Theme: Imagine

A deep dive into what the world could be if we embraced and in some cases adopted the practices set out by these ideas worth spreading.

Albany Town Hall
217 York Street
Albany, Western Australia, 6330
Australia

Charles Street

Social Entrepreneur

Charles strongly believes in always finding opportunities to make a difference. This was his motivation behind starting Inkwazi Adventures three years ago. Through unique and immersive adventures, to date they have changed the lives of over 100 school students in South Africa. These life-changing impacts are long lasting and far reaching, improving communities and encouraging the conservation of nature. In turn, these adventures also have a life-changing impact on Inkwazi Adventures supporters, encouraging them to reset, reflect and reconnect with what is important in their own Australian life… all part of power in the circle of change. Charles works as a strategist and specialises in helping organisations navigate and adopt emerging technologies to transform their businesses and meet the future needs of their customers. He is also currently studying a Doctorate in Business Administration, looking to research the impact of digitisation and technology on work-life well-being.

Jennifer McRae

Activist

Jennifer grew up on a farm in the shadows of the Porongurups where she learnt how to drive at 12 and how to drench sheep. At just three years of age her mother told her she was adopted. Nothing would ever be the same again. In 1978, Jen started school at brand new Flinders Park primary and later attended Albany Senior High School, where she was then quickly dispatched to the big smoke to become a nurse. After decades of working in the remote corners of Australia she returned to Albany to raise her young family. After an almost 30-year career as a clinical registered nurse, Jen left the world of caring for others in 2019, to finally care for herself. Jen is now studying history at university with the aim to document Western Australia’s forced adoption era. In her ‘spare time’ she is lobbying the state government to hold a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the human rights violations of the forced adoption era.

Jonathan Ramachenderan

Doctor (MD)

For Dr Jonathan Ramachenderan, solving problems and relieving unnecessary suffering has been his north star and touchstone throughout his career, leading him to develop skills in pain medicine and anaesthesia, and to specialise in palliative medicine in his work as a General Practitioner. Jonathan has worked in the Great Southern for 11 years, at the Great Southern Palliative Service at Albany Health Campus and on the Albany Community Hospice board. In addition to clinical work, Jonathan loves to write as a reflective exercise in self-care from the stresses of medical work. He has published both academic and thought pieces on self-care, spirituality, pain medicine and palliative care. In 2021, Jonathan won a national Palliative Care award recognising his clinical work and contribution to advocating the importance of self-care. Jonathan is deeply interested in the spiritual dimension of medicine and how this can be integrated to provide whole-person care.

Rob Cridge

Social Worker

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995, Rob has taken on the challenge of a TEDx talk the way he deals with pretty much everything. His achievements to date include: • Carrying the Olympic Torch in Albany 2000 • UWA Pat Fox Memorial Winner for the Positive contribution towards study 2008 • MS person of the year 2012 • 2014 Competed for Australia in International Federation of Sailing World Titles to try to get qualification for the Rio Paralympics. He didn’t make it to Rio, but apparently, “had a great time trying!” • Being named City of Albany Sports Person of the Year with a Disability 2014 • President of the MS Great Southern Outreach Group 1998-2012 Rob has been a practicing Hospital Social Worker for the past eight years and while he had to give up his passion for playing golf a few years ago, sails regularly, plays bowls with his mates and likes to win board games. A lot.

Tamala Ridge

Social Worker and Coach

Tamala Ridge is the Founder and Director of the Institute for Spiritual Companioning. Tamala provides mentorship and training for coaches, practitioners and therapists to support greater transformation for their clients and teams through the processes of detoxification, spiritual development, professional skill development and trauma informed practices. Her mission is to inspire others to connect with their hearts, intuition and divine wisdom and to trust that everyone already has all the answers within. After her own battle with addiction, and then a 10-year career as a drug and alcohol counsellor, she has become a self-confessed detox junkie who now gets high on the sobriety of her untainted soul.

Tammy-Anne Caldwell

Educator

According to the statistics, she should have failed school and be unemployed, but instead she is a social entrepreneur, a business owner, a teacher, consultant & motivational presenter, and a social-emotional trainer & co-author. After her first job as an educator at age 19, she became a qualified teacher, a decade ago and has taught at schools, homes, organisations and universities across Australia & New Zealand. She was a 2020 semi-finalist in the Western Australian Regional Achievement/Curtin Teaching Excellence Awards, and received Government funding to share her brain-based workshops at regional schools. She was the only Australian to receive one of 28 grants from the International Brain Research Organisation in Paris, in 2021 - and a second grant in 2022.