TEDxBrisbane 2026
Ideas Change Everything.
Asking bigger questions about your life, your work, the world?
TEDxBrisbane is a vibrant exploration of bold and audacious ideas, propelling Future You to think expansively at every level, from personal to global.
TEDxBrisbane is your space to step outside your routine, reimagine your direction and move forward with purpose.
This is not a traditional conference — it’s a shared working session for who you’re becoming, experienced alongside Brisbane’s leading thinkers, doers and changemakers, both on and off the stage.
This experience is for those who deeply care about where they’re headed, how they lead and what really matters.
Speaker Lineup
Abbas Shafiee | Regenerative scientist
Dr Abbas Shafiee is a regenerative scientist and bioengineer working at the intersection of stem cell biology, tissue engineering and human-relevant model systems. He leads interdisciplinary research focused on building complex living human tissues that better reflect how the body grows, repairs and protects itself. His work has contributed to emerging approaches across regenerative medicine, biotechnology and non-animal testing, and is supported through international collaborations spanning academia, industry and health systems. At the core of Abbas’s research is a commitment to rethinking how we study the human body — moving beyond simplified models toward living systems that behave more like us. Beyond the laboratory, Dr Shafiee is passionate about translating deep science into ideas that reshape how we understand the human body and our relationship with biology, technology and healing.
Bill Ovenden | Human-centred designer
Bill Ovenden is a design leader whose work focuses on making positive behaviours easier to follow through on in real life. As co-founder and CEO of The Lad Collective, he began by addressing a practical everyday problem and quickly became immersed in how design choices shape human action. Through years of building and refining products used at scale, Bill developed a deep understanding of how small design decisions influence whether people follow through on what they already care about. Bill is interested in how leaders, organisations and communities can rethink the systems they create — not to fix people, but to design environments that better reflect how humans actually behave.
Fleur Madden | Entrepreneur
Fleur Madden is an entrepreneur with over two decades of experience building and growing businesses. She has founded four companies and exited three, developing a practical understanding of how businesses evolve and navigate moments of transition. She is the founder and CEO of The Ginsburg Firm, a consultancy supporting female founders to scale or sell their businesses. Fleur’s work focuses on addressing a persistent pattern in entrepreneurship — that women are far more likely to close a business than successfully exit one — by helping founders build value and optionality as their businesses grow. Fleur currently serves as Brisbane’s inaugural Women in Business Champion, advising the city on initiatives that support women’s economic participation and leadership. She contributes to community organisations supporting women in crisis and is proudly the Chairwoman of 4Voices. Her work centres on creating practical pathways for women to sustain success on their own terms.
Heather Anderson | Community media scholar, radio host, author
Associate Professor Heather Anderson is a community media scholar and journalist whose work examines how alternative media creates space for voices often excluded from mainstream narratives. She has been involved in community radio since the early 1990s, most notably at 4ZZZ in Meanjin/Brisbane, where she has worked across broadcasting, training, governance and archiving. Heather’s research explores the role of community-owned media in advancing social justice, cultural expression and democratic participation. She is the author of People Powered Radio: Fifty Years of Australian Community Radio Station 4ZZZ, a definitive account of the station’s history and impact. Through both scholarship and practice, Heather makes a compelling case for why media controlled by communities — not markets or governments — still matters.
Jordi Luke | Identity thinker
Jordi Luke is a public health strategist and community advocate whose work focuses on access, belonging, and care beyond rigid social categories. Their approach is shaped by senior leadership experience within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and frontline community work. Jordi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Haus of Transcendent, an organisation working to prevent housing insecurity among LGBTQI+ immigrants and Transgender people, while operating as a community-based public health resource. They focus on removing structural barriers between people and the services designed to support them. Born in Mexico and raised across Chile and Bolivia, Jordi brings a global perspective to questions of identity and inclusion. Through policy, culture, and maximalist fashion — including recognition as the inaugural Elton John AIDS Foundation Style Icon winner — Jordi challenges narrow gender frameworks and asks how communities can make room for more human ways of being.
Kate Fisher | Health sociologist
Kate Fisher is a health sociologist and global blood donation advocate whose work explores altruism, health systems and the unseen networks that sustain life. She is the founder of Milkshakes for Marleigh, a movement addressing critical blood shortages by amplifying the voices of blood recipients, and making visible the impact of anonymous donors. Kate’s work is grounded in lived experience, shaped by her daughter’s survival following repeated life-saving blood-derived treatments. Through research, storytelling and advocacy, she examines how generosity operates within modern healthcare systems — and what happens when it is taken for granted. By making gratitude visible and stories shareable, Kate’s work invites a deeper understanding of the quiet acts of humanity that keep families together, often without recognition or reward.
Lotti Tajouri | Molecular biologist
Dr Lotti Tajouri is a molecular biologist whose work focuses on infectious disease, biosecurity and the unseen microbial worlds humans interact with every day. His research spans public health, forensic microbiology and infection prevention, with international collaborations addressing emerging biological risks. Lotti is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Murdoch University and Associate Professor in Molecular Biology at Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, and is a long-standing member of the Dubai Police Scientist Council, contributing scientific expertise to global biosecurity initiatives. Across his work, he is interested in how everyday behaviours intersect with invisible biological systems — and how small, overlooked habits can carry disproportionate consequences. By translating complex microbiology into accessible insight, Lotti challenges assumptions about cleanliness, risk and the environments we move through every day.
Molly McCluskey | Investigative journalist
Molly McCluskey is an investigative journalist and foreign correspondent whose work explores power, diplomacy and the spaces where global decisions are made. She is the founder of Diplomatica Global Media, a solutions-focused newsroom examining the intersection of international relations and the built environment. Reporting from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Molly has covered diplomacy, economics, climate and institutions for leading international outlets. Her work is distinguished by a focus on how architecture, design and physical space influence political relationships and global cooperation. A recipient of numerous international fellowships, her career bridges frontline reporting with long-form investigation, often in places where politics, power and place collide. Through journalism, consulting and media strategy, she is committed to making complex global issues accessible, human and actionable — using independent media as a catalyst for meaningful change.
Nicole Dyson | Educator
Nicole Dyson is an educator and entrepreneur working with schools and systems to design learning that helps young people build confidence, curiosity and agency. After nearly a decade teaching and leading in Australian public schools, she developed a deep understanding of how classroom experiences shape not just academic outcomes, but how students respond to challenge and uncertainty. She is the founder of Future Anything, an organisation supporting the design of future-ready schools through curriculum programs, teacher development and partnerships with industry and government. Through this work, Nicole collaborates with educators to rethink how learning environments prepare young people for complexity, change and decision-making. Nicole remains, first and foremost, a teacher. Her work focuses on designing learning that equips young people with the confidence and capability to navigate an unpredictable world.
Santiago Velasquez | Electrical engineer, innovator & accessibility advocate
Santiago Velasquez is an electrical engineer and inventor whose work focuses on designing systems that make the world more accessible. Drawing on his lived experience of vision impairment, he applies engineering thinking to challenges around mobility, navigation and independence. Santiago founded the technology companies EyeSyght and Hailo, developing tools that address accessibility barriers across transport, education and employment. His work examines how everyday systems can be redesigned to work for more people, more reliably. In 2022, he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research best practice in accessible public transport internationally. Born in Colombia and now based in Australia, Santiago brings a global perspective to questions of access and inclusion. His work challenges the idea that barriers are inevitable — and instead asks what becomes possible when accessibility is treated as a design choice, not an afterthought.
Rolf Gomes | Mobile health pioneer
Dr Rolf Gomes is an electrical engineer turned cardiologist whose work focuses on rethinking how specialist healthcare is delivered to rural, remote and First Nations communities. He is the founder of Heart of Australia, a mobile healthcare program designed to bring specialist testing and care directly to communities that would otherwise go without. Inspired by the health inequities he witnessed while training in rural Australia, Rolf combined his engineering expertise with clinical practice to design the first Heart Truck — a fully equipped clinic-on-wheels. What began as a single service has since grown into a multidisciplinary healthcare program operating across more than 40 communities. Since Rolf’s TEDxBrisbane talk in 2017, Heart of Australia has expanded nationally, marking a major shift in how specialist care is delivered outside metropolitan centres. He continues to challenge the boundaries of rural medicine — one kilometre at a time.
What to Expect
Breakthrough ideas from expert thinkers
Bold and audacious ideas on a wide spectrum of topics, including business, science, education, design, innovation, health, social justice and more.
Big questions about your life, your work & the world.
Be inspired to ask big questions, from personal to global, including who you are, where we’re headed, how you lead and what really matters.
A community like no other
Handpicked thinkers, doers and changemakers—our curated community of participants connects to inspire, challenge, and elevate one another’s ideas and impact in the world.
FAQs
- What time does the event start and finish?
TEDxBrisbane 2026 runs from 12:30pm–8:00pm.Here’s the high-level flow of the day:
12:30pm — Registration and Activation Spaces open
1:30pm — Theatre doors open
1:45pm — Registrations close.
2:00pm — Act I begins (filming commences; theatre doors close)
3:30pm — Intentional Intermission (Activation Spaces, light refreshments and conversations beyond the stage)
4:00pm — Theatre doors reopen
4:30pm — Act II begins (filming commences; theatre doors close)
6:00pm — Encore Session begins (intentional connections, idea-sharing, impact planning and celebrations)
8:00pm — TEDxBrisbane 2026 concludes
We strongly encourage Participants to have a hearty lunch before arriving, then arrive early, settle in, grab a coffee and attend the full program wherever possible. Door closures during Talk Sessions are required due to filming of the individual TEDx Talks, and late entry cannot be guaranteed.
More detailed guidance will be shared closer to the event to help you plan your arrival and make the most of the day.
- Is it okay to come alone?
Absolutely. A significant number of TEDxBrisbane Participants attend solo — including many self-identified introverts.
TEDx events are one of the few places where striking up meaningful conversations with strangers isn’t awkward — it’s expected. Asking someone why they’re here, what they’re curious about, or what they’re working on is completely normal at TEDxBrisbane.
If this feels daunting, you’re not alone. Many solo Participants say they leave feeling deeply connected — to new people, new ideas, and a broader community they didn’t know they were missing.
The event app and our Advocate Program also exist to help make connection easier, more intentional, and less awkward.
- Is the event accessible?
Yes. Accessibility is a core consideration for TEDxBrisbane, and a key reason we chose the Thomas Dixon Centre as our event home.
In 2023, TEDxBrisbane created a dedicated Accessibility Manager role within our volunteer team to help ensure we’re continually improving how accessible and inclusive our events are.
When purchasing a ticket, Participants are invited to share any access requirements during checkout. While we aim to provide many accessibility features as standard, knowing your needs in advance helps our Accessibility Manager and broader team plan appropriately and deliver the best possible experience for you.
The Thomas Dixon Centre offers:
Wheelchair-accessible theatre seating
Accessible toilets and building access
Accessible parking
Assistance Dogs welcome
Hearing Loop services
You can view full venue accessibility details here:
https://www.thomasdixoncentre.com.au/your-visit/accessibility/If you require an Auslan interpreter, please contact us as early as possible (even prior to the application deadline) at hello@tedxbrisbane.com.au, so we can explore arrangements with sufficient notice.
Accessibility matters to us, and we’re always open to learning how we can do better.
- What should I wear?
TL;DR: Autumn-appropriate, comfortable smart casual. Be yourself.
TEDxBrisbane is an ideas-first, fashion-critic-free space — but it is a special occasion.
It’s early autumn in Brisbane (still warm), the venue is largely air-conditioned, and the program runs for seven hours. Most people wear smart casual with comfortable shoes and layers.
You’re also welcome to:
come in business or work attire if you’re arriving straight from the office
dress up a little if you want to celebrate the occasion
There’s no need to dress to impress. If you’ve been selected to be in this carefully curated participant community, your presence already says something impressive — and it’s usually revealed in conversation, not clothing.
- What should I bring on the day?
We recommend bringing:
Your ticket (digital is fine; printed if needed)
Photo ID (tickets are non-transferable, and ID may be requested)
A fully charged smartphone, ideally with the event app downloaded
A power bank (photos, messaging and connection takes battery)
A light layer if you feel the cold in air-conditioned spaces
A reusable water bottle
A hearty lunch before arriving, as the event begins at 1:00pm
A hat and sunscreen if you’re arriving early and queueing outside
Most importantly, bring curiosity, openness, and a willingness to participate.
- What is the refund policy?
TL;DR: You can self-refund up to 30 days before the event via Humanitix (less a 5% fee). Refunds after that aren’t guaranteed, but we’ll do our best if we can reallocate your ticket.
If you discover you can no longer attend up to 30 days before the event, you can automatically process your own refund via Humanitix (less a 5% administrative fee). Your place will then be offered to someone on the waiting list.As a volunteer-run event operating on a cost-recovery basis, we’re unable to guarantee refunds within 30 days of the event, as doing so may impact the event’s sustainability.
However, in circumstances where we’re able to reallocate your ticket to someone on the waitlist and receive payment for that ticket, we may be able to process a later refund. While we can’t promise this, we will always do our best.
If your circumstances change, please let us know as soon as possible so we can support you and reallocate your place to an eager waitlisted applicant wherever possible.
- Are tickets transferable?
TL;DR: Tickets and ticket offers are not transferable, as each Participant is selected through an individual application process.
Sorry — no. Tickets and ticket offers are not transferable.Each Participant (audience member) is carefully reviewed and hand-picked based on their individual application, so we’re unable to transfer a ticket or ticket offer to another person.
If you’re unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the place to someone on the waiting list.
- Why do I need to apply to attend?
TEDxBrisbane uses a curated audience model because the audience is not just there to watch — they are a core part of the experience.
That’s also why we intentionally refer to our audience members as Participants.People who attend TEDxBrisbane are not passive observers. They are active contributors — to conversations, connections and the life of ideas that continue well beyond the event itself.
The world has enough spectators.
Come prepared to be a Participant.
- How are Participants selected?
We put the same level of care into curating our Participants as we do our Speakers.
When reviewing applications, we’re not looking for “perfect” people or polished answers. We’re looking for community fit — people who, in our judgment, are likely to:
contribute positively to conversations and connections on the day
engage generously with ideas that may challenge or stretch them
add value to the collective experience for speakers and fellow Participants
carry ideas, insights and connections beyond the room and into their work, communities and the wider world.
A carefully curated Participant community creates the trust, energy and depth that makes TEDxBrisbane high-impact, engaging and genuinely transformative — for everyone involved.
This approach is also aligned with global TEDx guidance, which encourages organisers to thoughtfully invite attendees in ways that support meaningful dialogue, connection and idea exchange.
- Why do you ask questions about gender, sex, sexual orientation and cultural identity in the Participant application?
TEDxBrisbane uses a curated audience model. This means we are intentional about building a Participant community that reflects the diversity of our city and the world we live in — across lived experience, perspectives, backgrounds and sectors.
The questions in our Participant application use best-practice, evidence-based language recommended by gender and inclusion experts. They help us understand the overall makeup of our Participant community, identify gaps in representation, and design an inclusive event experience.
Your responses are never used to assess the merit of an individual application, and there are no “right” answers. All responses are optional, and “Prefer not to answer” is always available.
Information may be considered as part of the overall audience curation process to help ensure a balanced and representative Participant community. It is not used to score, rank, or assess individual applications.
- Tips for a successful application?
Be thoughtful and authentic in your responses — we’re looking for people who will actively contribute to the experience on the day and beyond.
We’re not looking for “perfect” people or polished answers. We’re looking for community fit — people who, in our judgment, are likely to:contribute positively to conversations and connections on the day
engage generously with ideas that may challenge or stretch them
add value to the collective experience for speakers and fellow Participants
carry ideas, insights and connections beyond the room and into their work, communities and the wider world.
Remember:
There are no “plus one” tickets. Every person hoping to attend must submit their own application.
Submitting an application does not guarantee a ticket offer.
Applications are reviewed individually by our curatorial team.
Successful applicants will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to redeem and purchase their ticket.
- When did applications close?
Applications to attend closed on Friday 6 March at 11:59pm (AEST).
- What happens after I submit my application?
Once applications close on 6 March, all submissions are reviewed by our selection panel.
Offers to attend TEDxBrisbane are issued in rounds from mid-March.
If you receive an offer, you will need to redeem it by purchasing a ticket by the stated deadline.Offers are issued to individuals and are not transferable.
Submitting an application does not guarantee an offer to attend. - What does a Participant ticket include (if my application to participate is successful)?
TL;DR: If your application is successful, you’ll be invited to purchase a ticket for a fully curated 1:00pm–8:00pm TEDxBrisbane experience.
If your application to participate is successful, you’ll be invited to purchase a Participant ticket, which includes in-person admission to TEDxBrisbane 2026 from 1:00pm–8:00pm.A fully curated afternoon and evening designed for people who care deeply about where they’re headed — and the ideas shaping what comes next.
Your Participant ticket includes:
Act I and Act II: two curated Talk Sessions featuring 10+ speakers and performers
Bold, audacious ideas across business, science, education, design, innovation, health, social impact and more
The Intentional Intermission: time to explore activations, discovery sessions and conversations that extend ideas beyond the stage
Opportunities to connect with Speakers, including via Speaker Spot and the dedicated event app
Afternoon refreshments
The Encore Session: intentional connection, idea-sharing and celebration over canapés and drinks with speakers, performers, Participants and the volunteer team
A deliberately curated Participant community — selected for curiosity, generosity and depth of thinking
Automatic access to the TEDxBrisbane Advocate Program — our world-first, purpose-driven engagement initiative designed to help every Participant make strategic, individually tailored connections that support their goals and projects.
Think custom-tailored networking, without the small talk or awkward mismatches. Advocates help you feel welcomed, connected, and intentionally introduced — before, during, and beyond event day.Exclusive eligibility to enter the 60-Second Challenge, inviting Participants to submit a short video sharing their own idea. A selection panel chooses a small number of finalists to present live during the event
Access to the official TEDxBrisbane event app, designed to help you connect before, during and after the event, including:
browsing the full list of Participants and Speakers
sending messages and making meaningful connections
personalising your profile so others can get to know you
A thoughtfully Curated Gift Bag
Excludes booking fee.
- What are the ticket prices?
Standard Participant tickets are $269 (including GST).
Booking fees apply. - Is it free to submit an application?
Yes. There is no cost to submit an application to be considered as a Participant (audience member) at TEDxBrisbane.
If you are selected to receive an offer, you will then need to redeem that offer by purchasing a ticket. The standard ticket is The Full Experience – Participant Ticket ($269.00 plus booking fee).
Submitting an application does not guarantee a ticket offer.
- Are scholarship tickets available?
TL;DR: A limited number of scholarship tickets are available to the strongest eligible applicants and depend on funding and venue capacity.
Yes. TEDxBrisbane offers a limited number of scholarship tickets each year to support people who would otherwise be unable to attend.Scholarships are available to the strongest applicants who also hold a current:
Pensioner Concession Card
Seniors Card
Full-time Student Card
Scholarship requests are submitted as part of the Apply to Participate process on Humanitix (click Apply to Participate). A dedicated question appears at the end of the application form. Applicants must be able to provide valid photo ID and their current card if a scholarship offer is made.
Scholarship tickets are supported through a combination of our Pay It Forward program and the generosity of our Community Event Partners. If your application to participate is successful and you’re in a position to do so, you’ll be invited to contribute to the Pay It Forward program when redeeming your own ticket, with contributions starting from $10. Every contribution directly increases the number of scholarship places we’re able to offer.
Organisations interested in supporting scholarships at a broader level are also welcome to explore becoming a Community Event Partner.
TEDx Talks from TEDxBrisbane 2026 will be released post-event, free of charge, via the official TEDx Talks YouTube channel, allowing ideas from the stage to reach a global audience.
As with all aspects of TEDxBrisbane, the number of scholarship tickets available is limited and dependent on available funding and venue capacity.
- Can two people apply together or on the same application?
Each individual hoping to attend TEDxBrisbane must complete their own application, as we assess every submission on an individual basis.
While couples, friends or colleagues are very welcome to attend together, applications are reviewed independently, and offers are made to individuals rather than pairs. You’re welcome to reference one another in your applications, but each application is assessed on its own merits.
That said, a significant number of Participants attend solo, and many leave having found a new tribe. TEDxBrisbane is designed to be a welcoming, connection-rich experience — whether you arrive with someone you know, or on your own.
- Can I bring a plus one?
Sorry — no. TEDxBrisbane is not a plus-one event.
Each Participant is carefully reviewed and selected based on their individual application. If you’ve received an offer to attend — congratulations. Our team were impressed by your application and we’re excited to welcome you into the room.
And don’t panic. Many Participants attend on their own (including plenty of self-identified introverts), and the TEDxBrisbane community is known for being welcoming, generous and open to conversation.
- Can I attend for part of the day or buy a partial ticket?
TL;DR: No — TEDxBrisbane tickets are for the full event experience only.
TEDxBrisbane is intentionally designed as a complete journey, and we only offer tickets for the entire program.
Each speaker and performer has an idea worth sharing with a full, engaged room, and we also have many people who apply hoping to participate fully but miss out due to limited capacity. Offering partial tickets would reduce access for those people and diminish the experience for speakers and Participants alike.
For these reasons, we don’t offer partial tickets, discounted rates for attending part of the day, or entry for individual sessions. We strongly encourage Participants to attend the full program wherever possible to get the most out of the experience — for themselves, the speakers, and the broader TEDxBrisbane community.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
