor migration, and youth involvement in conflict. Prior to joining MPI, she held positions at leading universities in the UK and worked as a consultant for various international organizations. Key points: Director of Migration Policy Institute Europe Expert in EU asylum and migration policies Focus on human trafficking, labor migration, and youth involvement in conflict

Ilinca Berinde

National Debate Team Coach

Ilinca Berinde is the coach of Romania's national academic debate team. Initially, she joined debates, knowing only what she had seen in American movies at the time, to overcome her fear of public speaking. Ilinca holds a degree in clinical psychology from the University of Amsterdam, and a specialization in organizational psychology. She completed her education with coaching In the 11 years since she started practicing debates, Ilinca has been a finalist in numerous international competitions, a judge, and a trainer. For her, the Romanian debate community has been the most important factor contributing to her personal and professional development. So she wanted to give back to the younger generations of students, a part of what she had received. Since 2023, she has been selecting and coaching Team Romania for WSDC, the team that represents Romania at the World Schools Debating Championship for students.

Ioana Dodan

Personal Brand Architect

Ioana Dodan is an architect and photographer of authentic personal brands. She is also the founder of a personal branding agency that focuses on PEOPLE. Ioana is passionate about what makes people UNIQUE and how you can summarize that uniqueness in a single sentence, a graphic sign, and a single photograph. Her mission is to help people LOVE THEMSELVES more in the process of building their personal brand, because in her experience of working as an architect, photographer, and graphic designer with over 4000 people, if you don't love who you are, you can't sustain your personal brand long-term. Ioana comes to TEDx Cluj with the desire to challenge us to transform our perception of ourselves and to expose ourselves, to become ambassadors of our brands, after finding strength in vulnerability and feeling like we like ourselves EXACTLY as we are.

Marius Moga

Artist / Composer

Marius Moga started his career at the age of 6 when he discovered the piano. At 12, he realized he was destined for music, so he recorded his first instrumental album and began writing and producing songs for local artists. The last two decades have been marked by Moga's presence in the Romanian and international music industry, with over 800 songs released and over 1.5 billion streams to date. With 12 gold and platinum records and 5 MTV awards, Marius Moga collaborated with Maroon 5 in 2013 to compose the song "The Man Who Never Lied" from the album Overexposed, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. In addition to the well-known record label and publishing house, DeMoga Music, which he opened in 2003, Moga also makes his mark in the entrepreneurial world with two technological innovations: IREAL.ro and Revocalize.ai.

Roxana Mittler-Matica

Neurosurgeon & Engineer

Roxana Mittler-Matica, holding a doctorate in medicine focused on the psychiatric sequelae of traumatic brain injuries, studied medicine to alleviate suffering and prolong healthy life. She complemented her education with a specialization in engineering, concentrating on energy production and industrial management. As Chief Medical Advisor and Managing Partner at the investment fund "5P - Future of Health," Roxana is pursuing the transition from a reactive disease care system to a proactive one focused on prevention, personalization, prediction, precision, and extending health - Longevity. She is also a member of the Faculty of Healthy Longevity at the Health Captains Institute, an international organization advocating for the radical and sustainable transformation of healthcare systems. Currently, Roxana is leading the digitalization at the DRK Mainz Pain Management Center, continuing to provide expertise to patients in managing spinal conditions.

Teofil Dascălu

Entrepreneur

Teofil Dascălu studied at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Iași, Romania, where he earned an engineering degree and subsequently completed a master's degree. Continuously seeking to enhance his knowledge in the field, he participated in the Erasmus European educational program and studied at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy. In 2021, he successfully developed Romania's first fully digitalized farm, with an integrated IoT ecosystem that includes intelligent devices embedded in agricultural equipment: processing, sensors, and communication hardware. He always demonstrates passion and dedication to his work, especially since a great effort, regardless of the field, always yields results. As a team manager, he has created and implemented successful projects that have increased productivity, efficiency, and profit, thus leading the team by example, with an enthusiasm that inspires and motivates.