Meet our Speakers for the 2026 event!
Rewriting the narrative
This year’s edition of the TEDxWageningenUniversity event will feature several speakers from different backgrounds and areas of expertise. We invite you to read more about them below!
Dr. Schelto Kruijf
Dr. Schelto Kruijff is a surgical oncologist and Chief Green Officer at the University Medical Center Groningen. He is a leading advocate for sustainable healthcare, showing how medicine can protect both people and the planet.
His work highlights how healthcare contributes to pollution and waste. Through research and public advocacy, he promotes cleaner and more human-centered systems, encouraging communities to rethink current practices and move toward care that supports human and planetary health.
Farai maphosa
Farai Maphosa is a dynamic leader dedicated to people development, knowledge sharing, and transformational leadership. He is the Food Safety Director at Danone and holds a PhD in Microbial Ecogenomics. His journey blends scientific expertise with a passion for empowering others through growth, resilience, and faith.
He is also a pastor at Amazing Grace Parish in Wageningen, where he supports individuals and communities in navigating change with purpose and confidence. Married to Busi and father of three, Farai integrates leadership, family, and spirituality into a grounded, purpose-driven life.
Jilde Garst
Jilde Garst is a researcher at Wageningen University whose work explores how sustainability ideals become embedded in business practices. She studies how abstract concepts such as “healthy,” “sustainable,” or “responsible” are translated into rules, labels, and reporting frameworks that shape the behavior of companies and consumers.
Her research examines whether these systems truly drive transformation or merely create symbolic compliance. Through cases like Nutri-Score and EU sustainability reporting, Jilde aims to reveal how regulations can move beyond good intentions and lead to real, meaningful change in business and society.
Yvonne Knap
Yvonne Knap is an early childhood educator and founder of Starkid Universe, where she focuses on bringing mindfulness and emotional awareness into children’s daily learning. With experience in meditation practice in Thailand and a passion for holistic development, she advocates for helping children build focus, resilience, and inner calm from a young age.
Her work combines practical classroom expertise with scientific insights, including research she has contributed to on the benefits of mindfulness for child development. Through her teaching and mindfulness programs, Yvonne empowers children to understand their emotions, navigate stress, and grow into confident, connected individuals.
Bas breman
Bas Breman is a researcher and teacher at Wageningen University & Research whose work focuses on future-oriented, nature-inclusive thinking. He explores new nature narratives and scenario development to help society better understand biodiversity loss and the deeper questions behind today’s environmental challenges.
He also creates educational programs that equip younger generations with the knowledge and skills to imagine and contribute to a greener future. Through his research and storytelling approach, Bas encourages people to slow down, gain awareness, and reflect on their own role in shaping a sustainable world.
DAAN BUIJS
Daan Buijs is an educator at Wageningen University whose work challenges traditional, test-driven models of learning. He advocates for educational spaces that prioritize curiosity, dialogue, and the co-evolution of knowledge between students and teachers.
His approach centers on helping learners develop both understanding and self-understanding skills essential for navigating real-world challenges. Through his teaching and research, Daan encourages a shift toward more meaningful, reflective, and human-centered forms of education.
thuis (eva)
somi