TEDxPlainesWilhems

Vaco Baissac, Peintre Créole de l’île Maurice

Vaco is the illustrious and legendary Mauritian Creole painter who conquered the world with his unique brush strokes and bright colours. He believes that we are blessed in Mauritius to have this wonderful blend of multitude of cultures and defines his art style as Creole. The bright colours reflect our wonderful, privileged life with sunshine over the azure rich sea and our horizons of green pastures of sugarcane.

Born in Mauritius in 1940, renowned Mauritian artist Vaco Baissac had his first exhibition at the young age of 18 and by 20 years he had his first international exhibition at Reunion Island. His initial years were under the tutelage of Serge Constantin and Siegfried Sammer. After studying art in Brussels and Paris, Vaco moved to Africa for 20 years returning finally to his native isle to pursue his passion. Vaco opened a studio to share his passion of art with adults and children. He has been commissioned to paint large paintings and murals for the islands principle establishments as well as exhibiting his own work along with his students. Vaco has represented Mauritius at important international exhibitions with his aesthetic metaphors of islands, sun and light and continues to work on many large art projects for the private and public sector locally as well as internationally.

Ali Mansoor, Unreconstructed Economist

Ali is one of Mauritius’ brilliant economists who has had a great career and held influential positions in the global financial organisations such as the IMF and the World Bank. He has been in a unique position to be exposed to countries economic strategies and this has given him the chance to reflect on the dynamics and drivers that make countries successful. He will share his view on where Mauritius is today and what it will take to drive the country out of the current economic storm.

Ali Mansoor is an Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius and Chairman of the RMCE. He has been an Assistant Director at the IMF, Financial Secretary in Mauritius, Chair of the Global Forum for Migration and Development, CEO of the COMESA Clearing House, Lead Economist at the World Bank and worked at the IMF Independent Evaluation Office and the EU Directorate for Development. He has written on resilience to natural disasters, regional integration, privatization, migration, fiscal decentralization, and capacity development.

Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, Of Counsel

Shirin is a well respected barrister and has held many important positions related to women and child welfare both locally and internationally. She is deeply committed in the struggle to promote, protect and defend Human Rights and will share with us her take on individual rights vs community rights.

For four decades, Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra has been deeply committed in the struggle to promote, protect and defend Human Rights. She was the first African and first woman who, along with 19 other women, sent in 1977 a communication to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) against her own country when discriminatory laws had been passed curbing the rights of women citizens to live with a foreign husband in their natal country. The UNHRC gave its positive views in 1981. She has now international recognition for all her human rights activities especially in favour of women’s and children’s rights. Shirin will be touching on individual rights versus, community rights.

POV, Editorial Artist

William, well known as ‘Pov’ is the famous cartoonist behind the images which make us smile and think on a daily basis in the local press. He expresses and shares with us his universe and how he pushes the frontier of mental acceptances as he teases sensitive subjects. He also expresses the power and the might of the drawing pen to project the message of the mass to the elite and enable a more balanced society with a smile.

William Rasoanaivo, famously known as Pov, was born in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on January 12, 1975. A self-taught cartoonist, he perfected his craft by copying comic books and reading satirical cartoons. He began his professional career in 1997 in the daily Midi Madagasikara. Journalism training in Berlin and Cardiff shaped his way of drawing in the press. In 2006, he settled in Mauritius where his drawings were published in the local press, mainly in the daily newspaper l’Express but also internationally (Madagascar, Jeune Afrique, Le Monde). His press cartoons have earned him international prizes and recognition, including the RFI/RSF Prize, a World Press Cartoon Award, among others. Also, a comic artist, he regularly publishes graphic novels.

Hélène Echevin, CEO of C-Care group

Hélène Echevin is a pioneer in progressing medical care in Mauritius and increasingly parts of Africa. She will talk about the challenges and the future of healthcare.

Hélène Echevin is the CEO of C-Care group, and the Executive Chairperson of C-Care (Mauritius) Ltd. She has played a key role in developing the healthcare sector and leading the operational excellence journey. She has extensive experience in operations and project management at the corporate level working for Eclosia Group and Harel Mallac Group for 22 years. She was the first lady President of Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She holds a degree in Engineering from Polytech Engineering School, Montpellier, France and followed a Management Executive Program at INSEAD. She has directorships in Public Interest Entities: SUN Limited and CIEL Textile Limited.

Mickaël Apaya, Manager of Transitions

Mickaël is a circular economy and sustainability strategist with more than 10 years of experience. He considers himself an agent of transition, but this was not always the case while he was growing up. He will share with us the transitions of climate change through his own experience and through an equation.

Mickaël Apaya is recently the officer in charge for Low Carbon & Circular Economy strategies at Cap Business Indian Ocean, the private regional organisation regrouping chambers of commerce and industry as well as professional organisations. Over the past 10 years, he was the Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Growth cluster of Business Mauritius. He has developed the Programme National d’Efficacité Energétique, the SUNREF Mauritius III credit line and the SigneNatir pledge. He holds a Master of Sciences in Energy and Environment from EPF Engineers School (Sceaux, France) and a Baccalauréat in Engineering Sciences (Saint-Denis, La Réunion).

Yuv Sungkur, Climate Youth Activist

Yuv Sungur is a young and energetic activist who believes that the world needs a rethink and a different decision influencing perspective. There is today a generational gap on how fast the world needs to be repaired and saved from the climate crisis and he believes that the passion & skills of the youth hold the key to bridging this difference.

Yuv Sungkur is a 23-year-old Mauritian youth climate advocate. He is passionate about climate change issues and fighting its impact on Small Islands Developing States. In parallel to his master’s degree in Global Environmental Governance, Yuv spoke and participated in various international summits and conferences, such as the 16th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16), held in Glasgow, and the Transforming Education Pre-Summit in Paris. He is also the president and co-founder of a youth-led local humanitarian NGO: Food Water Hygiene (FWH) Mauritius. His NGO seeks to support the population in need by providing them with basic necessities.

Devina Lobine,Bio Scientist

Devina is a bright researcher who started in university research with high hopes and great initial research results. She has a passion for traditional medicine and shares with us her research experience and what it would take to unlock its potential.

Devina Lobine is an enthusiastic bio-scientist. Her research interest is centered on ethno-pharmacology, drug discovery and development on non-communicable diseases. She holds a degree in Agricultural Biotechnology and PhD in the field of Natural Products. Devina has several years of practical and applied experience in various fields of life sciences and has authored/co-authored over 60 publications. She was awarded the 2020 Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents-L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science prize for her research work. As Science leader, Devina is passionately engaged on numerous projects and activities related to STEM agenda.

ANNEGA, Artist

Anne-Gaëlle, the island girl, is an emerging artist who owes her success to a unique, refreshing and out-going personality. Named “The Mauritian Pop Star” she conquered the hearts of many with her debut single ‘REMEMBER ME’ which won ‘Hit of the Year 2019’. ANNEGA tells you a story – hers – on a pop-rock rhythm, which we can easily connect to, making her songs ever more special. Always on the move, with a colourful outlook on life, breathing positivity with an oozing compelling energy!

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