Theme: Resonance

TEDx St George's School Youth is designed to engage the Student body of St. George’s and bring together the broader youth community of Vancouver to discuss, present, and engage in community affairs, social impact initiatives, local issues, and social justice issues of Greater Vancouver. Resonance means to us, fostering a diversity of perspectives via relatable and grounded talks, and by resonating, we, the audience, are inspired to take action afterwards.

St. George's Senior School
4175 W 29th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6S 1V1
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6S 1S8
Canada

Jing Li

Professor, International Business

Professor Jing Li is a Canada Research Chair in Global Investment Strategy and Professor of International Business at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. As Director of the Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies, her research explores how geopolitics, innovation, and state influence shape multinational business strategy. A globally recognized scholar, she has earned top awards for her research on emerging markets and international joint ventures, and serves on leading academic journals. Professor Li brings a unique global lens to the intersection of business, strategy, and international risk.

Justin Ha

Musician and Advocate

Justin Junwoo Ha is a violinist, researcher, and inclusion advocate based in Vancouver, Canada. He is a member of NYO-USA 2025 and his school’s provincial ski team. After performing with autistic musicians at Carnegie Hall and volunteering in Korea, he founded SonosVarios, a student-run initiative that creates inclusive musical experiences for neurodivergent youth. The group has hosted concerts, received instrument donations, and is currently collaborating with Diverse Village on a music exploration program. Justin also teaches adaptive skiing as a CADS-certified instructor and received 1st place in the Canadian Statistical Literacy Poster Competition for his research on cross-cultural perceptions of neurodiversity. Through his work in music, sport, and community building, Justin continues to explore how difference can be a source of connection. He believes that the most powerful form of leadership doesn’t begin with words—but with listening.

Natalie (Bin) Zhao

Professor, Management and Organization Studies

Professor Natalie (Bin) Zhao is a renowned scholar in organizational behavior at SFU’s Beedie School of Business. Her research focuses on how individuals and teams learn from mistakes, communicate errors, and foster psychological safety to drive innovation. With over 20 years of experience, she has published extensively in top academic journals, earned national research grants, and received awards for both her teaching and scholarly contributions. Professor Zhao’s work bridges theory and practice, offering powerful insights into how embracing failure can lead to better leadership, stronger teams, and lasting organizational success.

Patrick Lamontagne

Oceawise's Director of Youth

Patrick Lamontagne is the Director of Youth at Ocean Wise, based in Vancouver, BC. With over a decade of experience in youth engagement and education, Patrick has dedicated his career to helping young people build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take action for the ocean and their communities. Patrick holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Toronto. His work spans leadership training, curriculum design, and youth empowerment — all grounded in the belief that young people are powerful agents of change. Whether he’s mentoring young ocean leaders or helping to scale national conservation programs, Patrick’s work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: when youth are given the tools and trust to lead, their impact can ripple across generations.

Preston She

Student Leader

A lifer at St. George’s, Preston has spent more than a decade swimming competitively, though he recently decided to spice things up by diving into water polo. A dedicated classical pianist and cellist (for about 10 years each), he’s never won a solo music competition and is perfectly okay with that. His musical energy shines elsewhere: as an active member in all of the school’s official ensembles and as a published singer-songwriter with two full albums on Spotify and over 3,000 monthly listeners across five continents. Outside of music, he’s a happy camper on the Senior School Student Government and a proud member of the Model UN executive team. Whether on stage, in the water, or helping behind the scenes, he finds the most joy when collaborating with others and building community—not chasing the spotlight.

Rickie Wang

Young Artist

Rickie Wang is a 12-year-old performing artist from Vancouver, Canada, who is making his name in the stage and screen world. A proud member of UBCP/ACTRA, Rickie has starred in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender (Season 2), lead in feature films, voiced characters in animated films, and played lead roles in award-winning theatre productions—including his Ovation Award-winning portrayal of Oliver in Oliver! at Gateway Theatre. Rickie is a two time winner of the Canada Young Theatre Awards! But Rickie is more than just a performer. He’s a passionate communicator who believes in the power of art to inspire empathy and connection. Rickie uses every opportunity to spark emotion, start conversations, and resonate with people. Rickie will bring his creativity and curiosity to the TED stage—to remind us that no matter our age, we all have a voice that can move the world.

Thomas Li

Student Leader

Thomas Dongze Li is a serial inventor and technically-skilled creative obsessed with storytelling and ideas that move people. Driven by a curiosity of new experiences and the desire to build things that last, Thomas blends design, technology, business, and language to create meaningful impact. He is a committed leader within his community, actively contributing to initiatives that foster dialogue, innovation, and service. His experiences and roles span across organizations such as the Canadian High Schools Model United Nations, St. George’s VentureLift summer program, various case competitions across Vancouver, and the Helping Hearts Youth Foundation. He also has a number of independent pursuits: from developing experimental software to expressing himself through poetry and digital art. Through these platforms, he aims to enable and empower greater human connection and conversation.

Yasmin Kahkesh

Changemaker

Yasmin is a junior at Crofton House School, and the founder of Changemakers, an international non-profit dedicated to spotlighting industry leaders and creatives in the health and wellness industry. Growing up in Vancouver, a city at the forefront of health innovation, she was constantly exposed to new food trends, emerging brands, and the power of nutrition. She became fascinated with how food can do more than just nourish the body—it can drive innovation, build community, and shape how people live. Driven by her curiosity about the stories behind the brands shaping the wellness industry, Yasmin founded Changemakers to connect with the founders crafting “better-for-you” and nourishing food innovations. Under her leadership, Changemakers has reached over 500K people on socials, donated thousands of healthy meals to underserved communities, hosted live interviews with founders at schools, and conducted 200+ interviews with “changemakers.