Theme: UNRAVELLING HUMANITY: PASSION, FEAR AND FAILURE

Expect to learn a little bit about the psychology of pain pleasure. Reconsider what you know about journey from farm to plate and the environmental impact of your eating. Understand the experience of someone you love changing fundamentally.
We are also very excited to be hosting some world-class performance talent. These folks have performed in amazing locations across the world including Ibiza, New York and even the Sydney Opera House! One of our performers will bring a unique voice to the stage; the journey from a war-torn land to the lucky country, told with humour and hope. We have percussion, hip-hop and an internationally recognised DJ.

Phoenix Theatre
101 Glenhuntly Road
Elwood, Victoria, 3184
Australia

Ward

Steve Ward is an Australian born DJ, producer, label owner and radio host who has been considered one of the nation’s most respected musicians since the late 90s. Over many years, Ward’s sound has evolved into an unmistakable blend of tough house grooves coupled with the power of techno and the euphoria of Detroit, a perfect package which has been proven to work on dance floors from New York to Tokyo, Amsterdam to Ibiza. Throughout his colourful career Steve has written music with A-list artists like Carl Cox, Nile Rodgers, Dj Pierre & Secret Cinema, with many of his tunes hitting the Beatport top 10. He also hosts one of Australia’s most successful weekly radio shows (now syndicated through every continent around the world). In 2008, Steve launched his own record label Chameleon Recording with the labels debut EP “The Window Between Us and Them”. Chameleon is regarded as one of the top labels in the southern hemisphere.

Adam Radly

Entrepreneur

Adam’s life has been an ongoing search for what whatever lies at the summit. He started with nothing and founded a company that completed an $50M IPO, created a reconciliation event featuring Nelson Mandela that attracted tributes from Morgan Freeman, Samuel Jackson and Henry Kissinger among others, created a health center for a village in West Africa and eventually found himself confronted with the questions – what was the point of it all and will I ever reach the summit?

Andrea Buck

An award winning film producer (The Jammed) scriptwriter and storyteller, Andrea has led a wildly dramatic life, and faced death more than once. After surviving a massive burst brain aneurism Andrea set out to reimagine and recreate her life and herself, with what was left of her. Retaining her language centres, telling her stories was an option – so she set herself on a journey to find the as-yet elusive happy endings that would make her stories worth telling. Andrea has lived and made films in Africa, Hollywood, South East Asia and Australia. She has two children and a whirlwind history of adventure. She has also completed a Masters degree in Screen Art and Business as brain rehabilitation.

Andrew Goodone

Comedian/Writer/Director/Roustabout

30 odd years ago, Australian comedy was delighted to announce the arrival of Andrew Goodone. His parents were worried he didn’t have an alternative career “in case things didn’t work out”. Completely ignoring their concerns, he dedicated himself to the dark arts of comedy. The comedy Gods have richly rewarded him with work all over the world, several film awards and the adoration of millions …. did I also mention he’s an outrageous liar?

Brock Bastian

Social Psychologist

Brock Bastian is a Social Psychologist from the University of Melbourne. In his search for a new perspective on pain and happiness he has published widely and his work has received significant recognition, including prestigious awards and prizes. Brock is known for his tendency to take a novel approach to old problems and his work has been recognized as highly innovative. The findings from his research have received significant media attention, covered in outlets such as The New Yorker and The Economist.

Cathy Humphrey

CEO, Sacred Heart Mission

Cathy Humphrey has been working in the areas of community housing and homelessness since 1993. Initially working with people with intellectual disabilities, and since 1996 working in roles specifically focused on people experiencing homelessness. Cathy’s has worked within organisations such as Bethany Family Support (Geelong), Wesley Central Mission (Ringwood), Department of Human Services and has been working at Sacred Heart Mission In St Kilda since 2002. Appointed as CEO of Sacred Heart Mission in 2011, Cathy has accumulated over 14 years of service to an organization that is leading the way in transforming people lives. Cathy’s passion is driven by an interest in people, human rights and a desire to make a difference. That passion continues to burn brightly through leading the development of innovative solutions to ending chronic homelessness, the Journey to Social Inclusion.

Fablice Manirakiza

Hip Hop Artist

From a dusty Tanzanian refugee camp to the prestigious stage of the Sydney Opera House, it has been an intriguing and inspirational journey for Fablice, who lost his parents at the age of eight was and forced to become a child soldier in Burundi. Since arriving in Australia in 2007 from Tanzanian Refugee Camp, Fablice has established himself as a creator of influence in the Australian arts and leadership scene, working as a rapper, MC, festival producer and curator. Fablice is currently studying International Business at RMIT. He is an icon amongst Australian youth and has performed workshops across Australia. Fablice, who’s also known as FLYBZ, has recently released a debut single ‘Child Soldier’ in collaboration with legendary Australian songwriter, Paul Kelly. Fablice is also the 2016 Victorian Young Achiever Award winner. He hopes to change the world one song at a time.

Kate Charlton-Robb

Marine Scientist

Dr Kate Charlton-Robb is the Founding Director and Head of Research at the Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation. With over 14 years experience researching dolphins across southern Australia, Kate achieved a Bachelor of Science (Hons) with a double major in Freshwater and Marine Ecology and Zoology and a Doctor of Philosophy (Genetics). Her research led to the formal description and naming of a new Australian species of dolphin, the Burrunan dolphin, Tursiops australis. Kate is currently an Honorary Fellow at Deakin & Monash University and a Research Associate at Museum Victoria. Kate has been involved with major media coverage from international agencies such as BBC’s History Channel, National Geographic and BBC The World; and featured in numerous Australian multimedia pieces from print to major TV networks. As Head of Research at AMMCF, Kate has instigated and supervised numerous applied marine mammal research projects covering robust population modelling, population genet

Mark Pershin

CEO, Less Meat Less Heat

Mark Pershin is the founder and CEO of start-up non-profit, Less Meat Less Heat. Coming from a background in advertising and marketing, Mark brings a unique and fresh perspective to solving the climate crisis. Mark cut his teeth as an activist campaigning with local and global climate action groups Beyond Zero Emission and 350.org. His postgraduate environmental studies and experiences as a delegate at the UN COP21 climate talks drove home both the gravity of the climate crisis and the political gridlock in our global attempts to solve it. Always a systems-thinker and pragmatist, Mark knew there had to be another way. Less Meat Less Heat was founded in early 2015 and is dedicated to addressing climate change through diet change by promoting the climatarian diet. In mid-2016, Less Meat Less Heat will launch the app based ‘Climatarian Challenge’.

Matthias SCHACK-ARNOTT

Matthias Schack-Arnott is a Melbourne based percussive artist working in contemporary classical and exploratory musics as a performer, composer and improvisor. Matthias’ solo work explores unique and ambitious approaches to percussive performance, often involving the development of new instrumental set-ups built in collaboration with architects, engineers and technicians. His work has been presented by Melbourne Festival, Arts House, Supersense – Festival of the Ecstatic (Arts Centre Melbourne), MPavilion, Spor Festival (Denmark), Spot Festival (Denmark) & Next Wave (2012 & 2014). He won the 2014 Green Room Award in the category ‘Outstanding Work by an Emerging Artist’ for his work ‘Fluvial’. Matthias is also the founding member & co-director of two leading new music ensembles in Melbourne, Quiver Ensemble (2009-2014) and CATHEXIS (2013-present).

Sheree Cairney

Cognitive Neuroscientist

Creating a unique nexus between drugs, culture and the brain, Sheree Cairney has worked as a Neuroscientist in remote Aboriginal communities for 17 years. Her research has shed light on the transformation of brain and behaviour that happens-with petrol sniffing, alcohol and other drugs-and led to ground-breaking clinical evidence the brain can repair itself if substance abuse stops early enough. She established culturally relevant assessments of brain function, mental health and wellbeing among Aboriginal people, and her research has been translated into interactive multimedia tools that communicate health and education messages to diverse demographics. These include the ‘Brain Stories’ suite of flipcharts and animations and the highly successful ‘No Smokes’ multimedia campaign. She now leads a national longitudinal study on wellbeing in remote Aboriginal communities, ‘The Interplay Project’. A dedicated change-maker, Sheree is passionate about using knowledge, innovation, humour and e