Theme: Break It

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).

Commune
32 King Street
Newtown, New South Wales, 2042
Australia

Elena Lambrinos

Elena explores the different practices being taught and valorised in children's dance classes and how often taken-for-granted educational experiences can be both enabling and limiting. She is a dance educator and an advocate for dance inclusion and accessibility.

Ginny Monteiro

Scientist & Consultant

Dr Ginny Monteiro is a scientist as well as Founder of Altitude Minds, where she simplifies and translates the complexity of the brain as well as its behaviour into experiential change techniques to shed light on human behaviour. In 2015, whilst on an philanthropic cycling expedition – Ginny travelled through rural and remote villages across India to share her story of sexual, physical, mental and emotional abuse in an effort to inspire women of all ages to break their cycle of fear. With the behavioural change techniques she has discovered through her research, Ginny was able to share these with women in education disciplines across India. Upon her return to Australia, she found Cycle for Change – an initiative that raise funds to deliver a free, global leadership program for women freed from Human Trafficking.

Joe Dusseldorp

Surgeon, Entrepreneur

Joe Dusseldorp is an Australian surgeon who is first in the country to implant a custom 3D printed ear for a number of young Australian children born with a missing ear. He studied under some of the most talented surgeons in the world and has honed his skills as a reconstructive plastic surgeon from Vietnam to France. Upon his return to Australia in 2018, Joe has already changed the medical landscape by offering procedures that patients would previously have needed to travel overseas to access. Excited by the rapid tech advancements of 3D printing, Joe is on a mission to create an app for patients to use within the comfort of their own home in an effort to offer a more personalised medical system.

Kate Harris

Kate Harris is the founder of consulting firm Future Ready who brings an extensive background in leadership, capacity building and education aimed at finding sustainable solutions for the future.

Kieran Crowe

Kieran Crowe is a choreographer/dancer who marked the start of his career on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011 as a grand finalist with Instant Bun. Kieran aspires to alter what it means to perform to a crowd as well as recognise the role of the performer to liberate themselves on stage as well as the audience, from everyday suffering.

Leslie Rice

Tattooer & Painter

Leslie Rice was a professional tattoer for more than 15 years before he visited Art school and realised that everything he loved, was awful. After completing his BFA with honors at the National Art School in 2006, he began to make paintings that once exploited, celebrated and mocked his questionable taste. In 2007, he won the Doug Moran National Portrait prize (and again 2012). With features in both private and public collections as well as group and solo shows, prizes and film/television, Leslie expands his body of work into other mediums. He is currently writing two books and producing an arts and culture podcast, where he also continues to paint as well as teach at the National Art School, Sydney.

Lynne Testoni

Freelance Content Creator and Writer

Lynne a freelance content creator and writer, with over 20 years of experience in print magazines such as Home Beautiful and Vogue Entertaining & Travel as well as over 5 years of experience in senior marketing roles in retail and homewares. With her vast experiences that also span into the likes of architecture and design, see how she pinpoint the struggles of women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s - and how they can best take control of their career and the next chapter of their lives.

Nell Greenwood

Educator, Writer and Creativity Advocate

Nell Greenwood is an educator, writer and creativity advocate with over 25 years of experience in screen education and international film and television production. She started out in content development and was Head of Development at the Irish Film Board, Natural Nylon Entertainment (home to Jude Law and Ewan McGregor) as well as Element Films (producers of 'The Favourite') before embarking on a career as a screenwriter. Her writing credits include 'False Witness' for UKTV (Foxtel), that won an AFI as well as 'Pride and Joy', which was nominated for Best TV Film at the 46th Monte Carlo TV Film Festival. Nell then pursue teaching and discovered a passion for education, in particular creativity. Currently, she is the Director of Curriculum at the Australian Film Television (AFTRS) and has completed a PhD at The University of Sydney on Creativity and Unconscious in the Screen Arts.

Peter Rohde

"Australian Research Council Future Fellow at University of Technology, Sydney"

Dr Peter Rohde is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Centre for Quantum Software & Information at the University of Technology, Sydney. His theoretical proposals have inspired several world-leading experimental efforts in optical quantum information processing. As a collaborator in China’s world-first quantum satellite program, he aided the design of quantum protocols for space-based demonstration. Rohde has worked at highly acclaimed institutes such as the University of Oxford and Institute for Molecular Biosciences, with over 60 publications and 1,500+ citations in quantum optics, quantum information theory, ecology, and politics.

Shalise Leesfield

Environmental Campaigner

Shalise Leesfield, who's 'Ocean Support' movement is an inspiring change for her stance to protect marine life by ridding Australia's beaches of plastic debris and discarded fishing line. With an engaging use of visual props and compassionate storytelling, Shalise's campaign achieved nationwide coverage on Channel 10's 'The Project' as well as ABC's 'Behind the News'. Honored by the Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian for her commitment to the environment, she is the first school-aged person to receive this state honor. On Australia Day this year, Shalise was also presented with the 2019 Environmental Citizen of the Year, yet another accolade in recognition of her passionate efforts to save the ocean from plastic use.

Tanya Silveira

Neurologic Music Therapist

Tanya Silveira is a registered neurologic music therapist who is currently undergoing her PhD research with the National Music Therapy Research Unit at the University of Melbourne, which examines how functional electrical stimulation combined with iPad-based music therapy impacts the wellbeing of stroke survivors. Passionate and engaged in her profession, Tanya has successfully implemented music therapy programs on the physical rehabilitation of adults and children. Her clinical work and research is well recognised with a national and global scale, including the World Congress of Music Therapy conference in Vienna (2014) as well as the SmartStrokes conference, which led to a publication to the International Journal of Stroke.

Tony Kiss

Tony is a Leadership Culture Coach and Ex Mental Health Counselor, and he is passionate about helping people connect with their values and find their purpose in life.