MAIN STAGE PRESENTER: Ted Papakostas was born and raised in Thessaloniki. He studied Archaeology in the University of Reading and got an MA in Archaeological Research from the University of Nottingham. He has worked as an archaeologist in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and participated in various excavations in the UK and Greece. Ted completed his PhD in Classical Archaeology at the University of Thessaloniki in 2017 and started working at the Archaeological Service of Kilkis. With a firm belief that archaeology is the most fun of all fields of study and that everyone has the right to enjoy its marvels (always keeping a distance from pseudo-scientific approaches), Ted started the “Archaeostoryteller” project in 2018 – a social media account with more than 55K followers, aiming to present archaeology to the general public in a fun way and make it accessible to everyone. Ted is also the author of the book “Can you fit all of ancient Greece in an elevator?”, which is currently being translated into 7 languages and hosts a successful podcast.

ALTERNATIVE STAGE PRESENTER: Georgia Kaltsi is an inspirational personality with a long history in volunteering and providing information on disability and para-sports. She is a Paralympic fencing athlete in the greek national team with participations in global athletic events, a wheelchair basketball player in the ASKA MAROUSI team and a life coach instructor/trainer in various companies and schools. She likes to deal with various issues in her daily life and to learn constantly. She is a young, independent woman who embraces life with a positive mindset, no matter the challenges. The accident she was in, in 2015 not only did not prevent her from achieving what she has dreamed of in her life, but also pushed her to achieve even more and redefine her goals by taking many actions around disability. She is a graduate of the Queen Margaret of Edinburgh School of Clinical Dietetics-Nutrition, with a master’s degree in neurology and rehabilitation from Oxford Brookes University. She loves traveling, food but especially extreme sports and in particular scuba diving, wakeboarding, sit skiing and kitesurfing. She likes to dedicate her free time to her friends and mainly to her dog, Blue. Georgia Kaltsi proves to us every day that realism is what matters and helps you live the life you have dreamt of. It is no coincidence that in each of her speeches the whole audience “hangs” from her lips. She is a role model for every person!

Μπείτε εδώ για να μάθετε περισσότερα για το TEDxAthens και την οργανωτική ομάδα πίσω από τα μικρόφωνα. Produced & Hosted by: TEDxAthens. Track Title: Action Stylish Rock Dedication by AlexGrohl. Sound Editing & Mixing: Matrix Recording Studio.

Watch Stefano's TEDxAthens 2022 talk here

Stefanos Kontos, is an underwater photographer/cinematographer, who does all his work freedivng – using apnea – without the use of any breathing equipment. Born in Ioannina-Greece in 1972 he has been exploring the Greek seas and documenting his work for 3 decades. He is collaborating with organizations, institutions and specialists, worldwide in an effort to advance and promote the unique perspective of freediving photography. His associations include, The Greek ephorate of underwater antiquities, National Geographic, The KORSEAI Institute of Historical & Archaeological Research and others.

The work of apnea underwater photography is a truly unique and challenging endeavor. It is the absolute manifestation of “action – wildlife photography” and requires effort and preparation by the photographer and the support – team involved. 

As well as requiring sound technical skills and physical abilities, the photographer needs to have a deep understanding and awareness of the marine environment and its inhabitants. Some situations may require stalking skills or the use of the environment for concealment and approach, always, on a single breath. Intensive training and both physical and mental preparation is necessary for achieving a high level of competence in freediving photography. 

However, the element of the “single breath” does not work as a restriction or confinement, it is a liberating factor; the photographs are all–too–real glimpses of the experience and the actual interaction with the deep. 

The photographer –freediver is liberated; unfettered by definition, free to experience his surroundings completely, and without any interference between him and his subject. 

Τhe natural, physical and mental abilities of the freediver-photographer allow Stefanos to capture the pulse of the unique Greek underwater world as it is interacting with him, during his dives.

Μπείτε εδώ για να μάθετε περισσότερα για το TEDxAthens και την οργανωτική ομάδα πίσω από τα μικρόφωνα. Produced & Hosted by: TEDxAthens. Track Title: Action Stylish Rock Dedication by AlexGrohl. Sound Editing & Mixing: Matrix Recording Studio.

Watch Angelo's TEDxAthens 2022 talk here.

Angelo Pentaris spent his early years in and out of hospitals. Born prematurely and hooked up to machines in order to breathe, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and was told he was a tetraplegic. According to the doctors, Angelo would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair and would be permanently unable to live independently.

At 9 months old, Angelo began intensive physical therapy, which became his first priority for the next 17 years of his life.

At age 14, an injury caused Angelo to use a wheelchair for the following 2 years. After having worked hard to develop an active lifestyle, he was once again told that his chances of walking again were less than 20%.

At that time, Angelo discovered the drums. Lighting a fire within him, drumming became his primary motivation towards getting better.

Fast-forward to today, Angelo has managed to overcome a disability that could have taken over his life. He is a drummer, a motivational speaker and a fitness enthusiast.

Angelo believes that everything starts with a positive mindset. As he never gave up nor taken “no” for an answer, he is eager to share his story with the world.

Μπείτε εδώ για να μάθετε περισσότερα για το TEDxAthens και την οργανωτική ομάδα πίσω από τα μικρόφωνα. Produced & Hosted by: TEDxAthens. Track Title: Action Stylish Rock Dedication by AlexGrohl. Sound Editing & Mixing: Matrix Recording Studio.