TEDxHawkesbury

Speakers

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

• Amit Kaushik

  Amit brings over 25 years of experience in IT and finance, having delivered complex solutions across industries. Beyond his career, he is deeply committed to financial literacy as a life skill. Through mentoring and educational efforts, he helps people use money with confidence, clarity, and purpose, turning financial knowledge into real-world impact.

• Dannielle Pearson

  Dannielle is a Thought Leader in Strategy and Critical Thinking. She began her career as an US Air Force Officer and spent ten years in the US Intelligence Community (IC). This environment taught her invaluable skills in critical thinking, problem solving, communication & the importance of personal accountability. She is passionate about creating awareness, at the individual and organisational level around the importance of self-agency and self-determination. The quality of our thoughts determines the direction our lives take, yet we were never taught how to think as a skill. Dannielle strongly believes this is universally hurting us. She holds a bachelor’s in international relations from Penn State University, an MBA from Macquarie University, and completed Executive Education at Oxford University.

• Dhruv Saran

  Dhruv is a high school student at the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education at Richmond. Through the lens of a new generation, this talk examines how the modern obsession with performance and "more" has led society to trade away its collective heart, soul, and critical thinking. It is a powerful call to reject curated perfection and reclaim our humanity, urging us to build a future rooted in empathy and authentic connection.

• Dr Michelle Ryan

  Dr Michelle Ryan is a Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Science at Western Sydney University, the current Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper and leads the Hawkesbury-Nepean Platypus Project. Michelle’s research includes human impacts on aquatic environments with a focus on the ecological health of freshwater systems and aquatic animals. Her current research focuses on the iconic platypus and the health of platypus populations in the Greater Sydney region. Michelle works with communities, industry and government to protect the platypus and the waterways they call home.

• Katherine Pinczuk

  Katherine Pinczuk is a keynote speaker, meditation teacher and storyteller exploring how presence can help people lead better lives – especially in a fast-paced, distracted world. With a master’s degree in creative writing and international qualifications in meditation, she bridges neuroscience, lived experience and narrative, bringing both depth and warmth to the stage. Katherine is known for translating complex ideas into insights that feel immediately human and accessible – infused with humour, heart and occasionally the quiet wisdom of dogs. As the founder of MindLight, she helps people become their own lantern in the dark, particularly in times of uncertainty and change. She lives on acreage with her dog Boris, a Lagotto Romagnolo, who reminds her daily that some of life’s most powerful lessons don’t need words.

• Nicolle Drake

  After losing her son in a sudden drowning accident in 2013, Nicolle Drake did something unexpected; she didn't just grieve. She asked a question that would lead to life-saving technology, a university research partnership, and a new way of understanding what becomes possible after loss. Nicolle developed Trauma Transfer, a personal framework for converting the energy of grief into purposeful action, protective systems, and meaningful reform. Her journey led to the co-development of APPTRAKK, an underwater drowning detection technology built in partnership with Macquarie University, and the establishment of the Smile Like Drake Water Safety Foundation. Her talk, Don't Waste Your Trauma, is a call to rethink how we respond to devastation, not as something to recover from, but as a force that, when given direction, can reshape the world we build next.

• Riley Taylor

  Riley is a high school student at the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Education at Richmond. While trees are essential to our ecosystem, this talk examines the staggering math of global emissions to reveal why traditional reforestation alone cannot solve the climate crisis. By highlighting the revolutionary potential of artificial photosynthesis, it challenges us to move beyond conventional methods and embrace the bold, "weird" inventions needed to truly unbreak our future.

• Scott Hinks

  Scott Hinks is a highly successful professional whose career has seen him live and work across multiple countries around the world, gaining extensive experience in leadership, operations and community engagement in both corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Alongside his professional achievements, Scott is a passionate Lions member and community advocate, dedicating his time to volunteer service and initiatives that strengthen and support local communities. A devoted family man with a deep love for Australia, Scott is driven by a genuine belief in the power of people helping people and is committed to building resilient, connected communities where individuals and families can thrive.

• Tony Morley

  Tony Morley is an Australian progress studies writer and researcher specializing in historical trends in global living standards. Mr. Morley’s published work has appeared in The Up Wing, TIME Magazine, Big Think, Freethink, National Review, The Progress Network, Quillette, and other publications. Tony has been a Fellow at The Archbridge Institute and O'Shaughnessy Ventures.