TEDxPanaji

Speakers

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

• Alvinia Desouza

  Alvinia Desouza is a Swiss-trained chocolatier who returned to Goa after seven years abroad with a vision to build the state's cacao community and cultivate her own farm. A former patisserie lecturer at Fr. Angel, she has inspired and trained young minds in the art of pastry and chocolate. Beyond her craft, Alvinia is a passionate animal lover and dedicated advocate of permaculture and soil conservation. Weekends often find her at her farm offering practical solutions for home gardening and sustainable produce—reflecting her commitment to nurturing both people and planet through food and nature.

• Anish Sousa

  Anish Sousa is the Founder of SUN360, Goa’s most trusted solar company, delivering over 12 lakh sq. ft. of solar installations for 500+ homes, businesses, and Fortune 500 clients. A Mechanical Engineer and MBA from IIM Bangalore (top 10 percentile, President – Entrepreneurship Committee), Anish previously worked with Accenture in Mumbai and Helsinki. His passion for engineering and belief in sustainable growth led him back to Goa to build a clean energy enterprise now employing 35+ professionals. As Convenor of CII Goa’s Taskforce on Energy & Sustainability, Anish champions innovation that empowers communities to breathe cleaner air and live independently.

• Dr. Parul Saoji

  Dr Parul Saoji, is an aesthetic and functional gynaecology consultant, laparoscopic surgeon, and infertility specialist. Director of Oracle Clinic & Training Centre, Nagpur, she serves as AMOGS YTP Chair (2024–26) and Clinical Secretary, NOGS (2025–26). She has been felicitated by HON CM DEVENDRA FADNADVIS JI for her splendid work and by HON MINISITER OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS SHRI NITINJI GADKARI JI . Recipient of FOGSI’s Kamini Rao Oration (2024) and yuva NOGS oration 2022 She is the first recipient of ‘All Five Golds’ of Nagpur OBGY Society, NOGS, YUVA and P.K. Gold medals, AMWI Golden Jubilee Award, and Dr Pravin Mehta Laparoscopy Fellowship. Author of a Handbook in Aesthetic Gynecology and co-editor in Infertility,

• Dr. Ravidas Krishna Naik

  Dr. Ravidas Krishna Naik is a Project Scientist III in the Ocean Observations and Modelling Group at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa, India. He is a marine biologist whose research focuses on understanding the structures of microscopic plants and their responses to environmental changes driven by climate variability. His work also extends to related areas, including harmful algal blooms and strategies for mitigating microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Currently, he is investigating the dynamics of phytoplankton and their interconnected processes in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, as well as within the land-fast sea ice ecosystem of Prydz Bay in eastern Antarctica.

• Dr. Vijay Borges

  Dr Vijay Borges is an academician and visionary leader with over 25 years of experience across the IT industry, academia, research, and public administration. Currently Project Director at the Directorate of Technical Education, Government of Goa, he has held key leadership roles, including Joint Managing Director of the Info Tech Corporation of Goa, Officer on Special Duty to the state’s IT Minister, Head of Department at Agnel Polytechnic and Associate Professor at Goa College of Engineering. He has authored books, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at international conferences. His career reflects a rare blend of strategic foresight, academic rigour, and a commitment to social impact.

• Orijit Sen

  Orijit Sen is an Indian graphic artist, designer, muralist, activist, and social documentarian. His groundbreaking River of Stories (1994), considered the country’s first graphic novel, laid the foundation for India’s contemporary comics culture. His expansive body of work, spanning murals, public art, comics, and graphic design, has been widely exhibited in India and internationally. Grounded in social observation, his stories, set across times and geographies, remain deeply rooted in the politics and emotions of the present. He co-founded People Tree Studio and the Pao Collective, and is Chief Editor of Comixense. Orijit is currently working on the Mapusa Mogi Mural, a 100 meter long ceramic artwork capturing the layered histories, everyday life, and spirit of Goa’s iconic market town.

• Samaira Pansare

  Samaira Pansare, a 12-year-old, possesses a bright smile, lofty aspirations, and a diagnosis of type 1 juvenile diabetes. Diagnosed at the age of 8, she’s navigated needles, glucose checks, and hospital visits but also the harder part: people’s misconceptions. From being excluded at school to being asked if her condition is “contagious,” Samaira has turned hurt into humor and challenges into courage. Her first TEDx talk opened up conversations about empathy and inclusion, reaching kids and parents across India. Today, she speaks to inspire change, not for sympathy, but for understanding... Her message is simple: your diagnosis doesn’t define you; your courage does.

• Sonia Shirsat

  Sonia Shirsat, who is regarded as India’s finest Fadista (fado singer), is the recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2016) from Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Yuva Srujan Puraskar, and the Goan of the Year by Lokmat. Born in Ponda, Goa, she holds degrees in Commerce and Law and has served as a Professor of Law. An empanelled artist with SPICMACAY, she has performed for over 22 years in 17 languages across 19 countries. Through Fado de Goa, she has trained 300+ students. Honored with multiple accolades, including the Gulab Award, Pride of India Award, Vibrant Goa Award, and more, Sonia is celebrated as the Ambassador of Goan Music.

• Summaiya Afreen

  Summaiya Afreen is a celebrated social entrepreneur, changemaker, and co-founder of Lakshya Jeevan Jagriti, empowering youth from Delhi’s underserved communities through education, skills, and leadership. Overcoming societal biases, she now champions voice, choice, and equity for girls. Her leadership has earned global honors, including the Gratitude Network Fellowship Award (California, 2024), Global Good Fund Fellowship (USA, 2016), Young Social Entrepreneur Award (Singapore, 2017), and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Award (India, 2018). Recognised by the Ashoka & Robert Bosch Foundation’s at ChangemakerXchange, Goldman Sachs–IIM Bangalore. She has certifications from Swedish Institute and Harvard proving that resilience can spark lasting change.

• Wenceslaus Mendes

  Wenceslaus Mendes is a filmmaker, artist, and independent researcher whose work spans journalism, theater, performance, and installation art. With training as a cinematographer and editor, he creates multimedia and immersive projects that have been exhibited globally. He collaborates with indigenous and tribal communities, focusing on issues of land, water, environment, sustainability, and climate change. Mendes documents oral cultures, practices, and ethno-technologies while also examining the politics of food, consumption, and knowledge-making. His research investigates race and caste in India, exploring themes of discrimination, purity, labor, and incarceration. Through what he calls "co-labor-abling," Mendes develops work collectively with communities, rooted in shared place, environment, and concerns.