TEDxKings Park: Future Technology

Acknowledgement of Country TEDxKings Park acknowledges the Wadjuk people of the Noongar Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which Kings Park, the city of Perth and the metropolitan region are located.

We recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and community of this area and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

It is an honour for us to be meeting here today.

Future Technology Do you love science fiction?

So what are the fictions of today that

Give me Asimov, Chris Nolan, Iain M

tomorrow?

Banks, Black Mirror – I’ll thrill to these

Normally, a TEDx speaker is gently

rollercoasters of ideas.

guided away from speculation – from

And like rollercoasters, which would

what-iffing. Stick to the facts, please! But

I can’t get enough of it.

be No Fun At All if we were at risk of death, science fiction lets us explore the possible and the impossible without having to actually live with the dystopias,

will become the everyday reality of

tonight we’ll be ever-so-slightly bending that rule. Our speakers are in a privileged position: they spend their days thinking about the future, about how technologies

the drama and the dark side.

are going to change everyone’s lives.

The tricky thing is, science fiction has this

We’ve asked them to not just talk about

sneaky habit of becoming science fact*.

You have a Star Trek communicator in your pocket. Bladerunner billboards clutter our cityscapes. Kubrickian

their research, but to project forwards; to think about where we are all going: about the future.

If the past is anything to go by, it’ll be

space stations orbit the Earth.

quite a ride.

And as for Georges Méliès 1902 film

Rob Lines

A Trip To The Moon…

TEDxKings Park Licensee

*Otherwise known as “science”!

About TEDxKings Park We spread fresh ideas that are exciting,

Environmental responsibility is

thought-provoking and potentially

demonstrated through our actions,

transformative for our community.

as well as our words. Our events are

Our outlook is local, national and global.

carbon neutral.

We’re interested in the best ideas that

We are values and volunteer-driven and

excite and benefit our community from

TEDxKings Park is a not-for-profit.

wherever, or whomever, they come.

We actively invite young people to participate – all are involved, heard, valued and empowered. Our TEDx talks

Image: Shutterstock

are made available online, for free.

Welcome In just three years we have presented

Finally, thank you for being part of the

Our events are a celebration of

a remarkable 70 talks which have been

TEDxKings Park community. You, your

ideas worth spreading and tonight

watched over three million times. Please

energy, and your enthusiasm, are what

we showcase another five insightful

make time to thank our speakers and all

make our events special.

speakers from Perth and share their

our volunteers.

Gavin Buckley

Welcome to our first event of 2024.

ideas with the world.

We also thank our friends at Curtin

Each speaker is giving their time and

University for being our Principal Partner.

ideas freely and, in doing so, contributing

Without them this event would not be

to a global library of thousands of talks

possible; it is a joy to work with such

presented online, for free. Indeed,

enthusiastic and dedicated people.

everyone at TEDxKings Park is a

Cundall, PAV and others are making

volunteer, all skilled people committed to

notable contributions to make this event

our City and our community.

the best it can be.

Chief Executive Officer

30 Second Ideas Competition

23 November 2024

Do you know someone aged 14-21 with

State Theatre Centre of WA

an idea that could be a TEDx talk?

Where young thinkers, innovators,

From six Finalists, the capacity audience

entrepreneurs, campaigners and

of young people at TEDxKings Park Youth will choose the idea to be turned into a

changemakers from Perth and WA come together to celebrate ideas worth

TEDx talk and published by TED to 40

spreading and strive for a better future.

million YouTube subscribers.

9 world-premiere TEDx talks, food,

To find out more, and enter, go to:

live music, short films and hands-on

TEDxKingsPark.org/30SecondIdeas

experiences make it a packed day to remember.

Take part in the global TEDx movement and get connected, engaged and inspired!

For tickets, and to find out more: TEDxKingsPark.org Principal Partner Curtin University

We didn’t want tonight to be just

people talking about science and

technology. And we couldn’t think of

anything better than asking Scitech to spice up the evening.

Please give an explosive welcome to Lauren and Isaac, and maybe you’re brave enough to join in?

For more than 35 years, Scitech has

through interactive exhibits that motivate

led the way in science engagement in

learning and challenge thinking. Theatre

Western Australia. Whether it's taking

and planetarium shows bring science

workshops and shows to schools

to life, capturing the senses through

and events in regional and remote

visual and visceral performances that

communities across the state, supporting

use comedy and drama to not only

teachers and students through programs

entertain but inspire.

and skill development, or creating

Scitech makes communicating science

and building international exhibitions, communicating science is at the heart of everything the organisation does.

amazing, relevant, real and memorable.

In this way, a Scitech experience is like a chain reaction of learning that ignites your

The Scitech Discovery Centre allows

curiosity and inspires discovery, now and

visitors to engage their hands and minds

into the future. scitech.org.au

Our Carbon Neutral Commitment

TEDxKings Park is committed to

or are ‘neutral’. This includes the journey

impact. We hope that all event

TEDxKings Park is grateful to Cundall

This amazing WA project not only

who have helped us calculate our

has significant climate benefits

carbon footprint.

but is also delivering social and

This program is printed on recycled paper

environmental outcomes by

minimising our environmental organisers in Australia will be inspired to do the same.

We have reduced our carbon emissions as much as possible and then invested in WA’s Yarra Yarra

you made to attend.

and is included in our carbon test.

The Yarra Yarra

Biodiversity Corridor

reinvigorating social and cultural traditions, conserving habitat,

Biodiversity Corridor. Overall the

protecting biodiversity and increasing

emissions from this event will equal zero,

employment opportunities.

Jennifer Walsh

Rob Lines

Jen Walsh is a sleep physiologist. She

students and is regularly invited to provide

Rob has been involved in the TEDx

is the Director of the UWA Centre for

sleep education to organisations including

movement since 2012, having curated

Sleep Science and leads the physiology

schools, private companies, government

TEDx events across Perth including at

research team at the West Australian

organisations and community groups.

Perth Concert Hall, the Supreme Court

Sleep Disorders Research Institute at

Jen’s TEDxKings Park talk Can cannabis

and the Parliament of Western Australia.

help you sleep? Here’s the science has

Since graduating in Computer Science

been promoted by TED and watched

and Physics, Rob has worked for many

nearly half a million times.

years in theatre and cinema management

In her spare time, when not convincing

in the UK and Australia. He is currently

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where she investigates the causes of sleep disorders and novel treatments for them.

Since 2016 Jen has been studying the potential effects of different cannabinoids on sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Jen is also passionate about educating people about sleep. She teaches sleep to undergraduate and postgraduate

her two daughters of the importance of getting enough sleep, Jen likes to run with her friends.

Manager of the University of Western Australia’s public venues, including the Octagon Theatre, Winthrop Hall, and the Somerville Auditorium.

Rob sings in Perth Pride Choir and is a Judge for Creative Edge, the young people’s creative challenge program.

Rob is the licensee of TEDxKings Park.

Your Hosts & Curators

Mabel Abatania

Monica Kander

Opeyemi Idris

Mabel is a dynamic and passionate

With a background in Social Work,

Ope is a Digital Marketing Specialist and

Inclusion and Diversity Consultant with

Monica appreciates the transformative

Business Intelligence Analyst at NGIS.

a rich background in mental health.

power of knowledge and storytelling.

Ope’s one aim is to meet interesting

Her outgoing nature and love for making

She recognises that stories can touch

people and help them to achieve

new connections are complemented by

hearts, challenge perspectives, and

interesting things.

her deep fascination with the mind-body

inspire action. Monica believes that by

connection. Mabel’s expertise shines

harnessing the power of narratives,

He is excited about the opportunity to

in her ability to understand and

we can create a profound impact on

appreciate the unique manifestations of

individuals and society.

this connection in different individuals.

As a certified coach and advocate for

skills developed in marketing to help

Mabel’s commitment to mental health

human-centered organisations, she is

condense the expertise of the speakers

and building safe spaces extends

deeply passionate about transforming

he works with. Helping them find the best

beyond her professional endeavours,

the world of work by creating safe

way to communicate their valuable ideas

as she actively participates in community

and inclusive workplace cultures

to the world

events and initiatives. Whether she is

characterised by trust, honesty, and

engaging with professionals or the

organisational justice. With over 15 years

wider community, her goal remains

of global HR and leadership experience,

the same: to enlighten and inspire with

she is the founder/director of a successful

ideas worth spreading.

start-up company.

help proliferate the big ideas that could help shape the next generation of our City and our State.He hopes to use his

Jessica Kretzmann Jessica’s research focuses on the

first-hand how beneficial outreach

design and evaluation of new materials

programs are for science education

for delivery of gene therapies. These

and has passionately pursued outreach

therapies have the potential to

programs for local and rural students.

revolutionise treatment of diseases

Jessica has been involved in programs

(like cancer) avoiding the side-effects of

such as Science Café, Education Lab

traditional chemotherapy. Currently there

and Ignite Mentoring.

are no safe and efficient methods to get

As the Australian Nanotechnology

these therapies inside diseased cells.

Network Young Ambassador, Jessica has

Jessica completed her PhD degree

established educational experiments for

from the University of Western Australia.

students, and travelled to rural schools.

Now, as a Forrest Fellow, Jessica is

In her free time, Jessica’s favourite

establishing DNA origami as a research hub within WA.

place to be is anywhere remote, where there is no phone signal, whether in the

Spending time growing up in rural

eucalyptus forests of Australia’s South

Western Australia, Jessica learnt

West, or up in the Dampier Archipelago.

Your Speakers

Jingbo Wang Professor Jingbo Wang is a pioneer

She is also Director of the UWA-Pawsey

of cutting-edge research in quantum

Educational Quantum Computing Centre.

algorithms, aiming to solve complex

There she oversees a comprehensive

problems of practical importance that are

suite of quantum computing lecture

otherwise intractable.

courses offered at undergraduate,

Jingbo is Director of the Research Centre

masters and PhD levels. Her leadership

for Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms at the University of Western Australia, Co-Founding Director of

contributes significantly to the educational advancement and integration of quantum computing expertise within

Australian Quantum Software Network

the academic realm.

Limited, Founding Chair of Quantum

In addition, Professor Wang is Co-

Science and Technology group in the

Director of Quantum Girls, a government-

Australian Institute of Physics, and

funded project aiming to encourage more

Founding Member of the IEEE Quantum

girls and women throughout Australia to

on Consumer Technology Technical

consider careers in quantum science, in

Committee.

particular quantum computing.

Extraordinary STEM experts ready to inspire.

Request a speaker today.

AN INITIATIVE OF

Your Speakers

Tracy Redhead Dr Tracy Redhead merges art and

taking her work to the Ars Electronica

science in music, using technology

Festival and earning her features in

to create dynamic music that evolves

WIRED and several documentaries. She

with data. She’s a leading figure in

co-researched the Born Global Industry

Transmutable Music, bringing fresh

report and co-authored a Routledge book

auditory experiences through change

on music exports, shaping Australian

and adaptability. Tracy has extensive

industry understanding and strategies.

experience in music performance,

Tracy’s upcoming book, Interactive

industry, recording, production and interactive media.

Technologies and Music Making – Transmutable Music, due in August 2024,

As a singer-songwriter, she has released

introduces transformative approaches to

three albums and an EP, with her single

music composition.

Where Does it Fit achieving high rotation

Teaching at the UWA Conservatorium

in 2008. She’s now poised to launch a new EP in 2024 with her electronic duo Rochelle Salt, formed with Sofie Loizou.

Her innovative approach earned her the Music Bricks incubation award in 2016,

of Music, she continues to expand the intersections between music and technology, hoping to inspire the next wave of music evolution.

Andrzej Gwizdalski Dr Andrzej Gwizdalski is an established

has created Master-level blockchain units

Web3 ecosystem architect in Western

at the Business School of the University

Australia and the Southeast Asia

of Western Australia, advocating Web3

region. Steering the Western Australia

innovation. His research on digital Web3

WEB3 Association as Co-Founder and

technologies tackles their profound

Chairman, he propels initiatives like the

societal and economic influence, aiming

International WAWEB3 Conferences,

to empower marginalised communities.

enhancing Web3 adoption for a diverse,

With a PhD from the University of

sustainable future. His leadership in the Blockchain Technologies Knowledge Network since 2018 underpins vital education and research, benefiting public sectors and communities, including initiatives like CryptoMob, an NFT Platform promoting the work of Australian Indigenous artists.

Melbourne and three Masters degrees from leading universities around the world, Andrzej aims to blend technological prowess with social consciousness.

His personal commitment to fostering a sustainable ecosystem, informed by diverse political and cultural experiences as a global citizen, emphasises

As a university lecturer and Senior Fellow

technology’s role in preserving humanity,

of the Higher Education Academy, Andrzej

diversity, and democracy.

Your Speakers

Philipp Bayer Biology generates massive amounts of

Originally hailing from Germany, Philipp

data. The assembly of the first human

has a PhD from the University of

genome took decades; in 2024 it is

Queensland, then spent six years in

possible to sequence a thousand human

a postdoctoral position, an inaugural

genomes in a day on a single sequencing

Forrest Fellowship, and a DECRA

machine, generating more than 50

fellowship at UWA, before he decided to

terabytes of data in 24 hours. Somebody

leave academia to apply his skills for the

needs to make sense of all that data!

Minderoo Foundation in the OceanOmics

We humans cannot do that manually, and

division.

this is where Philipp’s work comes in. He

In his free time, Philipp runs after his two

works at the intersection of biology, big

sons (5 and 7) as they try to climb the

data, and machine learning, building and

highest walls, race down the steepest

applying complex algorithms and machine

hills, and swim the deepest pools in

learning models to find the biology

their childhood-long quest to learn the

petabytes of data. He currently works

names of everybody working in the Perth

on the genomics of environmental DNA,

Children’s Hospital Emergency Room.

establishing trust in fish sightings derived from marine environmental DNA.

A World First Future Technology sees TEDxKings

Stereoscopic 3D replicates what our eyes

Park achieve a world first.

do so well: capturing two subtly different

The speakers you see tonight will be the

flat images which our brains convert into

very first to have their TEDx talk recorded

three dimensions.

and published in stereoscopic 3D.

To watch the talks in full 3D you’ll need a

We’re indebted to the Curtin HIVE

Virtual Reality headset like a Meta Quest

(Hub for Immersive Visualisation and

or Vision Pro – and we’ll also publish the

eResearch) whose cameras we are using.

talks in 2D.

The Curtin HIVE is an advanced facility

TEDxKings Park gratefully acknowledges

serving the growing demands of

the support of Curtin University Associate

researchers and industry for visualisation,

Professor Andrew Woods, and media

virtualisation and simulation capabilities.

artist and interdisciplinary researcher in

hive.curtin.edu.au

science art Andrea Rassell who have helped us achieve this milestone.

Image: Goal Striving VR project on the HIVE Cylinder display.

Principal Partner

University initiatives that drive the

Successful partnerships with Australian

for positioning Australia at the fore

reputation and our efforts to support

Curtin’s new Energy Engineering degree

by 2050. A key project with our Alliance

energy transformation are essential

industry continue to contribute to Curtin’s

of the post-carbon economy.

Australia’s goal of net-zero emissions

is one such initiative, designed specifically to help meet the demand for expertise in our rapidly changing energy sector, including critical minerals and rare earths industries. The expected impact of the new course reflects the national importance of Curtin WA School of Mines (WASM) in providing the research capabilities and workforce for energy and resources, with Curtin ranking first

partner BHP, for example, is focusing on new techniques for mineral carbonation.

We’re also partnering with local company Mineral Resources, to support lithium-based mining and technological advances. And our Hydrogen Storage Research Group is collaborating with Kotai Energy, to progress new ways of producing, storing and exporting green hydrogen.

in Australia and second in the world for mineral and mining engineering education.1

1 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

curtin.edu.au

Partners

PAV reliably delivers audiovisual solutions on any scale, renowned events and exemplary installations. We proudly boast our industry’s leading events team, multimedia producers, styling team,

Cundall is an international, multidisciplinary consultancy operating from over 20 locations across the globe.

We provide professional services from business level strategy and governance

audiovisual operators as well as an

to building performance and design.

installation/retail sales department.

We are recognised as a global leader

PAV design, manage and deliver your

in sustainability. Yet, we know there is

crucial solutions from concept to

much more that we can and need to do.

completion. We’re extremely passionate

Business as usual is not enough.

about events and love what we do.

As a global business, we became carbon neutral in 2020, and we are on course to hit our 1.5° Science Based Target.

We ensure that we focus on sustainability across every part of the Cundall world: industry leadership, our projects, our workplace, and our homes and communities.

Current Partners Principal Partner

Major Partner

Partners

Supporters

Previous Partners and Supporters Blue Ocean

Partner With Us

We welcome the brightest and best brands and organisations to partner with us, share our vision and engage with our community. hello@TEDxKingsPark.org

Our Team TEDxKings Park is driven by a team of professionals.

We are volunteers united by the power of ideas.

Chief Executive Officer

Curation and Coaching

Marketing and Community

Board

Rob Lines Licensee & Head of Curation

Joshua Betton Programs Manager

Martin Wisker Chair

Youth Panel

Gavin Buckley Speaker Coach

Pratibha Bhaskar Website Manager

Katie Hunt Company Secretary

Lisa Evans Lead Speaker Coach

Summer Cory Marketing & Social Media Manager

Lydia Setiadi Treasurer

Mabel Abatania Curator (Youth Lead)

Chanel Marriott Marketing & Social Media Manager

Gavin Buckley Board Member

Joshua Betton Curator

Gracia Mpinda Marketing & Social Media Manager

Natasha Hurley-Walker Board Member

Toni Guerrero Curator

Ciara Wood Marketing & Social Media Manager

Rob Lines Board Member

Gavin Buckley

Maya Best Youth Panellist Gemma Casella Youth Panellist Summer Cory Youth Panellist Keira Fuller Youth Panellist Gracia Mpinda Youth Panellist Joshua Patrick Youth Panellist Om Sharma Youth Panellist Ciara Wood Youth Panellist Youth Engagement

Marilyn Schmidt Youth Engagement Manager

Opeyemi Idris Curator Monica Kander Curator Om Sharma Curator Partnerships and Development Martin Wisker Head of Partnerships

Dave Edward Partnerships Manager Operations

Lydia Setiadi Head of Finance

Production

Blake Good Co-Head of Production

Alice Leggett Head of Volunteering

This event is licensed by TED Conferences LLC and is produced independently by Ideas@Perth Inc. a not-for-profit association registered in Western Australia.

Aymeric Armougom 3D Camera Operator

Ideas@Perth Inc. PO Box 12, Nedlands 6909

Keira Fuller Co-Head of Production

Joshua Betton Assistant Stage Manager Alex Pecoraro Lead Photographer Lexi Prichard Production Assistant Thomas Rowe 2D & 3D Video Manager

ABN 12 519 887 714 TEDxKings Park is not affiliated with Kings Park Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority.

This program is printed on recycled paper and is included in our carbon offset.

Images: Shutterstock