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Celebrate the stories, ideas and resilience of the Hawkesbury community.
1.30pm Saturday 18th April 2026
Richmond School of Arts
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Our inspiring speakers
Dr Michelle Ryan
What the platypus can teach us about connection
Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Dr Michelle Ryan explores how the search for the elusive platypus has sparked a powerful community movement in her talk, "What the Platypus Can Teach Us About Connection."
Dr Ryan demonstrates that environmental initiatives, such as the Hawkesbury Nepean Platypus Project, ultimately foster science, hope, and deeper human connections across the region.
Nicolle Drake
Don’t Waste Your Trauma
In her talk, Nicolle Drake shares how the tragic loss of her son drove her to develop life-saving technology and forge global partnerships. She courageously challenges audiences to reframe devastation, illustrating how the potent energy of profound pain can be powerfully redirected into meaningful purpose.
Katherine Pinczuk
The wisdom of a wagging tail
In "The Wisdom of a Wagging Tail," meditation teacher Katherine draws inspiration from her dog, Boris, to challenge traditional views of mindfulness. Katherine demonstrates how embracing the messy, unconditional presence modeled by our canine companions can help shift stress levels and open our hearts to life's wordless lessons.
Amit Kaushik
Retirement Isn’t the End - Choosing the Next Chapter of Life
In his talk, IT and finance veteran Amit Kaushik challenges the outdated concept of slowing down in our later years. He encourages audiences to transform retirement into a dynamic period of purpose and contribution, ensuring that hard-earned wisdom is redirected into lasting impact.
Tony Morley
It's Better Than It Looks
In his talk, Progress Studies researcher Tony Morley challenges the prevailing media narrative of doom by revealing positive historical trends in global living standards. He provides a fact-based reality check for anyone tired of doom-scrolling, proving that the "good old days" weren't actually better and that our future is remarkably bright.
Scott Hinks
When communities lift each other
In "When Communities Lift Each Other," advocate Scott Hinks challenges the reliance on top-down aid, using the Hawkesbury floods to illustrate how grassroots efforts are the true backbone of crisis response. He demonstrates that a resilient future relies on ordinary people turning passive compassion into active service to rebuild their communities from the ground up.
Dannielle Pearson
In the Age of AI, Think Like a Human
In her talk, former US intelligence officer Dannielle Pearson draws on her high-stakes background to address the disempowerment many feel amidst rapid technological advancements. She argues that by harnessing our innate capacity for critical thinking, we can reclaim our self-agency and effectively navigate today's complex environments.
What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.
Our event is called TEDxHawkesbury, where x = independently organised TED event. At our TEDxHawkesbury event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
Become a speaker
Do you have an idea worth sharing or know someone who does? Whilst we’ve locked our speakers for our 2026 event, we’re still keen to hear from you and what ideas you have for our future events.
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