TEDxWangjiang St

Speakers

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

• DARIA ARSENTEVA

  dancer, wushuist

  DARIA (郭宁澈) is a Russian interdisciplinary movement artist based in Chengdu and currently completing her degree at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. Her practice combines contemporary dance, culture, traditional Chinese martial arts, and visual art research to explore perception, embodiment, and cultural connection. She has participated in performance and volunteer art initiatives at Chengdu Art Museum, Chengdu Biennale, and Chengdu Fuxing Art Center. She was also invited as a performer for many dance events and shared her percpective of art. Through movement, DARIA explores how art can become a bridge between perception, culture, and human experience.

• David Vainer

  a physician, scientist

  Dr. David Vainer, MD, PhD, is a physician, scientist, and educator working at the intersection of biology, artificial intelligence, and advanced sensing technologies. His research focuses on multimodal bio-signal intelligence systems that detect early physiological instability in humans and plants, integrating optical, chemical, acoustic, and electrophysiological data into unified predictive models. He is the creator of the PFA platform and related innovations aimed at transforming medicine, agriculture, and environmental monitoring through real-time detection and autonomous response systems. Combining clinical insight with interdisciplinary engineering, Dr. Vainer develops scalable technologies designed to prevent disease, optimize biological systems, and enable a new generation of precision, data-driven care and sustainability.

• Jason Clarke

  English Teacher

  Jason Clarke is an English teacher at Chengdu Meishi International High School in Chengdu, China. He teaches English language and literature in an international education context and has been closely involved in developing practical school guidance for the responsible use of AI. As an early adopter of educational technology, Jason is interested in how AI can support learning without replacing honesty, effort, or human judgment. His work focuses on helping teachers and students move beyond simple arguments about whether AI is “good” or “bad,” and toward clearer questions: When is AI useful? When does it become dishonest? And how can schools build trust in a world where perfect-looking work is easier than ever to produce?

• Jordan O'Neill

  Digital Sculptor

  A digital artist from Cambridge, working in 3D to transform stories into tangible forms through sculpture, 3D printing, and contemporary manufacturing. His work explores the tension between tradition and futurism, examining the spaces where ancient customs, myths, and identities collide with emerging technologies and imagined futures.

• Joshua Quintal

  Josh Quintal is a product leader, founder, and long-time builder. He began as a software engineer, became Truffle's first employee, helping scale open-source tools to more than 10 million downloads by developers worldwide. He later led infrastructure products protecting billions of requests each year. Today he is working on self-driving presentations that turn complex information records into clear, explorable content. His work is driven by a simple belief: great platforms help people understand, create, and act with trust.

• Kee Lee

  IELTS Trainer / EdTech Specialist

  Kee is an independent IELTS trainer and EdTech specialist based in Chengdu. Bridging technology and language learning, he holds a degree in Information Management and Information Systems. Kee began his career at EF Education First, advancing from a Life Club coordinator to an Expert Teacher and Product Manager, and holds TKT and CertTESOL qualifications. He has also worked as an interpreter for international tours, including the Backstreet Boys. As an educator, Kee has achieved exceptional IELTS scores (Listening 9, Reading 8.5, Speaking 8.5) and teaches students globally. He integrates his IT background into education by coding bespoke web-based coursewares and developing specialized AI prompts. Kee empowers students to overcome language barriers using his proprietary teaching frameworks, such as the RUA Method. Guided by the philosophy that "learning is learning how to learn," he helps students reduce cognitive load, master trains of thoughts, and maximize their potential.

• Margarete Zhang

  I'm currently the COO of Hope Station (Chengdu Together for Children Service Center), where I have served for the past eight years. Since graduating from university, I have been deeply passionate about child welfare and community service. In 2011, I volunteered as a teacher in Liangshan, Sichuan, and in 2013 began working with children with special needs. I also spent one year in Saskatoon, Canada, working at a non-profit organization supporting children and youth who had experienced trauma. These experiences strengthened my conviction that my life’s mission is to serve vulnerable children and families in need. Today, my work focus on supporting children with special needs in Sichuan — including children with autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome — as well as their vulnerable families. Since the founding of Hope Station, we cumulatively served 75 children from two orphanages and supported 30 vulnerable families across Sichuan.

• Meixia Cheng

  A mother, A business owner

  I am the owner of Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q. I grew up in Chengzhuang, a rural village in Gansu. I'm the second of four children.With financial hardship, I chose to leave school at 16-a sacrifice for my family and went to Bejing. My first job was at an Indian restaurant near the embassies. Most customers were expats, so I taught myself English and computer skills. In 7 years, I gained management skills, help my family build a house, and supported my siblings through college. Next, I managed Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q for 8 years, earning Tim's trust. I married and had a son. Working and motherhood was hard, but I never cut corners. In 2015, we moved to Chengdu for my son's education. Once settled, I reached out to Tim. Because of the built trust, he helped me open a restaurant here. A decade me open a restaurant here. A decade later，with loyal customers and knowing English has helped me connect with people. Making our bar a popular expat spot.

• Nakia McDonald

  University Teacher, Poet, writer, artist

  I am a philanthropist, who is deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of others. I am a member Chengdu Rotary Club Board, where I actively engage in projects aimed at improving education and community development. I have passion for words and storytelling which manifests in my roles as a poet and author. My two books, "Black Face" and "Coloured: Behind the Mask," explore themes of identity, culture, and societal constructs with raw honesty and profound insight, through writing, I aim to provoke thought and inspire change. Beyond literary endeavors, I am a dedicated educator. My teaching philosophy emphasizes creativity as I nurture the next generation of leaders.

• Rebekah Kepha

  At age 9, I decided that someday I would help children in orphanages in China. That childhood dream came true and has grown into more than I ever imagined. I grew up in Minnetonka, MN, USA, and graduated from Northwestern College, St. Paul with a degree in Intercultural Studies, Children & Family Studies, and Mandarin Chinese. I am a certified Mental Health Practitioner and Behavioral Therapist and have worked with special needs children since 2008. I founded my nonprofit Hope Station fresh out of college, moved to China at age 25, and lived there 2015 to 2020. After growing our organization for 6 years, I moved back to the states with my husband, and now work remotely from the US.

• Sean Scullin

  Sean Scullin is an educator, endurance adventurer, and founder of Hope in Motion, a father-son initiative raising awareness and opportunity for children with low vision. After his son Lionel was diagnosed with a rare degenerative retinal disease at ten months old, Sean turned fear into action through advocacy, storytelling, and endurance challenges. Together, Sean and Lionel have completed the Chengdu Marathon, a 700-kilometer ride across Iowa in RAGBRAI, a 70-kilometer canoe expedition through the Boundary Waters, and a 100,000-step walk across Chengdu to raise awareness and funds for the low vision community. Through Hope in Motion, Sean advocates for literacy, mobility, education, and the belief that visual impairment should never limit possibility.

• Sheila Zhao

  Veteran IELTS Educator & Acclaimed Stand-up Comedian | Founder, Jolly IELTS | Co-founder, Haha Comedy Club

  With over two decades of unparalleled expertise in IELTS education, Sheila has shaped the language foundation of thousands of international students. As the funder of Jolly IELTS, she not only managed training centers and curated acclaimed teaching materials but also pioneered pedagogical innovations that redefined student engagement. Defying traditional career limits, Sheila reinvented herself as a sought-after stand-up comedian upon approaching the threshold of her 50s. As a Co-founder of Haha Comedy Club and a headline performer, she has captivated audiences in major cities like Chengdu, Xi'an, and Zhuhai. Her unique comedic style—"Edutainment"—draws hilarious insights from real classroom anecdotes (even recycling students' grammar mistakes into punchlines) and relatable life observations, offering audiences a perfect blend of laughter and intellectual depth.

• zerui Liao

  Liao Zerui is an eighteen-year serial entrepreneur and an investor focused on the "One Person Company" (OPC) — the AI-enabled super individual.