TEDxUAlberta

Speakers

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

• Andrew Karesa

  Andrew Karesa is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and a proud husband and father of two young sons. Inspired by his family’s experience supporting his grandmother through Alzheimer’s disease, Andrew founded blueBell Village, an Indigenous-led organization working to restore the personhood and independence of those living with dementia. Through blueBell, he is helping advance more personalized, relationship-centred support for both individuals living with dementia and the caregivers who walk alongside them. Andrew also hosts The Dementia Collective podcast, which brings together leading voices, lived experience, and practical insight to challenge how society thinks about dementia, caregiving, and aging. In addition to leading blueBell Village, Andrew is pursuing his doctorate at the University of Calgary and holds an MBA from the University of Alberta. Before founding blueBell, he worked as a practicing engineer in the energy sector and was recognized as ASET’s 2023 Technology Professional of the Year.

• Edward McNeal Jr

  Edward McNeal Jr. is the Corporate Trainer for the Taylor Automotive Family, where he has served for nearly 26 years. He holds degrees in Education and English from Bowling Green State University and Wake Forest University. Ed leads trainings through his company, Brain Empowerment, and teaches youth and adults in both professional and faith-based settings. He is a 20 Under 40 Leadership Award recipient and a seasoned Toastmasters competitor. Above all, Ed sees teaching as his life’s calling and finds joy in helping others grow. He and his wife Kim have three children and a beloved shorkie.

• Mesk Alsaafin

  Mesk is a Palestinian student, writer, and artist from Gaza, whose journey has been shaped by displacement and the challenge of rebuilding life after interruption. She is currently pursuing her studies with a strong interest in psychology, exploring the connection between mental health, identity, and lived experience. Through her writing and art, Mesk tells stories of resilience, belonging, and quiet strength, bringing attention to the inner worlds people carry, often unseen behind headlines. As a speaker, she believes in the power of honest storytelling to create understanding, challenge assumptions, and open space for empathy and human connection.

• Michael Saletta

  Michael Saletta is a globally recognized authority on leadership, mindset, and human performance – and one of the most operationally diversified leadership consultants in the world. Known as “The Master Facilitator,” he has spent over 35 years working inside the operations of thousands of organizations across industries – from Fortune 500 companies and government agencies to entrepreneurial ventures and elite teams – impacting more than 300,000 individuals worldwide. His proprietary, science-backed frameworks – including Brain C.R.A.V.E.S.™ and Choice Mindset™ – are rooted in two decades of NeuroLeadership research. He is the founder of Saletta Leadership and author of the forthcoming book Choice Mindset.

• Saugat KC

  Saugat KC is an Engineer‑in‑Training and a recent Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Alberta. In 2024, he co‑founded Alberta Heart, Canada’s first student‑led team designing a Total Artificial Heart. Through Alberta Heart, Saugat has helped cultivate a community of students tackling real‑world engineering challenges that may one day save lives. Believing that the most meaningful innovations emerge when we create opportunities for others to grow alongside us, much of his work is devoted to building spaces where students can explore ambitious ideas, take risks, and learn by doing.