Theme: Humanity

TEDxQUT is back for 2021 and will be exploring the theme Humanity.

For 2021, the theme was selected based on common elements from the speaker applications. This year, we saw an overwhelming number of applications that referenced ideas of connection, community and inclusivity. With these concepts considered, we are proud to announce that the theme for TEDxQUT 2021 is "Humanity."

This year will see QUT students, staff, alumni and community members come together to grow the TED mission: ideas worth sharing. The event will provide a platform for the QUT community to share their ideas as a way to initiate deeper conversation and discussion.

TEDxQUT 2021 is a full day, live event as we recognise our role in developing and spreading ideas to change the world.

Education Precinct
149 Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059
Fifth Level
Brisbane, Queensland, 4059
Australia

Alina Dini

Founder of Whirl & Sustainability Consultant

Dr Alina Dini is passionate about the power of community, technology and sustainability. As Founder and CEO of Whirl, Alina helps everyday people, businesses, and communities harness energy innovations and build long term financial and climate resilience. Her global experience advising decision-makers on sustainability and leading teams to introduce landmark energy policies and programs means she can guide anyone through clean energy innovations. Alina’s noteworthy accomplishments include working as one of Tesla’s earliest employees in California, playing soccer alongside Abby Wambach in New York, and trying her hand as a contestant of MasterChef Australia.

Ben Clun

Biomedical Sciences Student

As a teen, Ben dropped out of high school and left home. He went overseas to Fiji for a few months as a volunteer, until a near-death experience brought him back to Australia. He then served three years in the military, before discharging due to injury. Ben is now found at QUT as a student in the Biomedical Sciences, and fills his spare time with writing, poetry and promoting feminism to anyone who will listen. He awakens his diverse life experiences with passion and energy, and dreams of changing the world.

Chris Southcote-Want

Recruitment Specialist

Currently embarking on a career change with QUT as a Nursing and Psychology student, Chris has dedicated his 18-year career to understanding and managing high performing teams with focus on people engagement and culture. Working with a range of organisations from start-up not-for-profits, to global corporates, Chris consults on effective diverse and inclusive talent attraction strategies. He is a business leader, passionate LGBTQIA+ advocate, social entrepreneur and spends the spare time he does have volunteering, fundraising for his charity partners and attempting stand-up comedy.

Felicity Purvis

Education & Fine Arts Student

Felicity is currently studying a double degree in Secondary Education and Fine Arts at QUT. She found her passion through her work with young people in developing theatre shows and assisting with drama classes and extension projects in her final year of high school. Felicity began work in disability support since commencing at QUT this year. Felicity has a passion for leadership and creating change through the arts. One day she hopes to develop an arts program to provide enrichment and enjoyment for disabled youths.

Karthik Gurunathan

Pharmacy Student

Karthik Gurunathan is a final year Pharmacy student with a passion for environmentally sustainable healthcare. From his experience working in the community and hospital pharmacy setting, he developed an interest in spreading awareness on environmentally conscious healthcare practices. He believes that for lasting change to occur, we should take responsibility as individuals for the impact we have on our surroundings. Karthik is currently the president of the QUT Nature Society and actively participates in volunteering efforts for the local community. In his leisure time, he enjoys gardening, hiking, chess, and is a martial arts enthusiast.

Katie Buchhorn

PhD candidate (Bayesian Statistics)

Katie is currently undertaking her PhD at QUT, researching in the field of Bayesian statistics. Her work focuses on water quality in river networks, and how we can best collect these data using sensors; an optimisation called adaptive design. She studied theoretical mathematics as an undergraduate and then turned to the financial industry for three years before undertaking her doctorate. In 2021, she published her book “Wondrous Worlds: The Extraordinary Adventures of a Curious Mathematician” in the hopes to demystify career opportunities within the mathematical sciences. Katie hopes to inspire the next generation of thinkers into STEM, one story at a time.

Lauren Michael

Law & International Business Student

Lauren Michael is a current QUT student in her fifth year of a Law and International Business dual degree. She has dedicated her time at university to two causes close to her heart, QUT Women in Business and Women's Legal Service Queensland. A self-professed 'people person', she loves hearing the differing views and opinions of those around her to broaden her own perspective. When not studying or volunteering, she works in a law firm and has interned in strategy consulting. A life-long learner, Lauren is always going down Wikipedia rabbit holes and searching out new authors to challenge and confront her beliefs.

Melanie Rolfe

Social Entrepreneur

Melanie Rolfe is the founding director of The Paper Planes Project, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering people with the everyday psychological skills that unlock human potential. Their main program, Wild Ones, is a nature-based play and mindfulness program for little humans, where she sees and experiences first-hand the impact of nature play on big humans, too. She also works as a sessional academic and researcher in psychology and health, with a focus in pediatric palliative care. Melanie’s vision is a world where every human has their own blueprint for navigating adversity, and the psychological skills to be their best self.

Michael Shanahan

Master of Philosophy Student

Michael is a Master of Philosophy student at QUT researching anxiety in Corpus Callosum Disorders and is the Vice President of AusDoCC (Australian Disorders of the Corpus Callosum). He is a Registered Nurse with a Master of Nursing and has a unique perspective as a healthcare practitioner, consumer, advocate and researcher. A someone with a Corpus Callosum Disorder, Michael sees the challenges in accessing healthcare and participating fully in society for the Corpus Callosum Disorder community and the disabled community at large.

Navid Toosi Saidy

Digital Health Lead

Dr Navid Toosi Saidy is the Digital Health Lead at Max Kelsen, driving the implementation of digital innovation in healthcare. Navid holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Device Development. He has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher focusing on translation and commercialization of biodegradable implants. Drawing on years of experience collaborating at the University research level, and with medical device companies and regulators, Navid is currently focused on enabling artificial intelligence-based healthcare solutions to be commercially developed and applied in real world clinical settings.

Ruth Finneran

Law and Justice Student

Ruth is studying a double degree in Law and Justice at QUT, majoring in Criminology and Policing. They work for the Equity Department at QUT as an ‘Explore Uni’ Ambassador, where they speak to school aged children from underrepresented backgrounds about the importance of post-school options. Upon graduation, Ruth hopes to work in the Criminal Law sector. As one of the 12% of Australians who have experienced PTSD during their lifetime, Ruth is passionate about mental health, along with social justice and queer advocacy.

Steph Tandy

Facilitator, strategist, and storyteller

Steph is a facilitator, strategist, and storyteller. She has just completed her MBA at QUT where she complemented her studies in business strategy and leadership with additional coursework in mediation, innovation theory and technology strategy. She is currently enjoying her role as a technology consultant, after touring as an actor and working in distraction therapy in hospitals and hospices. With improvisation training in her back-catalogue, Steph believes there is magic in allowing for the unexpected and holding space to listen. At home, she is best known for dancing in the kitchen and trying to train her rescue dog.