TEDxNUST - Farhana Azim - Hidden Gems through Floral Art January 17, 2012

Favorite:

About Speaker

Farhana Azim developed a love for flowers very early in her life. As she grew up in an environment adorned with a large variety of flora and fauna, laid out painstakingly and formally in their gardens. She enjoyed decorating the house with flowers and green plants from an early age, a passion she inherited from her grandmother. Over the years this passion led her to compete in her student days and later to design and arrange flowers voluntarily for different occasions like state dinners, dinner parties and special events like weddings. Designing has been her forte, which led her to design as a hobby, be it a house, a garden, a piece of furniture or a prop. Creating is stimulating for her --and there is a natural Japanese influence in her design. She likes to use fresh material as she believes it has a soul. Relating to which she finds it most relaxing. Definite lines influence her arrangements and with time her designs have become more structured. She has been associated with different floral clubs and has been successfully competing before joining the Floral Art Society of Pakistan. She has been actively involved in the Society's activities as the Show Chairperson and the Vice President. Presently she is serving as President Islamabad Floral Art Society of Pakistan. She was selected as the Coordinator Judges Panel for the 9th WAFA World Show to be held in 2008 in Pakistan. As a competitor she won several prizes. She has to her credit: 'The Best in the Show', 'Runner-up to the Best in the Show' 'Best Use of Foliage' and 'The Best New Concept'. Internationally, she was awarded the second prize in the Imposed Class at the 8th World Show in Yokohama, 2005 in Japan. Apart from her love for flowers, Farhana has always been associated with the girl scouts. During early education at the convent she joined the Girl Scouts movement at the age of 6. Later she served as a volunteer in the Pakistan Girl Guides Association. Earlier as Chairperson Programmes then as Honorary President of her regional branch and since 2008 is the National Chief Commissioner of the Pakistan Girl Guides Association. She strongly believes in empowering the girl child of Pakistan and is actively involved in programmes that aim towards achieving this goal.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani,Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.