TEDxMaldon acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country, the custodians of the land upon which TEDxMaldon will be held: the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and wishes to pay respect to their elders past and present, hoping that we can work together, respectfully and collaboratively for many years to come.
The theme of TEDxMaldon LIVE is "The Brave and The Brilliant". To thrive, we humans will have to raise our game. We must figure out the best forms of collaboration with AI and confidently reassert the values that truly, deeply matter. TEDs 40th anniversary is a celebration of a future worth having and those leading the way with creativity, ingenuity, courage, wisdom and generosity.
The event will be held Saturday 4 May 1-6pm, in TWO separate sessions (there will be 8-10 speakers per session),
at the Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum.
Session 1 (1-3pm Saturday 4 May)
Originally from Edenhope and regional Victoria, Tamika Sewell is the Founder and Creative Director behind AUREI LÚA, a luxury womenswear brand that has garnered international acclaim. AUREI LÚA has graced the pages of British Vogue Magazine and DeMode Magazine, and the brand has been invited to showcase at New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks. Tamika's designs have graced the runway at Thailand Fashion Week (2022) and Cairns Fashion Week (2023). In 2022 Tamika's brand caught the attention of industry leaders, with Not Just A Label selecting AUREI LÚA to pitch designs to European retailer, Zalando. In 2023, Tamika received a prestigious offer to feature her label in the Flying Solo Retail Store in Paris, marking yet another milestone in her extraordinary career.
Brad Hooper is an architect but so much more: a thinker, a photographer, a writer and a local Maldon resident. In a town where everyone knows everyone, he is the go-to person for anything from new residential builds to professional advice on heritage overlays and building approvals and even single screen doors. He is embedded in the community, is full of anecdotes and stories peppered with good advice, and loves his life as a regional Brad-of-all-trades.
Isis moved to Castlemaine from Queensland in 2016. When she arrived, she began working full time on her Aunty’s farm, the famous Holy Goat cheese company. Feeling a bit isolated, she sought out organisations to help her connect with the community. She completed a leadership course, which included reflection on core values. This helped her consolidate her lifelong desire to explore the world of creativity, drama and art. These had been her favourite subjects in high school, but she was steered away from the arts by a practically- minded science teacher. In 2022, she decided that the time had come to remedy the situation, and launched herself into a scary world of finding herself – a life of creativity, performance, love and connection. Isis now values having older people role model a life in the arts, so that young people feel encouraged to pursue creativity. Isis volunteers at Castlemaine Community House in their Get Connected program, which links people in the community with activities and groups, to help them feel part of the community. She loves serving her community and, as an animal lover, sharing her front yard with a big mob of
kangaroos on Norwood Hill.
Jane Caro AM is a Walkley Award winning columnist, author, novelist, broadcaster, documentary maker, feminist and social commentator. In August 2023 she won the B&T Women in Media Lifetime Achievement Award. She has published thirteen books, including a trilogy of YA novels about Elizabeth Tudor Just a Girl, Just a Queen and Just Flesh & Blood, a memoir Plain Speaking Jane, and Accidental Feminists the life story of women over 50. Her first novel for adults, The Mother, is a bestseller. She is currently writing another – bestseller, she hopes. She appears frequently on The Drum & Today Extra. She has created and presented 5 documentary series for ABC Compass. She is in demand as a speaker, panel facilitator and MC. She writes a regular column in Nine Media and her opinion pieces and articles appear frequently in The Saturday Paper and The Big Smoke. She is currently developing a TV series about education. She is on the boards of The Public Education Foundation and Every Age Counts. She is an Ambassador for The Older Women’s Network.
Kaitlin Woolford (she/her) is the elected Youth Governor of Victoria, as part of the 2024 Youth Parliament program. Kaitlin has volunteered with the YMCA for nine years and has been blessed to work with so many awesome young people. Being elected Youth Governor for 2024 is an exciting role that she has been striving to achieve for five years and is excited to see where the role takes her. Kaitlin is originally from the country, growing up on different farms across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and has contributed to her local community after graduating high school in 2014. Kaitlin was a member of the Wellington Shire Youth Council for four years, taking on roles such as Youth Mayor, Youth Deputy Mayor and Youth Secretary, whilst also working full-time, studying Musical Theatre and participating in local theatre productions. Being on the Wellington Shire Youth Council really helped to hone her skills in advocating for the needs of young people and creating positive change in her local community and it's not something she will soon forget. She currently lives in Melbourne and works in a high school mentoring and coaching students in having a positive view of school and finding ways to help re-engage them, whilst also supporting them to find their voice and have their say.
Relationship counsellor and educator, Maja Havrilova, presents a new approach to creating and maintaining fulfilling relationships called 'Love Crafting', which highlights that love is a craft that you can learn, rather than simply an emotion that can easily fade. Love Crafting empowers people by helping them nurture the skills and insights to creatively master their relationships.
Christine Gordon is the Programming and Engagement manager for Readings; a role she has held for many years. Prior to realising the role of her dreams, Christine worked in public women's health. She is one of the founding board members of the Stella Prize, a former board member for the Emerging Writers Festival, sits on the board of the Victorian Women's Trust and on the advisory committee for the Australian Publishing Industry Awards. She is an avid reader and believes everyone's story has merit.
Brian has been writing, producing and co hosting ‘RocKwiz’ since 2005. Brian co hosts 'The Friday Revue’, on ABC Radio Melbourne. Brian contributes regularly to The Age and radio 3RRR and is an experienced MC and performer for public events and corporate functions. He performs a poetry show in schools.
Session 2 (4-6pm Saturday 4 May)
Dr Mandy Nicholson has worked with architects and landscape architects to create cultural safety within public spaces as well as corporate interiors/fit outs. She has also coauthored a masterplan and worked as a cultural consultant for many years. She has authored and coauthored papers around the topic of embedding First People's perspectives through design and planning regimes in an urban environment. Mandy mentors First Nation young girls through learning and teaching of culture, language, dance, and maintenance of ceremonial practices. She created Djirri Djirri dance group in 2013 to create cultural grounding and support network. She also rekindled an ancient Coming of Age ceremony called Murrum Turrukurruk, alongside two Wurundjeri Elders in 2015 after 185 years of it not being practiced. This work was recognised in 2022 by winning the Ganbu Gullnj (One Mob) section of the Melbourne Awards. Djirri Djirri have performed locally, nationally and internationally. Mandy gained a Bachelor of Arts (2nd class Honours) in Aboriginal Archaeology in 2011, worked for the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) for six years becoming a Woiwurrung language specialist in addition to her 26+ years of language revival.
There are the little decisions that we make every day, and then there are the big decisions that can change lives and impact on the broader community. It takes courage to make a big decision and Nerrida believes there are many different kinds of courage that we can all access to make the decisions that can change lives and make a positive impact on the world. Nerrida shares stories of the five key decisions in her life and the specific kind of courage needed for each.
Nerrida Johnson is a local school principal who has lived a vibrant and slightly unexpected life. From being sent to a home for unmarried mothers at 14 years of age, she has made some big decisions which have led her to become a teacher, a political activist, a mother of three, and a school principal. She has worked in Parliament House, a rainforest school on the side of a mountain, Instagram Influencer filled Byron Bay and in remote West New Britain in Papua New Guinea. Nerrida has given workshops and lectured on Steiner Education all over Australia and at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. She is passionate about helping young people to develop the tools they need to make their own big decisions to lead positive, vibrant and ever so slightly audacious lives.
Nicky Barry is a comedy powerhouse, storyteller par-excellence, occasional actress, full time goddess and mother to four wonderful kidults. Nicky spent her formative years hanging out in dodgy bars with depraved social misfits. Somewhere past the age of 40, she realised this was her true calling and decided to give stand-up comedy a crack. Nicky launched herself onto the scene via Raw Comedy, making the state finals as an absolute newbie having never done a gig. She honed her skills in the best of Melbourne’s worst open mic rooms and is now in high demand as an MC and feature act in rooms all over Australia and occasionally beyond. Described as: ”frighteningly funny” in her first review, she is one of those acts that many comics are reluctant to follow. Her razor- sharp wit and brazen delivery are always a hit. When she is good, she is really very good. When she is bad, she is absolutely hilarious!
Originally trained as a classical pianist and steeped in the music of the past, Rosalie’s focus over her extensive career has shifted to building communities and promoting contemporary cultures. She believes that healthy places need to be vibrant, inclusive and brave enough to both respect and challenge traditions. From leading the development of a village engagement strategy in India to facilitating partnerships across the arts, mental health and education in bushfire recovering towns and rural communities in Victoria, she has learned much from local perspectives while also facilitating new
partnerships and collaborations that promote resilience and liveability, Rosalie’s extensive career in the arts, community, health and local government has ranged from inner city contexts to the outer suburban, statewide and small rural. She now works for Central Goldfields Shire, contributes to the local community, and chooses to make Maldon and this region her home.
Christine was the 19th Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police leading 14,000 staff, operating across more than 500 locations, and overseeing an annual budget of $1.7 billion. She joined Victoria Police in April 2001, after serving with the New South Wales Police from 1972 where she became the first Female Assistant Commissioner in 1994. She led the Victorian Bushfire Recovery and Reconstruction Agency after the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires. In early 2023 Christine conducted a Rapid Review of Visa Fraud for the Minister for Home Affairs. She is a Fellow of ANZSOG, The Australian Institute of Police Management, The Australian Institute of Management, and a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. She was recently appointed a Vice Chancellors Professorial Fellow at Monash University. She has four Honorary Doctorates and a Master of Public Administration from The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, USA. Currently Christine is the Chair of Leadership Victoria, was a Board member and then Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2017-22. She was a Council member and Deputy Chancellor of Monash University from 2009-2020, Chair of Monash College Pty Ltd 2011-2020 and Chair of Good Shepherd Microfinance 2011-2019. Co-author with Jo Chandler “Fair Cop”, MUP 2011 and co-author with Amanda Sinclair “Women Leading” MUP 2017.
Saying we should separate business and contribution robs both of their power. After nearly twenty-five years working with small and medium-sized businesses around the world to establish what has become known as the impact investment market, I reached a point of frustration at the lack of traction with the business community. When we look at the sheer scale and scope of the entrenched social and environmental challenges the world faces, we need business to step up, and fast. The problem is that people like me have spent the last few decades failing to resonate with business leaders at the level required to drive the speed, depth, and scale of change. Instead, engagement has stayed grassroots and niche; the playground of the environmentalists and social change-makers, social enterprises, philanthropy, and government funded programs. Despite the challenges being very real and their consequences far-reaching, our “solutions” have been too complicated, too expensive, and too theoretical for business leaders to genuinely engage and imbed in their organisations.
In the next chapter of my career, I am committed to ensuring that a simpler message is shared that demonstrates business as an engine for good.
I’m Bessi Graham, a Business and Leadership Strategist with nearly 25 years’ experience working with business owners, governments, and large funding bodies to merge money and meaning. I’m the CEO and Co-Founder of Benefit Capital and Creator of The Jasper Blueprint. My experience spans from the grassroots of sitting in the dirt working with business owners across the Pacific Islands through to the United Nations in Geneva. This has given me unparalleled perspective and a unique skillset – the ability to bridge the systemic and the practical. I’m a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Government; Monash and Macquarie universities; and The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Dr Jo Clyne is the current President of the International Museum Theatre Alliance (Asia Pacific) and the host of the Museum Theatre Musings podcast. She holds a PhD in History and Theatre Studies from the University of Melbourne and spent more than fifteen years as a history education consultant for the History Teachers' Association of Victoria. Jo relishes her ‘portfolio career’ which currently includes being a museum theatre performer, historian, history education consultant, teacher, history competition judge, published writer, and one of only a few professional female magicians in the world.
Katie Underwood is a highly acclaimed Australian artist, recognized for her outstanding achievements in the music industry. With an impressive 25-year career, she has received an APRA award and has been nominated for an ARIA. As a versatile singer, songwriter, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Katie has collaborated with artists from around the world, exploring a diverse range of genres such as pop, dance, jazz, indie-rock, and new age. In addition to her musical talents, Katie has also ventured into the realm of meditation and sound healing, becoming a certified Meditation Teacher and Sound Healer. She has independently produced numerous albums that focus on mantra meditation, showcasing her deep passion for the transformative power of mantras and meditation.
“My grandfather, Sim Crawcour, was an amazing person that everyone got along with. When my father came into the business in the 1950s, he expanded it. I started as a part-time storeman, then a salesman, to general manager and then 36 years later became Managing Director. By that time, we owned and operated 11 retail outlets with our wholesale business supplying throughout Australia and New Zealand.”
The plan was for the business to stay in the family, but then Covid hit which decimated the tourism market. After regrouping and having their best year ever, Peter received news of cancer - for the second time!
Peter shares his story of remaining positive as he witnesses his world crashing around him.
TERMS AND GUIDELINES FOR SPEAKERS
All speakers agree to the following terms and conditions:
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You agree to abide by the rules of speaking at a TEDx event (click to read).
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There is no payment for TEDx speakers, it is a not-for-profit event, and any income or support from sponsorship or tickets sales go directly towards all expenses for the event
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The broad theme of TEDxMaldon LIVE event in May is "The Brave and the Brilliant"
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Your TEDx talk must be a minimum of 8 minutes and a maximum of 12 minutes (at 10 minutes, a bell will ring as a warning)
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There is no panel or Q&A after your talk. Once you have finished your talk, there will be a 2 minute change-over break and you will be invited to sit and watch the other talks at the event
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Your TEDx talk should include the broad theme of being "brave and brilliant" and be based on a clear, focused topic the local audience will be interested in; as well as a very specific idea, theory or proposition you think could make a big difference in healing or helping the world regarding your chosen theme (your talk must include a call to action, something for the audience and viewers to do as a result of hearing and seeing your talk)
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All speakers undertake a selection process and you will be selected based on the potential interest of your talk to a local and global audience and the diversity of the final list of talks (we want a range of diverse topics)
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No sponsor or organiser of the event can also be a speaker; no talks can promote a business, sponsor or organisation
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No talks with an inflammatory political or religious agenda, nor polarizing “us vs them” language
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We seek to build consensus and provide outside-the-box thinking, not to revisit familiar, unresolvable disputes on these topics
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If selected, you must arrive at least 15-30 minutes prior to the event commencing to ensure you are present, ready and available to participate
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TEDxMaldon is a licensed TEDx event and talks will be published on the TEDx YouTube Channel