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).

State Theatre Centre of WA
174 William Street
Perth, Western Australia, WA 6000
Australia

Alix Woolard

Childhood Trauma Research

Alix is a senior researcher and co-lead of the childhood trauma research program for Embrace at Telethon Kids Institute, Western Australia’s first research collaboration devoted to the mental health of children and young people ages 0-25. Alix’s work involves preventing, intervening, and treating childhood trauma, and she works with the most vulnerable populations in WA aiming to help children, young people and their families recover and thrive after trauma.

Dean Morris

Animal Welfare Campaigner

Dean founded the charity Give Our Strays A Chance when he was 10 years old to raise awareness and donations for animals in need. 10 years later and GOSAC has raised over $4m in donations and supplies, saved countless lives and won many awards. He works with businesses, legislators, hospitals, the community, and the media to gain support and donations and increase awareness for animal welfare issues.

Ivor Houston

Transcontinental record-breaker

At 21, Ivor, born and bred from a small town in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, became the youngest person to walk across Australia solo and unsupported. This 4,000-kilometre journey from Perth to Sydney tested his spirit against the desolate Nullarbor Plain and the Roaring Forties Antarctic winds.

Jordan Anthony

Singer Songwriter

Aged 14, Jordan became the youngest ever Finalist in the history of The Voice Australia, going on to represent his country at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The now 19-year-old continues to write and release his music, returning recently from LA where he was invited to showcase at A&R Worldwide’s MUSEXPO.

Justyne Eades

Senior Advisor Aboriginal Engagement and Collaboration

Justyne Eades is a Menang/Goreng woman from the Noongar nation. Her family are from the Great Southern Region of Western Australia. Justyne is a proud mother of three beautiful children and is also a foster carer. Justyne is a Law Graduate from Murdoch University and has just accepted an offer to begin a Bachelor of Science (Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences) degree, majoring in Forensic Biology and Toxicology. Justyne has spent most of her career working within Court and Tribunal services, through various roles at the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA and the Department of Justice WA. Following a short period working with the Commissioner for Children and Young People as a Policy Officer, she is now employed at the Office of the Ombudsman WA as the inaugural Senior Advisor Aboriginal Engagement and Collaboration.

Lexy McDonald

Digital Entrepreneur

Lexy is the winner of the 2023 Diana Award and the 2023 WA Young Person of the Year for Innovation, having created the mobile application HerHelp when she was just 17 after being bullied growing up. Since its launch Lexy has been able to help thousands of people across the world with hundreds of professional resources from dance workouts to financial education and everything in between.

Lucas Lane

Young entrepreneur

His company, Glossy Boys, is a nail polish brand aimed at empowering guys to freely express themselves while having fun. Lucas recognised that buying nail polish was unnecessarily unwelcoming and complicated, so he set out to make it better for lads like himself: a skater and creator.

Mehwish Nasim

Computer Scientist

Mehwish is a Computer Scientist working in the emerging field of social cybersecurity. Her research lies at the intersection of computer science, mathematical sciences, and sociology. She develops mathematical models of social influence to combat the spread of misinformation on social media, and uses large language models and computer vision techniques to identify hate speech online. Mehwish holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Konstanz, Germany, and works as a lecturer at the University of Western Australia, where she teaches Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, and Cybersecurity.

Vlad Guz

Ukrainian refugee

Vlad was born in Ukraine in 1997 and lived there until 2022. As a student Vlad was recognised at school and university with honors and scholarships. At University he enjoyed the challenge of working so, before graduation, he was already a Marketing and Communications Team Leader in an international holding.