Theme: ILLUMINATE: Shaping a Brighter Future

Prepare yourself for a day of transformative talks and conversations which incite forward-thinking, ethical and community-focused discussions, and inspire our next generation of thinkers and doers.

With these ideas and topics, we can ignite change and encourage current and future generations to shape a brighter future.

Topics are as diverse as our community, including AI, journalism, filmmaking, education, porn literacy and so much more!

TEDxQUT propagates the TED ethos by providing a platform for the sharing of unique ideas, development of curiosity, and inciting a deeper engagement with the world. TEDxQUT inspires our community to stimulate conversation and be part of solutions which make a positive change.

Your ticket includes access exclusive access to live TEDx talks, performances, interactive activities, and catered lunch and morning tea.

La Boite Theatre
6 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove
Brisbane, Queensland, 4059
Australia

Brian Luckins

Community Engagement

Brian Luckins is a current Master of Business student here at QUT, and brings with him a extensive knowledge as a Change Leader in the Travel Industry for over 15 years, focusing on innovation and the human impact of change. Namely, he has led teams through challenges like Covid and the Global Financial Crisis in Australia and abroad. Recently, Brian united 180 local families facing an unprecedent home zoning proposal which would have had devastating economic and social consequences for the community. Brian wants to show the potential for effective leadership both in the workplace and community, using empathy and unleashing the potential in others.

Charlotte Collier-Vickers

Advocate for Voluntary Assisted Dying

Charlotte Collier-Vickers is a QUT graduate with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Master of Health Management, currently working as a healthcare manager. With a strong foundation in biomedical science and health management, Charlotte is deeply passionate about bioethics. Her primary area of focus includes Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) and improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia. Through her work and advocacy, Charlotte strives to bring about positive change in the healthcare system and aims to ensure ethical practices are upheld.

Emma Dyson

Engineering Student

Emma Dyson is currently in her fourth year of completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) at QUT. She is passionate about using engineering to make positive change with Australia’s power industry and hope to inspire others to do the same. In her spare time, Emma enjoys supporting local live performance, art and music. Emma is excited to share her ideas about how the medium of information watch, read and listen to inform how we see the world.

Erin Xu

Storyteller and Solution-maker

Erin is a QUT student, advertising account manager, and entrepreneur. Yet, her favourite titles are Storyteller and Solution-maker. Whether supporting clients in uncovering authentic brand stories, or helping business owners streamline operations through her data-quality business, Erin truly believes in the power of stories and solutions. She is excited to bring passion and energy to the MC role at TEDxQUT, empowering extraordinary speakers and facilitating inspiring conversations that resonate with diverse audiences.

Francesca Testa

Performer | Poetry Reading

Francesca started writing poetry in 2014 as a therapeutic way of processing emotions. Since then, she's built upon that skill, performing in various places throughout high school, and now, in university. She studies Information Technology and works in the corporate IT industry. Francesca has also recently taken up studying poetry formally at university in Poetry and Poetics and hopes to improve her poetry with this newfound knowledge.

Hannah Moon

Journalism Student

Hannah Moon is a QUT student of a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism). She has been involved in a myriad of public speaking forums since the age of 12, notably collecting the winning title of Lion's Youth of the Year public speaking winner at the 2021 Victorian State final. Hannah brings her passion to the TEDx stage and asks us to challenge our perceptions on what it means to be a conscious journalist, bringing attention to the human element behind event news story produced.

Hetal Singh

Aspiring Filmmaker

Hetal Singh is currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film, Screen and New Media) with QUT. She is currently working on an unreleased film project as a post-production specialist and particularly enjoys romantic-comedy and mystery films. Hetal has been following the ever-changing trends and nature of internet culture for years and is passionate about sharing her discoveries at TEDxQUT this year. Currently, Hetal has been enjoying the works of director Greta Gerwig as well as closely following the creators behind streaming service "Dropout" and the animation studio "Fortiche Studios".

Nick Kelly

Associate Professor of Design Science

Dr Nick Kelly is an Associate Professor of Design Science, who studies the role of design in education and cognition. He has been a design educator for over a decade and is the author of over 100 scholarly works including the co-authored books "Online Learning Networks for Preservice and Early Career Teachers" and "Teachers’ Emotional Experiences" (forthcoming). He has been a chief investigator in the "Thriving in Vertical Schools" project since 2021, partnering with public schools, architects, and builders to investigate ways that schools might be more inclusive spaces of thriving.

Nicky Miklos-Woodley

Business and Leadership Coach

Nicky Miklos-Woodley has been immersed in sales and leadership for over twenty years. She is fueled by an insatiable curiosity about human behaviour, leading her to develop a unique, people-centered approach to business. Her early hustle habits caused a significant burn out in 2012, forcing her to reexamine her relationship with work, life and leadership. Author of soon-to-be-released "Healthy Hustle", Nicky has run successful coaching businesses since 2015, is an accredited eDISC Profiler and Level 3 NLP Practitioner. Nicky is on a mission to contribute to a new era of business and leadership that values humanness, champions smart growth, and cultivates a culture of “healthy hustle.”

Oliver Kele

Data Science Student

Oliver Kele is a Data Science student at QUT with a passion for all things AI. He is firm in his belief generative AI is here to stay, and aims to champion a student’s perspective on its use in universities. When he’s not using ChatGPT as a learning tool for his assignments, Oliver enjoys working out and descending down YouTube rabbit holes. Above all else, Oliver loves to learn, and is keen to challenge his (and everyone else's) perspectives.

Olivia Martini

Journalism Student

Olivia is a savvy journalist with a passion for communication, currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism). She strives to work in the broadcast media industry. When she's not studying, Olivia is teaching communication skills to primary school students and helping to create the next generation of confident communicators. As co-MC for TEDxQUT, Olivia hopes to bring gravitas to the ideas of the speakers, while keeping the event engaging, thought-provoking, and sometimes playful!

Sarina Petersen

'Bluey' Enthusiast

Sarina is a student of Law and Behavioural Science (Psychology) at QUT and works as part of the in-house legal team of one of Queensland’s largest not-for-profit organisations. She is most interested in social psychology and human behaviour - particularly, the way that these interact and influence one another. Sarina is a fond viewer of the Brisbane-produced cartoon "Bluey" and is enthusiastic about analysing its enormous worldwide appeal and cultural impact - particularly its impact on adults.

Shreya Rajeevan

Paediatric Speech Pathologist

As a young social activist, Shreya Rajeevan volunteered at local orphanages. Shocked by how communication barriers left children unable to express basic needs, she was moved to find a way to help children communicate independently. Now a pediatric speech pathologist, researcher, and mentor, Shreya specialises in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and learning disabilities, with her clients. Her fascination with technology led her to a unique perspective of using artificial intelligence for non-speaking children. She aims to research and advocate for affordable AI tools, expanding communication access for children from low-income households.

Zahra Stardust

P*rn Performer, Chief Investigator in the QUT Digital Media Research Centre

Dr Zahra Stardust is a rainbow-haired, textile-loving artist and scholar. Her book "Indie Porn: Revolution, Regulation and Resistance" builds on her 15 years as a professional undresser, award-winning stripper, pole dancer and porn star. With an international research portfolio spanning sex worker activism, LGBTQ+ health, sexual rights and sextech, she brings a cultural and media studies approach to sexual health. She is a Chief Investigator in the QUT Digital Media Research Centre and is passionate about somatic sex education, intimacy coordination and maximalist fashion.