This year, our Alternative Stage is being Unleashed like never before at TEDxAthens!
We believe that everyone has something to share and that a TED talk is not the only way to do so. Which is why, for our Alternative Stage, we have curated a series of panel discussions and debates that will inspire, inform and spark your curiosity.
Each one of our panel speakers will be sharing their insights and opinions on pressing issues of our time such as energy, future of workspace, sustainability, sexual education, career alternatives, future of workplace and freedom of the press.
Get ready to be challenged and transformed by the power of ideas – and by the incredible people who are working to bring change to our everyday lives!
Main Stage Speakers
Global D, E & I Expert | Founder of 100 Women @ Davos
Dr. Anino Emuwa is a global expert in the field of D, E & I working at the intersection of women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies. She is the Managing Director of Avandis Consulting in France and the founder of 100 Women @ Davos. A former corporate banker with Citibank, Anino has over twenty years of international corporate governance experience and sits on the board of several organisations and institutions.
An award-winning international key note speaker, Anino was recently named one of the Top 100 Women of the Future: Metaverse and Web3, and a LinkedIn Top Voice in Gender Equity. She is a member of the jury for Cartier Women’s Initiative and the Jack Ma Foundation’s Africa’s Business Heroes where she mentors impact entrepreneurs.
Anino earned her Doctorate in Business Administration from Nottingham Business School, holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. She is a global citizen who has travelled to over forty countries, lived in six and speaks English and French fluently.
Αrtist
Ilias, Eisvoleas, Liakos, Eisvo.
The many “faces” of the hip hop veteran need no introduction. Either in dynamic rhymes inspired by society, either in melodic rempetiko rhythms but always in unforgettable live performances.
Coming from the hip hop mother of Athens, Galatsi, Ilias Papanikolos was there from the very beginning. One of the main representatives of Greek hip-hop music, brought on stage all the needed american influences, harmonizing them with the Greek reality.
As says himself, music has no boundaries, so in 2010 Eisvo introduced us to Liakos. Rempetiko and hip hop meet up through unexpected collaborations and Eisvoleas brings bouzouki and baglamas into the modern music and creates his own music genre, rapmbetiko.
Artist
Lorenzo Quinn is an artist known for his contemporary sculptures that fuse traditional techniques with modern materials. Born in Rome in 1966, Quinn grew up in an artistic family. His father, Anthony Quinn, was a Oscar winning actor and an artist, and his mother, Yolanda Addolori, was an Italian costume designer. Quinn's exposure to art from a young age instilled in him a passion for creating, which he pursued throughout his life.
Quinn's early artistic career was marked by experimentation and exploration. He studied at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York and later trained as a sculptor at the School of the Arts in Rome. He spent time traveling and working in various countries which broadened his artistic horizons and allowed him to explore different mediums and techniques. Throughout his career, Quinn has maintained a strong philosophy of art. He believes that art should inspire and move people emotionally, and that it has the power to change the world. Quinn's sculptures often have a strong social and political message, addressing issues such as climate change, human rights, and global conflict. One of Quinn's most famous works, created in 2017, is "Support," a sculpture depicting a pair of white hands emerging from Venice’s Grand Canal and holding up a building. The piece raises awareness towards climate change and humanity’s impact on the environment, and the need for us to take responsibility for the world we live in. Quinn's sculptures are often characterized by their dynamic and fluid forms. He uses traditional techniques such as lost-wax casting and patination to create pieces that are both beautiful and technically impressive. Quinn also frequently incorporates modern materials such as steel and resin into his works, which give them a contemporary edge. In addition to his sculptures, Quinn is also known for his large public installations, such as Baby 3.0 during the Venice Biennale of 2022 and prior to that Building Bridges, a sculpture symbolizing the need for more cooperation between countries to insure a more harmonious future for humanity. He has created large-scale works for cities around the world, including New York, Hong Kong, and the Middle East. These installations often incorporate his signature hand motif, which symbolizes the power of human connection and the importance of working together to solve global problems. For Quinn, art is more than just a means of self-expression or entertainment. He sees it as a tool for creating social change and promoting unity and compassion. Through his sculptures and installations, Quinn encourages us to reflect on our relationship with the environment, each other, and the world as a whole. In conclusion, Lorenzo Quinn is a highly respected contemporary artist who has made a significant impact on the art world. His sculptures and installations are not only technically impressive, but also deeply meaningful, addressing important social and political issues. Quinn's philosophy of art is rooted in the belief that art has the power to inspire and move people emotionally, and that it can be used to create positive change in the world. His work serves as a reminder that art is not just a luxury, but a vital component of our cultural and social fabric.
Theatre Director | Performer
Eleni Efthymiou works as a director, author, performer, soprano and theatre composer. She studied theatre direction and acting at the Department of Theatre of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and lyric singing as a student of mezzo soprano Rositza Troeva.
She is in favour of an idea of theatre as an ongoing, everlasting investigation of the connection between human condition and society. She works primarily with sound, by creating acoustic environments connected to dramaturgy. Moving between the aesthetics of art, cinema, documentary and fiction, she imaginatively invents a new language of theatre.
In 2014 she became a permanent collaborator of En Dynamei Theatre Ensemble, a mixed group of artists with and without disabilities and so far created and directed new theatre plays in the trilogy “The Other Normal”. The third part of this trilogy, the performance “Horse in Love//The Absurdity of Love” has been recognised as a milestone performance both for its artistic quality and for the radical theme it deals with.
In 2022 Eleni Efthymiou was honoured with Eleftheria Sapountzi Prize for the quality and complexity of her artistic work, combined with her moving attempt to create bridges between art and social reality. During theater season 2024-2025, she will be the Head of National Theatre’s Experimental Stage.
Film & Television Director
Lefteris Charitos is a director of fiction and documentary films. He studied film at the Royal College of Art in London.
Since October 2022 he is the President of the Board of Directors at the Hellenic Film Academy.
He is known for the Drama Series “Agries Melisses” (ANT1 TV 2019-2022) which became an instant success. The feature-length documentary “Dolphin Man” (2017, Greece-France-Canada-Japan-Italy co-production, with ARTE, French and Greek Film Centers, WOWOW, SVT, Knowledge Network, ERT, RTS) received the IRIS Award for Best Documentary and Best Debut for a Director, in 2018. He has also directed several fiction and documentary series for Greek television, including the highly acclaimed historical documentary series “1821” and “To Taksidi tis Trofis” (Cosmote TV) and the crime fiction series “Amyna Zonis” (ERT). At the moment he is shooting the new series “H Magissa” for Antenna which will be shown next season and he has just completed the new documentary series for Cosmote TV, “Sosmena”.
Strategic Futurist
Dr Mark van Rijmenam, CSP is a strategic futurist and international keynote speaker. He captivates audiences with insights on AI, blockchain, the metaverse, and emerging technologies, empowering organisations to innovate and thrive in the digital age. He is an optimistic dystopian and offers candid, independent, and balanced insights on how technology will change society. With a deep understanding of (generative) AI, blockchain, the metaverse, and other emerging technologies, Dr Van Rijmenam is the trusted advisor to leading companies and governments seeking to innovate and thrive in the digital age. His unique ability to simplify intricate concepts and captivate audiences has inspired and enlightened over 100,000 managers, directors, and C-level executives across more than 25 countries on all continents. In 2023, he was awarded the Certified Speaking Professional and Global Speaking Fellow accreditations.
Plastic Surgeon | Associate Prof. Dr.
Mr Tunc Tiryaki is a world-leading consultant plastic surgeon, renowned for his ground-breaking work in facial regeneration, where he was one of the first surgeons in the world to use fat derived stem cells in mini facelift procedures. Mr Tiryaki is the Chair of the Humanitarian Programs of ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) and founder of ISAPS-LEAP Surgical Relief Teams that conducts volunteer reconstructive surgery operations all around the world.
With a special interest in facial surgery and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, Mr Tiryaki employs cutting-edge techniques to enhance and refine, delivering natural, youthful results without visible scars. His unrivalled skill, exceptional results and surgical finesse saw him named one of the ‘BEST FACELIFT SURGEONS IN THE UK’ by Tatler Magazine.
As one of the few face-lift specialists in the UK, Mr Tiryaki practises in London and his native Istanbul. He lectures around the world on his innovative methods and is highly sought after for his knowledge, expertise and commitment to research and innovation.
Mr Tiryaki has led a team of internationally-acclaimed plastic surgeons at the pinnacle of the industry alongside biotechnology and genetic engineers from Harvard University to develop the next biggest innovation in anti-ageing. Four years of research and development into the field of exosomes has culminated in the development of a revolutionary new-generation skincare and wound-healing product, set to launch in late 2022.
Widely published, Mr Tiryaki is a section editor for the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal and has authored several internationally published publications on regenerative facelifts and micro-lifting, as well as the first medical textbook on inverse abdominoplasty. He also sits on several boards, including Lipocube, a medical device used for regenerative procedures which he helped invent.
Author | Co-Founder of Global Witness
Patrick is one of the three founders of Global Witness. Founded in 1993, Global Witness first tackled the role of natural resources funding conflict, initially focusing on the tropical timber trade funding the genocidal Khmer Rouge guerrilla group in Cambodia, and was the first organisation to expose the role of Blood Diamonds in bankrolling some of Africa’s most brutal civil wars. Since then, Global Witness has become one of the world’s leading investigative organisations dedicated to rooting out corruption and environmental and human rights abuses around the world, with Patrick taking part in over fifty field investigations in South East Asia, Africa and Europe. Taking the findings to lawmakers and the boardrooms of multinational companies Patrick and his colleagues challenged the assumption that you can’t change things. Global Witness now has major focus on tackling the climate crisis.
Patrick is the author of Very Bad People, published in 2022, which charts some of Global Witness’ key investigations. Alongside his two co-founders Patrick received the 2014 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the same year that Global Witness won the TED Prize. Global Witness was nominated for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for their work exposing the murderous trade in blood diamonds.
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine
Emine Dzhaparova serves as the First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
She is responsible for policy planning, cooperation with international organizations, public diplomacy, and the Ukrainian Institute's activities, representing Ukrainian culture to the world.
Ms Dzhaparova is also a Chairperson of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO.
Prior to this, she was a journalist in Crimea and witnessed the occupation of the peninsula by Russian invaders in 2014.
After being forced to leave the peninsula, Ms Dzhaparova served as the First Deputy Minister of information policy of Ukraine and considerably contributed to strengthening Ukraine’s strategic communications both domestically and abroad.
In 2020, she joined the MFA as the First Deputy Minister with the idea to establish the Crimea Platform aimed at de-occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. Today, this unique diplomatic tool unites over 60 countries and international organizations worldwide.
In December 2021 Ms Dzhaparova was awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class in recognition of her outstanding contribution to strengthening the international cooperation of Ukraine, productive diplomatic work, and high professionalism.
Ms Dzhaparova was awarded the 2022 Mark Palmer Prize for her support of the Ukrainian people, especially Crimean Tatars, and her leadership in the fight against Russia’s aggression.
In March Ms Dzhaparova joined the 2023 European Young Leader Class (EYL40) led by Friends of Europe.
As a Crimean Tatar, she dedicated her life to the liberation of her Homeland and her compatriots.
Adventurer
Jasmine Harrison is a British adventurer who loves to travel and tackle new challenges. She achieved world-wide recognition in 2021 when aged 21 years she became the youngest solo female to row the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days proving that age, gender and background are no barrier to a positive mind-set. She is keen to encourage everyone to be self-reliant and if someone wants to take on a personal challenge, of any level, then they should just do it!
The Atlantic row, dubbed the ‘World’s Toughest Row’ saw Jasmine row up to 20 hours a day in conditions from flat calm to 10 metre high waves with lows of capsizes, injuries and physical exhaustion to the highs of amazing wildlife and sunsets travelling over 3000 miles from La Gomera, Canary Islands to Antigua.
In 2022 Jasmine became the first female (and third person ever) to swim the full length of the British Isles from Land’s End to John O’Groats, 900 miles, in 110 days.
Having raised over £30k for environmental causes she remains a keen advocate for ocean health and is now planning her next challenge which naturally involves the seas.
Engineer | Founder of ZOE
George co-founded ZOE with a mission to improve the health of millions; by moving the world from calorie counting and foods that poison our health to the truth of personalized advice based on how food affects our bodies and health. And with science that gets better & better with every member and more data.
Previously CEO of HouseTrip (acquired by TripAdvisor) and co-founder of efood (acquired by Delivery Hero), one of the leading food delivery platforms in Europe. George studied Mechanical Engineering at Tufts & MIT.
Futurist & CEO | Founder of Sixth Wall/Black Sun Labs
Whether building hyper-growth startups or advising Fortune 500 companies, the Royal Family or the United Nations, Lindsey McInerney has spent her career helping people understand the impact of cutting edge technologies and adopt them early.
An internet nerd and tech futurist, Lindsey has launched multiple projects in the metaverse and web3 space and remains excited about the ways crypto, blockchain, NFTs, and extended reality (XR) will change our digital and physical landscape. As Global Head of Technology and Innovation at AB InBev (Anheuser-Busch), the world's largest brewer, she launched Stella Artois into the metaverse in an explosive partnership with ZED RUN, a crypto horse racing game. One of the first major brand executions in the space, the Cannes Lion award- nominated campaign, put Stella Artois on the map as the first beer brand and FMCG company in the metaverse and was well received by traditional and crypto media alike. McInerney was named to the 2023 ‘Thinkers50 Radar List’, a cohort of 30 thinkers whose ideas are predicted to make an important impact on management thinking. She has also been named one of ‘The 30 Most Influential People in the Metaverse’, one of ‘The Most Prominent Digital Futurists to Watch Out For in 2022’, one of the ‘Top Players of the Metaverse' and an 'Adweek Pride Star class of 2022'. As Founder and CEO of Black Sun Labs, Lindsey works with executives, teams and personalities on their web3 and metaverse strategies. She is also the CEO of Sixth Wall, a technology and entertainment company co-founded with actor/producer Mila Kunis and producer Lisa Sterbakov.
Author | Public Speaker
Thomas Erikson is a Swedish behaviourist and the bestselling author of the Surrounded by-books, a series about human behaviours and communication. The series, including Surrounded by Idiots, has been translated to 50 languages.
He is also a highly sought-after public speaker and gives 120 keynotes per year on topics such as human behaviours, communication, self-awareness, manipulation, narcissism and leadership.
From his home office, Thomas is a coach and mentor for high level executives and entrepreneurs all over Europe.
His mission is to make people’s lives easier on a daily level by making them aware of themselves. But also to help them to a better understanding of what it takes to achieve the best possible ground for effective communication.
He lives by the simple but useful quote: You can’t change somebody else, but you can change yourself.
Fun fact: Thomas is a true anglophile. He is a passionate gardener, loves topiary: if he could wear tweed the full year he would. He is also a collector of old Land Rovers.
Main Stage Performers
Artist
Good Job Nicky is an artist, singer and songwriter, he creates versatile music of no specific genre. Coming from an artistic family, he has been in an open dialogue with the process of music composition and creation since an early age.
Due to his passion for basketball - as a professional player - he did not devote himself regularly to studying music, despite his aptitude. Music came as a way to communicate with himself & to connect with his beloved ones. Self-taught in piano, and composition, Nikolas Varthakouris has collaborated with significant producers in the USA, while his first album came out in 2020 by Cobalt Music. Since then, he performed live in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras, accompanied by an orchestra and choreography.
With the same effortless dynamic and immediacy that he found in his art, he seeks for his listeners to find their driving force through his music. He was born in Athens in 1995, and since then, he has spent his summers in Paros and winters in Athens.
Artist
Born in Athens, she started her career in London and spent many years in Los Angeles. IOTA PHI is a Greek singer, songwriter, record producer and award-winning director. She takes inspiration from the ideas of identity, post humanism and Greek mythology and for this reason her sound is a combination of pop, experimental electronica, R&B music and together choral and traditional elements.
She has opened concerts for artists such as Katy B, Florence and the Machine, Orbital, Schiller, Marina and the Diamonds, Muse and others.
Her first album was released by EMI Greece (Universal) and was released in 21 countries.
She has been described by the British press as the Enfant Terrible of the Mediterranean Music Scene and has collaborated with Golden Globe nominee Daniel Heath (Lana Del Rey), Grammy nominee Billy Mann (Robyn, John Legend, Celine Dion), Chris Bolden (En Vogue) and many others.
She was nominated at the Berlin Music Video Awards, along with James Blake, Alt-j, Bjork, at the LA Cinefest in the United States, and has been awarded at the Athens Short Film Festival and the RODI Festival.
Mass media such as Spiegel, Musik Express, Spin, Rolling Stone India, XS Noize, Esquire, Vogue, Popjustice and Earmilk have covered her work, and she has performed on the legendary Radio 1.
Her first album titled "Homo Pauperis", which she produced herself with the help of Mikael Delta (Stereo Nova), was released in September 2022 and has won over critics. IOTA PHI has performed at a number of international festivals in Europe and the United States, including SXSW2023.
Music Producer | DJ
EMBEDOKLES is an innovative and dynamic producer and DJ based in Athens. His passion is exploring the exciting and ever-evolving world of electronic music. With a background in piano studies and a deep love for music from an early age, EMBEDOKLES has managed to master his handling over the years, experimenting with various sounds, techniques and musical instruments to create a truly unique and exciting sound. Influenced by a wide range of musical styles, including house, techno and ambient music, he has developed a distinctive sound that is both atmospheric and dynamic.
In addition to his work as a producer and DJ, EMBEDOKLES is also known for his capacity as a composer, creating music for theatre, performances and other artistic endeavors.
Dance Crew
LifeDance Athens and LifeDance Center are two schools that have occupied social media for the last five years with their professional videos, dance videos in the halls whose views, quality and creativity have made the world understand that the commercial dance It can also be art. Tasos Xiarcho and his team Rams head est 2011, have won many awards in well-known competitions such as HIPHOP INTERNATIONAL GREECE! Through his projects we see new talents and passionate dancers become professionals, but also known for their uniqueness. Life Dance schools have in its history, the creation and completion of most professional commercial dancers and choreographers in GREECE! The VAMPIROS project is made up of young people who will surely be at the top of the most successful dancers in the coming years. It is a project whose darkness and mystery that spares us will give you a taste of the power of uniqueness and above all of creation. Young ages combined with dynamic adults compose a show that will take you on a paradoxical journey.
Music Artists
The Song House Athens is a music project-community. It is the creation of 4 talented artists, who have jazz, gospel and pop sounds and join their voices to create another musical perception of what a polyphonic format is. Its aim is to strengthen the musical quality of the Greek music industry both in the acoustic and artistic aspects, supported by new generation artists who highlight new musical views and ideas. The Song House Athens is not only about a band but also a whole business, which is expected to have its own home: Song House Athens, built with specially designed spaces for music production and creation, with hospitality spaces and musical facilities of all kinds (possibility of recording, producing tracks, releasing them, jam sessions and much more). A group of renowned musicians comes to complete the above services with their expertise in sound engineering, songwriting and mastering. Artists from all over the world will have the possibility with a small participation (compared to the market prices) to rent these spaces and produce music in combination with holidays, as the house will also cover tourist activities - mainly for people who they come from abroad - in order to make their experience even more complete.
Main Stage Presenter
Basketball Game Analyst | Clinical Psychologist
"Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in."
Born and raised in Athens, Greece, she holds an AS from Jacksonville College (TX), a BA in English Literature and Global Culture (with a concentration in Rhetoric) & a double minor in Theater Studies and PPL (Philosophy, Politics and Law) from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Hellenic American University. She has been trained in Psychoeducational Testing & Assessment at the Buffalo State University and she is a graduate (Class of 2019) of the International Visitor Leadership Program by the U.S Department of State.
From 2016 until today, she has been working as a TV Presenter, Sports Journalist and Game Analyst for NOVA. She is the World Feed Reporter for Euroleague and the Master of Ceremonies/Moderator for FIBA. In the past, she has also presented various events, including: the Basketball Champions League draws and Final 4 (2018), FIBA 3x3 World Tour Events, the Retail Business Awards (2017-2021), The Product of the Year Awards, Posidonia, Leaders of the Greek Economy Awards and the Peace and Sports Forum and Awards organized by the Principality of Monaco. She was also the bit presenter for the candidacy of Cyprus for the FIBA Eurobasket 2025.
In 2009-10 she worked as a Teaching Assistant for Harpur College (SUNY) and the Departments of English (General Literature and Rhetoric) and Theater Studies. From 2016-2020 she was working as a Learning Specialist and Career Counselor for the American Community Schools of Athens. She worked as a professor of Psychology for IST college for the school year 2020-21.
She was a professional athlete for 17 years and the first Greek female athlete to ever be awarded with a full athletic scholarship (NCAA Division 1). A member of the Women's Greek Basketball National Team (2006-2013) and the 3x3 Basketball National Team (2018). She has also served as the captain of BU Women’s Basketball Team (2008-2010) and the President of the Student-Athlete body from 2008-2010.
She is a member of the Hellenic American Union.
She has received an award for her contribution to Sports and Education from SPAKE and the Olympic Committee and an award from UNESCO for her career in Journalism and her dedication to Women Empowerment.
As a Speaker she has been invited to various forums, seminars, workshops and clinics to speak mainly on Leadership, Women Empowerment, Psychology and Wellness.
