About TEDx
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading. TED Conferences invite the world' s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. TEDx is a program of local, self- organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded as TEDx (where x=independenly organised TED event).
International School Lahore is hosting its fourth TEDx event. It would be a single day event, scheduled to take place on the 12th of September at the ISL Ring Road campus. This year's theme is “The Generational Divide: Tradition Unvowen”, which invites speakers to delve into generational divide between Gen Z and preceding generations.
Our guests will explore the contrasts, challenges and connections across generations and promote discussions to overcome the generational divide.
SPEAKERS
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Abrahim Shah is a governance professional with over seven years of experience in public sector leadership, international development, and research. A member of the Pakistan Administrative Service and a graduate of Cornell University and Oxford, he has served as the head of government in jurisdictions of up to half a million people, overseeing 14 public departments and delivering policy implementation in some of Pakistan’s most marginalized regions, including Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. His career highlights include co-designing the first-ever educational summer camp policy in Gilgit-Baltistan, leading polio vaccination drives in Afghan refugee communities, and strengthening municipal service delivery as administrator of Skardu’s local government. Beyond governance, Abrahim has been deeply committed to education and counselling, co-founding a vocational and educational school for differently-abled children, mentoring students through independent initiatives, and writing for Dawn. His work reflects a passion for reducing inequality, preserving cultural traditions, and exploring the intersections of power, displacement, and policy in shaping the future of communities.
Abrahim Shah
Public Sector Leader
Dr. Usman Hotiana
Psychiatrist
Dr. Usman Hotiana is the Head of the Psychiatry Department at Rashid Latif Medical College and a graduate of King Edward Medical University, with extensive experience at the Punjab Institute of Mental Health, UHS, and Akhtar Syed Hospital. His work in the field of child and adult psychiatry has shaped national conversations on mental health and the law, including the landmark case of Khizer Hayat, which established that schizophrenia is a mental illness and safeguarded countless lives from wrongful prosecution. Trained in mental health at NYC alongside Prof. George Washington, Dr. Hottiana continues to advocate for improved forensic reporting standards in Pakistan.
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Zoha Waqas, a 2024 Diana Award recipient, Youth4Climate Awardee by UNDP, and Tech for Impact Ambassador at the Global Blockchain Business Council, is a leader in business development and tech-driven social impact at Tayaba Org. She spearheaded SavePakistan, Pakistan’s first blockchain-powered resource distribution and fundraising system, and also founded Playpreneur, a youth-led, play-based entrepreneurial hub. Guided by her belief that business must serve people, planet, and profit, Zoha empowers young people to transform ideas into action and lead with confidence and creativity in the fast-evolving fields of technology.
Zoha Waqas
Digital Innovator
Dr. Sara Rizvi Jafree is an Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology at Forman Christian College, and a researcher whose work bridges social policy, public health, and women’s studies. She has authored three books with leading academic publishers and published over fifty papers in international journals, shaping conversations on women’s health, digital literacy, and intergenerational learning. As the founding editor of the Forman Journal of Social Sciences, her journey reflects the power of research to address divides and inspire social change across generations.
Dr. Sara Rizvi Jafree
Researcher on Social Policy/Public Health
Mahd Tahir is an entrepreneur who has quickly made his mark by building one of Lahore’s fastest-growing fast food brand ‘Ouii’, designed with a distinctly Gen Z spirit. Before stepping into the world of food and business, he built a career in photography and creative production, giving him a unique eye for branding, culture, and storytelling. Today, his journey reflects the power of reimagining everyday experiences—whether through food, technology, or design—and his work continues to inspire young innovators to think differently about how businesses can grow, connect, and create impact.
Mahd Tahir
Entrepreneur
Zaeem Lodhi
Design Enthusiast
Zaeem Lodhi is a visual storyteller and content creator, currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Grey Matter Global. His journey began at the International School Lahore, where he first explored social media management. Since then, he has grown into a creative leader, now contributing to the launch of the National Institute of Technology — Pakistan’s first American university powered by Arizona State University. Driven by hard work and passion, Zaeem has transformed his early curiosity into a career of purpose and impact. At TEDxISLPineYouth, he steps onto the stage to share the lessons learned along his path — from bridging generational gaps between teachers and peers, to discovering the importance of celebrating diversity across all fields, and above all, to never doubting one’s own potential.
Syeda Malaika Rizvi is a young changemaker who has used technology to expand opportunity and redefine access to education. As part of ISL’s Legacy Batch, she began by teaching coding to her peers and went on to found Girl Coders Pakistan, a platform now connecting young women in 16 countries to STEM skills and resources. Winner of the Global Teen Leader Award and the founding curator of TEDxISLPine Youth, Malaika continues to show how the ideas and energy of a new generation can bridge divides, spark collaboration, and open doors to the future.
Syeda Malaika Rizvi
Student Speaker
Fatima Tahir
Student Speaker
Fatima Tahir is an International School Lahore Alumna and 19 year old athlete on a mission to inspire young girls in Pakistan to run, cycle and follow their dreams. With a background in marathon running and cycling stemming from her childhood living in Kenya, Fatima has achieved national recognition for her speed and strength, winning medals in 1000 m, 3000m and 4000m pursuit categories in the Senior National Cycling Championship. Her latest initiative at the Falcon Triathlon Club, "FTC Girls", is the latest step in her journey to providing a safe space for young women to explore running. At TEDxISLPineYouth, Fatima aims to convey her journey: how to traverse the turbulent waters of professional sports and being a female athlete in Pakistan. Through her journey, she wishes to inspire people to chase their dreams, no matter how difficult or how far.
