In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Memo Music Hall
88 Acland Street
St Kilda, Victoria, 3182
Australia

Alice Glenn

Alice Glenn is a dancer, film maker, curator and entrepreneur. She is the President and Creative Director of the not for profit organisation Schoolhouse Studios supporting artists and creative business in Melbourne. She is co-founder and Director of the dance community No Lights No Lycra that started in Melbourne in 2009 and has since spread to more than 75 countries around the world. At the core of all initiatives Alice is passionately committed to the values of inclusivity and diversity. She is dedicated to using her creative and leadership strengths to foster community and build authentic connections between people.

Claire Gorrie

urrently in the final stages of a PhD at the University of Melbourne, Claire has long been fascinated by the smaller living organisms on our planet; bacteria. These tiny microbes influence many aspects of our lives. They live in the environment around us, as well as on us and inside us. Some never cause health problems or disease, some always do, and some seem to switch between these two states. Some have even evolved to be resistant – untreatable – by all available antibiotics - “superbugs”. Claire’s current work focuses on tracking the transmission and evolution of certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria to better understand how they work and survive.

Glenn Manton

Glenn Manton is not one for sitting on the couch watching Netflix. Nor is he interested in buying into mainstream thinking. And that's exactly why his 'bio' looks like it does...because he is always prepared to jump and figure out the landing on the way down. Whether it was playing professional AFL football, transitioning his way to soccer or eventually racing a bobsled for Australia; his sporting pursuits reflect the diversity of his life. Beyond the sporting arena Glenn has indulged his passion for performance from screen to stage, having been a permanent fixture on an Australian football commentary show to improv performances in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. As co-founder of the not-for-profit organisation Whitelion, created to support youth in need, Glenn has broad community connections. Combined with a background in education, this has driven him to travel widely to facilitate workshops within schools & corporate Australia. Maintaining his mental fitness is also key, thus Glenn is always developing new ideas and writing creatively as he looks to add to his catalogue of published books, the first being titled Authentic. To top it all off, Glenn is a father of three uniquely talented and inquisitive children who appropriately remind him each and every day that his most important focus is that of a father.

Katrina McFerran

Professor Katrina McFerran is Head of Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne where she leads a team of researchers and teachers who investigate the ways that people use music to promote health and wellbeing. She is a world expert on music and adolescents, with a particular interest in preventing youth mental health problems through positive engagement with music. She has published three books, including ‘Adolescents, Music and Music Therapy’, as well as creating a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) called ‘How Music Can Change Your Life’. She regularly writes and presents internationally on the relationship between music and wellbeing.

Matt Finnis

Matt Finnis has been the Chief Executive Officer of the St Kilda Football Club in Melbourne, Australia since April 2014. Prior to joining St Kilda, Matt was CEO of the Australian Football League (AFL) Players’ Association, representing the interests of current, future and former AFL players in a range of industrial, commercial and development matters. Before his roles in the AFL Matt worked as a commercial lawyer advising numerous sporting organisations, businesses, athletes and government. He has extensive experience in supporting community causes and organisations, having been chairman of Ladder – an AFL Players’ charitable initiative to tackle youth homelessness and a director of AFL SportsReady – the AFL industry’s group training company. Matt was a director of Surfing Australia – the peak governing body for the sport of surfing between 2007 and 2016 and has been a director and company secretary of Surf Life Saving Victoria since 2002. Matt was also a founding director of HeartKids Australia, a charity supporting children born with congenital heart disease. Matt has been a founding member of the Sport Male Champions of Change Group since 2015, working with influential leaders to redefine men’s role in taking action on gender inequality.

Max Hardy

One of Australia’s foremost experts in deliberative processes, renowned internationally for his skillful design and facilitation of community engagement processes. With a particular interest in deliberative democracy, appreciative inquiry and collective impact, Max has developed innovative models for collaboration and community engagement. He has co-authored two books, presented papers at numerous international conferences, and is a regular guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, and University of Melbourne.

Meena Shamaly

Meena Shamaly is a composer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and poet. His favourite place on earth is sitting at a grand piano, improvising, and much of his music is in the cinematic realm. His music often intersects with the world of poetry, producing and performing music for other poets, aside from performing his own poetry. He is soon releasing a live album titled “Piano and the Poet”, featuring many of Melbourne’s best poets accompanied by himself on piano. Meena is also one of the creative producers of Slamalamadingdong, one of Melbourne’s beloved poetry slams. He runs workshops in poetry and music, since he is as passionate about igniting and providing space for the creativity of others as he is about creating his own art.

Naomi Kissiedu-Green

Naomi Kissiedu-Green is a first generation British-African, born to Ghanaian parents who immigrated to London in the 60's. She first came to Australia as a stopping point on a round-the-world tour in 2006, falling in love with the country and its people. A successful model, actor and childcare worker, Naomi is now focussing on motherhood. Married to an Australian Navy Officer, they have 3 beautiful children, Kobi, Ebony and Savanna. Observations of her family’s interactions within communities led Naomi to write a series of Children’s books - The Colourful Life Series. Their success led to a number of focus pieces on SBS World News and Al Jazerra’s The Stream. Naomi gives her time freely to present at schools and public events on the importance of teaching acceptance and diversity beyond racial and ethnic lines.As the owner/founder of Shea Purity Products, an all-natural line of body soaps, oils and butters, she is also a successful entrepreneur.

Nicola Marie Gidley

Nicola Marie is a teenage girl with a strong passion for magic! 2016 saw Nicola take the Australian Junior Championships of Close and Stage Magic. This year Nicola travelled to America on a full scholarship to the prestigious Tannen’s Magic Camp, where she participated in classes, workshops, lectures, competitions and shows run by famous magicians. During her time at the Camp she was awarded second place for Close up Magic in the 15-20 years age group and was also awarded the Bronwyn Clare Angel Star Award for showing ‘dedication, humility, light and fierce commitment to magic.’ Nicola has performed at primary and high schools including, Ivanhoe Grammar School (Junior and Senior), Lower Plenty PS, Streeton PS, Northern Collage of Arts and Technology. She has performed at various shows at the annual Melbourne Magic Festival and participated in the Guinness world record for the longest magic show, which went for 85 hours! Over the last four years Nicola has performed at children’s parties, bowing, soccer and private parties as well.

Prue Spencer

Prue Spencer is an award-winning close-up and stage magician taking the magic scene by storm. Prue has won several awards for her magic including the Australian Junior Championships of Close-Up and Stage Magic in 2017. Prue is an experienced performer who has shared her magic at the Melbourne Magic Festival, the World’s Longest magic show (85 hours!), Charity concerts, Top Hat Tuesday’s and many more. Prue has performed for crowds over 1,000 people and is dedicated to performing magic. Prue can charm an audience of any age and loves to make her audience laugh. A combination of comedy, miracles and magic is what makes Prue Spencer a brilliant performer. She is a passionate magician who is ready to share the beauty of magic with the world!

Ruby Chan

Ruby Chan is an emerging Designer and Innovator. Building on her Industrial Design background, in 2016 Ruby completed a Masters in Design Innovation and Technology. Graduating with Distinction, she was awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s List Award for Academic Excellence for finishing in the top 2% of all higher education students in the university. In 2017 Ruby won the Green Innovators Award at the National Sustainable Living Festival for her plant-based compostable tableware innovation Moducware®; a product she researched and developed during her Masters. Moducware® is patent pending. Ruby continues to work on her innovation in hope of commercialising it in the near future. Ruby has an inquisitive nature and is on the lookout for new opportunities to explore. She likes to keep her hands busy – cooking, collecting, gardening, and of course getting crafty and making things. Her mantra of “Valuing the Undervalued” feeds a passion for upcycling. Ruby is consciously aware how objects of mass-production and the social trend of mass-consumption can affect the environment. She believes in promoting environmentally conscious design for positive change.

Sonya Stattmann

Sonya Stattmann has been a Success Strategist and advocate for women in business for more than 17 years. Her life’s work centres on helping every woman and girl achieve their greatness and she draws on her three daughters for constant inspiration. She has had multiple businesses in the USA and Australia, including a female-centric branding agency, a work/life balance and wellness centre, and her long-time coaching business. She has studied, explored and educated others on the topics of women’s empowerment, gender equality in business and the best paths for women to reach their fullest potential. She passionately produces a podcast called The Liberation Lab where she explores the complicated issues that women face in the business arena. She has had thousands of conversations with women around the globe about their challenges, their deepest desires and their definition of success and fulfilment.

Tali Brash

Tali Brash is a Performer, Speaker, Creative Director & Founder of The Voices Of Movement. Tali has had renowned success with her one-woman show “The Voices Of Tali” and has been invited to speak at numerous events across Australia. Tali is passionate about guiding children, youth and adults to find their voice and give their creative gifts to the world. Tali has worked for many years as an intuitive guide, mentoring those who are wanting to connect to that deeper voice within.