What if the key to restoring your energy wasn’t another coffee, but a small act of kindness or even just a gentle wiggle of your toes? In this warm and deeply personal talk, Elsa Tsang shares her philosophy for living with intention, presence and grace, even in the face of exhaustion. Drawing on her own life journey, surprising moments of clarity, and her unique AREA model, Elsa invites us to become blessings in the lives of others, not by doing more, but by being more.With touching stories and grounded insights, she reframes tiredness not as something to push through, but as a signal—an invitation to pause, reconnect with your body, and return to what really matters. This is a talk about the quiet power of presence, kindness, and choosing to show up with love even on the hardest days. If you want to change the world, you change people, and to change people, you start with what they believe.This principle has shaped every step of Dr Elsa's career, from frontline social work to university teaching, corporate development, and in the international charity sector.As a former professor of social work, Dr Elsa trained future leaders in how to support people with compassion while managing organisations with clarity and integrity, always asking, "How can we serve in a way that truly transforms lives?"Her doctoral research focused on gifted and talented education, exploring what helps human potential flourish. But it was through her journey, moving across countries, cultures, and leadership contexts, that her mission became personal: to build systems where people don’t just function, but expand.Today, Dr Elsa continues her work in the charity sector, helping individuals and teams grow with purpose, lead with depth, and make decisions that honour both people and progress.Her mission is to redefine human sustainability, not as maintaining the status quo, but as creating conditions where people thrive far beyond what they once believed possible. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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- 11:15The End of the Influencer | Avenna (Siang-Yu) Huang | TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhailAvenna takes us behind the scenes of going viral at 13 to reveal the hidden toll of internet fame—and the unexpected hope in what's coming next. From algorithm anxiety to the emotional burnout of constant performance, she opens up about the high cost of likes and views. But as AI begins to blur the line between real and artificial personas, Avenna asks: could authenticity become the most powerful form of influence Avenna became a social media influencer at the age of 13 for speaking all six official United Nations languages. Her interest in languages grew from a love for understanding people and cultures. She enjoys studying psychology and history, with hopes to one day pursue a career in law. Outside the classroom, Avenna is fascinated by filmmaking and figure skating. In her talk she offers a thoughtful look into both the light and the unseen, darker side of social media attention; what it gives, what it takes, and what it means for young people finding their voice in a digital world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 11:52There Is No Such Thing As A Bad Learner | Amanda Slavin | TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhailAs our lives become increasingly shaped by digital environments, Amanda challenges the idea that some kids just aren’t “good learners.” Sharing her own story and classroom insights, she introduces a framework that helps students identify what they need to stay engaged and feel seen. In a fast-paced world, she reminds us that learning isn’t about compliance—it’s about connection, agency, and purpose. This talk is a call to rethink how we support young minds in finding their voice and their spark. Amanda Slavin is an educator, author, and entrepreneur renowned for her work in reimagining engagement in education. With a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, she co-founded LearningFREQUENCY, a platform that personalises learning by identifying students' unique engagement styles.Her proprietary Seventh Level Engagement Framework, detailed in her best-selling book The Seventh Level, is taught in institutions like Yale and Howard University. Amanda is also the founder of The Future Frequency, a personalised learning ecosystem that leverages AI and evolving avatars to empower learners to own their growth. Her initiatives aim to transform how we define and measure success in learning.Recognised as one of the most innovative thinkers in education today, Amanda has spoken at major global platforms including SXSW, TEDx, and the United Nations. Her work bridges the gap between emotional intelligence and emerging technologies, making her a leading voice in the future of learning. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 9:53Bridging Language Barriers with AI | Muhammad Raahim Gilani | TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhailRaahim takes us on a journey from the vibrant markets of Pakistan to the cutting-edge realms of AI and the metaverse, revealing how real-time translation technologies are transforming the way we communicate. With powerful examples from healthcare, education, and global diplomacy, he explores how these tools are breaking down centuries-old barriers—allowing us to collaborate, connect, and care across cultures. Raahim is a Year 11 student at the academy. Over the years, his journey of learning several languages such as Spanish, French, Arabic and even Urdu have opened his eyes to how complex communication throughout the world truly is. By using his strong leadership and creativity skills, he wishes to share how, because of a new age of advancements and technology, language barriers are beginning to some to an end. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 8:18Speak in Stickers: Emojis and Communication | Sameeksha Ramesh | TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhailSameeksha dives into the playful, poignant, and sometimes perplexing world of visual communication in the digital age. From emojis to memes, she explores how these modern hieroglyphics are transforming our language, bridging generational gaps, and reshaping how we express emotion, humour, and identity. Sameeksha is a Year 13 student at the Academy with an interest in chemical engineering and a goal of creating accessible and life-changing medicines. She’s curious about how we connect and what it means to truly understand one another in a fast-changing world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 7:42Redefining Equity in the Age of AI | Victoria Rakhtopol | TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhailVictoria challenges us to reimagine justice through the lens of emerging technology. Drawing on personal experience and global insight, she explores how artificial intelligence can tackle longstanding inequities in legal systems—from language barriers and scheduling delays to systemic inaccessibility. Her talk makes a compelling case for using AI not to replace human empathy, but to amplify it. Victoria is a Year 13 student at the Academy, passionate about law, politics and sociology, with a strong interest in how society and technology impact our future. As a co-founder of an academic podcast, she is no stranger to exploring complex questions concerning legal systems. Bringing that curiosity and keen insight to TEDx, she’s here to explore how technology can reshape justice. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 8:01The Sound of Your Mind | Priya Kumari | TEDxPanimalarEngineeringCollegeIn a world filled with constant noise and distraction, silence has become a rare—and powerful—space. In this thoughtful talk, Priya Kumari invites us to pause, listen, and reconnect with the quiet hum of our own minds. Through science, real-world examples, and personal insight, she explores how silence can unlock creativity, spark healing, and bring us closer to who we really are. Because sometimes, the most meaningful transformations don’t come from sound—but from the stillness we’re too often afraid to sit with.Priya Kumari is an engineering student at Panimalar Engineering College with a strong interest in cybersecurity. She has completed internships at ShadowFox and Edunet Foundation, where she developed foundational skills in Linux, SQL, Python, and SIEM tools. She is passionate about hands-on learning and is exploring opportunities to deepen her knowledge through real-world projects and mentorship. Priya is particularly interested in threat detection, ethical hacking, and building secure systems. She stays updated on the latest trends in cybersecurity and enjoys collaborating with like-minded peers. Her goal is to contribute to the field through continuous learning, innovation, and practical application. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
