The first-ever TEDx event that dedicates to Inner West Sydney is here! We're thrilled to announce that TEDxNewtown 2019 will be taking place on Saturday, 23rd of November 2019. Expect a day full of inspiring talks from the local voices of Newtown, workshops to build new skills, fun activities to enjoy and entertainment to relax to.

The theme for TEDxNewtown 2019 is called 'BREAK IT'. The ideology behind 'BREAK IT' is to 'break' away from the different influences that are visible when we pursue a certain goal. These influences may include physical, mental, financial, social or emotional barriers - just to name a few. This year, we look to BREAK boundaries, BREAK the rules, BREAK free and BREAK through all the challenges that we, as humans; experience at different stages in life.

Meet our speakers for 2019:

• Tanya Silveira

Tanya Silveira is a registered neurologic music therapist who is currently undergoing her PhD research with the National Music Therapy Research Unit at the University of Melbourne, which examines how functional electrical stimulation combined with iPad-based music therapy impacts the wellbeing of stroke survivors.

• Nell Greenwood

Nell Greenwood is an educator, writer and creativity advocate with over 25 years of experience in screen education and international film and television production.

• Lynne Testoni

Lynne Testoni is a freelance content creator and writer, with over 20 years of experience in print magazines such as Home Beautiful and Vogue Entertaining & Travel as well as over 5 years experience in senior marketing roles in retail and homewares.

• Peter Rohde

Dr Peter Rohde is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Centre for Quantum Software & Information at the University of Technology, Sydney. His theoretical proposals have inspired several world-leading experimental efforts in optical quantum information processing.

• Joe Dusseldorp

Joe Dusseldorp is an Australian surgeon who is first in the country to implant a custom 3D printed ear for a number of young Australian children born with a missing ear. He studied under some of the most talented surgeons in the world and has honed his skills as a reconstructive plastic surgeon from Vietnam to France.

• Shalise Leesfield

Shalise Leesfield is an environmental campaigner who's 'Ocean Support' movement is inspiring change for her stance to protect marine life by ridding Australia's beaches of plastic debris and discarded fishing line.

• Ginny Monteiro

Dr Ginny Monteiro is a scientist as well as Founder of Altitude Minds, where she simplifies and translates the complexity of the brain as well as its behaviour into experiential change techniques to shed light on human behaviour.

• Leslie Rice

Leslie Rice was a professional tattoer for more than 15 years before he visited Art school and realised that everything he loved, was awful. He is currently writing two books and producing an arts and culture podcast, where he also continues to paint as well as teach at the National Art School, Sydney.

• Kieran Crowe

Kieran Crowe is a choreographer/dancer who marked the start of his career on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011 as a grand finalist with Instant Bun. Kieran aspires to alter what it means to perform to a crowd as well as recognise the role of the performer to liberate themselves on stage as well as the audience, from everyday suffering.

• Tony Kiss

Tony is a Leadership Culture Coach and Ex Mental Health Counselor, and he is passionate about helping people connect with their values and find their purpose in life.

• Kate Harris

Kate Harris is the CEO of GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) and founder of consulting firm Future Ready who brings an extensive background in leadership, capacity building and education aimed at finding sustainable solutions for the future.

• Elena Lambrinos

Elena Lambrinos is a dance teacher and the proud owner of Dance Domain. She has recently completed a PhD at the University of Sydney in the Sociology of Education where her study explores different practices being taught and valorised in children’s dance classes and how they are developed over time.