Theme: Designing the Future

This TEDxCanberraSalon will explore the theme Designing The Future.

The Future. Unknown and unknowable. Or is it? No one can predict the future with certainty, but what steps can we take to design the kind of future we want and need? How can we use human ingenuity to design and influence the future? What are we doing now and what will the consequences be?

Whether we’re doing it intentionally or by accident, every day we are contributing in some way to the future of our city, our community, and our world. This TEDxCanberraSalon will take a look at some of the ways we are Designing The Future. You'll hear from inspirational speakers forging ahead with their own creative designs on the future.

TEDxCanberraSalons are intimate events allowing you to mix with a smaller group of fellow attendees. Numbers at this event are limited to around 100. You’ll also have the opportunity to engage more deeply with the ideas featured on stage, with the speakers, and other members of the TEDxCanberra community.

Our program will feature three speakers:
- Darren Menachemson, Design Thinking Specialist
- Marcus Dawe, Entrepreneur
- Ken Kroeger, Visionary Tech Innovator
- Paul Barnett, Sustainable Design Expert

We'll also screen a selection of the best TED Talks on the theme.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in an interactive deep dive discussion with our speakers and some special guests.
We look forward to welcoming you to the iconic Shine Dome to explore Designing The Future.

Refunds are available up to 48 hours before the event. Please note, no refunds will be offered within 48 hours of the event.

The Shine Dome
15 Gordon St
Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601
Australia

Darren Menachemson

Design Thinking Specialist

Darren works to reimagine large, public systems like the health system, the tax system or the social services system. As a senior executive in the public and private sector, Darren has led and consulted to national and international initiatives in the health, social protection, aid/development, law and order, economic and renewable energy spaces. Darren uses design thinking and system-level approaches to drive innovation and reform in the design of policy, services and digital technology. Darren is a partner in the leading public design company ThinkPlace, and heads their digital design and international development labs. He is an accomplished speaker, and talks on a range of topics that combine large-scale innovation and public good. He has delivered talks in the US, Australia, China, Singapore, India and Tanzania.

Ken Kroeger

Visionary Tech Innovator

Ken has spent his career bringing technologies to market that have changed the way people live, learn, and work. Through broad industry experience that includes computing for commercial aviation, publishing, training and simulation, aged care and computer vision, Ken has the ability to see applications for technology that empower people and companies to achieve things previously not possible. Ken was the founder of Catalyst Interactive, an international training and simulation company sold to KBR (one of the world’s biggest engineering and professional services providers) and is currently the CEO of Seeing Machines, a global leader in computer vision technology that is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Marcus Dawe

Carbon and Health Entrepreneur and Innovator

Marcus is based in the Global Village Canberra and focuses his activities on developing and supporting ventures that provide a global innovation edge. He is a strategy, innovation, design and systems thinker. He leads several global initiatives in climate change and health. He has been leading an initiative since 2007 that seeks to permanently and safely store billions of tonnes of CO2 using the Earth's own carbon sink mechanism - mineral carbonation. He secured Australian Governments'​ funding for a world first pilot plant with his venture partners Orica Ltd & Newcastle Uni and research partners Columbia Uni and Sydney Uni. Marcus is passionate about health and founded Health Horizon, the largest collection of health innovations globally that allows innovators to showcase, seek funding and promote their innovations. It is a marketplace that allows all participants in health to find out 'What's next in health?'.

Paul Barnett

Architect and Sustainable Design Expert

Paul Barnett is Director of Paul Barnett Design Group Pty ltd. PBDG works at the leading edge of environmental sustainability, with recognition and awards in Passiv Haus design, 10 star housing and Environmentally Sustainable building design in Education, Institutional Architecture and the Private Sector. The buildings PBDG create are built to extremely high standards for durability and low maintenance. A range of Procurement and Cost Management strategies are engaged to create these results. His firm promotes Artisanship in all sectors of the Building Trades and specialising in Brickwork, Timber, Glass, Steel and interiror and exterior cladding systems.