MAY 3, 2025 SPEAKER LINE-UP

Dennis Geelen

Dennis is a bestselling author, speaker, and coach who helps solopreneurs turn ideas into impactful businesses. With a corporate background in leadership, strategy, and customer experience, Dennis transformed his own layoff into an opportunity to build a thriving consulting business and has written four books, including The Accidental Solopreneur. In his TEDx talk, Dennis will reveal why every success story can trace its roots to an unexpected twist, a chance encounter, or a serendipitous moment—and how embracing these "Happy Accidents" can unlock creativity, resilience, and growth. 

Steven Langer

Steven is an international keynote speaker and expert in organizational wellness and workplace culture. As the Founder and CEO of Well By Design, Steven works with organizations to amplify their organizational wellness, design healthy workplace cultures, and empower teams to reach their optimal potential. To build wellness into his own life, he enjoys hiking and off leash visits with his family and dog, as well as tennis, camping and sailing.  ​Steven's talk will focus on a new way to look at wellness in organizations.

Teresa (Misty) Santos

Misty Santos is a dynamic sales and marketing leader with both local and global experience implementing high-performance sales strategy. An accomplished author of the "Thick-skinned” book series, she coaches women to become confident sales leaders. Her strategic expertise and commitment to excellence have made her a trusted partner in business growth and sales innovation. Her talk will focus on how the creative writing and sales and marketing industry is being impacted by AI.

Constantine Karboliotis

J.D., CIPP/C/US/E, CIPT, CIPM, CPSE, FIP, QTE, AIGP 
Constantine is counsel at nNovation LLP, a boutique privacy law firm. His practice is focused exclusively on privacy and data protection, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. He has twenty years of experience in privacy on both domestic and international levels. Constantine teaches part-time at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and is an instructor for the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ certification programs. His talk will focus on privacy and data security issues relative to the use of AI.

Vera Milan Gervais

Author, Speaker, Success Mentor,
Vera Milan Gervais challenges traditional concepts of leadership by rethinking how we view confidence, balance, and success. Author of The Wordz We Wear: How to Show Up with Confidence and Create Your Best Life, she explores how language shapes our identity and choices. Vera’s success despite a birth defect helps women reframe limiting narratives, embrace their leadership potential, and create balanced, fulfilling lives. Vera's talk will focus on how our thinking limits our behavior.

Corey Gill

For the past 30 years, Corey Gill has advised multinationals, start-ups, and public sector organizations on navigating change and complexity. His expertise in managing multigenerational global workforces has given him unique insights into creating inclusive and engaging business environments. Corey’s journey with AI began when he recognized its potential to transform industries and lives.  His talk will focus on how AI models are trained and the embedded biases that result.

Michelle Aarons

Michelle Aarons, an Executive Director at York University, leads innovative programming that connects education with industry. Recognized as one of the world’s most influential women in education (2024), she is breaking barriers and inspiring others to challenge norms and showcase their value. A wife and mother of two, Michelle channels her lived experiences to help others find their voice and seize opportunities — especially those who don’t ‘check all the boxes’.
Michelle’s talk will focus on improving hiring practices in organizations.
​

Francesca Facio

Francesca is an internationally recognized coach, speaker, and author of Unleash Your Wings. Head of Certifications at Mindvalley, with a postgraduate degree in Happiness & Organizational Wellbeing and Healing, she blends modern coaching with ancient traditions to help people uncover their purpose, achieve their dreams, and embrace limitless possibilities.
Her talk focuses on sharing a framework for self-love and self-worth.
​
​

Stan Zalewski

B. Arch., OAA, LEED® AP, Professor,
Stan is an Architect and teaches in the Technology Program at Durham College. His passion for architecture and the learning environment has given him the opportunity to inspire students to learn and do their best work.  He is working with the Region of Durham on issues like sustainable building and the housing crisis. 
His talk will focus on ideas to address the housing crisis in Durham Region and Canada at a larger scale.
​

Tickets to TEDxOshawa for Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 will be on sale starting Feb 6, 2025 via The Biltmore Theater website.
Tickets are priced at CAD35 plus HST.
TEDxOshawa is a non-profit volunteer driven organization.
​

Robin Young

Robin is an award-winning learning professional, speaker, and author with over 14 years of expertise in needs assessments, instructional design, and leadership development. He specializes in identifying performance gaps, setting strategic objectives, and crafting impactful learning experiences that drive business performance and maximize results. Currently, the Director of Corporate Training Services at Durham College, Robin focuses on enhancing leadership capabilities through innovative cross-sector training initiatives. His talk will focus on "kindness" as a core competency in organizations.

Arjun Kashetty

​Arjun Kashetty is a professor, and supply chain expert. With over a decade of experience in logistics, supply chain management, and demand planning, Arjun has held key roles at organizations like Walmart, Sobeys, and The Home Depot. 
Arjun shares his industry expertise at Seneca and Durham Colleges, where he inspires the next generation of global business leaders through teaching and mentorship. 
Arjun's talk will focus on strengthening supply chains as the solution to economic growth.

Osama Baig

Osama, has a background in nuclear engineering and is a science communicator with over seven years in the nuclear energy sector. He speaks about advanced nuclear technologies at global forums and simplifies nuclear concepts on his YouTube channel, @OsamaBaig. His content includes reactor vlogs, training materials for professionals, and educational videos, making nuclear technology accessible to all. Currently the Nuclear Safeguards Officer at OPG, Osama will talk about the future of nuclear energy.