The Future of Power Speakers
Chris Hadfield
Astronaut | First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station (2013)
Referred to as “the most famous astronaut since Neil Armstrong,” Colonel Chris Hadfield is a worldwide sensation whose video of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” – seen by over 75 million people – was called “possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created”, by Bowie himself. Acclaimed for making outer space accessible to millions, and for infusing a sense of wonder into our collective consciousness not felt since humanity first walked on the Moon, Colonel Hadfield continues to bring the marvels of science and space travel to everyone he encounters.
In 1992, Colonel Hadfield was selected as a NASA Mission Specialist, and three years later he was aboard the Shuttle Atlantis, where he helped build the Mir space station. In 2001, on Shuttle Endeavour, Colonel Hadfield performed two spacewalks and in 2013, he became Commander of the International Space Station for six months off planet.
A heavily decorated astronaut, engineer, and pilot, Colonel Hadfield’s many awards include the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He was named the Top Test Pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.
Colonel Hadfield is the author of three internationally bestselling books, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, You Are Here, and his children’s book, The Darkest Dark. Additionally, he released his musical album, Space Sessions: Songs From a Tin Can, in 2015. He is also featured on Ted.com for his talk, What I Learned from Going Blind in Space.
Currently, Colonel Hadfield can be seen as the co-creator and host of the internationally acclaimed BBC series Astronauts, and he is co-hosting, with actor Will Smith, the National Geographic series One Strange Rock, directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Colonel Hadfield is also the producer of the celebrated Rare Earth series on YouTube, and the creator of the on-stage celebration Generator, which combines science, comedy, and music for sold-out audiences.
Additionally, Colonel Hadfield is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo.
Gretchen Bakke
Author of The Grid and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at McGill University
Born in Portland, Oregon, and currently of Montreal, Gretchen Bakke holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Cultural Anthropology. Her work focuses on the chaos and creativity that emerges during social, cultural, and technological transitions. For the past decade she has been researching and writing about the changing culture of electricity in the United States. She is a former fellow in Wesleyan University’s Science in Society Program, a former Fulbright fellow, and is currently an assistant professor of anthropology at McGill University. Bill Gates named her 2016 book, The Grid, one of his 5 best reads of the year.
Tony Seba
Author "Clean Disruption", Co-Founder RethinkX
Tony Seba is a world-renowned author, thought leader, educator, speaker and entrepreneur. He is the author of the #1 Amazon best-selling book “Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation - How Silicon Valley Will Make Oil, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Coal, Electric Utilities and Conventional Cars Obsolete by 2030”, which has changed the global conversation about the future of energy, transportation and climate change.
Seba’s work focuses on technology-based disruptions: the convergence of technologies, business model and product innovations that are disrupting the world’s major industries including energy, transportation, infrastructure, real estate and finance. He has taught thousands of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders at Stanford University’s Continuing Studies. Seba is also the cofounder of RethinkX, an independent think-tank that analyzes and forecasts the speed and scale of technology-driven disruption and its implications across society.
A serial Silicon Valley entrepreneur and angel investor, Seba was an early employee at disruptive Internet companies Cisco Systems and RSA Data Security.
Seba has been featured in leading global media, including Bloomberg, CNBC, ARD, and TVChosun. Seba has been a keynote speaker at hundreds of global events including Google, CLSA, J.P. Morgan, Nomura, Davos, COP21 World Climate Summit, Intersolar and Global Leaders Forum. His speaking engagements have included investors with more than $30 trillion in Assets Under Management.
Seba has a Stanford MBA and a B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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