TEDxVictoria

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Alyssa Talley

  Historian, entrepreneur + avid traveler

  Alyssa Talley is a historian, entrepreneur, and avid traveler passionate about how societies remember the past. A recent Master of Arts graduate from the University of Victoria, her research explores memorialization and its evolving meaning across cultures. Through the UVIC I-witness Field School, she engaged in intercultural dialogues on history and remembrance in North America and Europe.

• Bob (Galagame') Chamberlin

  Advocate + former Chief Councilor

  Bob (Galagame') Chamberlin is a lifelong advocate for Wild Pacific Salmon, food security, and Indigenous rights. He served 14 years as elected Chief Councilor of the Kwikwasutinuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation and nine years as Vice President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Galagame' led negotiations resulting in the removal of fish farms from the Broughton Archipelago and consulted for Homalco, Tla'amin, and Klahoose First Nations on the Discovery Islands. He is the founder of the First Nation Wild Salmon Alliance and has spoken on Indigenous rights and environmental justice at national forums and the United Nations Convention in Geneva. His work centers on true reconciliation and lasting environmental stewardship.

• Daniel Morel

  Harmonicist

  Daniel Morel is a Montreal-born harmonicist and blues musician who busked across Canada before settling in Victoria. With a style shaped by street performance and blues legends, he delivers gritty, soulful shows that reflect his resilience, journey, and deep love for music.

• Danton Jay

  Musician

  Danton Jay is a Victoria-based musician and songwriter whose work blends jazz, rock, and soul influences with a passion for climate action and social change. Drawing on early roots in jazz and rock, his writing style weaves rich chord progressions with steady, groove-driven arrangements, often inspired by the expansive sound of Prince-era big bands. Through Decades After Paris, Danton uses music as a tool for dialogue, resilience, and imagining more hopeful futures.

• David Delisle

  TV personality, bestselling author + entrepreneur

  David Delisle is the founder of The Awesome Stuff™, a TV personality, bestselling author, and entrepreneur passionate about financial literacy. Featured on NBC, Fox, Forbes, and CTV’s The Social, he made his first investment at 11, entered real estate by 20, and was semi-retired by 40. His groundbreaking graphic novel, The Golden Quest, is the first of its kind to teach financial literacy, aiming to transform how a million kids think about money. Through engaging storytelling, David inspires young minds to build financial freedom with purpose and joy, helping them focus on what truly matters in life.

• David Vest

  Blues artist

  David Vest is a southern-born boogie-woogie pianist, songwriter, and blues icon who has written for Tammy Wynette and played with legends for over six decades. A multi-award winner, he electrifies stages with his storytelling and continues to inspire audiences across North America.

• Erfa Alani

  Executive leader

  Erfa Alani is an executive leader with over 20 years experience shaping strategy, investment, and public policy across industries. A former refugee, she learned resilience early—an ethos that has guided her through law school to consulting at PwC and IBM. She worked as Deputy Head of Mission at the Aga Khan Development Network where she secured critical resources for healthcare, education, and infrastructure, bringing sustainable development to underserved communities. Erfa specializes in building organizations from the ground up, fostering collaboration to drive lasting impact. She is currently Chief of Staff and Director of Corporate Affairs at Invest Ontario, an organization she helped to establish.

• Eric Pittman

  Adventurer, artist + conservationist

  Eric Pittman is an adventurer, conservationist, and artist with a diverse career spanning the Canadian Coast Guard, aviation, and environmental activism. A former commercial helicopter pilot, he worked in search and rescue, firefighting, and exploration. In the arts, he developed Spectral Visions, performed for Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and was featured in National Geographic. He later founded Sterling Glass Foundry, repurposing waste glass into art. In 2017, he co-founded the Canadian Orca Rescue Society, working with First Nations to remove fish farms. Recognized for bravery and conservation, he has collaborated with BBC, Netflix, and recently presented to the House of Commons on environmental issues.

• Gael Hannan

  Advocate, author + speaker on hearing loss

  Gael Hannan is an advocate, author, and speaker on hearing loss. Born with progressive hearing loss, she now uses both a hearing aid and cochlear implant. Becoming a mother at 40 led her to discover a passion for advocacy. For 30 years, she has created award-winning programs blending comedy and drama to help others navigate hearing loss. A globally recognized writer, she authored The Way I Hear It and Hear & Beyond. Gael has served on national and international accessibility organizations. She lives in North Saanich, Vancouver Island, with her husband, “The Hearing Husband,” cherishing visits from their four children and seven grandchildren.

• Heather Lynn

  Musician

  Heather Lynn is a vocalist and performer based in Victoria, known for her captivating stage presence and dynamic vocal range. With a bright, expressive tone and a deep ear for harmony shaped by studying Ella Fitzgerald, she brings both technical precision and emotional depth to her performances. As one half of Decades After Paris, Heather uses her voice to connect audiences to stories of climate action, community, and possibility.

• Jill Van Gyn-Carr

  Writer, advocate + business leader

  Jill Van Gyn-Carr is a writer, advocate, and business leader known for her bold approach to storytelling, entrepreneurship, and social impact. As founding CEO of Fatso Peanut Butter, she built a nationally recognized brand celebrated for its progressive values. Her leadership has been nationally recognized by Maclean’s, BC Business, and EY and today she is the Director of Business Development at Rifflandia Entertainment Company where she helps drive growth, brand development, and strategic initiatives for one of Canada’s most dynamic music and entertainment brands. Jill is on the board of Peers Victoria, an organization that ignited her passion for small-scale, high-impact philanthropy.

• K Krasnow Waterman

  Board Director + business mentor

  K Krasnow Waterman has held C-suite roles across government, finance, and academia. Following a midcareer JD and a Master’s in global management and innovation, she’s spent recent years helping build companies in all industries from startup through $10+B, as well as performing AI research at MIT and providing board leadership and entrepreneurship education. Through her company, Tcomplete Canada Inc., she supports tech innovation and transformation—from product design and strategy to policy and commercialization. Locally, she’s involved with organizations like the Indigenomics Institute and COAST’s advisory board. K brings energy and insight, offering a 360-degree view of the future of tech and leadership.

• Katłıà (Catherine) Lafferty

  Author + environmentalist

  Katłıà (Catherine) Lafferty is a Dene woƒman from Dënéndeh, Northwest Territories, whose northern roots and matrilineal lineage deeply inform her storytelling. She is working in the RELAW program (Revitalizing Indigenous law for land, air and water) at West Coast Environmental Law, a non-profit organization based in British Columbia that uses the law to address environmental issues. An accomplished author, her works include Northern Wildflower, Land-Water-Sky, This House is Not a Home, Firekeeper, and the forthcoming Mother Earth is Our Elder. Katłıà’s writing weaves together personal experience, Indigenous knowledge, and activism. She is a mother, grandmother, and daughter of many mothers, including Mother Earth.

• Leah Wang

  Advocate, public speaker + youth mentor

  Leah Wang is a passionate public speaker, youth mentor, and advocate for accessible communication education. Growing up with selective mutism and a severe stutter, she overcame immense challenges to discover that public speaking isn’t about perfection—it’s about being heard. At just 15, Leah has founded a nonprofit that has reached over 5,580 students across 22 international branches, making public speaking education accessible regardless of financial or systemic barriers. She believes communication is one of the most transformative skills a young person can develop. Whether in classrooms or communities, Leah is proving that no matter where you start, your voice can make a difference.

• Olav Krigolson

  Neuroscientist

  Dr. Olav Krigolson is a neuroscientist at the University of Victoria with research interests spanning decision-making, learning, statistics, game theory, EEG, and mobile neuroscience technologies. His research program has led to over 100 peer reviewed scientific publications and $27 million in grant funding for the Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory where he is the Principal Investigator. He’s collaborated with NASA, major league sports, and health organizations, and his work has been featured by CBC, the Discovery Channel, and Maclean’s. In 2017, he received a Benjamin Meaker Fellowship at Bristol University for his contributions to neuroscience.

• Sunniva Sorby

  Polar explorer, climate advocate + citizen scientist

  Sunniva Sorby is a polar explorer, climate advocate, and citizen scientist dedicated to protecting our planet. In 2020, she became one of the first women to overwinter solo in the Arctic, spending 19 months off-grid to advance climate research through Hearts in the Ice, a global initiative engaging 150,000+ youth. A sought-after speaker, she has presented for Google, the UN (COP26), and National Geographic. Sunniva has been featured in BBC, CNN, Forbes, and Canadian Geographic. A Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, she continues to inspire action through storytelling, youth engagement, and an upcoming documentary bringing her Arctic experiences to life.

• Tony Esteves

  Author, keynote speaker + workshop facilitator

  Tony Esteves is a keynote speaker and author on human connection and social health who once met a stranger every day for a full year. A former professional circus artist, he brings playfulness and vitality to his work, inspiring audiences to see how everyday encounters can transform lives. Known as The Human Connection Guide, Tony created the Talk2MorePeople Project to help others discover the power of curiosity, micro-bravery, and authentic connection.

• Zoe Slusar, A.K.A. ZHE The Free

  Hip-hop artist, mentor + advocate

  Zoe Slusar, aka ZHE the FREE, is a powerhouse hip-hop artist, mentor, and advocate. Growing up on Treaty 7 land, she channels her fire into explosive performances, blending freestyle, storytelling, and social activism. Winner of the National Music Centre’s 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop track competition, she inspires others to find their voice through music. A dedicated mentor, she has worked with Sask Music, Tribe Artist Society, and more, using hip-hop as a tool for youth empowerment. Founder of Cypher Club YYC and co-founder of Circle Made Artist Society, ZHE organizes community events, bringing artists together through the power of rhythm, words, and raw energy.