TEDxMission

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Greg Elford

  Greg Elford is a community-focused entrepreneur and lifelong student of change. Married to his wife Erin for 20 years, they're raising three kids, which they consider both their greatest joy and their daily workout.

• Inayath Mohamed

  Inayath Mohamed is a pragmatic, die hard optimist with a global outlook for whom the glass is always half full. An elementary school teacher in the Mission School District, Inayath refuses to believe that the world sucks! He has come to this conclusion based on the positive (and often humorous) events he has experienced while living and working as an elementary school teacher in Indonesia, Oman, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and now back home in Canada. Inayath was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated to Canada.

• Joel Yi

  Joel Yi is a high-performance sales strategist and a Forbes Council and Entrepreneur-recognized expert in scaling elite sales organizations. Since 2018, he has generated over $200 million in revenue for his clients and led teams of 100+ sales professionals. But Joel’s journey goes far beyond metrics, it’s a story rooted in grit, reinvention, and purpose.

• Justin Brien

  Justin Brien is a mental health advocate, passionate author, captivating keynote speaker, and empathetic coach dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of others. With a deep understanding of mental illness and drug abuse, Justin uses his personal experiences to inspire and guide individuals towards healing and transformation. Through his powerful words and engaging presentations, he sheds light on the challenges faced by those struggling with these issues, offering practical strategies and hope for recovery. Beyond his professional pursuits, Justin cherishes his role as a loving husband and father, finding immense joy and fulfilment in nurturing his family and creating a nurturing home environment.

• Kerry Ward

  Living life at FullTilt is a daily reality for Kerry Ward - both personally and professionally, This approach has facilitated an extraordinary range of unique experiences. Over the last 18 years, Kerry has created and delivered training for more than 2000 different organizations all over the world - and more than 150,000 people. His company, FullTIlt Team Development, partners with several hundred groups of people each year to initiate positive transformations. For Kerry, the answer is always YES.

• Kirsten Hargreaves

  Kirsten Hargreaves is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and an Assistant Professor in the Child Youth and Family Studies Department at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada.

• Nishma Karim

  Nishma Karim is an international bestselling author, holistic nutritionist, certified personal trainer, dynamic podcaster, and the proud CEO of Be Light to Raise Light, a global platform dedicated to uplifting and amplifying the voices of mothers. Through her books, stage talks, and global collaborations, she co-authors transformative stories with moms around the world, empowering them to rise, share their light, and inspire others to become the best version of themselves. Her work is rooted in connection, healing, and the belief that when one mother rises, we all rise.

• Pascale-Sara Frenette

  Pascale-Sara Frenette is a grassroots organizer, writer, and community advocate based in Mission, BC. She is a founding member and current president of the Dunsmuir Neighbourhood Association and played a central role in launching the Dunsmuir Urban Community Garden, a community space focused on food security, cultural connection, and collective care. Over many years, Pascale-Sara has helped turn a small neighbourhood network into a recognized local movement; organizing events, building partnerships, and advocating for people to organize, gather, and raise their voices in the places they call home. In 2023, she was recognized by the Paths and Pathfinders: Women of Mission program as a visionary community builder whose enthusiasm and adaptability inspire those around her.

• Stephen Quinlan

  Steve has been a social worker for over 35 years and has practised in England, Scotland and British Columbia. He served as a director for PLEA, a large non-profit, where he built a database that was designed to track and improve services for community charities which earned him “The Most Inspiring Social Worker of the Year” in 2015 from the University of British Columbia Social Work Department and the British Columbia Association of Social Workers.