TEDxYouth@ReddamHouse

Speakers

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

• Clare Stephens

  Clare Stephens is a Sydney-based author, screenwriter, and podcaster. She's the creator and host of The Pile-On, where she interviews public figures who have been at the centre of internet outrage. Her debut novel, The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done, was published in 2025 with Atlantic Books, and her writing has appeared in Good Weekend, Sydney Morning Herald, Sunday Life and The Age. She publishes bi-weekly on her Substack, Not Quite Right. She is also a writer and producer on the Logie-nominated Binge series Strife - seasons 1 and 2, and was formerly the editor-in-chief at Mamamia – Australia’s largest independent women’s network. At Mamamia, she created and hosted the top-charting comedy podcast Cancelled and the award-winning interview podcast But Are You Happy?

• Gareth Robinson

  After losing his brother and three close mates to suicide, Gareth has turned grief into growth — sharing six life lessons from four good men lost. What matters most, he reminds us, is not what you say to others, but what you say to yourself. 2025 Westfield Local Hero finalist and SLS Sydney Branch Surf Lifesaver of the Year, recognised for his work in youth development and wellbeing at Bondi Surf Club.

• Gary Smith

  Gary Smith is the CEO of B Corporation, BioPak, an award-winning, global leader in compostable single-use packaging that provides innovative, plant-based alternatives to foodservice plastics and helps businesses work towards a circular economy. Starting his entrepreneurial journey in 1987, Smith built a series of IT businesses in South Africa, culminating in the sale and listing of the merged IT hardware entity on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1997 with Sofline Limited. In 2001, he started another IT hardware business called IP Trading Pty Limited in Sydney, Australia, which he sold in 2005 before consulting in various businesses in a private equity capacity. In 2006, Smith recognised the growing environmental problem of plastic in oceans and set out to challenge the status quo by founding BioPak with business partner Richard Fine, disrupting the foodservice industry with ground-breaking renewable resources to create single-use packaging made from plants.

• Kal Glanznig

  Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions. Creator of the documentary Rising Up, whilst in high-school he arranged a $100,000, 100kW solar panel system, then supported over 20 schools to follow suit. In 2019 he co-founded Plastic Free Cronulla, building a community movement that has helped achieve a legislative ban of single-use plastics. Kal co-created the Blue Minds program to empower young Australians to tackle eco-anxiety and become ocean leaders. Kal was awarded Sutherland Shire Young Australian of the Year 2020 and Environmental Citizen of the Year 2023, he was part of the Youth Advisory Council for World Ocean Day, co-founder of the Youth Ocean Carnival and is a sought after speaker including appearances at the United Nations Climate Change COP27 & COP28. A passionate aquatic athlete, Kal has represented Australia in water polo at the Youth World Championships and was elected as an independent Councillor, the youngest in the Sutherland Shire.