PACE: IMPACT BEYOND SPEED

Tickets for our 2025 main event on October 25th are on sale!

Join us for a day of ideas and interactions at the pace of insight...

Announcing the full list of speakers for PACE: Impact Beyond Speed on October 25th!

Individual speaker profiles will continue to appear over the next couple of weeks, but here's the overview of our speaker line-up.

Top Row, Left to Right

Chad Lefevre

Transformational Changemaker

Julien LePage

Registered Social Worker (BSW, MSW Leadership), trauma specialist, and lifelong drummer

Dr. Kerry Black, PhD, PEng

Associate Professor, University of Calgary and Canada Research Chair in (Re)Engineering Sustainable Communities

Kate Thompson, Architect, AAA, FRAIC

President & CEO of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC)

Middle Row, Left to Right

Dr. Chelsea Matisz, PhD, MSc

Gut-Brain Scientist and Science Communicator

Wish Bakshi

Founder & AI Systems Engineer | Specialist in Commodities Trading & Operations (OT) | Power, Nat Gas, Data Centers, LNG, SCADA

Shone Thistle

Calgary Poet Laureate, 2024-26, author, poet and multidisciplinary artist

George Damian

Philanthopist and Tech Investor

Bottom Row, Left to Right

Gayathri Shukla, PEng., MBA

Storyteller and founder of Campfire Kinship

Dr. Laleh Behjat, PhD, PEng (b. 328/423 ppm*)

Professor in Electrical and Software Engineering at the University of Calgary and the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering – Prairies

Dr. Lina Kattan, PhD. P. Eng.

Professor in the Schulich School of Engineering, the Urban Alliance Professor in Transportation System Optimization, and program director of CREATE-Integrated Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities

The Honourable Leela Aheer

Former Alberta MLA and Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women (2019 - 2021)

*A personal measure of what the Earth's CO2 levels were at birth, compared to now. All of us should know this!

The Ampersand

140 - 4 Avenue SW Event Program Information

Join us at The Ampersand, a beautiful reimagining of an iconic Calgary downtown building in the traditional arc drawn by the Bow and Elbow rivers. Get your seat on the grand social stairs, or in our special seating zone down front close to the speakers!

All interactions and refreshment breaks will be within the space, or in the adjacent park spaces if weather permits.

Parking and transit options:: Close to all downtown transit routes; Walk accessible from downtown and adjacent areas; Paid parking in the Harmony Parkade (formerly James Short) across the street (Plus 15 accessible)

How do I register for an event?: When we have an active event (either in-person or virtual), registration links will be provided in our Events section.
When do you announce all the speakers?: Speakers for upcoming events are usually announced about 4 weeks in advance of the event. Please note that all events are "as is", and we cannot guarantee that a particular speaker is able to appear.
What goes on at a TEDxCalgary event?: Compared to watching an individual TED or TEDx talk online, a TEDxCalgary event is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a full day of ideas and conversations with others who are equally curious about the world around them. In addition to the amazing speakers and performers we profile on stage, all of our participants at the event contribute to the awesomeness of the day through their interactions with one another, and with our interactions partners in the venue. As part of your ticket, we provide refreshment and meal breaks throughout the day to nourish the body as well as the mind! Read our What to Expect article for more information on how to make the most of the event!

What is your affiliation with TED?: We are an independently organized TEDx event, operating under licence from TED. We do not speak for the TED organization, and our event is required to conform with a number of TEDx licencing provisions. Please seethe TEDx site for more information .
Are there other TEDx organizing teams in Calgary?: Yes! We're fortunate to have several other TEDx licencees in the city, including our colleagues atTEDxYYC who also started operating in 2009. Each TEDx team brings a different approach to organizing their event, while conforming to the general TEDx licencing rules.
Can I nominate a speaker?: Yes! We accept nominations year-round, versus on an event basis. Please see our Become a Speaker page for general information on how to nominate someone to be a speaker.