An independently run event focused on spreading world-changing ideas will be back after a four-year hiatus and aims to “inspire optimism and courage”.

TEDx has not been staged in Bermuda since 2019 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to secure a new venue after the Fairmont Southampton was closed.

Ten speakers have been confirmed for this year’s collection of talks, which will be held from 1pm to 5.30pm on November 9 at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

John Narraway, the cofounder and organiser of TEDx Bermuda, said: “The 2024 edition of TEDx Bermuda will once again bring together a confluence of thought leaders and pioneers in many emerging fields.

“From the technological advancement of AI to frontiers of cellular biology, from courageous stories of the heart to the latest in clinical treatments of anxiety, depression and PTSD — there is something for every curious mind that attends the event.”

He added: “Never before have we, as humans, had so much access to information and the power of knowledge.

“These days, the world seems chaotic and daunting from the continuous stream of news and social media.

“What we want to do in an afternoon is ‘reboot’ minds with evidence-based stories that inspire optimism and courage, that there are great things being built for society that will radically change for the better, the lives of everyone.

“There is reason to be optimistic and we want to bring that thinking to the forefront.”

The line-up includes Pradipta Ghosh, of the University of San Diego, a professor of medicine, and cellular and molecular medicine.

She is working to reshape drug and biomarker discovery research, challenging the reliance on animal experiments in medicine.

Everett Lacey, a senior systems software engineer with links to Bermuda, is also a speaker at this year’s event.

He leads a team of engineers at Nvidia, which describes itself as a world leader in artificial intelligence computing, focused on accelerating AI applications.

Other featured speakers include Glenn Corn, a veteran of the US intelligence and foreign affairs communities, and Saskia Wolsak, a botanist who was born in Canada but spent summers in Bermuda with her maternal Bermudian family.

Also confirmed are Andrew McConnell, the founder and chief executive of wellness market place alively.com and author of Get Out of My Head: Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom; Susana Martinez-Conde, a neuroscientist and author; Jim McNiel, a seasoned technology executive and chief growth officer at TAE Technologies, which is focused on developing a carbon-free, non-radioactive baseload energy source; Sanjay Rao, the director of learning and development at Centre for Mental and Psychological Health, which has three locations in Canada; Dale Johnson, a tech worker and professional polo player; and Tiana Holt, a futurist with Faith Popcorn, a think-tank.

Mr Narraway said that an event of this scale would not be possible without the support of sponsors.

He thanked this year’s supporters and said that sponsorship was still being sought.

Bermuda held its first TEDx event in 2011.

TED, which is an acronym for technology, entertainment, design, is a non-profit organisation that started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago and has grown into a global event supporting innovative thinkers.

The ‘x’ after TED signifies independently organised events.

• For more information, visittedxbermuda.com