Theme: Past, Present, Progress - Now and Beyond

The future is painted with the brushstrokes of scientific discovery, environmental stewardship, and social progress, inviting the next generation to embark on a journey of endless possibilities and contribute to the shaping of a brighter, more interconnected, and sustainable world.

As we stand on the precipice of a rapidly changing world, the dilemma lies in navigating the intersection of technological progress, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Therefore, the youth must take initiatives to acquire a versatile skill set and a dynamic mindset to tackle the challenges future poses and explore the progression for tomorrow while prioritizing the well-being of both humanity and the planet.

This year, TEDxUTM2024 brings you : Past, Present, Progress, which aims to share experience of the past glory and mistakes, to expose the young individuals to the inevitable aptitude of the future and the plans, preparations, and skills needed to cope with what’s forthcoming as an individual and part of a nation.

Dewan Kuliah 8, N24
N24, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Skudai, Johor, 81310
Malaysia

Beth Teo

Self Taught Fluid Artist

Beth, a self-taught Fluid Artist and founder of The Fluid Box, creates vibrant masterpieces reflecting life's spontaneity. Passionate about embracing imperfections, she immerses herself in fluid art's unpredictable flow, finding solace and joy in its freedom. Beth's journey exemplifies the beauty of embracing life's unpredictability, where each pour tells a story of resilience and creativity.

Bryan Yap Zhi Yung

Undergraduate 3rd Year BSc. (Chemistry) Student

Bryan Yap is a third-year undergraduate student at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) with Honours. Since 2017, he has been involved in public speaking on youth leadership, environmental issues, and mental health. From 2021 to 2023, Bryan was active in youth activism with AIESEC in Johor Bahru and co-founded a Scholarship Mentoring Programme. He also mentored students for the UK Sarawak Students’ Association (UK SSA). From 2023 until February 2024, Bryan served as the Country Product Manager for Youth Volunteering Projects at AIESEC in Malaysia.

Chin Pui Ting (Pudds)

Content Creator + Cosplayer

Ms. Chin Pui Ting, also known as Deadpudds, is a dynamic content creator who introduces traditional clothing through engaging reels, cosplay, and captivating posts on Instagram and TikTok. With a flair for blending traditional attire and creative cosplay, Deadpudds combines her love for singing and storytelling to produce unique and visually stunning content that celebrates culture and creativity.

Daniel Tan, D.C

Certified Chiropractor + Fitness Influencer

Daniel Tan is a leading Gonstead Chiropractor and fitness influencer. With a decade of experience and over 10,000 patients served, Daniel's clinic stands as a beacon of holistic healthcare. A former fitness modeling champion, His journey blends chiropractic mastery with multiple fitness certifications, creating a unique approach to wellness. Beyond his clinic, he mentors new chiropractors and educates the public through social media, advocating for healthier lifestyles.

Dr. Khor Kang Xiang

Managing Director

Dr. Khor Kang Xiang graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and is now the Managing Director of Techcare Innovation. Driven by a passion for technology and its potential in rehabilitation, Dr. Khor is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that significantly enhance the quality of life for many individuals. His leadership and expertise in bioengineering are instrumental in advancing the company’s mission to improve healthcare through cutting-edge technology.

Dr. Nazrin Abd Aziz

Plant Biotechnologist + Lecturer

Dr. Nazrin is a senior lecturer at Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Raising awareness on plant genetic modification has always been his focus as a plant biotechnologist. For that, he has achieved numerous significant scientific such as YSN-ASM Rising Star some 2019 by Young Scientist Network (YSN) from Akademi Sains Malaysia (ASM).

Dr. Yeong Che Fai

Serial Competition Winner + Entrepreneur

Dr Yeong is a senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. His interests are in embedded system, robotics, innovations and entrepreneurship. He has won more than 50 awards for his innovation and entrepreneurship work, such as World Invention Award at British Invention Show, Korean Inventor Award Festival, APICTA Award, ROBOCON, Allianz Bank SME Innovation Challenge, Ministry of Education Entrepreneurship Mentor Award, trips to Philips at Eindhoven and to Silicon Valley through MaGIC e@Stanford program. He participated in Austrian Leadership Program (Vienna) and also Newton Fund Leader in Innovation Fellowship Program (London) sponsored by respective government. He is a serial entrepreneur and has co-founded several companies such as DF Automation & Robotic, produces Industry 4.0 enabled robots and Techcare Innovation, focuses on rehabilitation robots and assistive technology. Dr. Yeong has frequently been invited to speak on innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship.

Farah Najihah Binti Razali

Lecturer UMT

Ms. Farah is a member of Horseshoe Crab Research Group (HCRG) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) since 2018. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree BSc Biology from University of Bristol, UK in 2017, she continued her studies in MSc Biotechnology in UMT, focusing on horseshoe crabs. During the active years in horseshoe crabs’ studies, she had participated in a lot of awareness programs, appeared in ML Studio Youtube video and wrote three story books. Horseshoe crabs have been her passion since then and that is why she is willing to give more and more awareness for the future.

Fyiona Yong

Executive Coach and Corporate Trainer

"I am a banana – yellow on the outside and white on the inside. I’m a German citizen born in Malaysia with my passport issued in Hong Kong! At work, I was labelled a Diversity Token!” As a certified Leadership Coach and Third Culture Individual, Fyiona’s mission is to bridge the generational gap and be the glue between the Western and Asian culture. She spent 14 years working in the male dominated and traditional oil and gas industry in Germany, UK and Hong Kong and struggled to feel a true sense of belonging. Feeling like a misfit for most of her life, she finally managed to find herself by understanding that “home” is not a country and by learning how to transform her adversities into advantages. Fyiona aims to help people unleash their unique talents and strengths not only for their own benefit but to create a positive domino effect so everyone can thrive.

Prof. Emerita Dr. Durrishah Idrus

Chief Executive of IJN College, Institute Jantung Negara (IJN)

Professor Emerita Dr. Durrishah Idrus is the Chief Executive of IJN College, a private higher education institution at Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Kuala Lumpur. She was awarded a Professor Emerita status by the Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, DYMM Tuanku Permaisuri Johor on 18th November 2023. She was the Deputy Vice Chancellor (for Student Affairs and Alumni) of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) from 2017 to 2020, the second highest position at the renowned Research University. Her tagline is “Be Truthful, Be Brave but always Be Kind”.

Sofiane Madmar

Independent Researcher (Geopolitics) + Manager at local administration

Sofiane Madmar recently graduated from ENTPE, a prestigious French postgraduate school specializing in sustainable planning, and holds a Master's degree in social sciences. Currently, he serves as a state agent for the French Ministry of Ecology, where he manages a GIS and data management unit within local administration. In his spare time, Sofiane contributes to an independent geopolitics journal and collaborates remotely on a project with researchers at UTM's Center of Innovative Planning and Development (CIPD). His work focuses on exploring the impact of urban environments on societies.