TEDxJells Park Youth

Speakers

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

• Amy Whitehead

  Amy is a well-versed speaker, having attendance at the United Nations 24’ National Youth Conference, as well as participating in Evatt, Ainger Peck, PESA, DAV debating and recently teaching debate and argument. She studies Exercise Science at Deakin University as part of her year 12, and was awarded High Distinction in Sports Pedagogy.

• Annie Zhou

  Annie Zhou is the founder of MoneyWise, a youth-led initiative equipping thousands of students with practical money management skills. She has worked with schools internationally to integrate financial literacy into classrooms and was awarded the 2023 Sir John Monash Youth Leadership Award for her impact. Annie is passionate about creating an inclusive financial future where every young person has the tools to thrive.

• Arjun Kapoor

  Arjun Kapoor is passionate about mathematics and advocacy, having most prominently testified in federal parliament on the proposed social media ban. Through his experiences, he has witnessed firsthand that one of the greatest barriers to effective data-driven decision making is statistical bias. His love for statistics began with his work on the Monash Youth Survey, and since then, he has explored how numbers can be both a tool for truth and a weapon for distortion. In this talk, Arjun examines the hidden flaws behind data, urging us to question the statistics that shape our world.

• Khushi Jadhav

  Khushi Jadhav is the voice behind Two Factor, a podcast that’s all about raw, unfiltered conversations. Known for her ability to talk to literally anyone - from strangers to matchmakers - Khushi creates space for honest stories, controversial takes, and unexpected perspectives. Whether it’s funny, deep, awkward or real, if it’s a conversation, she’s in.

• Smera Patel

  Smera Patel is a youth advocate passionate about engaging young people in political discussions. She strongly believes that meaningful change comes from listening to the voices of those who will live with its consequences the longest, not just today’s politicians and policymakers. Guided by her conviction that every opinion holds value, Smera champions the idea that young people deserve a seat at the table - and that every voice, in its own right, deserves to be heard.

• Thomas Maguire-Nguyen

  Thomas Maguire-Nguyen is the founder and director of Per Vocem Vita, an organisation that teaches public speaking and debating skills to primary schoolers for free, with a team of more than 120 volunteers aged 15-22. Thomas has also been a member of multiple groups working in tandem with the government, including the Ashwood Youth Committee and the Monash Youth Committee. He spends his time often working on creating and maintaining links to a deeply local community and is highly dedicated to grassroots community building.