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Final round of TEDxSydney 2018 speakers and performers announced

Robobiologist, tech business leader, human-machine researcher, a regional choir of 60 young voices and a captivating singer among those added to stellar line up at the iconic TEDxSydney event.

TEDxSydney – the leading platform for the propagation of Australian ideas, creativity and innovation – has today announced the final round of speakers and performers who will take to the TEDxSydney 2018 stage to explore the theme of HumanKind on Friday 15 June at ICC Sydney.

Speakers to get excited about include Senior Principal Researcher at Data61, CSIRO, Fang Chena thought leader in AI and Human-Machine Interaction and veteran tech business leader and former CEO of Facebook Australia New Zealand, Stephen Scheeler.

Joining them will be robobiologist Anjali Jaiprakash, who combines robotics and biology to make medical practices more accessible, as well as urban planner and policy analyst Nicole Gurranwith her forward-thinking approaches to affordable rental supply in Sydney.

Led by award-winning Artistic Director Michelle Leonard, Moorambilla Voices youth choir will take the stage to showcase an extraordinary performance which embodies the spirit and rich culture of communities across regional NSW. Young local singer-songwriter Odette (known for her exquisite debut single, Watch Me Read You) will also bring a hauntingly soulful performance to the stage.

The new additions join an already incredible lineup including activist and comedian Magda Szubanski, women’s AFL pioneer Chyloe Kurdas, beatboxer Tom Thum, refugee advocate and Anglican priest Father Rod Bower, maths teacher YouTube star Eddie Woo. and prolific indigenous writer Bruce Pascoe.

Fenella Kernebone, TEDxSydney’s Head of Curation, says: “We live in world that is increasingly complex. Current and future advances in technology continue to shape how we live. Our speakers this year, from diverse fields such as technology, science, culture & design, all tackle the theme HumanKind – what does it mean to be human and to be kind?”

“We are also pleased to announce TEDxSydney’s additional partners who support this iconic event. A big thank you to our new production partner INVNTWork Club GlobalVirgin Australia and Delta Air LinesMulti Channel NetworkGlobelet and The Little Marionette whose support of TEDxSydney 2018 will help us inspire a new generation of bold conversations.”

This is the biggest TEDxSydney event to date, with an expected sellout of the 5,000 registration capacity. Register now at tedxsydney.com.   

The Kick Start program from Principal Partner, St.George Bank, is also returning to TEDxSydney 2018 where businesses of all sizes have the opportunity to pitch their ideas on stage in 60 seconds to win one of the $40,000 cheques that can help transform their company.

Round 2 – 2018 Speakers:

  • Anjali JaiprakashWould you trust a robot to cut you open? Jaiprakash works at the intersection of medicine, engineering and design and was announced as one of the world’s ’25 Women in Robotics You Should Know About’ in 2017. Her vision is to create a world in which robotics technology enables affordable medicine for everyone and is committed to connecting scientific disciplines and the medical industry to achieve this.
  • Fang ChenDr. Chen is Senior Principal Researcher, Data61 – CSIRO and a thought leader in AI and Human-Machine Interaction. She has also pioneered the theoretical framework of human behaviour understanding for building human-machine trust.
  • Nicole Gurran: Nicole Gurran is Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney. Her research examines affordable rental supply and the impacts of online holiday rental platforms for local communities.
  • Stephen ScheelerScheeler is a tech business veteran determined to make Australia a front-runner in the global tech race. He is an inspiring personality and a member of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Knowledge Nation 100, top innovation leaders in Australia.

 

Round 2 – 2018 Performers:

  • Moorambilla Voices: Helps uncover artistic excellence in regional children and youth by giving country kids a rare opportunity to sing, dance and create incredible performances with artists of the highest calibre. At its core, Moorambilla Voices seeks inspiration from the region of NSW, its landscape, rich culture and inhabitants. Each year, 300 students attend a camp where they dance, sing, compose, paint, weave, play drums and learn about the cultural traditions and stories of their landscape.
  • Odette: Odette is a 20-year old Australian singer-songwriter and one of the global artists to watch in 2018. Her South African mother introduced her to African music, soul, funk and rhythm; while her English father, hailing from a long line of jazz pianists, introduced her to new wave, jazz and passed on his musical talents. Deeply personal and captivating in presence, she is one not to miss.

To register for tickets for this year’s event, visit our event pageFor more information and to continue following our story use #tedxsydney on FacebookInstagram and Twitter