TEDxUQ

Speakers

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

• Alain Wuethrich

  Alain is a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Queensland, working at the intersection of nanotechnology and immune health. His research bridges fundamental science and clinical application, developing ultra-sensitive digital nanotechnologies that can detect single immune molecules from a drop of blood. At TEDxUQ 2026, Alain invites us to go Beyond what we can currently see, exploring how making the invisible immune system visible could enable earlier diagnosis, personalised treatment, and a future where immune monitoring becomes part of everyday healthcare.

• Allanah Hunt

  Allanah is a Kurnu-Barkindji and Malyangapa writer, editor and academic. She is interested in social justice, mental health, Blak feminism, First Nations storytelling, queer identities and she is now writing about her disease of endometriosis. In her PhD, she explored affective learning, ownership of women’s bodies and Unremarked Whiteness, inserting an original Indigenous female superhero into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At TEDxUQ 2026, Allanah shares about the power of language and why cultural sensitivity readers are about educating people on marginalised cultures and not censorship.

• Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane

  Anna-Liza is a speaker, a breathwork expert and an Olympian. With over 20 years of experience in the sports industry, she has worked as a former elite athlete, sports administrator and events coordinator, and now specialises in athlete wellbeing as a breathwork coach. At TEDxUQ 2026, Anna-Liza will guide us in the art of breathing like an Olympian, show us how to find peace in stressful moments and how to go Beyond ourselves.

• Bryan Fry

  Bryan is a multidisciplinary researcher in biochemistry and a National Geographic Explorer. He has been featured in over 200 nature documentaries, with the most recent one guiding actor Will Smith through the Amazon in search of new animals. In his talk, Bryan will share about his personal experience of surviving spinal meningitis and how it helped forge a life of resilience, purpose, and life-saving discovery.

• Christopher Lawson

  Christopher (Chris) Lawson is a postdoctoral researcher at UQ’s Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science. His innovative work is dedicated to surveying coral reefs using a unique blend of AI and community participation, reimagining how science connects with people. This intersection of technology, citizen science, and conservation aims to inspire large-scale action for our planet’s future. At TEDxUQ, Chris will challenge us to be the solution for sustainability, urging us to hold ourselves accountable far beyond what we currently imagine.

• Claudia Vasquez Fernandez

  Claudia is a lecturer, tutor, and course coordinator in Applied Linguistics at UQ. She has over twenty years of experience working at the intersection of applied linguistics, language assessment, and multilingual education. Claudia’s qualifications and experiences position her to weave translanguaging theory into compelling stories, concrete classroom practices, and actionable ideas for educators, parents, and leaders. In her talk, she will share about how translanguaging practices may unlock the full linguistic power of multilingual speakers, turning linguistic diversity from a perceived deficit into a profound strength for equity and innovation.

• Kim-Huong Nguyen

  Kim is an economist, creative strategist, and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health working at the intersection of neuroscience, ageing, and the arts. She leads research on how non-pharmacological, creative practices can rewire our brain, increase cognitive reserve and reduce the impact of neurodegeneration conditions. In her TEDxUQ talk, Kim will challenge us to stop thinking and start creating to improve our brain health.

• Rachel Gallagher

  An urban planner and researcher, Rachel Gallagher is passionate about one big question: who are our cities really built for? Through years of work in housing and urban policy, she’s seen how planning decisions quietly shape our daily lives—where we can live, how we move, and who benefits from growth. What most people don’t realise is that today’s planning systems are built on outdated ideas. In Australia, they emerged from settler-colonial land control and were later shaped by postwar, car-dependent suburban models—assumptions that still drive housing scarcity and inequality today. At TEDxUQ 2026, Rachel reveals the hidden history behind our cities and shows how understanding it is the first step toward creating more fair, inclusive, and livable places.

• Sally Prosser

  Sally helps people find and free their voice. With over 20 years of experience as a voice and public speaking coach, she’s worked with multiple people to help them speak with clarity and confidence. Sally knows the power of authentic communication and has been inspiring voices that truly connect. At TEDxUQ 2026, she will help us discover that your voice is more important than your sound – it’s your signature.

• Vikram Vakil

  Vikram, a UQ PhD candidate specialising in Australia’s dinosaurs, extinct marine reptiles and small‑bodied mammals, brings a rich blend of research, publications and eight years of teaching experience to TEDxUQ. In his talk, he invites audiences to look beyond the stereotype that small creatures like rodents are less important or less fascinating than the dinosaurs we all know and love, revealing how ancient ecosystems can inform modern conservation and help protect endangered species through conservation palaeontology.