Community leadership and empowerment theme for TEDxBendigo

THE worldwide TED Talks phenomenon returns to Bendigo next week with a focus on community leadership and empowerment and the need for the local community to work together to grow a sustainable future.

After holding its first TED conference in February 1984 in Monterey, California, the non-profit, non-partisan organisation today spans a multitude of global communities and initiatives.

Tedx offshoot events are local, self-organised events.

Individual talks are a maximum of eight minutes and that’s why there’ll be 15 speakers throughout TEDxBendigo over three sessions: 10.30am to 11.45am, 12.30pm to 1.45pm, and 2.30pm to 4pm.

Highlights will include Jodi Newcombe, Circular Economy Officer at Hepburn Shire Council, asking, what if we had our own currency for Djaara Country?

Meanwhile, landscape ecologist and environmental historian Dr Sophie Bickford will contemplate how to build a vibrant, healthy and climate resilient environment.

On the local front, well-known environmental sustainability advocate and practitioner Ian McBurney will talk about the future of Bendigo’s transport system.

Local high school student and advocate Levity Camilleri will also speak on how they think technology can help turn good intentions into growth.

“It’s about that digital privilege of being able to use technology to find information and build those communities that help us to really make change, which I think is very, very valuable – not to give away any spoilers though,” they said. “My personal experience is that I was able to find a lot of people online who have the same determination that I do.

“That’s what led me to feel like I’ve got to do something about it, I’ve got to mobilise this crowd of people.”

They said TedxBendigo is an opportunity for attendees to “discover what else is going on in the world”.

“You can step out of that bubble and find a broader community and establish other perspectives that can inform and improve your own activism and advocacy.”

TEDxBendigo takes place on Saturday 29 March at Latrobe University’s Circular Lecture Theatre.

Tickets are available on the TEDxBendigo website. Sessions are $30 or attend all of them for $70.