TEDxYouth@Paparangi

Speakers

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

• Aarthi Candadai

  Aarthi Candadai is a passionate youth advocate, changemaker, and storyteller dedicated to creating spaces where young people can lead, be heard, and drive meaningful change. As the 2024 Lead Organiser of TEDxYouth@Paparangi, she led a team of young people to platform diverse voices and spark conversations that matter. She currently serves as Head Student at Newlands College, Youth MP for Ōhāriu, Podcast Host at Voice of Aroha, and a Wellington City Youth Councillor, working to bring youth perspectives into decision-making spaces. Aarthi is the Founder of Youth 4 Climate Action NZ and Community and Events Manager for Gen Z Aotearoa, supporting rangatahi-led initiatives across Aotearoa. Her work spans youth advocacy, climate action, and intergenerational collaboration, grounded in the belief that young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow, they’re the leaders of today. In her TEDx talk 'The Burnout Pandemic', Aarthi explores how young people are increasingly defining their worth by how much they do, rather than who they are. She challenges the pressure to constantly achieve and opens up a conversation about what it means to thrive in a culture that glorifies burnout."

• Abby Plom

  Abby Plom is a seventeen-year-old student at Pākuranga College in Tāmaki Makaurau, where she is also proud to be Head Girl. She is the Chairperson of her local Youth Council, a football player, and someone who loves forcing her friends to care about politics, and curling up with a cup of tea and a good book. But amidst all that, she was also quietly dealing with her own mental health struggles and grief. And through it all, she kept being told the same thing: “Be strong.” There’s this illusion that “being strong” is always helpful — but often, it’s just another way we push people to stay silent. Another way we avoid sitting with discomfort. Another way we make people carry their pain alone. That’s why Abby is stepping onto the TEDx stage — to challenge the belief that mental health is a personal burden. It’s not. It’s a collective responsibility, and we all have a role to play in creating a culture where support is second nature, not a last resort. This message ties directly into this year’s TEDx theme, “The Power of Now.” Because change doesn’t start someday — it starts right now, with how we talk, listen, and show up for each other.

• Jomana Moharram

  Jomana is a second-year university student studying law and politics at Ōtākou Whakaiku Waka | University of Otago. She is passionate about access to opportunity and learning for all people, especially for rangatahi. Her whakapapa is Egyptian, and she was raised in Ōtepoti, Dunedin. Among other things, she loves writing, learning and music, but she loves all those things more when she gets to share them with people. She is excited to speak on this year’s theme and to connect with other incredible speakers.

• Lewis Brown

  Lewis Brown is a Year 12 student at Rongotai College. He serves as a volunteer coordinator and SADD representative, where he has led countless sessions with non-profit organisations and workshops regarding car safety for younger students about to receive their licenses. He is passionate about sports, mathematics, and advocacy. Outside school, you can usually find him swimming, surfing or playing water polo. He’s excited to inspire others to make changes to their lives and their schedules through his talk, and he hopes to pass on advice to help them throughout the rest of their lives.

• Meg Lange

  All her life, people have asked Meg Lange, “Why do you care?” and her response continues to be “Why don’t you?” Meg believes that our world and our future depend on more than just the efforts of a passionate few, and that we need unification and collective effort; we need people to start caring. She is excited to speak with the TEDxYouth Audience about how precious this moment is, and how we need to use it to join together and start caring for our world. Meg is an advocate for a future where we are all equal. An activist and advocate in every part of her life, she is constantly seeking opportunities to give a voice to the voiceless and to uplift those voices that society tries to silence. From organising protest actions to injecting youth voice into large organisations and projects, she fights to make a change.

• Nitya Chatla

  Storytelling is an art that connects us all. For 20-year-old Nitya Chatla, it comes alive in the code she writes, the dances she performs, the songs she sings, and the stories she shares. Whether listening or speaking, Nitya thrives on connection. Her journey is full of challenges, growth, and the everyday moments that shape us all as she navigates life with curiosity, ambition, and heart. As a third-year Software Engineering student at Victoria University and a proud Indian woman, Nitya embraces the power of now - believing growth happens in the present, not while waiting for the “perfect” moment. Her journey is rooted in fine-tuning the art of mindshift, the belief that shifting your perspective can transform challenges into opportunities. Her message is simple: master your mindset, gaslight yourself (in the best way), and unlock your full potential.

• Qiana Ram

  Qiana Ram is a law and global studies student at Te Herenga Waka. Growing up with both Muslim and Hindu Backgrounds, she’s faced extreme criticism about her being and identity, but she takes this as an opportunity to fuel further ambitions. She’s truly passionate about intercultural communication and the power we all subconsciously hold, especially in the Power of Now. She believes we should seize the moment to bridge ideas and cultures to create a lasting and needed impact.

• Sneha Sathish

  Sneha Sathish is a proud Kiwi-Indian wahine and founder of Rhythm of Hope—a dance collective that empowers youth through creative expression. With a background in healthcare, technology, and the arts, Sneha combines her passions for pageantry and purpose-driven storytelling to spark positive change. She believes leadership begins the moment we choose to lead by example, both on stage and in our communities.