Project Manager

She/they

Chiara is originally Italian but did her growing up abroad. She is a second year MDEV student specializing in migration and security and a Research Associate at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Outside of her studies and work she loves to cook, dance, and (although she's not great at it) climbing.

Project Manager

She/her

Elodie is a second year master student in International Affairs (MIA) specialised in Global Security, Human Rights and Humanitarianism at the Geneva Graduate Institute. After the first TEDx edition last year, she took on the co-project manager role of TEDxGVAGrad with the strong belief that the conference will be as successful as last year. In parallel to her studies, she swims in the lake, loves skiing and enjoys spending time with her friends.

Project Manager

She/her

I am a first year student studying in the Masters of International and Development studies programme specialising on conflict, peace, and security. I grew up near Minneapolis, Minnesota and have spent the past few years working in Tianjin, China.

Co-Head of Events

She/Her

I'm Shef and I'm a 2nd year MDEV student specialising in sustainability, with an avid interest in youth engagement in sustainable futures. I grew up in England and studied Politics in my undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick. Last year I spoke in the TEDx Student Corner and came back for more! Since moving here, I have loved exploring the city, and have formed a long list of coffee and brunch spots. I enjoy a spot of yoga, salsa or climbing, and a lot of great food with friends. I'm always listening to music (from film soundtracks to dance, and everything in between) and I love winding down with some art. A fun fact about me: I was a dancer for ten years and competed nationally - I miss it dearly!

Co-Head of Events

My name is Iris and I’m currently a 1st year MINT student specialising in Conflict, Peace and Security. I’m a Greek-German from Brussels with a background in Law, International Relations and Intelligence. I enjoy solo city trips, laughing with friends, recharging nature walks, making a mess in the kitchen while baking and sitting in cosy cafés with a good book.

Student Corner Manager

She/Her/Elle

Monica is a warm, hardworking lady, passionate about issues in education, child trafficking and sexual violence. She is pursuing a masters degree at the Geneva Graduate Institute, whilst interning with Global Survivors Fund. She is joining the TEDxGVAGrad Board 2022 as the Student Corner Manager. On a sunny day, you will mostly find Monica outside exploring places, trying different dishes and taking lots of pictures. On a cloudy or gloomy day, she prefers to stay indoors, reading or catching up with her friends.

Performance Manager

She/Her

I was born in the United States, but I grew up in Botswana and South Africa. I was always fascinated by law, especially in context of the environment. After completing my undergraduate studies in The Netherlands at Leiden University College, I discovered that my passion is for international human rights and humanitarian law as well as transitional justice! In my free time, I love listening to music, reading and writing as well as playing sports like tennis and badminton. I also enjoy cooking and trying different cuisines from all over the world. I love traveling and my next destination on my list is Kenya!

External Events Manager

I am Jean-Baptiste Sebgo, a MINT-CPS student at the Geneva Graduate institute. I received my bachelor’s degree at UIBE in Beijing/China. Speaking Mandarin, and French but also Italian and German allows me to better understand different cultures and contexts. I enjoy engaging in discussions with people in a sense of community. I believe we grow by conversing with others!

By joining TEDxGVAGrad as the external event manager, I am motivated to create a unique TEDx gathering that will unleash new ideas, inspire, and inform our IHEID community and beyond!

Welfare & External Events Manager

I'm Idriss, 21 years old, coming straight from Morocco where I studied International Relations for three years. I had a brief experience outside my home country as I took part of an exchange semester program at the University of Leeds, in England. I'm a passionate about African affairs and Peace, Conflict and Security studies, which I am making the principal focus of my graduate degree at the Geneva Graduate Institute. My interest in TedX and TED talks started when I was in high school, as I used to watch a lot of TED talks that really helped evolve at both academic and personal levels. Joining the TEDxXGVAGrad is a great opportunity for me to be at the heart of an organization that I have always admired, but also to learn, evolve and help the TEDxGVAGrad initiative to grow bigger.

Co-Head of Talks

Abby is from Toronto, Canada. She studied business and worked in media prior to pursuing her Master's. She is passionate about information dissemination in a global context and has varied interests outside of school and work ranging from backpacking to music.

Co-Head of Talks

She/her/elle

My name is Elisha and I am from Montreal, Canada. I am doing my Master of International Affairs and am interested in migration and displacement issues. Beyond my academic interests, I enjoy watching films and making random Spotify playlists no one will listen to.

Talks Manager

She/her

I am a first-year student in the International Relations and Political Science program. I am originally from Toronto, Canada and studied at the University of Toronto. I became interested in TED Talks in high school when I was first introduced to them during my classes. Throughout the years, I find myself more and more interested in watching TED talks. They cover every aspect of life, and there is a TED talk for any feeling, emotion, or question you have. They are motivating, yet challenging. They are inspirational, and always leave you with more questions and answers. I joined the TEDxGVAGrad team to be apart of the process to spread the love of TED talks!

Talks Manager

She/her

Hello! My name is Moe Shiojiri and I am a first-year MINT student, specializing in human rights and humanitarianism. I am Japanese but I was raised in Budapest, Brussels, and London. I am very excited to be a part of the TEDxGVAGrad team.

Talks Manager

She/her

Hellooooo, I'm Shruti Lal from the migrations track! With mismatched socks and a constant need to drink sulaimani, I live my life off of Dead Poets Society quotes, Michael Scott's chaos, and history books I haven't read in a while. I don't always know where I'm going, but when Prof Keating said 'what will your verse be?', I knew I had a few adventures that make for a great story.

Talks Manager

Valeria was born in Ukraine, got her BA degree from the Charles University in Prague, and is currently a student of International History and Politics. She loves exploring new places, learning foreign languages and getting to know people from different cultures.

Talks Manager

She/her

Daniela is a first-year MINT student specializing in Gender, Race and Diversity. She is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but was living in Berlin, Germany for the past four years for her bachelors before coming to Geneva. She is passionate about bridging inequality gaps and empowering marginalized communities in Latin America and beyond. Her interests and hobbies include traveling, photography, music, sports, learning new languages and trying new food from different cultures.

Co-Head of Sponsorship

She/her

Carolina is an international lawyer from Mexico. She completed her Bachelor in Law at Universidad Iberoamericana and an LLM at University of Glasgow. She is currently a candidate in the MA of International Law at the Graduate Institute. Carolina is interested in human rights litigation and international criminal law.

Co-Head of Sponsorship

They/Them

Sopory is from the Detroit, Michigan area in the United States. They are a second year student pursuing a Master in Development Studies with a focus on power and conflict. Their academic interests include critical race and gender theory, state-building, and democratic resilience. In their free time, Sopory likes reading dystopian fiction, watching sci-fi movies, and searching for the best cup of coffee in Geneva

Sponsorship Manager

She/her

I am a first year IRPS Masters student interested in focusing on sustainable development and economic policy. Outside of school I love to climb, kayak, and hike. I am always looking for a way to get outside and fun new songs.

Sponsorship Manager

Patrizio is from Ticino, but is originally from the Romansh part of Switzerland. He is a passionate rock climber and skier who is always keen to learn from and interact with others.

Sponsorship Manager

Hi everyone, I'm Alex, a proud member of the Sponsorship Team for the 2023 TEDxGVAGrad talks! I'm excited to work with the team, organisations and businesses to fund what will be an outstanding event and looking forward to seeing you all there.

Muhanna Al Lawati is a recent University of Toronto graduate currently pursuing a master’s in international history and politics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. His research focuses on the history of Anglo-American foreign policy competition in the Persian Gulf and its impact on the formation of the Persian Gulf monarchies. He currently works for the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the UNOG. In his spare time, Muhanna enjoys ranking Quentin Tarantino films, reading, and boxing.

Co-Head of Communications and Graphic Designer

She/her/elle

Sara is French and American. She is a second-year MIA student and interested in global health and environmental issues. She loves playing piano, hiking, and traveling.

Co-Head of Communications

Susanna Adjei Arthur is a PhD candidate at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute. She has five years of experience in teaching and research. Her research is grounded in the informal sector, organizational justice, economic sociology and industrial sociology. She was an Erasmus+ Scholar in 2015 -2016 and an alumna of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies affiliated with the University of Defense in Washington. She has currently been awarded the prestigious scholarship funded by the FERIS foundation (Fondation pour l’étude des relations Internationales en Suisse - Foundation for the Study of International Relations in Switzerland).

Web Editor and Photographer

He/him

Nicholas is a first-year student from the USA pursuing an MA in International and Development Studies, specializing in migration, mobilities, and boundaries. He enjoys long walks and podcasts, often at the same time.

Graphic Designer

She/her

Emma is a Finnish-American who is pursuing a Master in International and Development Studies, focusing on the environment and sustainability. Prior to starting her studies at the Graduate Institute, she worked for the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C., working on marine scientific research issues at the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs. In her spare time, she enjoys experimenting with new vegetarian recipes, escaping reality by reading contemporary fiction, and exploring new places by foot. Fun fact: She’s a twin and has lived in 9 countries (hoping to break into the double digits some day)!

Social Media Manager

She/her

I am a first year in the IRPS program. I got my BA in Government at Smith College. I’m originally from Los Angeles, California. I like to hike, swim, play tennis and do yoga. Fun fact: I have 3 cats and a dog back home.