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).

La Trobe University
Edwards Road
Flora Hill, Victoria, 3550
Australia

Aiden Choy

Multi-generational living advocate

Aiden is 11 years old and passionate about sharing big ideas to inspire connection and change. Born in Australia to immigrant parents from Hong Kong, Aiden grew up in a multi-generational household where his grandparents played a central role in shaping his values and identity. Fluent in both English and Chinese, Aiden balances school, coding, reading, and designing Mario Maker levels while exploring big philosophical questions with his family. His unique upbringing has given him a love for learning and a deep appreciation for collaboration across generations.

Dr. Cathy Oke

Urban sustainability expert

Dr Cathy Oke OAM is a leading voice in urban sustainability and city leadership, combining 25 years of practical and academic expertise. She serves as Associate Professor in Informed Cities in the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning and Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne, while advising the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy on research and innovation. Since 2021, she has co-hosted the ClimateTalks podcast covering the United Nations Climate Conferences. Her twelve years as a Melbourne City Councillor (2008-2020) and contributions to local government and the environment were recognized with an Order of Australia Medal in 2023.

Dr. Gregory Moore

The Plant Mechanic

Dr Greg Moore, “The Plant Mechanic”, is a Senior Research Associate of Melbourne University and was Head of Resource Management (2002- 2007). He was inaugural president of the ISA, Australian Chapter, a member of the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees (1988) and served the Board of Greening Australia for 20 years. He has written three books, seven book chapters and published over 200 scientific papers and articles. He is a regular guest on the ABC, and was awarded an OAM in 2017 for services to the environment, particularly arboriculture.

Dr. Sophie Bickford

Landscape ecologist & environmental historian

Dr Sophie Bickford is a landscape ecologist and environmental historian, leading the Biolinks Alliance, an organisation unleashing the potential of community-led nature repair and collective impact. She has specialist skills in environmental leadership, conservation planning, community engagement and empowerment to act for nature, scientific knowledge brokering, functional landscape repair, strategic planning, conservation finance and collaborative learning and action networks.

Ian McBurney

Sustainability Speaker, MC, Facilitator, Educator, Author

Ian is an ecological sustainability practitioner who has inspired and enabled tens of thousands in business, manufacturing, government, schools and communities to move towards a better future. He believes passionately that at this time in history when every natural system is in decline, it is people and therefore culture change that will gift us a sustainable society.

Ivy Sheng

Climate Activist

Ivy is a teenager who has been involved in the social justice advocacy space for the past two years. In that time, she has come to realize that social justice cannot be achieved without environmental justice. By learning from the unique life lessons of older generations and others paving their own path, young people can form their own stance on world issues and use their skillsets to contribute to solutions.

Jesse Leeworthy

Product design engineer

Jesse Leeworthy is a Product Design Engineer and the co-founder of memobottle, a reusable lifestyle brand transforming the way we think about sustainability through innovative design. By combining thoughtful design with social impact, Jesse has helped memobottle divert over 200 million single-use bottles from landfills and provide more than 50 million days of clean water to those in need through Water.org— Driven by a belief that convenience is the ultimate catalyst for change, Jesse is on a mission to inspire a shift toward a reusable lifestyle, advocating for the mindful use of materials and sustainable consumption.

Jimmy Stanton-Cooke

Environmental activist

Jimmy Stanton-Cooke is a passionate environmental activist with over 20 years of experience driving action for healthier forests, thriving wildlife, and a more sustainable planet. As the Co-founder and CEO of HalfCut, he is dedicated to addressing the climate emergency and inspiring others to join the fight for our planet’s future. The "HalfCut" concept is at the core of Jimmy’s mission. With 50% of the world’s forests destroyed, Jimmy embodies the statistic, wearing the issue on his face. Jimmy invites everyone to be part of the solution, proving that taking action for our planet can be both meaningful and fun. "Flip the coin – our future depends on it."

Jodi Newcombe

Environmental economist, creative producer and community organiser

Jodi is a regenerative economist, community connector and strategic designer living on Djaara Country. Residing now in Castlemaine, Jodi is co-founding member of the Castlemaine Institute and works as Circular Economy Officer at Hepburn Shire Council. Her passion project is examining our relationship with money and investigating the transformative potential of alternative currencies.

Levity Camilleri

Social justice activist

The youngest ever City of Greater Bendigo Youth Mayor, Levity Camilleri is a proud representative of teenage social justice activists. They are a passionate advocate for queer and neurodiverse voices within our region and have successfully founded and run community-based organisations for global peace. Levity lives and works by the core belief that it is our human duty to strive for progress and create positive change in any way we can.

Professor Kate Auty

Barrister and community advocate

Kate Auty currently lives and works in Taungurung and Yorta Yorta country. Kate’s formal appointments have included magistrate (Victoria and WA), commissioner for environment (Victoria and the ACT), senior lawyer RCIADIC (Victoria, Tasmania and WA), and University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor’s and Professorial Fellowships. Kate is a barrister, environmental scientist and published author. Her talk is about her commitment to community advocacy which centres on the Strathbogie and Euroa area with groups such as Strathbogie Voices and EuroaConnect.

Ronni Kahn

Social entrepreneur, advocate and activist

Ronni Kahn AO is a social entrepreneur and founder of Australia’s leading food rescue charity, OzHarvest. Ronni is a passionate advocate and activist renowned for disrupting the food waste landscape in Australia. She leads with purpose and conviction in the spaces of food security and sustainability while also appearing regularly in national media. Her mission to fight food waste and feed hungry people is supported by some of the world’s finest chefs. Ronni is an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and was named Australian Local Hero of the Year. Her journey is the subject of feature film, Food Fighter directed by Dan Goldberg. In 2020 she co-authored her biography; A Repurposed Life, which was nominated for an ABIA award for Biography Book of the Year.

Susan Fayad

World Heritage and Regional Development Lead

Susan is co-coordinating the roll out of the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid that is focused on regenerating a region of over 40,000 km2 with over half a million people for 15 local government partners. Susan is a full international member of Australia ICOMOS, member of the ICOMOS Sustainable Development Goals and World Heritage Working Group, member of the Heritage Asia-Pacific Network and former co-convenor of the Australia ICOMOS National Scientific Committee (NSC) on Cultural Landscapes and Cultural Routes.

Yashashwi Karki

Climate justice advocate

Yashashwi is originally from Nepal, but currently living and learning in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land. “My journey I believe started in my early teens. I spent my time in workshops with children in Nepal, as we worked towards a better world for girls. That passion and vision continues to drive me today in Plan International Australia and in anything else I do. My roots for advocacy are embedded deep within the struggles that come with navigating the world as a woman of colour. I am excited to be able to give a talk about the intersectionalities of climate change and gender.”