TEDxVUAmsterdam

Speakers

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

• Angelina Kozhevnikova

  Angelina Kozhevnikova is known for her transdisciplinary work at the intersection of art, research, and robotics. Through her studio Animaspace, she creates interactive robotic installations and performances that invite people to experience alternative technological futures and question dominant narratives around AI and automation. Her artistic practice centers on embodiment, presence, and how humans and machines act together. In parallel, she researches Human–Robot Collaboration at TU Delft, focusing on how humans and robotic systems can work together in complex, real-world contexts. Her work has been exhibited internationally and supported by major Dutch and European cultural, societal, and academic institutions.

• Eric McDermott

  By day, Eric is an equity partner at a financial services firm with more than 60,000 clients. He holds multiple advanced and accredited financial designations, including Certified Financial Planner®. Beyond finance, Eric was named national Best Business Influencer of the Year for his social media channels. Having built an audience of more than half a million followers, his live keynotes and workshops educate through a distinctive style of visual storytelling. Eric is also a three-time best-selling author, including USA Today and Amazon best-seller lists, and has published numerous Forbes articles.

• Jeannette Vinke

  Dr. Jeannette Vinke FCA has worked across continents and sectors in finance, sustainability and education, in boardrooms and classrooms. Her passion is helping people understand how money works, and what it costs people and the planet when it does not, today and tomorrow.

• Julie Fleischer

  Julie Fleischer is a Dutch global health innovator, designer, entrepreneur and engineer working to improve maternal and child health systems in low-resource settings. She leads innovation for the PharmAccess MomCare program, which has improved financial access to and quality of care for over 100,000 women. With a Master’s degree in Biomechanical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, Julie combines design thinking, data, technology, and partnerships to develop scalable solutions that strengthen healthcare delivery and financing for underserved communities.

• Laryssa Creswell

  Dr. Laryssa M. Creswell is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 20 years of experience specializing in trauma-focused treatment for women and teen girls. She holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology and is a Board-Certified Music Therapist. She is the founder and owner of Fearlessly Inspired Therapeutic Solutions, LLC, a group mental health private practice based in Annapolis, Maryland, where she creates a safe, affirming, and non-judgmental space for clients to process their experiences and navigate healing. Beyond her clinical work, she is an author, speaker, professor, and co-founder of Sisters In Healing, empowering women to reconnect with their voice, reclaim their truth, and lead with authenticity and courage.

• Marie-Lou Poirrier

  Marie-Lou explores how we live fully and together in a complex world. Her work draws from psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and communication. She facilitates emotional and relational intelligence for leaders and teams, strengthening the human capacities that drive how teams think, decide, and collaborate. She believes our high-tech world requires high-humanity, and that emotional and relational literacy is essential for the systems we’re building.

• Nehir Kırkgöz

  Nehir Kirkgoz is a second-year Computer Science Honours student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Originally from Istanbul, she has lived in Amsterdam for the past nine years. She is deeply fascinated by mathematics and the many ways it connects with everyday life. Nehir enjoys both learning and sharing knowledge, and believes that accessible education and sustained curiosity are essential drivers of innovation and long-term change.