Theme: C.O.V.I.D.

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).

Theme: Courage, Opportunity, Vision, Innovation, Determination (C.O.V.I.D.)

Somerville House
17 Graham St
South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101
Australia

Amelia St Baker

Serial Entrepreneur

Ms. Amelia St Baker (Somerville House Old Girl) is from the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund. She is a Serial Entrepreneur who has started various ventures since the age of 8. Now at 25, she is passionate about sharing her unique approach to chasing success in life and in business.

David Haliczer

Somerville House Chemistry and Physics teacher

Mr. Haliczer has been teaching sciences in secondary schools since 1992. Prior to this, he worked as an Industrial Chemist for two years. Mr. Haliczer is also a Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader and see’s this role as part of the same purpose as a classroom teacher but extending types of learning that are impossible within the four walls of classroom teaching. In 2021 he was nominated for and became a finalist for the TEACHX Awards Finalists for Contribution to School Community Award.

Dr Dinesh Palipana

Medical Specialist and Disability Advocate

Dinesh was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland and the second person to graduate medical school with quadriplegia in Australia. Dr. Palipana is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher. He is a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission. Dr. Palipana is an ambassador to the Human Rights Commission’s Includeability program. He was a 2021 International Day of People with Disability ambassador. Dr. Palipana was the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Junior Doctor of the Year in 2018. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019. He was the third Australian to be awarded a Henry Viscardi Achievement Award and he was the 2021 Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year. Dr. Palipana was the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2021.

Dr Jenine Beekhuyzen

CEO of Tech Girls Movement, advocate for STEM for females

Dr. Beekhuyzen is a renowned advocate for technology innovation and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM), Dr. Jenine Beekhuyzen OAM draws on her unparalleled experience, encompassing: • 20+ years of internationally published academic research and university teaching • 15 years as CEO of her own research consulting company, Adroit Research • As a real-life ‘caped crusader’, Jenine has devoted more than 8 years to her not-for-profit the Tech Girls Movement • Foundation and has distributed 80 000+ free copies of her beloved books, “Tech Girls are Superheroes Vol 1 & 2” and Tech Girls Are Chic!

Dr Zhenya Welyczko

Orthopedic surgeon

Dr. Zhenya Welyczko is an orthopaedic surgeon in Brisbane. She is passionate about trauma and limb reconstruction surgery and enjoys teaching and encouraging this passion in others. Dr. Welyczko is a Medical Officer in the Army Reserve, and in her spare time enjoys running around with her two young children, playing music, and relaxing with a good book.

Dr. Hazel Harden

co-Founder of Australian Families 4 Genomics and Youth Cancer Advocate

Dr. Harden became a passionate advocate for young people with cancer after her teenage son was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018. In 2020 she co-founded Australian Families 4 Genomics to provide upfront genomic sequencing to every young person diagnosed with cancer and enable the donation of important genomic information to a research library. Genomics at diagnosis can offer young people cancer-targeted treatments and the best possible outcome yet it is not routinely available. In 2021 Australian Families 4 Genomics will partner with the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Australian Translational Genomics Centre to provide young people with cancer access to this powerful information. Dr. Harden has 25+ years of experience working in healthcare as a clinician, researcher, and program manager.

Harvee and Havana Pene

Author and Founder of Life Changing Accountants® and UN Global Goals Ambassador

Daddy-daughter-duo Harvee Pene and Lindisfarne grammar student Havana Pene (3) are the authors of a children’s storybook about the UN Global Goals called “ZERO POVERTY BY 2030”. Harvee is an author, the founder of Life Changing Accountants® and was recognised as ‘One of Ten Outstanding Persons in Australia’ 2019 when his then Accounting firm reached 10+ Million Days of access to food, water, health and sanitation given to families in need across 16 countries to help end poverty. He is a testicular cancer survivor, the global face of men’s health charity Movember and is studying to become a doctor. Havana Pene is the ‘miracle baby’ that doctors said he may never have, and now at the age of 3, she is on track to become the world's youngest TEDx speaker.

Katura Halleday

High school student and international social activist through her social enterprise, 8x8 to Educate

Katura Halleday is currently a grade 12 high school student and international social activist. In 2018, Katura started a Social Enterprise, 8x8 to Educate, which donates 100% of the profits to education in developing nations. She has three main income streams, Keynote speaker, a book illustrated with her 13-year-old sister called Rina’s Story, and an annual Art Competition, the 8x8 Art Awards. Katura was interviewed by the United Nations on children's rights and was invited to present the documentary ‘Katura’s Story’ to the United Nations in New York. In 2020 Katura was honored as a 7 News Young Achiever Finalist, 5x International Stevie Awards Winner – including silver awardee of the Female Innovator of the Year and in 2021 she was the only Australian recipient of the Princess Diana Award for humanitarian service.

Lachlan Greer

High School Student with Autism

Lachlan has Aboriginal heritage (Quandamooka/Undumbi). Born 22 September 2006 in Townsville he lived with his family. Lachlan was formally diagnosed with Autism Level 3 at the age of 3.5 years. Lachlan applied for a position at Farrer Public School’s Learning Support Unit Autism (LSUA). The LSUA is a specialized educational learning environment for children on the Autism Spectrum, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and life skills. He was accepted and moved to Canberra. The Deputy Principal Michael Hatswell recognised Lachlan’s desire to perform and made it possible for him to do performances at weekly assemblies such as singing, dancing, and doing Acknowledgement of Country of Traditional Owners. After moving to Queensland, Lachlan expressed a desire to be part of the Leadership Program at MSHS (Miami State High School). He went through the application process and that desire became a reality because the school recognizes that students with disabilities can be leaders too.

Sophie Li

Co-Founder of SignHow, daughter of acclaimed dancer Li Cunxin

Sophie Li is one of the Co-Founders of SignHow, an online global dictionary that aims to host over 300 different sign languages. Born profoundly deaf to two world acclaimed ballet dancers, Li Cunxin, the author of Mao's Last Dancer and Mary McKendry, author of Mary's Last Dance, Sophie will share her story of what it is like growing up with a disability and how this affects her life, work and her future ambitions, especially when the world is going digital. She will also share how SignHow will solve lifelong challenges for deaf and hearing people, and you might catch her teaching useful signs in Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to celebrate today's theme C.O.V.I.D!