Theme: Five Years In, The Magic Continues

Five years ago, TEDxGCULahore started as a bold idea—a student-driven initiative fueled by passion, curiosity, and the desire to spark meaningful conversations within our campus walls. What happened next was nothing short of a revolution. From our very first event, we saw something powerful taking shape. Each talk, each performance, each shared idea added to a growing ripple—one that would soon reach far beyond the boundaries of GCU. Over the years, we’ve brought together brilliant minds from all walks of life: scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, activists, psychologists, and everyday visionaries with extraordinary stories. Our stage has seen ideas that challenge convention, ignite curiosity, and drive change. We’ve tackled the future of technology, the power of mental health awareness, sustainability, storytelling, challenging stereotypes, and so much more. And through it all, our audience has grown—not just in numbers, but in passion, engagement, and global reach. TEDxGCULahore has become more than just an annual event. It’s a space where new perspectives are born. A platform that celebrates bold thinking. A launchpad for ideas worth spreading—not just within GCU or Lahore, but across the world. As we celebrate five incredible years, we’re not just looking back. We’re looking forward to the next wave of thinkers, dreamers, and doers who will take this revolution even further.
Because this isn’t just an anniversary, “This is a revolution in thinking.”

Bukhari Auditorium
Government College University, Near Nasir Bagh, Katchery Road, Lahore
Lahore, Punjab, 54000
Pakistan

Amina Kanju

Entrepreneur, author and columnist. Founder of Made in Alipur

Amina Kanju is an entrepreneur, author, and columnist who walked away from the noise of the city into the heart of her village, not to escape, but to build. She founded Made in Alipur, a social enterprise empowering rural women by turning their traditional skills into sustainable livelihoods, she is redefining what grassroots impact truly means. She’s not just rewriting the narrative of rural women empowerment, she’s making it impossible to ignore.From launching a school to connecting local artisans with major brands, she has done it all. Her work is a reminder that change doesn’t arrive from the outside; it rises from within: thread by thread, voice by voice, village by village. She’s not just rewriting what rural women empowerment looks like, she’s making it impossible to ignore.

Dr Rehan ul Haq

Wildlife ecologist and Assistant Professor at UVAS, specializing in wetlands forestry and wildlife crime.

Dr. Rehan Ul Haq, Assistant Professor at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, is a dedicated researcher working meticulously in the fields of ecology, conservation, and wildlife management. With academic and professional experience at the Asian Institute of Technology, FAO Regional Office, and WEMS AIT Solutions, his work focuses on wetlands, wildlife and forest crimes, and the study of birds. Through this, he aims to bring awareness to the plight of local flora and fauna and how their loss impacts human life. His tireless efforts reflect a deep commitment to preserving biodiversity, our environment and strengthening sustainable natural resource extraction, allocation and management.

Dr. Hajra Niaz Khan

Doctor, Mental well-being enthusiast, CEO Anon association, bureaucrat

Dr. Hajra Niaz Khan is a doctor, civil servant, and founder of Anon Association—a mental health initiative born from empathy and driven by the belief that healing should be a right, not a privilege. She has worn many hats—physician, policymaker, leader—but her true strength lies in how she brings heart into each of these roles. Dr. Hajra is quietly transforming how we understand well-being in Pakistan, making space for softness in systems and dignity in care. Her tremendous work has earned her two innovation awards from the UNDP and the Government of Pakistan, but her deeper legacy lives in the lives she’s helped restore with quiet compassion. A woman of many titles, Dr. Hajra is above all a builder of safe spaces where healing is honored, and softness is not deemed a weakness, but strength

Hassan Abbas

Writer, researcher, Playwright and literature educator

Muhammad Hassan Abbas finds himself nestled between the realms of art and academia. A passionate admirer of art, theatre, and literature, his love for these subjects fuels his dedication to academia and research. His scholarly contributions have been published in various research journals across Pakistan. In addition to academic writing, he has also penned several plays and short stories. Hassan has worked as a radio jockey at Radio FM 89, Layyah, and has taught literature at the University of Lahore (UOL), where he engaged students in thought-provoking discussions on literature, philosophy, and postcolonialism.

Saad Ghufran Siddiqui

Founder of Edversity, GCC's first web 3 learning platform. Advisor to office of Prime Minister on youth affairs

Saad Siddiqui is an award-winning social entrepreneur and the Founder of Edversity, Pakistan’s leading Web3 and emerging tech education platform. His work centers around transforming education systems and advancing blockchain adoption across emerging markets. Saad has been recognized globally by institutions such as the Commonwealth, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for his contributions to education and technological innovation. Through Edversity, he is actively building the future workforce for decentralized technologies, driving initiatives at the intersection of education, blockchain, and frontier tech. His leadership continues to inspire a new generation of builders, shaping the next chapter of the digital economy.

Safar Ali Danish

Award winning filmmaker, founder of Filmsaaz productions; writer, director and cinematographer

Safar Ali Danish is an award-winning independent filmmaker, writer, director, and cinematographer from Hazara Town, Quetta, where stories are often silenced before they are even told. A graduate of Iqra University and founder of Filmsaaz Productions, his camera doesn't just document; it defies invisibility. Safar uses his lens to tell stories that rarely make it to mainstream screens...raw, human stories of struggle, identity, and survival. With over 8 years of experience and multiple international recognitions, he’s proving that powerful storytelling can emerge from the most overlooked places. His work isn’t just about film; it’s about giving voice to people the world often chooses not to see. Safar's work is focused on empowering voices and bringing to light the societal issues, which are often brushed under the rug. His journey from his hometown to international stages represents the power of creativity and resilience in the face of invisibility and oppression.