Theme: Celebrating Youth

The international licensed conference brand that is rapidly becoming the incubator for “ideas worth spreading” all over the world, is coming to Bendigo, with 9 prominent speakers confirmed to address the theme of Celebrating Youth at TEDx Bendigo on Saturday 12th September, 2015.

Speakers will range from psychologists to educators and everything in between, with the event unleashing new ideas to inspire and inform the Bendigo community and beyond.

Speakers for the 12th September event include: Shona Innes, Clinical and Forensic Psychologist; Brigid Evens, Associate, Teach for Australia; Adam Lyon, Music Composer, most recently of “Ned” fame; Carla Jeffrey, Lecturer, Education & Early Childhood Education, La Trobe University and Laura Dusseljee, Head of Forever Young Community Choir, with members required to be a minimum of 60 years old.

Girton Grammar School
105 MacKenzie Street
Bendigo, Victoria, 3550
Australia

Adam Lyon

Adam Lyon graduated from the VCA in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music (Opera). He was the recipient of the Daisy Webster Ethel Nolan Scholarship and the Macdonald Trust whilst at the VCA. Other than performing, Adam’s passion is composition and his most recent works are We Men Are Giants, a song cycle about the evolution of masculinity in modern Australia and NED – A New Australian Musical, about the life of Ned Kelly, which was shortlisted for New Musicals Australia 2011. Adam’s stage credits include A Garden Of Money, Dare To Be Faceless, Sweeney Todd, Cosi Fan Tutte, Australian Constitution Opera, Les Miserables, The Last Five Years, Into The Woods, Rob Guest Tour(Support Act), Just The Boys (Group Leader & Soloist), A Chorus Of Disapproval and Carousel. Adam starred as Carl Denham in the world premiere of King Kong The Musical in 2013.

Brigid Evans

Brigid Evans was born and raised in Bendigo, graduating from Girton Grammar School in 2008. In 2009 she formed the Bendigo Youth Allowance Action Group, leading the protests against the proposed changes to Youth Allowance that would have unfairly disadvantaged regional students’ access to higher education. Between 2010 and 2012 Brigid studied a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne and was the Training Coordinator for the Victorian Youth Parliament. In 2013 she completed an Honours in Philosophy and was awarded the Laurie Prize for Academic Excellence. For the past two years, she has have been an associate for “Teach for Australia”, teaching History and English at Alamanda College in Melbourne’s West. “Teach for Australia” places high achieving graduates in Australia's most disadvantaged schools, with the aim of combating educational disadvantage.

Carla Jeffrey

Carla Jeffrey commenced her career in early childhood over twenty years ago and has worked with children and families in a range of settings. These have included co-ordination of a Children's Centre, managing a portfolio of Children's services for local government, teaching and training. During Carla's role as teacher and trainer for ten years in the TAFE sector, Carla was instrumental in continuing her advocacy for children and families and alongside St Lukes Family Care; Carla was the joint recipient of a State Training Award for Innovation and Partnership for her work in educating diverse groups of parents. Carla is currently lecturing at La Trobe University and undertaking a Masters in Research, with her thesis focus relating to children's temperaments and the relationship to transitions. Carla hopes that her research will empower educators to find the goodness of fit to make a difference in children’s lives and their learning experiences, changing the world one child at a time.

Elly Hunter

: Elly Hunter is the Director of youth-run organisation Project Outward. Project Outward is the initiative of 5 young women from Bendigo, Australia. Project Outward aims to create lasting change for women in poverty stricken nations around the world. By providing women with microfinance to become financially independent, Project Outward empowers women to raise themselves and their families out of the cycle of poverty. With the team fresh back from Uganda, Elly is now more passionate than ever about emphasising the part that youth have to play in making a difference in the world.

Howard Osborne

Born and raised in Bendigo, Howard Osborne is a Civil engineer who commenced his career as a Structural Design Engineer in Brisbane engaged on various projects throughout Queensland, and later Saudi Arabia. Since then Howard has worked in a number of consulting roles on projects ranging from the reconstruction of Darwin following Cyclone Tracey through to being a Project Engineer in Papua New Guinea for a sustainable Palm Oil Factory for the Asian Development Bank. He has been running his own consultancy in Bendigo for over 35 years. Howard established the R.O.S.E program with his wife Vivienne and is passionate about giving back to the community in which he was born and raised, and raised his own family.

Laura Dusseljee

Laura Dusseljee was born and educated in Johannesburg, South Africa. She moved to Australia with her husband and two sons in 1997. Whilst still in South Africa her work with choirs led to an invitation to train a small group of singers to accompany President Nelson Mandela on his first visit to London as President of South Africa. Laura teaches music at Girton Grammar School where she holds the positions of Head of Junior School Music and Assistant Head of Music. She is the Director of Women of Note which is a treble choir based in Bendigo. This choir has performed in South Africa and the USA and have been invited to perform with some of Australia’s most significant women’s choirs including Illumina (Adelaide), Allegria (Adelaide) and The Melbourne Women’s Choir to name a few. Laura had long wanted to start a senior citizen’s rock choir and eventually, in a strategic alliance with Girton Grammar School the Forever Young Rock Choir was founded five years ago.

Matthew Maruff

It was via the love of his mother who raised seven children in turbulent and violent circumstances and the dedication of some caring teachers that saw Matthew enter the University of Melbourne and then Monash for a teaching qualification; further postgraduate research and study came after teaching for a number of years. His professional experience includes positions at several prominent independent schools. He is currently in his 6th year as Headmaster of Girton Grammar School, Bendigo. The mantra often repeated by Mr Maruff at Girton Grammar School is, “ you get to the head through the heart.” It is this relational approach to education and learning that is a hallmark of his leadership. His deep belief is that education is a way to liberate and empower, to provide leadership to the broader society and produce wise and prudent adults.

Shona Innes

Shona Innes is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with many years of experience working with children, teens and adults who are worried, sad or naughty. Shona utilises research-based psychology treatments in ways that are responsive to a child’s age, understanding and need. Having spent time working in the disability sector, schools, criminal justice centres and hospitals, Shona is sought after to consult with individuals, families, schools and government organisations. Author of the international children’s book series, “Big Hug Books”, Shona’s workshops and writings developed from the belief that a happy, healthy life should be lived beyond the therapy room. Shona enjoys empowering others to assist children where children learn, live and play. Her expertise and experience make her a sought-after clinical supervisor for trainee psychologists as well as more experienced colleagues.

Tom Sanderson

Tom’s biography is his life experience and his Tedx topic is his story.