On 18 October 2025, the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) proudly marked a milestone by hosting its inaugural TEDxAsia Pacific U – a full-day event themed “Beneath the Surface”, celebrating the type of bold thinking that dares to question what lies beyond the obvious.

Held at APU’s Auditorium 1, the event brought together nine eminent speakers from the TEDx community, drawing in audiences with stories that challenged assumptions, sparked curiosity, and ignited meaningful conversations across campus.

This landmark event was not only a first for APU but a testament to student leadership at its finest. Organised under an official TEDx licensed student club, TEDxAsia Pacific U was led by its President, Rafa Islam Diba, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science with a specialism in Digital Forensics student. She and her 40-member committee, spanning curation, design and media, logistics, sponsorship, marketing, and production, delivered a polished, professional experience worthy of global recognition. 

Supported and mentored by Ts Umapathy Eaganathan, Senior Lecturer at the School of Technology (SoT), the committee executed the event with remarkable precision—from stage design and technical coordination to the coaching of speakers and seamless show-calling. This student-led initiative demonstrated exceptional teamwork, resilience, and leadership, earning praise from guests, speakers, and viewers alike.

The talks explored complex themes with striking humanity and depth. They included moving reflections on fear and persistence by public speaking trainer and NLP Practitioner Teh Zhao Xiang in “What Fear Was Trying to Tell Me”, and a heartfelt call to embrace mistakes as catalysts for empathy and leadership by an HRD Corp Accredited Trainer, Shanice Wong.

APU’s Head of School of Computing (SoC), Associate Professor Ts Dr Tan Chin Ike, added levity and insight with “The Punchline I Never Saw Coming”, inspiring audiences to embrace new stages with courage.

Cybersecurity’s crucial role in preserving human dignity was highlighted by an award-winning Cybersecurity Leader, Suresh Sankaran Srinivasan, in his eye-opening talk “Digital Afterlife”, while a Senior Data Scientist, Dr Mohammed Al-Obaydee, reframed AI not as a threat but as an amplifier of human potential in “The AI Jobs Boom”.

Cybersecurity evangelist Prashasth Baliga challenged listeners to approach cybercrime with compassion in “Reprogramming Empathy”. Meanwhile, AI Ethics & Values-Based Education Specialist Dr Milan-Devi LaBrey called for a revolution in education with her powerful talk “Dear Education: It’s Not 1952 Anymore”, advocating for emotional intelligence and values-based learning.

In “Don’t Just Be Yourself”, Li Ying Tay, a Data Analyst Lead and Public Speaking Coach, used the metaphor of a balloon to reveal how authenticity grows through transformation. Finally, the event closed with a moving reflection on emotional resilience by an Emotional Intelligence Coach, Jeffro Ong, in “What We Don’t See Shapes Everything We Do”. 

Reflecting on the achievement, Ts Umapathy shared, “This event was a true showcase of what APU students are capable of. From speaker coaching and stage management to production, livestream, and partnership engagement, every aspect was driven by determination, creativity, and precision. The students demonstrated resourcefulness, responsibility, and passion throughout, delivering an event that looked and felt professionally curated. Overall, TEDxAsia Pacific U was engineered with excellence.” 

All talks from TEDxAsia Pacific U 2025 are now available on the TEDxTalks YouTube channel for the wider community to watch, reflect upon, and share.

More than just a platform, TEDxAsia Pacific U became a meaningful space where knowledge met empathy and where vulnerability paved the way for transformation. With its successful debut, the event laid a strong foundation for future editions at APU that will continue to amplify voices, champion meaningful discourse, and embody the spirit of “ideas worth spreading.”