TEDxKarbala

Speakers

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

• Dr. Ali Tariq

  Doctor

  Dr. Ali Tariq A physician and a professor at the College of Medicine, specializing in dermatology and psychodermatology. He is distinguished by his unique integration of these two fields, with a focused interest in dermatologic conditions influenced by psychological factors. He takes us back to the roots of skin diseases, showing how they can stem from psychological origins rather than just organic ones. He illustrates that the skin is a mirror of the human psyche and what it endures. He guides us through several stages, starting from the foundational aspects to the philosophical and religious dimensions.

• Dr. Nusrat Al-Attar

  Doctor

  A physician specialized in Emergency Medicine, whose professional journey embodies a transition from saving lives in the most critical conditions to empowering minds through science and knowledge. He focuses on transferring expertise and training medical personnel, contributing to the development of healthcare capacity. He currently serves as the Director of the Regional Center for Emergency Medicine, and his impact extends beyond the center to multiple provinces. He takes us through emergency rooms filled with human stories. These stories vary in characters and plots, yet their endings often share common themes of loss, pain, and sorrow. The challenge remains the same each time, how can we deliver bad news? He reminds us that we all, at some point in our lives, have been compelled to share bad news or will be one day, thus, human communication is vital. Honesty, clarity, empathy, seriousness, and integrity are all that is required.

• Fadel Ahmed

  Traveler & Cultural Explorer

  An Iraqi traveler that has visited 45 countries and aspires to reach 100 countries before the age of thirty, driven by a deep interest in travel and exploring different cultures. He is a graduate of United World Colleges in Germany. Among his most notable achievements is a bicycle journey from Germany to Iraq. He redefines the concept of impossibility for us as humans and how each of us has our own version of impossibility. He explains that what defines our impossibilities as individuals is our primary language "fear". He illustrates that not everything that seems frightening is truly dangerous.

• Hajer Hussain

  Education Influencer

  A volunteer and community activist since 2015, focusing her efforts on youth empowerment and the development of education in Iraq. She has contributed to numerous volunteer and student-led initiatives nationwide. She is the author of Journey of Education, a co-founder of the (My Journey in Sixth Grade) Program, and has represented Iraq at several international events. She tells us about the possibility of multiplying our lives from one to many through volunteering. She emphasizes that there are numerous ways to contribute to society, and with each act of social responsibility, we live an additional life. To sustain social impact, we need what is called the third sector.

• Marwa Hussain

  Peacebuilding Activist

  An Iraqi civil activist from the Shabak minority in the Nineveh Plain. She has worked extensively in the fields of peacebuilding, social cohesion, women’s rights and empowerment, and cultural heritage preservation. Her efforts focus on building bridges of trust and peace among minorities and empowering her community through positive, impact-driven initiatives. She discusses the role of women during crises, particularly during the displacement of the Shabak community, highlighting how women, especially minority women, played a role in resolving conflicts between minorities and building peace.

• Masar Al-Yasiri

  poet

  An Iraqi poet and writer, and a member of the Iraqi Writers’ Union. She has published several literary works and has received numerous awards at both local and international forums. She also participated in the Prince of Poets competition in the United Arab Emirates in 2022. She tells us that success cannot be achieved solely through support, it also requires enough courage to showcase it publicly. She decided to support women, especially rural women who lack the courage to confront circumstances and face their fears.

• Raheem Al-Silawi

  photographer

  A professional photographer and the head of the Iraqi Photographic Society in Karbala. He is distinguished by his active participation in exhibitions both inside and outside Iraq, most notably through three solo exhibitions held in the German cities of Trier and Essen. He has received numerous international, Arab, and local gold awards. He presents a voice that is not captured by the ear but by the eye the lens of a human being. In his speech, the image speaks for itself and has the final word. It is a universal language that transcends time and space to convey messages and truths to the entire world.

• Salah Haithani

  Writer & researcher

  An Iraqi writer and researcher from Karbala, and the founder of the largest art museum in Iraq dedicated to personal exhibitions. He has published several literary studies and research works, studied Arabic language and literature in the Netherlands, and has managed multiple art galleries both within Iraq and internationally. He speaks about capturing the memory of Karbala city through antiques, allowing the world to see Karbala alongside its cultural side. Karbala is a city that produces culture and is pioneering in embracing it.