TEDxTishk International University

Speakers

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

• Abdulsalam Medeni

  Civic activist, author, consultant.

  Abdulsalam M. Islam is a civic activist, author, and consultant with more than 20 years of experience in civil society, leadership training, and post-conflict development. 2004, worked with international and local NGOs, government institutions, and companies inside and outside Irag, and in 2024 he received the Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Volunteer Work Leadership in the MENA region. He has authored several books and training manuals on youth, modernity, terrorism, coexistence, leadership, and training design, and has published over 700 articles on democracy and civil society. Salam has lectured at universities, hosted TV and radio programs, served as Chief Executive Director of Rwanga Foundation (2015-2024) and adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and currently serves as adviser to the President of the Kurdistan Region, Governing Board member of the University of Kurdistan Hawler, and member of the Education Reform Task Force.

• Azad Najar

  Senior consultant in urology

  Dr. Azad Najar is the co-CEO and board member of the Kurdistan Innovation Institute (KII), where he leads initiatives to advance innovation and technology development in the region. With extensive experience in medical innovation, including leadership in the development of the artificial heart, he brings valuable expertise in healthcare, innovation strategy, and education, driving KIl's mission to empower the next generation of innovators in Kurdistan and Iraq.

• Harmand Ali

  Molecular biologist

  Harmand Ali Hama is a molecular biologist and Head of the Biology Education Department at Tishk International University, and a PhD scholar in Molecular Cancer Genetics. His research focuses on colorectal cancer genetics, leukemia patterns in Kurdish populations, and genetic risk factors associated with major diseases, with more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, and several reviews in human genetics, cancer biology, molecular medicine, ethnopharmacology, and public-health genetics. As an educator and researcher, he has supervised numerous academic projects, chaired and co-chaired national and international scientific conferences, and actively contributed to advancing biological sciences in the Kurdistan Region, with a mission to link molecular genetics to real-world health outcomes and empower communities through scientific knowledge.

• Roaa Ahmed

  Psychological mentor and trainer

  Roaa Ahmed Shawkat holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and is a psychotherapist, internationally certified trainer, and designer of psychological and educational programs and tools. She specializes in mental health and human development, with extensive experience in psychotherapy, individual and organizational training, and psychological and educational consulting, and has designed and delivered programs in ental health, behavior modification, and capacity building with international and local organizations. She is the founder of the My Soul Space project for digital educatior education and capacity building, the designer of "You Are Not Alone." the first mobile application in the Arab world supporting orphaned children in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in the Kurdistan Region, and the creator of the "Soul Agenda," which integrates psychology with practical life to support personal goals and psychological well-being.

• Shajwan Nanakali

  Pharmacist & Public health researcher

  Dr. Shajwan Nanakali is a dedicated academic and researcher specializing in pharmacy, public health, and global health. She graduated from Hawler Medical University-College of Pharmacy-Iraq. She also studied Leadership, Law, and social justice at the University of Texas-Austin-USA. Dr. Shajwan is a pharmacist and holds a master’s degree in public health (global health) from the University of Nottingham-UK. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes evidence-based learning and student-centered pedagogy, aiming to empower students to become socially responsible pharmacists and global citizens. She integrates principles of pharmacy practice, patient counseling, disease prevention, and health promotion into her modules, ensuring her students develop both technical expertise and ethical, empathetic communication skills.

• Shaween Ziyad

  Advanced cardiac imaging specialist

  Dr. Shaween Ziyad Jamil Al-Talabany is the Head of the Research Board at the Erbil Cardiac Center. She is a recognized speaker and researcher in the field of cardiac imaging and has given lectures on medical ethics and the connection between musical rhythm and cardiovascular response.

• Yehya Lezgin

  Software engineer and Kurdish technology entrepreneur

  Yehya Lezgin Chali is a Kurdish tech entrepreneur and software engineer from Erbil, Kurdistan, and the Co-Founder and CEO of Ovanya, the first Al and data science company in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, which he co-founded at age 21. He leads a team of over 20 experts delivering Al, digital transformation, and software solutions for governments and international organizations, while actively promoting data-driven innovation and advanced technology development at regional and global forums.