Sue Campbell
TEDxEBYouth Lead Organizer; EB Middle School English and Art Teacher
Sue Campbell has been the lead organizer, licensee and curator for TEDxYouth@EB since our pilot eleven years ago. She is inspired by the TEDx global network and grateful for a Skoll Foundation scholarship to TED Women 2021. Sue wants to thank all her students from thirty plus years of teaching middle school and high school English, Art, Drama and Service Learning. They have inspired her to co-design and co-produce community and service projects that connect us to our larger community. She has a BA in English and French Literature from Cornell and a Masters in Literature from Bread Loaf at Middlebury. In addition to teaching, Sue is a dancer, figurative painter, surfer and skier and a mom of two teen boys, who are bilingual and at home in the world thanks to their years at EB.
Mei-Lin Ha Byers
TEDxEBYouth Co-Organizer; EB Director of Development & Communications
Mei-Lin Ha Byers is an EB parent, alumna class of ’99, and current staff member, happy to wear her triple hats to help with the logistical and promotional aspects of TEDxYouth@EB this year. A Berkeley native, Mei-Lin completed a full ten years at EB, then went on to Berkeley High School, and continued her studies at Oberlin College. She graduated with a dual major in History and French (which made her studies abroad in Paris a dream), and moved back to the Bay in 2007. Mei-Lin has worked with both children and adults in the education field since college, and finds her passion in connecting with people from all different walks of life. Mei-Lin has worked at EB since 2012 in the Development department, and became the Director in 2019. She has a deep love for fashion and travel, though spends most of her time these days running after her son, a third-year EB preschooler, with her husband in Orinda.
Antonette Goroch
TEDxEBYouth Co-Organizer; EB Marketing, Communications & Digital Media Manager
Antonette joined EB in 2022 and leads our communications and marketing efforts for TEDxYouth@EB. She is a diverse and creative professional, with more than 25 years experience in digital media, technology and communications. She has a BA in Political Science from Humboldt State University and an MA in Communications (Radio,TV, Film) from University of Wisconsin, Madison. She has a deep love of language and history, and enjoys crocheting, making soap and hanging out with her two daughters.
2025-2026 Speaker Coaches
Dan Widmaier
Founder & CEO of Bolt Threads
Dan Widmaier is a current EB Parent, as well as the Founder and CEO of Bolt Threads. Dan earned his PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from UC San Francisco, where his graduate research involved designing genetic circuits to control microbial organelles. In 2009, he and his two co-founders founded Bolt Threads, which is creating the next generation of materials using biotechnology. Harnessing his experience in both science, and business development, Dan has grown Bolt Threads from an incubator start-up to a biomaterials platform company with 75 employees. He has led BoltThreads through multiple fundraising rounds, created lasting partnerships with iconic global brands like Stella McCartney, and launched commercially available materials including MyloTM – a mycelium-based leather alternative – with a select group of partners including adidas, Kering, lululemon, and Stella McCartney. Take a listen to Dan’s fascinating TED presentation from last year, The Future of Fashion – Made from Mushrooms.
Roger Mullins
EB Middle School English Teacher
Following several years in the London publishing industry, Roger took a big step in 2006 to pursue a career in teaching. Roger graduated from Bristol University in the west of England and holds qualifications in English, History, and Education. In 2012, he relocated to Denmark and taught English and History in a large international school. Working in an international school setting reaffirmed his belief in creativity and advantages of bilingual education. The opportunity to relocate to the US arose in 2015 where he joined the Lycée Français de San Francisco and taught English Language and Literature to 6th to 12th grade for seven years. Roger is a strong advocate of SEL and strives to foster a life-long interest in learning where he puts a strong emphasis on differentiation and collaborative teaching. According to Roger, education is a lifelong adventure and we could not agree more!
Gabrielle Hedlund
Middle School English Teacher
Gabrielle is a current EB parent, a former EB Middle School English Teacher and a veteran TEDxYouth@EB mentor. A graduate of both Mills College and UC Santa Cruz, Gabrielle is a proven leader in education, committed to equity, curiosity, and critical thinking in the classroom. Having taught a range of ages in a diversity of settings both public and private she is highly skilled in lesson planning, curriculum design, culturally responsive teaching, literacy and mentorship.
2025-2026 Production Team
Johwell St-Cillien
Filmmaker, Educator & Philanthropist
Johwell St-Cilien is an EB parent, as well as an internationally known film director, writer, and editor. Like last year, we’re thrilled to have Johwell handling videography and sound for this year’s presentation. Born in Paris, France of Haitian parents, Johwell moved to New York at the age of 19, where he resided for the majority of his adult life before moving to Oakland, California. His inspiration comes from all of these places. “All the pieces I write are based on true stories. Some of them only occurred in my head.” He is also an educator and philanthropist who has raised funding to meet the needs of children around the world with his NegusWorld organization.
Greg Paolino
Producer, AV/Green Energy Contractor
Greg is an AV/Green Energy contractor born and raised in Berkeley and a parent of an EB third-grader. He has been involved in production of many Bay Area TEDx experiences, including TEDxSiliconValley, TEDxBerkeley, TEDx YouthCastilleja, TEDxSantaCruz among others as a member of a volunteer production team. His passion for sharing knowledge and inspiring people to grow and excel in their pursuits is a perfect match for the TEDx community. Filling roles from production design and stagecraft to stage management and custodial duties, he revels in any opportunity to help visionaries of all ages share their ideas on the TED stage. When he’s not producing shows, he’s skiing, sailing, flying or cooking!
Student Producers
Maya Degrafinried
Grade 8 Student
Maya Degrafinried is a competitive swimmer who brings the same focus and energy to everything she does. Inspired by her mom, she chose to step into a leadership role at TEDxEB as a youth producer to help and excite others about sharing their ideas on stage. As a speaker in last year’s TEDxEB, Maya spoke about the importance of accessible healthcare for all. She continues to care deeply about fairness, equity, and giving everyone the support they need to thrive.
Olivia Jeffers
Grade 8 Student
Olivia Jeffers is a dedicated soccer player and friend. As a goalkeeper, she is always training, defending the net and supporting her team. Inspired by activists who speak up not just themselves, but for others, Olivia took to the TEDxEB stage last year to share her observations about inequities in professional sports. Her talk “Is he Really Worth a Hundred Times More?” focused on equality in women’s sports, and why fairness in athletics matters for everyone. This year, Olivia is a youth producer, excited to support new speakers and help them have the same empowering experience she had on stage.
Mila Hashemi-Reid
Grade 7 Student
Mila Hashemi Reid is a curious, carefree and vivacious person who loves animals. She enjoys horseback riding, performing on stage, student government and playing volleyball. She has been inspired working behind-the-scenes on marketing and communications for this year’s production and looks forward to taking the stage next year as a TEDxEBYouth Speaker.
James Sinek
Grade 8 Student
James Sinek is a deeply thoughtful and curious student-athlete who brings dedication and diligence to everything he does. He enjoys playing both Dungeons & Dragons and lacrosse, drawing inspiration from people who work hard to achieve their goals. James has been a valuable addition to this year’s TEDx production team, choosing to help bring ideas to life behind the scenes rather than on stage.
Nico Watt
Grade 8 Student
Combining an athletic mindset with an innate artistic creativity, Nico Watt brings a fearless authenticity and compassion to every project he touches. During last year’s TEDxEBYouth, Nico drew on his personal experiences as a mixed-race student in a private school, highlighting the need for better education about our nation’s racial history. This year, he stepped into a leadership role, coaching speakers and applying his keen array of skills to help produce the TEDx event.
Alexandra Diehl
Grade 8 Student
Alexandra has always been inspired by the animal kingdom and believes that by looking more closely at other creatures, we can uncover valuable lessons for our own lives. In her TEDxEBYouth talk last year, she explored the wonders of symbiotic relationships and how observing them can inspire positive change in our daily interactions. This year, Alexandra explored a new kind of symbiotic relationship, taking on the role of student producer and coach behind the scenes.
Louise Gimon
Grade 8 Student
Louise Gimon enjoys the arts and all things creative, from drawing and crafts to ice skating and volleyball. She loves spending time with friends, family, and pets, and draws inspiration from pop culture, music, movies, and TV. In her TEDxEBYouth talk last year, Louise explored the hidden costs of fast fashion and the consumer trends driving it, while encouraging more sustainable ways to shop. This year, she has been a welcome addition to the production team, contributing her creativity and insight behind the scenes.
Tymoteusz Zawadzk
Grade 8 Student
Tymoteusz Zawadzki is a vibrant force of nature, passionate about technology, innovation, and creative expression . Last year, his TEDx talk focused on the possibilities of self-driving cars and how advances in automated vehicles can shape the future of AI in positive ways . This year, Tymoteusz brings his experience and expertise to his role as a student coach and producer, helping his classmates to develop and present their own passionate ideas.