TEDxPeel District School Board

Speakers

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

• Aari Malhotra

  High school student

  Aari Malhotra is a Mississauga-based singer-songwriter and award-winning vocalist whose debut single, Slow It Down, was released in December 2025. The song’s music video was screened at the Brampton International Film Festival, where it received the award for Best Music Video. A 2024 Provincial Gold Medal recipient in Vocals from the Royal Conservatory of Music and Rising Star Award honouree from SongStudio Toronto, he has performed across major stages including Youth Day Global, Toronto Kids Fashion Week, and national fundraising galas supporting SickKids Hospital and the Arthritis Society of Canada. With a background in musical theatre and opera, he blends technical training with contemporary storytelling. Through music and speaking, he explores authenticity, creative freedom, and the courage to step beyond imagined judgment.

• Drishti Arora

  High school student

  Artificial intelligence is transforming industries worldwide, changing the way we work, build, and solve problems. Watching this shift, Drishti Arora asked: if AI can reshape entire systems, why not apply it to the areas that matter most? Driven by curiosity and a desire for impact, she explores AI concepts such as digital twins, automation, and how AI can improve current systems. She learns out loud, sharing insights through published articles, and builds projects that tackle real-world challenges. Through these experiences, she has developed a deep understanding of AI’s potential to reshape industries and everyday life. Passionate about responsible and effective technology use, Drishti seeks to inspire her generation to think boldly, challenge limits, and step confidently into spaces where youth are often underestimated.

• Emma Vulaj

  High school student

  Emma Vulaj is a Grade 11 student at Mayfield Secondary School in the Regional Arts Program for piano. An avid reader drawn to writing, she has always loved stories and unique perspectives. Coming from an immigrant Albanian family, she values culture and understands the meaning of hard work and empathy. In the summer between Grade 10 and 11, Emma attended a two-week pre-college program in New York City with the School of the New York Times Summer Academy where she studied investigative journalism. She had the opportunity to meet with many journalists and editors whose conversations sparked her TEDx topic on the importance of journalism, particularly in a time when access to accurate information and thoughtful reporting is more important than ever. A trilingual speaker, Emma volunteers with Canadian Parents for French, helping students from grades 1-8 each week. She also volunteered for Canada Cup East, an archery tournament where she helped translate into French.

• Habib Abu Swayed

  High school student

  For years, Habib experienced the world in silence—non-verbal until the age of seven—learning early on that expression doesn’t always begin with words. Now a Grade 10 student at Stephen Lewis Secondary School, he is an independent quantum computing researcher working on a novel deterministic noise-elimination algorithm that challenges conventional thinking in the field. His work, which he aims to publish, explores how different ways of thinking can unlock entirely new possibilities. His interests stretch well beyond research. He trains in archery and calisthenics and has a deep appreciation for horology, fragrance, and personal style. Guided by his faith and family, he lives by the principle that discipline is not intensity, but consistency. And consistency, given enough time, compounds into the impossible. He hopes to one day become a psychiatrist, working to make mental healthcare accessible to everyone—regardless of background or income.

• Mansi Patel

  High school student

  A driven Grade 12 student and Student Council President, Mansi is known for turning ideas into action. Living with cerebral palsy has never defined her limits, it’s only sharpened her perspective as she champions inclusion and calls out ableism as something she’s determined to dismantle. In her talk, “My Limits, My Rules,” Mansi confronts the stereotypes often placed on individuals with disabilities, reclaiming the narrative and redefining what limitation truly means. Recently accepted into the 2026 Harvard Pre-College and LaunchX summer programs, she is preparing for a future in business where she plans to combine her passion for advocacy with strategic management. With more than 300 volunteer hours—and counting—her ambition is to build ventures, shift mindsets and ensure that leadership comes from a place of authenticity that honours every voice.

• Mehak Bhatia

  High school student

  Mehak Bhatia is an AP student, aspiring aerospace engineer, and passionate advocate for STEAM education. Once an “art kid,” her journey began in creative spaces—self-teaching oil painting, training in guitar and piano for five years, and advancing close to Madhyama Pratham level in Kathak dance. These experiences shaped the way she approaches science: with curiosity, imagination, and respect for both logic and creativity. A SHAD Canada 2025 alumna at Ontario Tech University, Mehak enjoys making complex ideas accessible. She has led workshops for middle school students, using paper airplane aerodynamics to introduce engineering concepts. With over 120 volunteer hours and experience as a peer mentor, she values empathy, accountability, and creating meaningful, lasting impact.

• Mitch Peart

  High school student

  Mitch Peart is a jazz saxophonist and student from Mississauga, Ontario. For the past five years, he has studied the art of improvisation, performing with ensembles such as the Peel Jazz Honour Ensemble and the Jazz 91.1 Youth Big Band. Through his experiences, Mitch discovered an important principle that serves far beyond jazz: mistakes are only what you make of them. In his TEDx talk, he explores how improvisation reshaped his relationship with failure, and how learning to embrace uncertainty can unlock excellence, resilience, and growth far beyond the stage.

• Shailan Fernandes

  High school student

  Shailan Fernandes is a student in the Regional Advanced Placement program at John Fraser Secondary School, driven by a passion for leadership, entrepreneurship, and community impact. He is the founder of SF Details, a service-based business he built from the ground up, gaining firsthand experience in resilience and accountability. Provincially, he served as the elected Provincial Marshal for the Knights of Columbus Squires of Ontario, leading youth initiatives focused on service and mentorship. He also volunteered on a humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic, helping build homes, distribute food, and support children. Through his TEDx talk, “The Power of Starting Before You’re Ready,” Shailan encourages others to embrace discomfort and take action.

• Sidi Mohal

  High school student

  Sidi (Sidharth) Mohal is a Grade 10 student at Mayfield Secondary School working at the intersection of neuroscience, youth leadership, and public speaking. After noticing how distraction and disconnection showed up everywhere from classrooms and friendships to family dinners, he began exploring how algorithms are deliberately engineered to manipulate attention while real life waits in the background. In his spare time, Sidi builds brain-computer interface projects, including EEG + machine-learning experiments that track focus and emotion in real time. He is an incoming Yale Young Global Scholar (’26) and serves on the National Advisory Council at FBL Canada. On the TEDx stage, he connects neuroscience and philosophy to everyday digital habits, pushing audiences to look up, reclaim their attention, and truly start living.

• Simrit Sammi

  High school student

  Simrit Sammi is a Grade 12 Advanced Placement and Strings student, emerging leader, and aspiring healthcare professional passionate about innovation, service, and global collaboration. Her interests span STEM and leadership, highlighted by her participation in the NASA Space Settlement Contest and Project Apollo, where she explored sustainable solutions for the future. Through DECA and Harvard Model United Nations, Simrit has strengthened her communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while engaging in global conversations. Beyond academics, she volunteers in her community and has gained hands-on clinical insight through optometrist shadowing, further deepening her passion for patient care. Guided by curiosity, empathy, and a drive to make a meaningful impact, Simrit hopes to combine science and leadership to inspire others and contribute to positive change.

• Tina Gayle

  High school student

  Tina Gayle is a Jamaican-born student who migrated to Canada and is currently in Grade 12 at Stephen Lewis Secondary School. An unapologetically Black young woman proud of her roots, she is passionate about leadership, identity, and empowering marginalized communities. Tina serves as President of the Black Student Association and was honoured as the 2025 LEAP Valedictorian. A confident and articulate speaker, Tina uses her voice to challenge stereotypes and inspire others. Navigating two cultures has shaped her understanding of identity, teaching her the power of reclaiming cultural pride and rejecting single stories. Through her work and speaking, Tina encourages young people to embrace revolutionary love, amplify their voices, and create meaningful change in their communities. Her message: be fearless with your dreams and intentional with your impact.

• Zoya Quraishi

  High school student

  Zoya Quraishi is a Grade 12 student at Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School and serves as her school’s Grade 12 Representative. Throughout high school, she has challenged herself academically while taking on leadership responsibilities that allowed her to represent and support her graduating class. These experiences have helped her develop confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of direction. Zoya has a strong interest in math, physics, and problem-solving, which led her to pursue Mechanical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University this fall. She is motivated by curiosity and a desire to build solutions that make a real difference. As a student leader, she values growth, initiative, and staying true to her goals while encouraging others to define success in their own way.