TEDxKingsPark: Identity

All our events are carbon neutral

Identity is certified carbon neutral by Climate Active.

Climate Active is enabling individuals, businesses and government to work together to protect our climate now and for the future.

As the Australian Government’s carbon neutral certification scheme, Climate Active is the most rigorous and credible carbon neutral certification available. Driven by certified members (including TEDxKingsPark) and activated by the community, Climate Active is a unique program that enables all levels of Australian society to work together to do their bit.

Acknowledgement of Country

TEDxKingsPark 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.

Identity. It’s slippery, isn’t it?

Sometimes we’re fiercely certain of who and what we are. We know our inner self more intimately than we know anyone else. And in the right conditions we’ll even lay down our lives to protect an aspect of ourselves we hold to be immutable. And then we change. Or discover. Or are challenged. We realise that previously-held binaries are shades of grey. That the stories we told ourselves were just the first chapter in a longer, more subtle, more nuanced narrative.

Our society has a narrative too. The relatively recent embracing of same sex marriage in Australia is another seismic shift in what society tells itself is normal. With more shifts to come.

The recent flowering of identity expression, especially among young people, is wonderful to see. To see young people refusing to be pigeonholed, refusing to conform, is not, as some would contend, the collapse of social norms. It means that the most significant freedom we should all have – to be ourselves – is finally becoming a reality for so many.

Tonight we have four ideas as TEDxKingsPark’s contribution to the blooming of sexual and gender identity expression that is making our world more colourful, more diverse and more beautiful.

Rob Lines TEDxKingsPark Licensee

About TEDxKingsPark

We spread fresh ideas that are exciting, thought-provoking and potentially transformative for our community. Our outlook is local, national and global. We’re interested in the best ideas that excite and benefit our community from wherever, or whomever they come. We actively invite young people to participate – all are involved, heard, valued and empowered.

Our TEDx talks are made available online, for free.

Environmental responsibility is demonstrated through our actions, as well as our words. Our events are carbon neutral. We are values and volunteer-driven and TEDxKingsPark is not for profit.

Image: Shutterstock

Welcome to our fourth and final event of 2022. Our events are a celebration of ideas worth spreading and tonight we showcase another four insightful speakers from Perth and share their ideas with the world. Each speaker is giving their time and ideas freely and, in doing so, contributing to a global library of thousands of talks presented online, for free. Indeed, everyone at TEDxKingsPark is a volunteer, all skilled people committed to our City and our community. Since our first event, just

20 months ago, our talks have been watched over 210,000 times. Please make time to thank our speakers and all our volunteers. We also thank our friends at Murdoch University for being our Principal Partner. Without them this event would not be possible; it is a joy to work with such enthusiastic and dedicated people. Cundall, Carbon Neutral, Hewshott, PAV and others are making notable contributions to make this event the best it can be.

Finally, thank you for being part of the TEDxKingsPark community. Our 2023 events are already in production and, between them, offer something for everyone. Justice and the incredibly popular TEDx Kings Park Youth will be followed by two more evening Salons which the team and I look forward to sharing with you very soon!

Gavin Buckley Chief Executive Officer

TEDxKingsPark is committed to minimising our environmental impact. We hope that all event 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 Biodiversity Corridor. Overall the emissions from this event equal zero,

Our Carbon Neutral Commitment

or are ‘neutral’. This includes the journey you made to attend.

TEDxKingsPark is grateful to Cundall who have helped us calculate our carbon footprint.

This program is 100% recycled paper and is included in our carbon offset.

The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor

This amazing WA project not only has significant climate benefits but is also delivering social and environmental outcomes by reinvigorating social and cultural traditions, conserving habitat, protecting biodiversity and increasing employment opportunities.

Coming Soon

Justice

Autumn 2023

You know the feeling of hot indignation, frustration, and maybe anger, when you receive an injustice.

Yet, until that moment, justice is a concept we blithely assume is a given. Some of us fight for justice, for ourselves, and others. Some of us are unconscious contributors to another’s injustice.

But whatever our role, it’s essential to our society – and that’s why in 2023 we’ll examine Justice in its many forms.

To be the first to hear when tickets are available, become a Member for free at TEDxKingsPark.org

Your Curators & Hosts

Rob Lines

He/Him

Rob has been involved in the TEDx movement since 2012, having curated TEDx events across Perth including at Perth Concert Hall, Perth Observatory and the Parliament of Western Australia.

Since graduating in Computer Science and Physics, Rob has worked for many years in theatre and cinema management in the UK and Australia. He is currently Manager of The University of Western Australia’s public venues, including the Octagon Theatre, Winthrop Hall and the Somerville Auditorium.

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

Rob is the Licensee of TEDxKingsPark.

Kevin Shah Mansouri

He/Him

Kevin is a Medicine and Computer Science student at The University of Western Australia.

As an avid problem solver, you’ll find Kevin spending his time playing chess, coding and reading. He loves to learn and share interesting ideas, and firmly believes that writing and public speaking are some of the best ways to achieve that.

He is President of the UWA Chess Association and a Residential Advisor at St Catherine’s College. He hopes to help people pursue a life that is meaningful to them, whatever that may look like.

Maggie Gordon

She/Her

Studying Psychology at UWA, Maggie is currently a disability support worker who loves to get to know people.

With a curious, reflective and perspective-changing approach, Maggie is ready to ask our speakers an endless amount of questions, exploring different avenues to get to the bottom of their idea.

Volunteering with Unearthed as the Secretary and Artist Engagement Officer, and with Teach Learn Grow as a Tutor, has provided moments of authenticity and connection which is Maggie’s true driver.

Steph Marshall

They/Them

Steph is a queer, nonbinary LGBTQIA+ Peer Mentor and Sexologist.

As a barista and manager, they helped to establish new businesses in Brooklyn, New York City, and back in their hometown of Canberra. Exposure to the diversity of people and lived experiences in this time developed their personal understanding of politics and intersectional feminism, ultimately helping them come to terms with their own experiences of sexuality and gender diversity.

Steph began studying sexology, an inevitable way to combine their interests in psychology, sex education and queer advocacy. Largely motivated by their religious upbringing and lack of comprehensive, pleasure-focused

and queer-inclusive sex education,

Steph wants to help reform people’s understanding of sex, gender and sexuality, from individual and interpersonal issues to systemic, institutional and legal injustices.

They currently work for an organisation that provides peer support and counselling to LGBTQIA+ youth, education to the broader community and corporate consultation.

Steph also finds joy in quiet time, caring for their excessive amount of house plants, listening to ABC radio, bingeing Kath & Kim and reigning as Mariokart champion of their household.

Steph is currently based in Perth, on unceded Whadjuk Noongar land.

Your Speakers

Lynn MacLaren

She/Her

Lynn was propelled into public life through her passion for animal rights, helping build an international movement against live exports. Her campaigning skills were put to good use first as a political staffer and later when she was elected to State Parliament for the Greens WA (from 2009-2017).

Lynn introduced five private members bills, served in numerous committee inquiries that led to positive reforms and successfully stalled government legislation to curtail peaceful protest rights. She was the first American-born elected Parliamentarian in WA.

Lynn introduced a WA Same Sex Marriage Bill in 2012 which had the tick of approval from legal experts years before the long road to passing national Marriage Equality Laws. Her wife

passed away on the day those laws came into effect.

In Parliament Lynn was the face of the campaign opposing a cull of endangered great white sharks and she campaigned tirelessly to protect biodiversity through the conservation of urban bushland, most prominently to Save the Beeliar Wetlands. A treasured achievement is helping to save the numbats of Dryandra by preventing a nearby landfill.

Before and after politics Lynn has worked in the not-for-profit community sector, most recently for St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in homelessness programs and for Imagined Futures. Lynn currently presents human development courses for EvolveWA.

They/Them

Mia is a Trans-Nonbinary, Queer and Aboriginal artist, who also works behind the scenes managing and curating arts events. They have been running Plant Milk Music, their own arts management company, for over five years. They also play drums in their own punk band, The Call Girls and perform as their drag/ creative persona, Miss Phoria. Mia focuses their work around the crafts and lives of LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, First Nations, Disabled and Neurodiverse peoples. They aim to create accessible and safe environments for these people to thrive and share their work. Mia also works with Youth Pride Network as the Aboriginal Project & Outreach coordinator, working with Indigenous LGBTQIA+ youth. In this work, they create opportunities and spaces for

them that cater to their wants and needs in their identities. Mia has done a lot of support and volunteering over the years to work with these marginalised and minority groups, with the passion of improving their livelihoods and giving them a platform to express themselves. They advocate for these groups with a strong aim to better recognise and understand mental health issues, neurodivergence and active accessibility for all.

Mia enjoys the stranger things in life and incorporates this into their artworks, based around their experience and identity. They are a complex human (or alien-ish life form as they refer to themselves), as someone who gets over stimulated by noise but also plays drums in a punk band would be!

Mia Hyde

Your Speakers

Sammy McSweeney

He/Him

Sammy is a radio astronomer and musician. He and his partner of 9 years, Gary, married in 2020, shortly after the COVID lockdowns began.

Sammy grew up in Perth, the third of five children. After high school, he moved to Germany and then to Scotland with his family, living in each place briefly, before jumping completely out the nest and pursuing a Piano Performance degree at Brigham Young University, Idaho. After returning to Perth and working odd jobs to save money, he served as a proselytising missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Taiwan for two years, immediately following which he quit the Church.

He worked and studied as a freelance musician for another three years before deciding to switch careers completely and begin a new undergraduate degree in Astronomy at Curtin University. He graduated with his PhD in 2019, and now works as a faculty member at Curtin, conducting research into pulsars at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research.

He has a passion for maths and science, seeing them as every bit as beautiful, elegant, and creative as the finest music and art. Nevertheless, he still retains one professional musical outlet as the Piano Accompanist with Perth Pride Choir.

Ideal Head by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

From our beginnings as a free-thinking university to the global centre for learning, teaching, research and industry we are today, we have never lost sight of our purpose. With more than 24,000 students and 1,700 staff from across 90 different countries, we are proud to be recognised for the impact that our free-thinking graduates, life-changing research, and innovative campus and industry developments have made – both in Western Australia and around the world.

Murdoch University research is leaving an indelible mark on the world around us. Our researchers focus on the significant social and scientific challenges of our time, including climate change, environmental sustainability and adaptation, food, water and biosecurity, as well as human and animal health and welfare. Often working with key corporate, academic and government partners, our research is underpinned by a deep understanding of politics, governance and international affairs, helping translate outcomes into impact.

murdoch.edu.au/imprint

Three ways to empower young people

At TEDxKingsPark we work hard to keep our ticket prices as low as possible. We’re here to spread great ideas, not to make money.

Our partners help us and so do our entire voluntary team. However, there are bills to pay and, for some young

people, the ticket price remains a barrier. Our Give It Forward initiative is here to ensure that young people, selected by partner charities, can attend TEDxKingsPark events for free. There are three ways you can help:

Contribute Partner Recycle

Everyone is invited to contribute to Give It Forward

Every $2 makes a difference and 100% of every contribution goes into the scheme, with no administration fees deducted.

We thank everyone here at Identity who made a contribution.

We invite the brightest and best to partner with us for mutual benefit, meand to make a positive investment in the city we love.

Our Partnerships team are experienced professionals with a deep appreciation of commercial realities, so speak to them today, or email hello@tedxkingspark.org

Don’t feed the fill! When you recycle your containers it’s easy to donate all those 10c to Give It Forward

At the recycling centre simply use the code C10411059 or scan the QR code printed on the back of your lanyard. Again, 100% of your refund will go to Give It Forward, with nothing lost on administration. Thank you!

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

TEDxKingsPark is driven by a team of professionals.

We are volunteers united by the power of ideas.

Chief Executive Officer

Gavin Buckley

Youth Panel

Haeden Miles

Panel Chair & Youth Ambassador

Bethany Hunt Panel Deputy Chair & Youth Ambassador

Fariha Asha Panellist

Maggie Leung Panellist

Kai Lovel Panellist & Youth Ambassador

Lexi Prichard Panellist & Youth Ambassador

Om Sharma Panellist

Youth Engagement

Victoria Wisker Head of Youth Engagement

Louise Moroney Youth Engagement Manager

Marilyn Schmidt Youth Engagement Manager

Curation and Coaching

Rob Lines

Licensee & Head of Curation

Gavin Buckley Speaker Coach

Lisa Evans Lead Speaker Coach

Maggie Gordon Curator

Opeyemi Idris Curator

Kevin Shah Mansouri Curator

Marketing and Communications Alex Pecoraro Lead Photographer

Stephanie Puttick Photographer

Alan Rogers Photographer

Operations

Cameron Munro Head of Website and IT

Lydia Setiadi Finance Manager

Production Blake Good Head of Production

Jane Ong Senior Volunteer Coordinator

Anika Hannington Videographer

Minh Hoang Event Coordinator

Alice Leggett Event Coordinator

Cameron Munro Stage Manager

Louise Moroney Assistant Stage Manager

Partnerships and Development

Martin Wisker Head of Partnerships

Dave Edward Partnerships Manager

Shani Wende Partnerships Manager

Koshina Yong Partnerships Manager

Board Martin Wisker Chair

Kai Lovel Vice Chair

Katie Hunt Company Secretary

Lydia Setiadi Treasurer

Gavin Buckley Board Member

Natasha Hurley-Walker Board Member

Rob Lines Board Member

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.

Ideas@Perth Inc. PO Box 12, Nedlands 6909 ABN 12 519 887 714

TEDxKingsPark is not affiliated with Kings Park Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority.

This program is printed on 100% recycled paper and is included in our carbon offset.

Images: Shutterstock

2023

Australia’s biggest TEDx Youth event

The State Theatre Centre of Western Australia

Members are the first to get tickets

Join for free at TEDxKingsPark.org