We have now announced the full speaker and performer lineup for TEDxSydney 2019.
The incredible lineup includes Yve Blake whose theatre production FANGIRLS is in development as a screen adaptation; Tom Nash, a quadruple amputee who has built his career in the music industry as DJ Hookie; Geneticist Monkol Lek, whose work at Yale University focuses on the genetic diagnosis of rare diseases; Astrobiologist Tara Djokic who investigates fossils in remote areas of Australia, looking for clues about early life on Earth and Kim Graham-Nye, founder of gDiapers, determined to shift the global nappy industry from oil-based to renewable based. We are also very excited to announce:
- Australian big screen Hollywood actor, David Wenham, known for starring roles in blockbusters such as The Lord of the Rings, 300 and Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Not your average dentist/musician, Sharonne Zaks combines her passions with a special focus on trauma informed care.
- Bridget Loudon, Forbes 30 under 30 and founder of Expert360 – she is passionate about the future of work and the power of technology to increase work participation.
- 99-year-old Holocaust survivor and self-proclaimed ‘happiest man on earth’ Eddie Jaku
Taking to the stage will also be one of Australia’s most diverse musical talents, DJ and producer; Joyride; along with Deep Sea Astronauts, a multi-artform collective that creates immersive and interactive performances. Joining them will be 2018 winner of Triple J’s NIDA Unearthed competition Asha Jefferies and Eric Avery, a violinist and contemporary dancer drawing inspiration from his indigenous background.
TEDxSydney brings together curious minds and game-changers and for those who seek to be inspired. Local and international voices at TEDxSydney will explore the theme of Legacy across a unique day of talks, performances, films and conversation. It is expected to be another sell-out event, following last year’s success.
- What: TEDxSydney 2019
- Where: ICC Sydney
- When: Friday 24 May
- Price: Registration and price packages here
Information on all TEDxSydney speakers and performers here
The Kick Start program from Principal Partner, St.George Bank, is also returning to TEDxSydney 2019. Kick Start is now in its 6th year; having helped over 25 business ideas get off the ground, with over $500,000 in grants to date, and another $100,000 up for grabs in May at TEDxSydney. Anyone with a new Business idea or an idea to grow their existing business can apply to enter the St.George Kick Start competition by April 21. Twelve finalists will take the stage and pitch their ideas in 60 seconds in front of a live audience for their chance to walk away with one of the $40,000 cheques that can help transform their lives.
TEDxSydney is proud to work alongside a remarkable raft of partners; St.George Bank, oOh! Media, The University of Sydney, Virgin Australia and Delta Airlines, Multi Channel Network, Nova Entertainment, Innovative Production Services, INVNT, Viostream, Work Club, Rackspace, TFE Hotels, Marque Lawyers and Little Marionette.
TEDxSYDNEY 2019 | SPEAKERS
- Albert Wiggan: Young indigenous leader who co-produced Undermined: Tales From the Kimberley, a new documentary which explores how mining companies plan to exploit the Kimberley region for economic benefit while disregarding Indigenous communities’ connection to Country.
- Behrouz Boochani: Recently awarded Australia’s richest literary prize, Behrouz Boochani is a Kurdish Iranian writer and asylum seeker who has been detained on Manus Island since 2013.
- Bridget Loudon Bridget is a passionate leader on a mission to create simple technology products that change our working lives for the better. She is one of the co-founders of Expert360, APAC’s leading marketplace and management platform powering the freelance economy. She has won numerous accolades such as Forbes 30 Under 30, Top 100 Women of Influence in Australia, FutureMakers list of Australia’s top 25 Emerging Entrepreneurs under 25, Shoestring’s Top 50 Australian female entrepreneurs under 40.
- Craig Costello: Researcher in the Security and Cryptography group at Microsoft Research and is part of a team of researchers who claim to have developed secure, quantum computing-proof encryption that could potentially be implemented today.
- David Wenham: Australian Actor and Producer who, after growing up in Sydney’s Inner-West suburb of Marrickville, has gone on to appear in blockbuster Hollywood films Lord of The Rings Trilogy, 300 and Pirates of the Carribean franchise
- Eddie Jaku: 99-year old Jewish-German Holocaust survivor and self-proclaimed ‘the happiest man on Earth’ who has made a vow to himself to smile every day.
- Hedayat Osyan: An Afghan refugee and socially conscious tradie who created a tiling company, Nick Tiling Services, to empower refugees with skills and employment. A social enterprise designed and run by refugees helping to significantly improve the lives of refugees in Sydney.
- Kim Graham-Nye Determined to shift the global nappy industry from oil-based to renewable based, Kim and her husband Jason founded gDiapers in 2005 – introducing the world’s first Cradle to Cradle Certified nappy and created the “hybrid” nappy category globally. In 2011, Kim was named as one of Fortune Magazines “Top 10 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in America” and in 2015 the World Economic Forum named their new gCycle project– as one of the top five disruptive technologies leading the Circular Economy.
- Maxine Beneba Clarke: Widely published author of six books and slam poet, her award-winning memoir The Hate Race is currently being adapted for the Australian stage.
- Monkol Lek: Assistant Professor of Genetics at Yale University who has dedicated his life to improving the genetic diagnosis of rare diseases after being raised in Western Sydney as a Cambodian refugee.
- Peter Stutchbury: Awarded Australia’s highest honour for architecture the ‘Gold Medal’ in 2015, Stutchbury’s work is widely known for its striking geometric design with sustainability at its core.
- Ros Harvey: Entrepreneur and experienced global executive in the field of technology with a particular commitment to creating public good with private effort through innovative uses of technology. Named in 2018 as Australia’s Emerging Female Technology Leader by Women’s Agenda and one of the Australian Financial Reviews 100 Most Influential Women.
- Sara Morawetz: A multi-disciplinary artist whose work explores intersections between art, science, philosophy, and methodology.
- Sharonne Zaks Dr Sharonne Zaks is not your average dentist/musician, with a special focus on trauma informed care. Combining her passions, Sharonne created the dental cabaret ‘Gobsmacked; a celebration of the mouth’ to help make flossing more sexy and appealing to teenagers and adults.
- Tom Nash – Australian DJ, Music Producer and Public Speaker who lost both his hands and most of his legs at the age of 19 who has rebuilt his life using prosthetics to master tasks and make waves in the Australian music scene as DJ Hookie.
- Tara Djokic: PhD Candidate at the Australian Centre for Astrobiology whose work focuses on the geological setting and ecology of some of Earth’s oldest evidence of life close to 3.5 billion years old.
- Yve Blake: Award-winning writer, Composer, and Musical Comedian whose theatre production FANGIRLS is now being adapted for the screen.
TEDxSYDNEY 2019 | PERFORMERS
- Asha Jefferies: Winner of Triple J’s NIDA Unearthed competition in 2018, Asha Jefferies is a Brisbane-based singer-songwriter who tells stories and memories through punchy and beautiful indie Pop music.
- Deep Sea Astronauts: a multi-artform collective who create strange and wonderful performances. Combining visual arts, music, sound design, dance and theatre to empower, excite and amaze!
- Eric Avery: Proud Indigenous musician and composer whose practice includes violin, dancing and musical compositions, Eric Avery creates new contemporary music which expresses his Koori (NSW Aboriginal) heritage.
- Genesis Owusu: This 20-year-old rapper from ACT brings a unique sound, blending jazz with hip-hop while embracing the weird in both himself and his music.
- HANDSOME: Sydney based singer who crafts a mix of Tomboy pop and brooding electronica to share a sound that’s distinctive and brand new.
- Joyride: Australian DJ, Producer and comedian whose musical talents and outspoken, a comedic commentary is taking the Australian music scene by storm.
- 320: Winners of 2018 YouthRock Battle of the Band, 320 are four high school students from Sydney’s Punchbowl Boys’ High School.