Theme: Embracing Diversity

n 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).

The Grand Multi-Purpose Hall, GIIS PUNGGOL SMART CAMPUS
27 Punggol Field Walk, Singapore 828649
Punggol, Singapore, North East, 828649
Singapore

Atithy Senthilkumar

Meet Atithy Senthilkumar a IB YR2 Student who lives with a speech impediment that manifests as a stutter, but she sees this as a unique part of her journey. This impediment has shaped Atithy's perspective on communication and her connection to it. As someone who used to be very reserved and still is to a certain level, she loves challenging herself and going out of her comfort zone, which plays a part in her reasons for speaking at TEDx GIIS Youth. Atithy believes that our differences-whether they are how we speak, our religion, interests-are what make us stronger as a community. This belief drives her dedication to building connections that bridge gaps between different perspectives. Despite her stutter, she loves engaging in conversations about topics that help deepen her understanding. Speaking on this stage is a testament to her belief that everyone has a unique voice that needs to be heard. This is also one of the few quotes she lives by and is one of her motivators to challenge herself. From a young age, she used to watch TED Talks to understand why she has certain differences and she used this exploration to build herself and her persona. This journey of discovery taught her to embrace diversity, making her excited to share her talk on this stage.

Bhakti Birla

Meet Bhakti Birla, a young leader with a powerful voice for embracing diversity. Finding her way through life as a 17 year old, she hopes to convey her thoughts and foster a community that displays empathy and integrity, values that she deeply resonates with. She has already made her mark as a leader in debate events like GIIS MUN and GIIS Conference, which showcase not only her confidence but also her commitment to fostering meaningful conversations on global issues. With a passion for science, she hopes to combine the two things most important to her - public speaking and aspirations for pursuing medicine. Beyond her academic pursuits, Bhakti has spent over a decade honing the graceful art of classical Bharatanatyam, a testament to her discipline and dedication. In her free time, she channels her creativity into drawing intricate mandala art, a reflection of her focus and attention to detail.

Ching Chia

Ching has been involved in civil society and community building work for more than a decade. Her work in activism includes being an organising committee member at Pink Dot for the past 11 years handling social media, a community builder at Prout running events such as Queer Trivia Night, various panel discussions on LGBTQ issues for the past 6 years, and more recently a founding member of Proud Parents, a queer parents a support group that provides support for fellow queer parents in Singapore In her current day job, Ching is currently an Associate Senior Sales Director at a real estate agency-'selling sunset in Singapore, focusing mainly on residential properties. Her day the job pays for her work in activism, as well as her daughter's wishes. In Ching's past life, she was an urban planner and researcher with a passion for city planning and design for 15 years. She did her undergraduate studies in urban planning and design at the University of Melbourne, and her postgraduate studies in architecture at the National University of Singapore. While she enjoyed lecturing and nurturing young minds during her time as a part-time lecturer in NUS and also a Vice-President andTeam manager of the NUS Muay Thai Fight Team, she is happy with her current career where there is more flexibility for her to spend time with her newly created family. She and her wife are proud mums to a 13-month-old baby girl.

Hirfan Romzi

Hirfan Romzi is a Projects Lead at a lifestyle events company, where he leads the execution of large-scale, innovative events and creative activations. Alongside his role in event management, Hirfan freelances as a creative designer, offering his artistic vision and expertise to a variety of projects. His work spans branding, experiential installations, and digital content creation, all with a focus on crafting meaningful and visually compelling experiences. A passionate advocate for community building and giving back to society, at the age of 21, Hirfan founded the Aliwal Chess Club, an unconventional street chess initiative in Singapore, now in its third year. What began as a personal passion project has since grown into a community-driven platform that promotes chess in vibrant public spaces. The club has played a key role in organising World Chess Day celebrations and collaborating with Singapore’s creative community and national institutions, aiming to create an ecosystem where chess is more than just a game—it’s a way to bring people together

Niranjan Pandian

Niranjan Pandian is a renowned Singaporean flautist and music director, known for his mastery of Indian bamboo flutes, such as the Klui, Suling, and Dizi. As the creative producer of Brahmastra, an arts and production house, Niranjan focuses on cross-cultural collaborations and multi-disciplinary projects. He is a graduate of LASALLE College of the Arts, having earned a BA (Hons) in Music under an Arts Scholarship from Singapore's National Arts Council. Niranjan's early mentorship with Dr Ghanavenothan Retnam, along with continued guidance from celebrated musicians like Grammy nominee Maestro Shashank Subramaniam and Pundit Deepak Ram, h a s shaped his artistic path. In 2022, he was recognised by Britishpedia's "Successful People of Singapore" a n d received the Mandolin U. Shrinivas International Award. With over 400 recorded tracks and numerous international performances, including appearances at the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, Niranjan, has earned global recognition. His work has been honoured by the New York International Film Festival and the Tamizhagam International Film Festival. Beyond performing, he directs music for various ensembles, including Brahmastra, The Vamshika Quintet, and The NP Collective. His community-driven projects, like "7 Wonders of Punggol" and "Tunes of Somerset Belt" promote cultural exchange and youth empowerment. Niranjan actively engages in educational programs and discussions at institutions such as LASALLE College of the Arts and the Ministry of Education inspires audiences to explore identity through music.

Piya Raj Sukhani

Piya Sukhani’s work bridges the realms of policy, academia, and humanitarian service. Currently, she is an interdisciplinary academic at the National University of Singapore, where her teaching and research examine how coloniality permeates various structures of power across contemporary Asian societies. Within a year of joining NUS, Piya was awarded the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Engaging Instructor Award - an award that recognizes teaching excellence and pedagogical innovativeness based on student feedback from her over 400 students. Previously a policy analyst at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, she contributed research to peer-reviewed journals and offered political analysis on platforms like Bloomberg and Channel News Asia. She has also delivered presentations on Southeast Asian politics to government stakeholders as well as at prestigious international conferences, including at the University of Oxford and the lAFOR in Japan. Subsequently, she earned the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Full Scholarship Award and graduated with an MSc in International Relations as valedictorian, having topped a cohort of over 300 students. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Nottingham, Piya Sukhani demonstrated exceptional intellectual ability. She was awarded the Best Dissertation Prize for her outstanding research in the social sciences and graduated with First Class Honours, as well as the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal and the UoN Advantage Award. She represented the university at the 2017 International Student Summit in the UK, where she earned the Best Delegate Award. Additionally, she was selected as UoN's representative at the 2017 UNESCO World Press Freedom Conference in Jakarta. Beyond academia, Piya serves as the National Young Adult Deputy Coordinator for the Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation (SSIO) Malaysia. Where she is actively involved in numerous humanitarian causes and advocates for values-based education to navigate the nexus of social, political, economic and ecological challenges. Piya has conceptualised and facilitated workshops for various age groups on character building, leadership, and community service that aim to cultivate interfaith harmony.

Rain Khoo

Dignité was founded by Rain Khoo. With 20 years of experience, Rain began his career in branding and design and at 34, was the youngest Creative Director at P&G Asia. He was sought after for his work on market and human insight and has conducted contextual user research across APAC, China, US and European markets. A seasoned design thinking facilitator, his passion lies in combining disciplines to create original solutions that balance human dignity and business objectives. He left P&G and founded two consumer goods start-ups. His work has received corporate and trade awards recognition – the launch of Mothercare eCommerce in 3 countries was recognised as the best launch amongst all franchisee territories. Helater led product development at Rainforest, a leading Amazon aggregator. A gay and trans man who transitioned late when he was 35, Rain and his co-parent have two girls. He is proud of both of them - one has neurodivergence, and the other is creatively divergent. In 2017, Rain co-founded TransgenderSG, Singapore’s volunteer-run resource site for the transgender community. The work enables transparent access to healthcare and de-stigmatisation of the community. In DEI, Rain has conducted training at Google, the LEGO Group, Avery-Dennison, and more. He has also spoken at Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, General Assembly, amongst others. He holds certifications for DEI from the ESSEC Business School, Diversity and Performance. Rain currently serves in the P&G Alumni (Singapore) committee, a non-profit organisation and is a mentor at Singapore’s Management University’s Institute ofInnovation & Entrepreneurship. He is certified as a management consultant by TUV.

Shikha Sharma

Shikha Sharma is a distinguished media professional with nearly 15 years of experience in the digital media landscape. Renowned for her credibility and results-driven approach, she has successfully navigated both leading media organisations and innovative startups. Shikha has held key positions at prestigious platforms, including the Times Group, NDTV, Verse Innovation (Dailyhunt), Forbes India, and the Huffington Post. This diverse background has provided her with a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and effective marketing As the founder of ARTAZZLE, an online destination for premium and authentic Indian art, Shikha has embarked on a pivotal journey in 2023. This venture is not merely a passion project; it embodies her Ikigai- —a harmonious blend of her love for art and her expertise in business development. Artazzle is committed to promoting exceptional artistic creations while bridging the gap between art enthusiasts and remarkable masterpieces, with a focus on elevating Indian art on the global stage.

Sonia Gupta

Ms. Sonia Gupta is a highly regarded IBDP English and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) teacher at Global Indian International School, Punggol, where she has been a cornerstone of the academic community for several years. Her passion for literature and critical thinking is intertwined with her principles of inclusivity and diversity, creating an environment of learning that extends beyond the sociopolitical status quo. Ms. Gupta holds a Bachelor’s degree from the prestigious University of British Columbia, Vancouver, where she cultivated her appreciation for the global perspectives in literature. She went on to pursue her Master’s in English Literature at Queen Mary University of London further honing her expertise in literary analysis, and leading her to discover her love of historical structures within the community, such as long standing book stores and markets. Her love for vintage stores not only reflects her fascination with the evolution of items and literature with time but also the societal structures that change with them. Ms. Gupta is a teacher as well as a lifelong student, as she explores the way literature can communicate the various perspectives of human nature.