TED Talks come to Roatán thanks to Honduras Próspera Inc.

Five local speakers will take the stage on April 9, 2026, in the Beta District of Prospera to share ideas on marine conservation, women's empowerment, human resilience, and the dream of the new Honduran generation.

On April 9, 2026, For the first time in the island's history, Roatán will host a TEDx event: a day of talks, reflection and exchange of ideas that will connect the human, cultural and environmental richness of the Honduran Caribbean with the global network of thinkers that has made TED one of the most influential intellectual platforms in the world.

TEDxRoatán: Island Mosaic is not just an event. It's a milestone. The first time Roatán has spoken to the world under the umbrella of a brand that has brought figures like Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Sir Richard Branson, and Daniel Kahneman to the stage. Five voices from the island —activists, marine biologists, entrepreneurs and young students— will share ideas that reflect the best of what Roatán is and what it can become.

Honduras Próspera Inc. is listed as a General Partner of the event. reaffirming its commitment to the cultural, educational, and community development of the island, beyond its economic and business dimension. Its partners include Roatán Tourism Bureau as Community & Promotion Partner; Blue Wave Radio & TV as Media Partner; and Avenida Cacao as Official Sponsor.

Island Mosaic: Roatán's identity as a common thread

The theme chosen for this first edition, Island Mosaic it is a declaration of intent. A mosaic is a work that only makes sense when its pieces are viewed together: each one distinct, each one essential. The island of Roatán, with its mix of Garifuna, Anglo-Saxon, Caribbean, Latin and international roots, with its coral reef as a unique natural heritage and with its growing community of entrepreneurs, researchers and visionaries, is exactly that: a mosaic.

The event raises an implicit but powerful question: What ideas are born in a place like this? What does Roatán have to say to the world? The talks by the five selected speakers answer that question from very different angles —marine biology, social justice, personal experience, environmental conservation and the hope of a young generation— and together they offer an unexpectedly profound portrait of an island that has always been much more than a tourist destination.

The speakers: five voices from Roatán to the world

The selection process for speakers at TEDx events is rigorous: Genuine experiences, original ideas, and the ability to connect with a diverse audience are sought. The five confirmed speakers for TEDxRoatán 2026 They more than meet that standard, and they all have one thing in common: Roatán is an essential part of their history.

Trudy Hilton · Community Impact Leader · Former Deputy Mayor of Roatán Topic: The fight against domestic oppression and the power of education for women

Trudy Hilton served as Vice Mayor of Roatán until 2025, where she worked tirelessly for women's rights in the region. Her talk addresses the challenges women face within their homes and communities, and argues that equitable access to education and employment is the foundation of their economic independence and empowerment. Her presentations inspire action and underscore the transformative power of investing in women's potential.

Fernando García · Entrepreneur, coffee shop owner, cancer survivor Topic: The healing power of kindness and community

A Honduran and father of four, Fernando García found his home and community in Roatán. When he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, it was the warmth and support of that community that gave him the strength to overcome the disease. His talk is a testament to how the joy accumulated during happy years and the solidarity of those around him can become the most powerful medicine in the face of adversity.

Andrea Godoy Mendoza · Marine Biologist · Program Manager of Roatan Marine Park Topic: Assisted sexual reproduction of corals: the science that can save the reef

With over seven years of experience in marine restoration in Honduras—Utila, Cayos Cochinos, and Roatán—Andrea Godoy leads the most advanced efforts of their kind in Central America. Her presentation explains the assisted sexual reproduction technique for corals and the inauguration of the region's first coral larval rearing center, the Coral Restoration Center Roatán (CRCR), which has been operational since 2021.

Quentin Caussin ‘Paco Lacoste’ · Marine conservationist · Co-founder of Caribbean Reef Guardians and Caribbean Reef Divers Topic: Coral reefs cannot be saved by science alone: ​​they are saved by people who love the ocean.

Originally from Provence, France, Paco has spent over a decade working on the conservation and restoration of coral reefs in Honduras, having visited more than 60 countries before finding his calling in Roatán. Co-founder of the NGO Caribbean Reef Guardians, his talk champions a thesis as simple as it is transformative: to save the reefs, we need people who fall in love with the ocean before science can do its work.

Angie Paola · Student · Entrepreneur · Representative of Generation Z Topic: Dreaming Beyond the Island: Dreaming Big from a Small Island

Angie Paola is a student at Island Academy thanks to a scholarship from the SOL Foundation. Her dream is to study architecture and real estate at Columbia University in New York. While waiting for that day, she has already started her own online business. Her message—especially aimed at girls and young women in difficult circumstances—is that birthplace doesn't determine the scope of one's dreams: when someone believes in you before you even understand your own potential, everything changes.

Honduras Próspera Inc: Commitment to culture goes beyond business

The participation of Honduras Próspera Inc.'s status as a General Partner of TEDxRoatán is no coincidence From its inception, the company has embraced Roatán not only as a platform for business innovation and governance, but also as a vibrant community that deserves spaces for dialogue, culture, and international exposure. TEDx is exactly that space.

Over the past few years, Prospera has been home to top-level conferences in fields as diverse as biotechnology, crypto, entrepreneurship, governance, music, art and fashion The pattern is consistent: instead of island residents and entrepreneurs having to travel to major global centers to access these events, the events come to Roatán. TEDxRoatán is the most visible expression of this philosophy.

As Erick Brimen, CEO of Honduras Próspera Inc., points out: “If the reef was what nature gave them, Próspera is our invention. What the reef has represented for tourism and for the pride of the island, our capacity to be innovative must now represent.” 

TEDxRoatán embodies that idea precisely: an island that has always been known for the natural beauty of its reef is beginning to be known also for the quality of its ideas, the depth of its community and the diversity of its voices.

What is TED and why does it matter to reach this platform

TED is a non-profit organization founded more than thirty years ago with a mission that has proven to be timeless: to spread ideas worth sharing Its annual conferences, held in Vancouver, bring together the most influential thinkers and creators on the planet. Its talks—published for free on TED.com—have accumulated billions of views worldwide. Speakers such as Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, and Daniel Kahneman have graced its stage.

TEDx is the program that allows communities around the world to organize independent events in the spirit and with the standards of TED.Obtaining a TEDx license is not trivial: it requires an application process, approval by the organization, and compliance with quality criteria that ensure consistency with the brand's values. The fact that Roatán now has its own TEDx is, objectively, a first-rate cultural and institutional achievement for the island and for Honduras.