Theme: Detour

Grappling with an invisible enemy, Melbourne took a sharp turn into a world of online calls and restricted travel.

As we venture through the journey of life, we are confronted with challenges and opportunities. Occasionally, we wave goodbye to the familiar and venture on the uncertainties of a different path. Whether it is avoiding an unexpected obstacle or a convenient stop along the way, taking a detour is inevitable in our dynamic and ever turbulent society.

The key question here is, what can we learn from these departures from the norm?

Join TEDxUniMelb as we celebrate a decade of sharing ideas and explore what it means to take a detour.
Sticking with our theme of ‘Detour’, our 2021 conference will be hosted online amidst covid restrictions. Expect a fabulous afternoon filled with brilliant ideas on our virtual stage.

University of Melbourne
University of Melboiurne, Parkville
Melbourne, Victoria, 3010
Australia

Daniel Ricardo

PhD Student

Daniel Ricardo is currently pursuing a PhD seeking to understand the properties of water ice in the Moon’s permanently shadowed polar craters. From his experience working at NASA on a Mars rover to founding an Australia-wide robotics competition to simulate a mission to the Moon, he is dedicated to contributing and supporting the growth of the Australian Space Industry.

Dilpreet Kaur Taggar

Independent Journalist

Born and raised in India, Dilpreet Kaur Taggar is an independent journalist. At 25, she launched South Asian Today, Australia's first media organisation for South Asian women and non-binary peoples.

Dong Ye

Student

Dong Ye is a Commerce student at the University of Melbourne. After coming close to knocking at death’s door, he has become passionate about personal development and is determined to use this as his drive to live life to the fullest, while also uplifting those around him to live their greatest lives.

Donna Campisi

Author

Donna Campisi is a speaker, author, adventurer, book coach and hosts a podcast called Ready! Set! Goal! Donna has led adventure activities, encouraging people to face their fears in a fun and inclusive environment, and is also a book coach, helping aspiring writers become published authors.

Michael Ho

Analyst

Michael Ho is an Airline Performance Analyst, exploring ways to improve operations through data analytics. Born and raised in Hobart from a Hong Kong Chinese heritage; Michael has worked around the world within the aviation industry. With firsthand knowledge of COVID-19 impacts on the travel industry, Michael is currently working to help shape the future travel landscape as Air travel slowly recovers globally.

Ruth Clare

Author

Ruth Clare is a freelance writer and the award-winning author of the memoir, Enemy. Before writing, she had a career as an actor, an odd choice for someone who had just completed a degree in biochemistry. Ruth has appeared on stages and in pages across Australia.

Stefanie Natascha Voelker

Student

Natascha Voelker is a first-year Doctor of Physiotherapy student who is greatly passionate about health and fitness, and seeks to share this passion with others through having co-founded the Melbourne University Dragon Boat Club (MUDBC) and currently coaching its members. She acknowledges the value of exercise in increasing one’s healthspan, and hopes that the early introduction of sports into the lives of MUDBC’s young athletes will translate into a lifelong passion for staying active.

Zijing Chu

Dragon Boat Athlete

Zijing Chu is a University of Melbourne Architecture Graduate currently practicing in his field. Originally from Hong Kong, he has called Melbourne his home for more than 5 years. Zijing has had the honour to co-found the first and only University Dragon Boat Club alongside his friends and has represented Australia in the sport 4 times. Currently serving as the president, a newbie coach in MUDBC, and one of the Australian Dragon Boat Federation's directors

Zoe Ellis

Student

Zoe is a second-year law and arts student, striving to reframe the discussions around sexual assault. As Zoe’s studies have aligned with a social movement that wants to refuse to tolerate sexual violence, it has provoked her to further explore whether the current path in tackling this issue is the best way to go.