Theme: Identity

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Rechabite Hall
224 William St
Northbridge
Perth, Western Australia, 6003
Australia

Lynn MacLaren

Campaigner and Conservationist

Lynn was propelled into public life through her passion for animal rights, helping build an international movement against live exports. Her campaigning skills were put to good use first as a political staffer and later when she was elected to State Parliament for the Greens WA (from 2009-2017). Lynn introduced five private members bills, served in numerous committee inquiries that led to positive reforms and successfully stalled government legislation to curtail peaceful protest rights. She was the first American-born elected Parliamentarian in WA. Lynn introduced a WA Same Sex Marriage Bill in 2012 which had the tick of approval from legal experts years before the long road to passing national Marriage Equality Laws. Lynn currently presents human development courses for EvolveWA.

Mia Hyde

Mia is a Trans-Nonbinary, Queer and Aboriginal artist, who also works behind the scenes managing and curating arts events. They have been running Plant Milk Music, their own arts management company, for over five years. They also play drums in their own punk band, The Call Girls and perform as their drag/ creative persona, Miss Phoria. Mia focuses their work around the crafts and lives of LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, First Nations, Disabled and Neurodiverse peoples. Mia also works with Youth Pride Network as the Aboriginal Project & Outreach coordinator, working with Indigenous LGBTQIA+ youth.

Sammy McSweeney

Radio astronomer and musician

Sammy is a radio astronomer and musician. He and his partner of 9 years, Gary, married in 2020 shortly after the COVID lockdowns began. Sammy grew up in Perth, the third of five children. He served as a proselytising missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Taiwan for two years, immediately following which he quit the Church. He graduated with his PhD in 2019, and now works as a faculty member at Curtin, conducting research into pulsars at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research. He has a passion for maths and science, seeing them as every bit as beautiful, elegant, and creative as the finest music and art. Nevertheless, he still retains one professional musical outlet as the Piano Accompanist with Perth Pride Choir.

Steph Marshall

Steph is a queer, nonbinary sexologist working in LGBTQIA+ community engagement. As a barista and manager in their early 20s, Steph helped to establish hospitality businesses in Brooklyn, New York City, and back in their hometown of Canberra. Exposure to the diversity of people and lived experiences in this time developed their personal understanding of politics and intersectional feminism, ultimately helping them come to terms with their own experiences of sexuality and gender diversity. Steph began studying sexology, an inevitable way to combine their interests in psychology, sex education and queer advocacy. They currently work for an organisation that provides peer support and counselling to LGBTQIA+ youth, education to the broader community and corporate consultation.