President of TED conference acknowledges inviting Bill Ackman to forum came with risks

The president of the TED conference acknowledged this week that inviting billionaire investor Bill Ackman to address the annual forum came with some risks.The Technology, Entertainment and Design conference has spent 10 years holding events in Vancouver highlighting entrepreneurs and innovators who usually deliver upbeat performances.But this week, it presented a controversial investor whose position as founder and chief executive officer of Pershing Square Capital Management has earned him millions. His vocal advocacy of Israel, however, and his role in the ouster of Harvard’s first Black president has made him a pariah in some circles.