TEDxRRU

Speakers

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

• Alina Pete

  Comic Artist & Author

  Alina Pete is an award-winning nehiyaw (Cree) comic artist and author from Little Pine First Nation in Saskatchewan. They blend comic art with traditional storytelling techniques to create engaging, informative comics that engage the broader community. Their work has been published internationally, and examines such topics such as truth and reconciliation, mental health, language reclamation, and ending gender-based violence. Their vision is to carry the flame of learning so that Indigenous youth can build a sustainable future that weaves tradition and technology. As part of this vision, Alina works as a mentor to guide the next generation of emerging Indigenous cartoonists as part of the Indigenous Comic Creators Program with the National Museum of the Native American. They are a multi-disciplinary creator, working in comics, animation, VFX and VR. Alina lives and works on the unceded lands of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem peoples.

• April Hicke

  CEO

  April Hicke is the Founder and CEO at Toast, a talent partner dedicated to increasing gender diversity in tech. April is deeply passionate about removing bias from systems and challenging the status quo. Her work is grounded in the belief that when we stop putting people in boxes, we create space for innovation, belonging, and untapped potential to thrive. With over 15 years of experience in leadership, workforce transformation, and inclusive talent strategy, spanning roles at some of North America's biggest companies, April brings a bold, people-first lens to everything she does. Beyond her professional work, April is a proud mom of two young boys and is raising them to be thoughtful, inclusive humans. Her journey from early adversity to co-founding a company that reimagines equity in hiring is a testament to the power of resilience, authenticity, and believing in what’s possible beyond the labels.

• Beerinder Singh

  Storyteller, Digital Communicator & Stand-Up Comedian

  Beerinder Singh is a storyteller, digital communicator and stand-up comedian who believes in the power of humour and connection. As a Digital Communications Officer at Royal Roads University, he develops creative strategies to engage diverse audiences through digital media. His passion for storytelling extends beyond his professional role—he brings personal narratives to life through stand-up comedy, using humour as a bridge to connect cultures and experiences. Beerinder honed his storytelling and content creation skills in global settings. He was a station producer for Radio Mirchi, supported BBC Worldwide in India and served as a Southeast Asia Cultural Representative at Walt Disney World, sharing his culture with international audiences. Now based in Canada, he continues to blend his love for media, digital strategy and performance.

• David Graham

  Chief Exploration Officer/Founder

  Meet Dave – Chief Exploration Officer, Master Coach, and Nature’s Biggest Fan David Graham isn’t your typical executive coach. Before founding EDGE3, he was captivating audiences as an actor, charming travelers as a cruise director, and navigating boardrooms as a marketing exec. Now, he’s just as likely to coach a CEO under a canopy of trees as in a boardroom. Why? Because Dave believes the clearest insights come when you step away from the noise and into nature. With 30+ years of leadership experience, Dave is a trusted, inspiring coach to Canada’s top leaders. As Chief Exploration Officer of EDGE3 and faculty at Royal Roads University, he guides leaders and teams on transformational journeys blending reflection with outdoor adventure to uncover purpose and sharpen impact. A triathlete and lifelong explorer, Dave helps others find their unique “EDGE” where clarity, courage, and performance converge.

• Dr. Rebecca Pearce

  Geophysicist & an Environmentalist

  Dr. Rebecca Pearce is a geophysicist by trade and an environmentalist at heart, who has dedicated her career to solving our environmental crisis through renewable energy and clean technologies. She is currently a research fellow at the Cascade Institute, specifically the science lead for the Ultradeep Geothermal Program, where she works with her team to advance next-generation geothermal technologies in Canada and globally. Rebecca received her Ph.D. from University College London in 2020 for her study of geothermal systems in Chile using electromagnetic methods. She has used her expertise to explore for geothermal resources in Northern British Columbia and to lead an electromagnetic survey on a geophysical campaign to the receding Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. Rebecca also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Simon Fraser University, with a focus on applied geophysics for low-impact mining and the geothermal systems of the Garibaldi Belt.

• Sandra Walker

  CEO/Founder

  Sandra Walker is a strategic advisor, speaker, and thought leader at the intersection of neuroscience, decision-making, and leadership. Driven by deep curiosity about how we navigate complexity and uncertainty, Sandra helps leaders identify hidden patterns, challenge unconscious assumptions, and make clear, impactful decisions that shape better futures. Leveraging advanced research in decision science, Sandra founded the Viacern Group, developing AI-enabled, evidence-based tools and assessments designed to illuminate the hidden influences in decision-making. Sandra regularly partners with startups, executive teams, and boards, creating a meaningful impact by empowering confident navigation of rapid change, complexity, and ambiguity. Passionate about addressing global challenges, she also actively invests in and collaborates with innovative organizations that tackle climate, energy, and sustainability, bridging strategic decision-making expertise with tangible impact on the planet.

• Solara Goldwynn

  Food grower, educator, and advocate for resilient local food systems

  Solara Goldwynn is a food grower, educator, and advocate for resilient local food systems. She believes that growing and sharing food can be a powerful act of connection—to land, to culture, and to one another. As co-owner of Hatchet & Seed, she helps transform overlooked spaces into abundant edible gardens. At Royal Roads University, she leads the campus farm, bringing people together through the transformative act of growing local food. In her TEDx talk, “The Taste of Local: Reclaiming Real Food,” Solara explores how food can restore belonging and resilience in a globalized world. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Education and Communication, blending academic insight with years of hands-on experience. Solara and her family tend a small urban farm in Victoria, BC, and live on the ancestral and unceded lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples.