More than 600 TEDx organisers from around the world will gather in Doha for the first ever TEDxSummit from April 16 to 20 featuring workshops, collaborative projects, regional and cross-regional brainstorming, talks, special events and cultural activities. TED, the nonprofit organisation devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading,” announced the details of the inaugural ‘TEDxSummit: The Power of x’ and said the first night is to be open to the public so people from across Doha and the region will get the chance to hear speakers from the Arab world and beyond. The TEDxSummit Opening Night will be called “The Power of Reframing”, and includes opening remarks by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, an avid entrepreneur, photographer and adventure traveller with a passion for mountain climbing to raise awareness for charity initiatives. It takes place on Monday, April 16, from 7pm to 9.30pm at the Katara Amphitheatre and is the only event during the summit that is open to the public. “TEDxSummit Opening Night is a front row seat to powerful ideas from many fields, presented in the classic TED format,” says Bruno Giussani, TED’s European Director, who is curating the event. “The event will take place in a spectacular venue where, together with hundreds of passionate TEDx organizers and the Doha public, we will explore a range of global topics that push boundaries and cross cultures.” Amanda Palmer, Executive Director of DFI, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this exciting event that showcases some fantastically talented thinkers from our region as well as respected speakers from different parts of the world. The event will be another step towards building a strong knowledge economy in Qatar and establishing the country as a thinker’s capital. We hope locals and expatriates from all walks of life will come along to the opening night and be stimulated by the passion and creativity of those taking the stage at this informative and entertaining event.” TEDxSummit Opening Night speakers include Jordanian singer Zain Awad, Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani, physicist Wolfgang Kessling, Indian artist Raghava KK, curator William Noel, scientist Nesrim, popular TED speaker Hans Rosling and Qatar National Food Security Programme Chairman Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiya. “TEDxSummit is the first time that this incredible global community of TEDx organizers is coming together in person to share their vision for the future of the TEDx program,” says TEDx Director Lara Stein. “TEDxSummit Opening Night is an exciting way to start off the week’s events and to celebrate the third anniversary of the TEDx programme.” TEDx events are independently organized local events that inspire communities to discuss big ideas in a wide range of subjects – education, health, community, science, design, technology, entertainment and more. Nearly 3,500 TEDx events have taken place in three years, in 1,000 cities, in more than 125 countries. The Peninsula

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