TEDxCentennialCollegeToronto Program Booklet

CentennialCollegeToronto
RESILIENCE
10.25.2018
#TEDxCCTO

RESILIENCE
Resilience is the ability to withstand, recover and move forward
when faced with adversity, tragedy and problems that seem
impossible to overcome. Despite the common understanding
of its definition, what resilience looks like in practice is everexpanding.
Resilience as an idea has become increasingly
popular beyond psychology. Today, it is not an overstatement
to say that resilience exists within all fields, industries and
movements. At TEDxCentennialCollegeToronto, we invite
you to explore what resilience means to you through ideas
worth spreading.
Share your conference experience with us!
#TEDxCCTO
@TEDxCCTO
tedxcentennialcollegetoronto.ca
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About TEDxCentennialCollegeToronto
TEDxCentennialCollegeToronto aims to cast a big spotlight
on the creative, innovative and transformative new ideas of
our vibrant local community. We connect community leaders,
artists, entrepreneurs and change makers through innovative
ideas. TEDxCentennialCollegeToronto is organized by students,
faculty, and staff of Centennial College in collaboration with the
local Scarborough community, Toronto.
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth
Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30
years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple
initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s
leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less.
Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com.
TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth
Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck,
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.
The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in
Vancouver, British Columbia. TED’s media initiatives include
TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily, the Open
Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive
transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide,
the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established the
annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to
change the world get help translating their wishes into action,
TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local,
self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the
TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from
around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable
projects and activities.
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About TEDx, x = independently organized event
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, TED Talks video
and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and
connection. 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.)
IDEAS
WORTH SPREADING

About Centennial College
Over the past 50 years, Centennial College has transformed
itself from a local community college to a worldly institution,
with a presence in countries like China, India, South Korea
and Brazil.
Our focus has always been on preparing graduates to
enter the work force, while teaching our students to be
leaders. We’ve worked to build lasting partnerships with
local communities, while preparing our graduates to
succeed globally.
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SCHE DULE
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast/Registration
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Opening Remarks
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Session Three
9:15 – 10:30 AM
Session One
• Brandon Love • Shamim Ahmadi
• Joanne Dominico • Trung Ngo
• Erin Wilson
• Najwa Zebian
• John Wilson
• Najeeb Khan
• Tahani Aburaneh
• Ann Buller
10:30 – 10:45 AM
Conversation Break
10:45 – 12:00 PM
Session Two
• Nikita Lebedev
3:00 – 3:15 PM
Closing Remarks
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Networking Social
• Nick Liu
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• Melissa Grelo
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SPEAKERS
Ann Buller
Ann Buller is a visionary leader
who has embedded the principles
of global citizenship, equity and
inclusion into Centennial’s programs
and operations. She helped introduce
Centennial’s Global Citizenship and
Equity Learning Experiences that urge
students and staff to make positive
social change through meaningful
service-learning projects around the
globe. Ann is a member of several
boards and committees, working tirelessly as an advocate for
Centennial and the college system. She is frequently quoted in the
media on issues related to post secondary education, leadership,
internationalization and inclusion, and has earned numerous
prestigious awards recognizing her leadership excellence and
mentoring.
Brandon Love
Erin Wilson
Erin is currently enrolled in her second
year of the Recreation and Leisure
Services Program at Centennial
College. This will be the fourth program
Erin has completed at Centennial since
2012. Erin is also a small business
owner who recently launched her third
company this past summer. Living on
her own since age 16, Erin has faced
numerous challenges and trials in her
short life, but through resiliency and
learning to change her inner dialogue has gone on to find continued
success both personally and professionally.
Joanne Dominico
Brandon Love is a magician,
speaker and author. He’s worked
with thousands of people across
North America, helping them learn
to solve more problems, build better
teams and fulfill their potential,
both personally and professionally.
Combining awe-inspiring
entertainment with experiencederived
insights from more than
15 years facilitating leadership workshops, Brandon creates an
audience experience you won’t soon forget. He is a certified
teacher, hypnotist and a member of the Academy of Magical Arts
at the Magic Castle. He is the co-author of Brainsprouting: How to
Become Fearlessly Creative and Have Better Ideas More Often.
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Joanne Dominico is a Learning
Strategist at Centennial College’s
Morningside Campus. Joanne has
over 15 years of experience working
in diverse educational settings and
has worked with learners of all ages.
Joanne first began her career as an
Occupational Therapist working in
schools across the GTA, in the USA
and in Sunny Bermuda. Now also a
certified fitness instructor, Joanne first
launched Anatomy Boot camp in the summer of 2018 and plans
to continue helping students to pass this challenging course while
getting fit at the same time!
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John Wilson
Najeeb Khan
A software development expert and
renewable energy innovator, John
Wilson brings 30 years of experience in
technology management to his role as
Vice President, Operations at Bullfrog
Power, Canada’s leading renewable
energy company. A trailblazer in lowcarbon
living, John, with his family,
designed and built their award-winning,
sustainable Wilson Natural home in
2001. John has also produced three
documentary films about his vision of a solar powered world. John
is currently developing solar-powered aquaponics systems and food
waste up-cycling at his home and farm property.
Najeeb Khan is the author of the
best-selling book called Fluid: How
Culture, Hidden Opportunities, and
Flatter Structures Lead to Profitable
Innovation. Najeeb is the Innovation
Strategist at BigCreate, and the CEO
of Relax Brands Inc. He has been
featured in Forbes, The Huffington
Post, OMNI News, and spoken
at various institutions such as the
Schulich School of Business, University
of Toronto, Centennial College and others. He was also recognized
by American Express and Ashoka as one of the 45 “Emerging
Innovators” across Canada, the United States and Mexico. During his
free time, he competes in triathlons and goes surfing.
Melissa Grelo
Najwa Zebian
Smart, sassy and informed, Melissa
Grelo is a Co-Host and moderator of
The Social, and Contributing Host of
CTV’s Your Morning. Prior to these
roles, Grelo was a long-time co-host
of Canada’s most-watched morning
news program, CP24 BREAKFAST,
where she anchored and reported on
the biggest stories in Canada’s largest
news market. Seizing the opportunity
afforded to her by these roles, Grelo
has successfully positioned herself as a top social media influencer
with thousands of followers across all platforms. The mother of
an adventurous young daughter, she is active in the community,
specifically with the GTA’s youth, and is the Celebrity Ambassador in
Canada for The Prince of Wales’s Campaign for Wool.
Najwa Zebian is a Lebanese-Canadian
author, speaker and educator. Her
passion for language was evident
from a young age, as she delved
into Arabic poetry and novels. Since
self-publishing her first collection of
poetry and prose in 2016, Najwa has
become an inspiration to millions
of people worldwide. Najwa has
become a trailblazing voice for women
everywhere and was name dropped
by the New York Times and CBS News, among others. Drawing on
her own experiences of displacement, discrimination and abuse,
Najwa uses her words to encourage others to build a home within
themselves; to live, love, and create fearlessly.
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Nick Liu
Shamim Ahmadi
As Executive Chef/Partner at the
critically acclaimed DaiLo and Little
DaiLo in Toronto, he is renowned for his
delicate handling of bold Asian flavours
with traditional French techniques. As
an authority on New Asian Cuisine,
he is a sought-after guest speaker,
TV personality (including Iron Chef
Canada) and culinary pundit. Having
worked at Michelin star restaurants
and owning one of Canada’s top
restaurants, Chef Liu has earned numerous awards and accolades
for his contributions to the culinary world.
Shamim Ahmadi was born in 1991
in a small village in Central East
Afghanistan during the Mujahidin War
and grew up when the Taliban were in
power. She learned reading and writing
in the mosque and started school after
the fall of the Taliban. When Ahmadi
was a teenager, her family immigrated
to Pakistan due to increased violence
in Afghanistan. After graduating from a
refugee high school in Quetta Pakistan,
she came to Canada and lived in Covenant House for six months.
In 2014, Ahmadi founded an online organization that supports
education for women in Afghanistan. She is currently a nursing
student and pursuing her dream to obtain a medical degree while
working as a nurse. Her goal is to empower women and help children
through education and medicine.
Nikita Lebedev
Tahani Aburaneh
Nikita Lebedev created various
creatures and characters for various
movies and TV shows, including The
Shape of Water, Resident Evil: The
Final Chapter, Strain, Godless and
others. Currently, he is working at Mr.
X Inc. He is also a part-time professor
at Centennial College, teaching Digital
Animation and DVFX programs.
Lebedev creates sculptures in his free
time and has recently opened his sculpture store, where he sells resin
kits of his work and educational materials. His work has also been
published in 3D printing magazines and featured on websites like
Stan Winston School and Zortrax.
Tahani Aburaneh is one of Canada’s
top real estate moguls, a land
developer, a builder and the founder
of four companies. She is also an
international speaker and bestselling
author of Real Estate Riches (published
by Wiley and Sons). She is a shining
female star in a heavily maledominated
industry.
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Trung Ngo
When faced with adversity, why
do some people become stronger
while others break down? In the past
decade, Trung Ngo has been exploring
this question while treating people with
complex, chronic pain at Mount Sinai
Hospital. Dr. Ngo has worked with
leading clinicians and academics in
pain rehabilitation and has published
research in peer-reviewed journals. In
2017, he founded Novah Healthcare,
a community-based clinic that offers
an interdisciplinary approach to pain
management. He also speaks regularly
at public events in his quest to educate
the community about chronic pain.
Outside of work, he is mastering the art
of changing diapers.
SPONSORS

• Yasmin Razack (Chair)
• Mezart Daulet (P. M.)
• Suzanne Kanso
• Lisa Kadoury
• Marlyn Husbands
• Amany Tadros
• Marah Echavez
• Manny Rodrigues
• Shirley Merith
• Paula Greenwood
TEAM
Leadership Team
• Colleen Booth
• Ankar Anwar
• Samuel Casais
• Justin Lim
• Jem Hewitt
• Eric Schwenger
• Veronica Barahona
• Deborah
Matthews-Phinney
• Michelle Kong
Marketing and Communication
Chris Jardine (Lead), Shannon O’Reilly, Ashley Breedon,
Andrew Janssen, Raphael Tigno, Marie Joseph
Event Planning
Amany Tadros (Lead), Cameal Soverall
Community Engagement
Ankar Anwar (Lead), Samuel Casais, Justin Lim,
Jem Hewitt, Eric Schwenger
Coaches
Jenny Shin, Mariola Czarniak, Neelay Bhatt,
Marilyn Herie, Craig Stephenson, Lisa Kadoury,
Marlyn Husbands, Joe Baker, Yasmin Razack,
Nita Saini, Amanda Alvaro
Speaker Review Panel
Neil Buddel, Yasmin Razack, Samuel Casais,
Kim Miller, Justin Lim
IT/AV
Dmitry Nikiforov, David Pearce,
Rene Chakraborty, Souphy Saythong
Special Thanks
Hugo Vallecilla-Orozco, Jenny Clement, Gabriel Bedard
Volunteers
Centennial College Students
Our sincere apologies for any omission.
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