Theme: Technology

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).

Tower Two, International Towers
200 Barangaroo Avenue
Barangaroo
Sydney, New South Wales, 2000
Australia

Alice Gorman

Alice Gorman is an archaeologist who specialises in the material culture of space exploration, from its origins in the 1930s through to the present. Her particular focus is orbital debris, or “space junk”, including historic satellites. Her aim is to contribute a cultural-heritage perspective to international agreements on reducing the orbital debris problem. Other areas she has researched and written about include rocket launch sites, tracking stations, Skylab, and Russian landing sites on Venus. Alice is a lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at Flinders University, an Adjunct Fellow at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at ANU, and a member of the Space Industry Association of Australia. Her favourite spacecraft is Australis Oscar V, launched in 1970 by a group of Australian students and still in orbit around the Earth.

Claire Edwardes

Claire Edwardes has been described by the press as a ‘sorceress of percussion’. She was recently granted a prestigious Australia Council Music Fellowship, is a three-time recipient of the APRA Art Music Award for Excellence by an Individual (2016, 2012, 2007) and winner of the Symphony Australia Young Performers Award (1999). From 1999-2006 Claire was resident in Europe where she had success in numerous international competitions and performed solo in Het Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) and Queen Elizabeth Hall (London). In Australia she has performed with all of the leading orchestras and festivals. Highlights in 2016 include a national tour as soloist with the Australian String Quartet, solo performances at MONA FOMA (Hobart) and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (Townsville).

Claire Edwards

Jake Meadows

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Jennifer Mann

Jennifer Mann is a sculptor based in the Macedon Ranges near Melbourne with an intense interest in figurative sculpture and love of portraiture. She works primarily in bronze, terracotta and marble and has commissioned works on permanent public display in Melbourne and Sydney, and privately commissioned portraits in Australia and Italy. Since 2014 Jennifer’s passion for portrait sculpting has led her twice to the U.S. to study forensic facial reconstruction sculpting at the Forensic Anthropology Centre at Texas State University with leading expert in this field, Karen T.Taylor. Drawing on these highly specialized skills, she recently created a forensic facial reconstruction sculpture of an ancient Egyptian mummy for the University of Melbourne which is permanently on display at the University’s Anatomy Museum.

Jessica Irwin

* Speaker's bio

John Goh

John Goh is currently the principal of Merrylands East Public School, in South Western Sydney. He leads a culturally diverse school of around 380 students with 85% of students from a non-English Speaking Background and 10% refugees. John’s dynamic and innovative staff are part of the Microsoft Partners in Learning Program. Together, they have a passion for the use of technology in learning and student engagement. In recent years, John’s school has achieved the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award for their sustainability programs and infrastructure and the NSW Director General’s School Achievement Award.

Jordan Nguyen

Dr Jordan Nguyen’s mission in life is to improve the lives of as many people as possible and to be a driving force behind positive human and technological evolution into the future. He believes the relationship between humanity and technology is constantly changing and its role in our lives is becoming more integrated, leading us to a future that is ‘Beyond Superhuman’. Jordan completed a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in 2012, and was awarded into the prestigious UTS Chancellor’s List. Jordan has been on the board of directors for Object: The Australian Design Centre, is a member of the board for the NSW Medical Technology Knowledge Hub, and taught project development in Artificial Intelligence design and Biomedical Instrumentation for engineering masters students at University of Technology Sydney.

Lawrence English

Shaun Carter

Shaun Carter loves the making of buildings, where the evidence of human hands is always present in the design and built fabric. He believes it connects us to who we are and what we are capable of. It allows us to understand that we are imperfect beings and that we can soar when inspired. He feels our buildings are the embodiment of these ideals. Shaun is the founding architect of Carterwilliamson Architects and NSW Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects. He is the chairman of the SaveOurSirius campaign to fight for heritage listing for the iconic Brutalist housing complex at Millers Point in Sydney, which is currently under threat.