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).

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Chris Helder

Chris Helder is a business communication genius and master storyteller whose presentations have radically transformed how thousands of people worldwide communicate with clients, customers, colleagues, staff and teams. He has been a professional speaker for 18 years and has done over 2,450 presentations around the world. He is the author of three bestselling books “The Ultimate Book of Influence” which has been published in five languages, “Useful Belief”, which is one of the highest selling Australian business books of all time and Cut The Noise which is about achieving better results with less guilt. His global client list includes: Citibank, Merrill Lynch, Glaxo Smith Kline, Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Fuji Xerox, Levi’s, Realtor.com and Olympic Winter Institute of Australia. Chris speaks at conferences in the areas of communication, influence, human potential, leadership and mastering the face-to-face customer experience.

Dave King

Dave King is CEO and founder of the Melbourne-based creative artificial intelligence startup Move 37. It uses machine learning and natural language generation to augment ideation, conceptual creativity and content intelligence workflows. He’s passionate about the opportunities for humans to discover new ways of working with machines in the creative realms. Before Move 37, he was founder and head of innovation at the award-winning independent creative agency, The Royals. Dave has a couple of decades worth of experience working with creative technology, online platforms and communities of tinkerers, hackers and makers.

Dr Han Lin

Senior research fellow in the Centre for Translational Atomaterials at Swinburne University. Han is using graphene to develop game changing new energy storage devices that can hold large amounts of energy, charge super fast and be used for unlimited life cycles as well as being environmentally friendly. Why is graphene being hailed as the wonder material? What other uses could it have beyond energy storage?

Future Crunch

We're a group of scientists, artists, technologists and entrepreneurs that think there are new and better ways of doing things in the 21st century. Incredible things are happening on our planet. Diseases are being eradicated, war is decreasing, millions are being lifted out of poverty and billions are gaining access to the greatest information resource humanity has ever known. We can unravel quantum mechanics, use machines to translate any language, cut and paste our own DNA, and we’re taking bold new steps into space. But we’re not hearing a lot about it. At Future Crunch, we understand that science and technology are bringing about a world that is more peaceful, transparent and abundant. We’re determined to share that story. Our expertise ranges from politics, biology and economics, to design, poetry, art and music. We use our diverse knowledge to provide unexpected perspectives on what the future looks like. Our mission is to foster intelligent, optimistic thinking about the future, and to empower people to contribute to it.

Kylie Walker

Passionate about gender equity Kylie’s tenure as CEO of Science & Technology Australia, Chair of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO and co-Chair of the National Research and Innovation Alliance means she’s able to connect scientists and technologists with governments, business media and society. She’s also the creator of the acclaimed Superstars of STEM program. Our limits should not be defined by our gender, ethnicity or condition, so what work needs to be done at a systems level to achieve equality?

Melbourne Ska Orchestra

Melbourne Ska Orchestra, a legendary fixture upon Melbourne’s music scene since 2003. The 26 member band led by charismatic front-man Nicky Bomba, delivered a music medley including their songs Paradiso, He’s a Tripper, Lygon Street Meltdown and the subtle but yet familiar theme from Star Wars – All with the energetic and explosive rhythm of SKA/Reggae. It was a performance embodying their own mantra ‘A nod to the past with an eye firmly on the future’ proving that achieving the impossible can also be a fun pursuit!

Tim Jarvis

Tim Jarvis AM is an environmental scientist, author, adventurer and public speaker with Masters degrees in environmental science and environmental law. He is committed to finding pragmatic solutions to major environmental issues related to climate change and biodiversity loss. Tim has undertaken unsupported expeditions to the world’s remotest regions, including to the South Pole, High Arctic and across the Great Victoria Desert, and is well known for his historically authentic recreations of the polar survival journeys of heroic era explorers Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton. His current environmental project 25zero aims to raise awareness of climate change by focusing on the world's disappearing equatorial glaciers. After over two decades of polar travel and work as an environmental scientist, Tim is a sought-after public speaker, applying the lessons he has learned throughout his expeditions to talk about leadership, problem solving, teamwork, change management and goal setting in an organisational context.

Vanessa Pirotta

Dynamic, young marine biologist who pioneered the use of emerging technologies such as drones for whale conservation. When she’s not travelling the world for her research, Vanessa is frequently engaging in school outreach and participates in the Skype-A-Scientist program internationally. Now more than ever ocean and marine health is vital to our planet’s existence

Xavier Kestelier

Architect and technologist with a passion for human space exploration. Based in London, he is principal and executive board member at international design practice HASSEL. Xavier is interested in designing long-term space habitats and has worked with both ESA and NASA on research projects. Is living on Earth the limit for humanity? What if we could live on Mars or the moon?