What does it mean to shape history? Who gets remembered, who doesn’t, and why? And what about you? How are you shaping history?

Join TEDxCanberra, She Shapes History and the National Portrait Gallery for an exclusive after-hours experience that brings the stories of more than a dozen powerful and inspiring Australian women to life.

You’ll begin with a self-guided walking storytelling trail - your inspiration trail - taking you to six pop-up stops from the High Court to the National Gallery. At each location, She Shapes History guides will share short, surprising and moving stories of women who helped shape Australia in ways both quiet and bold.

To guide your exploration, you’ll receive a beautifully artist-designed trail map to take home, along with a bingo-style prompt card to spark reflection and discovery. The trail is self-paced and interactive, like a thoughtful scavenger hunt through Australia’s hidden history in the heart of Canberra.

After completing the trail, head inside the National Portrait Gallery for a special after-hours experience. You’ll be invited to finish your bingo card by reflecting on what’s missing from the stories we tell, what you’re still curious about, and what it really means to shape history. It’s your chance to take the pen and shape the story - while connecting with others, sparking meaningful conversations, and seeing the gallery in a whole new light.

To close the evening, we’ll gather for drinks, canapés and connection. Meet new people, share what you’ve discovered, and reflect on the stories and questions that stayed with you.

Whether you’re here for the art, the stories, the conversation or a Saturday night dose of inspiration, you’ll leave seeing Australia’s history and your place in it a little differently.

Program timing

4:00pm: Meet outside the National Portrait Gallery
4:15pm - 5:45pm: She Shapes History storytelling trail
5:45pm - 6:15pm: National Portrait Gallery after-hours activation
6:15pm - 7:00pm: Networking over canapes and drinks inside the National Portrait Gallery

The Portrait Gallery Store (The Curatoreum) will be open to purchase Sita Sargeant's book 'She Shapes History', published by Hardie Grant, for the duration of the event.

About TEDx Adventures

TEDx Adventures are unique and intimate events designed to offer you unparalleled, behind-the-scenes access to the people and places making the local community so dynamic. As many of our adventures are purposely cross-generational, and open to all, we can stimulate conversations among people of all ages, professions and neighbourhoods.

Our partners

TEDxCanberra would not be possible without the generous support of our local and regional partners:

Principal Partner - Synergy Group
Venue Partner - National Portrait Gallery
Adventure Partner - She Shapes History
Creative Partner - Impress Design
Media Partner - Region Canberra
Photography Partner - Ethan Cunningham Photography
Production Partner - Dirty Deeds
Celebration Partner - Capital Brewing Co
Community Partners - Gavin Blake and Clockwork Advisory

Photo caption for banner: Visitors in Tim Fairfax Forecourt featuring Paradise won 2024 by Ryan Presley