TEDxGriffithUniversity

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Professor Mark von Itzstein

  One of the world's leading researchers in the area of disease prevention; the creator of Relenza, the world's first anti-flu drug. He is now working on a cure for childhood leukaemia and is the executive director of the Institute for Glycomics.

• Dr Mary Lindenstein-Walshok

  Author, educator, researcher, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Programs and Dean of Extension at the University of California San Diego. She is a thought leader and subject matter expert on aligning workforce development with regional economic growth.She is the author of more than 100 books, articles and reports on regional innovation. She is a recipient of the 2014 Visionary Award.

• William Barton and Aunty Delmae Barton

  William Barton is one of Australia's best didgeridoo players who blends traditional Aboriginal music with other genres and instruments. Aunty Delmae has a mesmerising voice that echoes the ancient story of her people.

• Tristan Schultz

  One of the city's leading designers who works in interdisciplinary formats; visual communication design, product design and development, illustration, research, design strategy and education. Creative and compelling design processes, critically informed by ecological and social responsibilities are what he aims to achieve through projects and discussion that are concerned with extending our future, by destroying less.

• Chris Eigeland

  A Young Australian of the Year finalist in 2012, Chris has created a global network of giving through his Schoolbag Project, an initiative that provides basic school supplies to young people in need and raises awareness about the lack of access to education in developing countries. Each bag features environmentally sustainable and ethically produced learning tools and contains enough material for a student to learn for one year.

• Professor Wendy Moyle

  Director of the Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Wendy has made great inroads to improving the quality of life of dementia patients through her use of robotics, including fur-lined artificial seals. She has published eight books and more than 100 peer-reviewed articles.

• Tim Gibson

  Never give up on your dreams. Born in Melbourne and raised in Brisbane, Australia, Tim Gibson has many loves. Drumming, skiing, body surfing, exploring, reading, sharing a smile. But one has been at the forefront of his mind since being a little boy; flying. Getting his solo pilot’s licence before he could drive a car, Tim always set his sights on flying for the Australian Defence Force. Born with long-sightedness, this dream, the only thing he ever wanted to do, was turned upside down. Five appeals to the defence force, even after passing all other military tests, couldn’t help him. Yet a rush of luck has Tim now preparing to go beyond what he could ever dream of; a trip into space.

• Soheil Abedian

  The man behind the highest residential building in Australia, the Q1 on the Gold Coast. He says the art of Architecture has played a significant role in the history of our forefathers, as they shaped their environments. We have the ability now, to look back over the centuries, and learn from this art. What we leave behind today, will be how future generations judge our contribution to history.

• San Thang

  World leading organic chemist. San Thang came to Australia as a refugee from Vietnam in 1979. He completed his BSc (Hons) and PhD in chemistry at Griffith University in 1983 and 1987 respectively. He has published over 120 papers which have to-date received over 13,000 citations. In 2014 San won the ATSE Clunies Ross Award which focuses on the application of Australian technological science and engineering for the benefit of the community. Currently, he is an Honorary Fellow at the CSIRO Manufacturing Flagship and an Adjunct Professor at Monash University. San’s research in the area of controlled/living radical polymerisation, particularly the Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) process has earned him the title of 2014 Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate and tipped him to be a contender of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

• Jared Porter

  At Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival 2014, 26-year-old Jared Porter was announced the 35th Toyota Star Maker winner. The competition has launched the careers of people such as Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole and Keith Urban. Since winning Toyota Star Maker, Jared has performed at the CMA World GlobaLive Concert, in downtown Nashville. He has toured with Australia’s biggest names in Country, recorded his debut album – East to West, and played at the biggest festivals in Australia. He was also announced as a Golden Guitar finalist for New Talent of the Year, and a finalist for CMC (country music channel) New Oz Artist of the Year.

• Dan Ware

  Dan is a coastal specialist working on a PhD in coastal management at Griffith University. His research focuses on the implications of coastal management policy for distribution of political power between coastal user groups such as surfers, developers and property owners. Dan also teaches environmental economics and environmental policy development and works as a researcher on climate change adaptation and coastal management projects. Dan is currently a director of Surfrider Foundation Australia, a member of the Queensland Committee of the Australian Coastal Society and President of Gold Coast Surf Council.