Theme: Changing Perceptions

TEDxUWA 2016 will revolve around the theme “Changing Perceptions”, which we hope will provide a platform where thinkers, visionaries and students will be inspired and inspire others at the same time.
The TEDxUWA team believes that changing your view inspires creative thinking, creative thinking inspires ideas and ideas inspire change. Change for the better is the ultimate goal. We would like to have our audience experience this by changing their perspectives. Any good idea or talk can change the view of the individual regardless of what the talk is about.

Our event featured a sensational line-up of speakers and performers that showcased raw and real ideas inspired by the UWA community and beyond.

McCusker Auditorium
Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
QEII Medical Center, 6 Verdun Street
Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009
Australia

Èlan Dance Est.

Èlan Dance Est. was founded by Director Rita Nita, who wanted to create a space for the underdogs. A home for individuals who just like her want to challenge the status quo. While others talk the talk, they "dance the dance". With collectively over 30 years of experience, Èlan Dance Est. is the only dance company that offers distinctive dance classes with enthusiastic vigor and multicultural flair in Perth, Western Australia. From hip hop to dancehall, beginner to pro. Understanding and appreciating that students learn at different rates and respond to different learning styles, Èlan Dance Est. has teaching staff made up of both internationally and nationally recognised professionals with the experience to fine tune dancers' development and love for dance.

Alex Whitebrook

Besides studying International Relations and Asian Studies, Alex has gained experience working with a variety of NGOs including Thirst, an education-focused NGO that teaches students the seriousness of the world water crisis; Future Directions International, a think tank that operates a Global Food and Water Crises Research Programme to which he is currently a contributor; and, the Perth USAsia Centre, another think tank focused more broadly on security issues in the Indo-Pacific Region. For the past year Alex has studied Mandarin in Shanghai, where he also managed his self-initiated English teaching service for Chinese Students. Since returning to Perth, he has continued to strive toward his goal of influencing the field of water security.

Benjamin Garcia-Bloj

In 2013, Ben arrived in Perth where he began working with the novel epigenetic tool, known as CRISPR, and its potential as a treatment of high mortality rate cancers such as gastric, breast and lung. He strongly believes in the power of the human body to cure itself and used CRISPR to activate dormant genes in cancer cells. When he is not in the lab, you will find him playing video games or riding his bike.

Bronwyn Milkins

Bronwyn is a psychological science communicator dedicated to mental health system reform. Hospitalised with mental illness at 18 years old, Bronwyn has since overcome her battles and is now a studying her PhD in Psychology at the University of Western Australia. Outside of her PhD, Bronwyn works to dismantle social and economic barriers to receiving help for mental illness by designing evidence-based initiatives. Her vision is of an Australia where every single person receives timely and effective support for a mental health problem. Bronwyn was named a 2016 'Young Social Pioneer' by the Foundation for Young Australians for her work in the social entrepreneurship space and was the 2014 winner of the UWA 'Three Minute Thesis' competition.

David Blair

David Blair is Director of the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre in the School of Physics at UWA. The Centre includes an 80m high optical power laser interferometer and the 1m Zadko Robotic Telescope used for multi-messenger astronomy and gamma ray burst follow-up. Professor Blair has strong collaboration links with China and was convenor of the KITPC Program “The Next Detectors for Gravitational Wave Astronomy” in 2015. He holds numerous accolades and awards, including Fellow of the American Physical Society, Western Australian Scientist of the Year and the Walter Boas Medal of the Australian Institute of Physics.

David Gozzard

David Gozzard is pursuing a PhD in experimental physics at UWA's School of Physics, and is also attached to the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. He is working to develop technologies to synchronise the Square Kilometre Arrays's widely spread attennas within the telescope's demanding requirements. David is passionate about science and about getting others excited by the wonders and benefits it offers. He is an enthusiastic science communicator, speaking at schools and for community groups, and taking part in competitions such as FameLab and the 3 Minute Thesis.

Jeff Pow

Jeff Pow is the co-founder of Western Australia's only vertically integrated, beyond organic, pasture-raised chicken and duck operation. Southampton Homestead is a family farm producing chickens and Muscovy ducks on 120 acres of beautiful farmland near Balingup in the Southwest of Western Australia. His animals are hand-reared on perennial pastures, insects and sunshine. The only poultry in Western Australia able to do so. The birds are harvested and prepared by hand in the custom-built poultry processor – a modern, fully equipped and approved micro-abattoir and butchery room. It is the first facility of its kind in the South West. Jeff believes in farming in ethical, regenerative and profitable way. He actively shares the story in the hope that he can inspire the community, and support others in reconnecting to ecological farms, farmers and good food.

Kavi Guppta

Kavi is a writer on a mission to transform how the world thinks about work. Over the past three years, Kavi has travelled tirelessly across Asia, Europe, Australia-Pacific, and North America to observe and advise companies, organizations, and individuals on how to prepare for a dynamic global talent marketplace. More importantly, Kavi is driven to help young people enter the global workforce to secure great jobs and great wages from around the world; to reinvent themselves constantly in the face of constant economic transformation; and to help underrepresented groups find a rightful place in the working world. Kavi's writing and opinions can be found in Forbes, the Harvard Business Review, and The Huffington Post, among other publications.

Melanie Newton

Dr. Newton is the founder of Select Psychology and is passionate about helping people to understand themselves more fully, so that they can live a more purposeful and meaningful life. A UWA Alumna, Dr. Newton has worked as a Clinical Psychologist for over 8 years and in that time has worked with hundreds of people dissatisfied with their lives. She is fascinated by the how, and why, of human behaviour. Throughout her career she has become increasingly focused on a common theme underlying the angst in many people’s lives - a feeling that they are not living up to expectations. “I see people everyday who tell me they have lost direction in their life. They are questioning their choices in work and relationships. I aim to reconnect people with their values so that their goals and life choices are more meaningful.”

Nigel Laing

Nigel is a Professor of human genetics at UWA and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. He trained in human molecular genetics at Duke University, North Carolina in 1987-1988. Back in Western Australia in 1988, Professor Laing’s passion in helping families at risk from genetic diseases led him to develop both research and diagnostic molecular genetics laboratories. His research laboratory has played a role in the identification of more than 30 human disease genes, including “Laing distal myopathy” named after him and multiple disease genes that cause paralysis of babies before or shortly after birth. Professor Laing was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2015 for his research, teaching and work with patient support groups.

Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa

Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa is a spoken word artist, workshop facilitator, actor, producer, MC & human rights reformer. Her work has been hailed as ‘nation building’ on prime time television. This fiery first generation Australian Sikh storyteller is currently based in Melbourne, yet her message has lead her to adventure across the globe. Sukhjit has performed with renowned artists such as Missy Higgins and L-FRESH the Lion and has her own digital platform, ‘Contemporary Kaur’ on Youtube. Her performances and workshops have lead her to travel to the USA, Canada, UK and South East Asia, as well as across her beloved homeland, Australia. Her honesty, skills and desire to unite has inspired youth to recognise their own inner spirit and go forth to achieve their respective dreams.