Australian thinkers step into TED spotlight

“Speakers are invited to the stage based on the merit of their ideas and TEDxSydney continues this tradition.  For TEDxSydney we felt that we would establish a platform for local thinkers, doers and storytellers. We consider our role to be that of talent scouts; unearthing people from this part of the world, who inspire, and through their ideas and actions, make a powerful contribution to life on earth.”

Full speaker details can be found at: http://tedxsydney.com/speakers The speakers’ list for 2010 currently includes :

• Rob Adams – Architect and Urban Designer, Director of Design and Urban Environment for the City of Melbourne
• Glenn Albrecht – Transdisciplinary Philosopher, Professor of Sustainability at Murdoch University in Perth
• Amanda Barnard – Scientist, Leader of the Virtual Nanoscience Laboratory at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
• Rachel Botsman – Consultant and Author, Co-Author of upcoming book ‘What’s Mine is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption’
• Michael Cathcart – Writer, Historian, Broadcaster, ABC & The Australian Centre 
• Sebastian Chan — Digital Strategist, Electronic Musician, Digital Artist, Head of Digital, Social and Emerging Technologies at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.
• Jon Jureidini – Child Psychologist, Philosopher, Head of Psychological Medicine at Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Adelaide
• Michael Kirby – Former High Court Judge and Chairman of Australian Law Reform Commission, Michael now serves as a member of the UNAIDS Panel on Human Rights and HIV
• Andrew Kuper – Social Entrepreneur and Investor, President and Founder of LeapFrog Investments, the world’s first microinsurance fund, delivering life-changing financial services in developing countries
• Nigel Marsh — Author, Co-founder of Earth Hour, CEO of Y&R Brands ANZ (pictured).
• Jonathon Marshall — Researcher, Anthropologist, Australian Research Council supported anthropologist situated at the University of Technology, Sydney
• Julian Morrow — Creative, Satirist and Co-Founder ‘The Chaser’, works independently in media and is Managing Director of ‘The Chaser’ creative team 
• Mary Victor O’Reeri – Traditional Owner, Educator, UN Delegate, Communicator and Entrepreneur, Mary co-created the Blank Page Summit on Suicide and the Blank Page Summit Hard Yard on ‘Closing the Gap’
• Sarah Jane Pell – Artist, Researcher, Performance Artist, Dr Pell is an official aquanaut/artist/research crew member of ‘The League of New Worlds’ ATLANTICA 1 expedition
• Greig Pickhaver (aka H.G. Nelson) – Actor, Comedian, Writer, one half of comedy duo ‘Roy & HG’
• Lars Rasmussen – Technologist, Entrepreneur, Co-founder of Google Wave and ‘Where 2 Technologies’ which later became Google Maps
• Michael Wesley – Policy expert, Author, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy 

TEDxSydney is made possible by the generous contribution of its partners, sponsors and volunteers. Major Partners for TEDxSydney 2010 are UTS Business (Knowledge & Design) and the ABC (Media & Video Production); with further significant contribution from: Publicis Mojo (Creativity), CarriageWorks (Venue & Event Production), Vox Populi (Event Management), MOB (Technology), Haycom (Staging), Viocorp and Akamai (Streaming), REMO General Store (Merchandise), Launch Group (Communications), GG Espresso (Catering), Advanced Signs & Displays and Designer Rugs; with more partners arriving all the time.