Talks Programme

Amy is a palliative care nurse, mother, professional art manager, writer and speaker....

A practical ethicist and bioethicist with extensive experience in clinical, research and organisational ethics, Andrew is Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Queensland’s School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Honorary A...

Dr Andrew has had a 40 year career as an herbal practitioner and naturopath, university lecturer, researcher, field botanist and aromatherapist. He is focused on the distillation of essential oils from the bush, teaching the skills of distillation an...

Award-winning producer Anna Kaplan (2040, That Sugar Film) focuses on creating projects that tell powerful stories, resonate with audiences and inspire positive social change....

Annalee is a Waka Waka woman from Central Queensland. She began working to revive and strengthen Aboriginal languages in 2013 when she took on the Coordinator role at the Central Queensland Language Centre. Annalee has since become a mentor for young...

Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Anthony Albanese, discusses the legacy, life and times of the late Bob Hawke, Prime Minister of Australia 1983-1991. Founder and Director of Woodford Folk Festival, Bill Hauritz, will provide anecdotes from a dec...

Bryan Benitez McClelland is a Filipino-American environmental consultant, ecotourism developer, social entrepreneur and educator. He works with community members of the Philippines based in Victoria, Tarlac called Bambuilders....

Ben is project manager of CoEDL’s Transcription Acceleration Project (TAP). TAP brings cutting-edge machine learning technology within reach of people working with some of the world’s oldest languages....

Ben is an environmental scientist specialising in the treatment of interesting effluents. He combines a wacky sense of humour with a commitment to sustainability in the operation of the Woodfordia . Ben’s company Arris is a long term sponsor of the...

Professor Bill Mitchell’s work ranges across macroeconomics and economic development. He is widely published and consults for local and international organisations. He holds the Chair in Economics at the University of Newcastle, is the Director of ...

Brian leads the Climate Foundation to develop marine permaculture as a transformative approach to regenerating life in the oceans while ensuring food security around the world....

The year is 2007. Venturing into the State Library, seeking information about the Queensland folk scene, Michael Tully is shocked to discover THERE ISN'T ANY! He and Alison MacKenzie (now Bell) hatch the Brisbane Folk History Project and work to corr...

Bruce H. Lipton, PhD is an internationally recognised leader in bridging science and spirit. A stem cell biologist, bestselling author of The Biology of Belief and recipient of the 2009 Goi Peace Award, in 1982, Dr. Lipton began examining the princip...

Working at Little Haven Palliative Care for the past 11 years, Carolyn specialises in supporting people wanting to die at home. Her comedy takes inspiration from parenting teenagers and surprisingly, her career as a nurse....

A horticultural consultant specialising in therapeutic and kitchen gardens, Cath is the Founder and Director of Soil to Supper which provides onsite services and programs through the Soil to Supper community....

An award-winning journalist and communications consultant, Christine is the author of Inside Kevin07. Her latest book, to be released in 2020....

Gardening Australia’s award winning host and guru gardener is just the beginning – add musician, environmentalist and broadcaster. There’s more underneath the passion and the generosity. You’ll see Costa also working in his favourite place at...

An IBM trained engineer, Cyril spent eight years in a clinic combining the use of biofeedback and energy therapy, and was part of the team that developed the NES mihealth. Chris is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner coaching clients throu...

Dani is a researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Futures who is passionate about rebuilding
our energy system to be clean, affordable, reliable and equitable. She is an editorial board member of Ecogeneration magazine and a Woman4Climate....

Darryl is an academic, researcher, author, naturalist, pseudo-comedian and speaker. He is interested in the many ways that people interact with nature, both good and bad....

David is the leader of Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Writing about issues he cares deeply about, David published The Coal Truth: The Fight to Stop Adani, Defeat the Big Polluters and Reclaim Our Democracy in 2018, and his essay We All Took A Stand wa...

An expert in the field of grief, Dean helps transform lives through sharing a number of practices he’s gathered on his life journey. An author and specialist funeral celebrant, he explains ‘good’ grief and how its connotations are not all bad....

DYA are (occupied) Australia’s premier Indigenous youth arts organisation, delivering innovative ancestrally- connected programmes across southeast Queensland and beyond....

Freelance lawyer, social entrepreneur, and democracy advocate, Dion is the co- founder and CEO of NewVote, and has degrees in political science, psychology and law....

Dr Karl is a well-known public speaker, prolific writer and multiple degree holder. Dr
Karl has an infectious enthusiasm for science, paired with an uncanny ability to translate
his knowledge with humour and warmth, which keeps the curiosity alive an...

Lead Scientist for The Nature Conservancy’s Asia Pacific region, Eddie is responsible for ensuring that it remains a world leader in making science-based conservation decisions....

Elaine is the CEO of Jetts Australia, and has more than 25 years experience in the fitness industry, and 15 years in other executive management roles in Europe, Asia and South Africa, for global brands such as Fitness First and Virgin Active....

A teacher, mentor, consultant and an advocate for young people with disability and their family/ carers, Ella was diagnosed with cerebral palsy from birth, and has confidence that diversity of culture, ability, sexuality, faith and social status cont...

Fascinated by the unique flora, fauna and landscapes of Australia, Elliot and Jess are regular Woodfordians who enjoy sharing their knowledge of the natural world with all generations....

Social innovator, creative community consultant, emerging education activator, artist and mother Chelsea is a collaborator and entrepreneur weaving together interdisciplinary best practices with social justice, new paradigm potentials and creative in...

A horticultural research scientist, Emily has been working in the field of medical cannabis since legislative changes came into effect in 2016. She is Director of Research and Compliance for Cannatrek and Director of Research Programs for the Austral...

Emma is an Aboriginal woman of Palawa heritage and the owner and Principal at Yolla Consulting. She is passionate about helping people, their businesses and organisations to be successful.
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A therapeutic life story worker and founder of Amber Mountain, Faorligh works with children and families who’ve experienced developmental trauma....

Feda is the CEO of Comlink Ltd, a large and rapidly growing ‘Profit for Purpose’ company providing transport, home care and social services to ageing Australians....

This is the peak body committed to ensuring the future strength of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages....

This group originated from the ‘Save Your Steve Irwin Way Forest’ campaign which helped to secure the Mooloolah River National Park against a highway that would have impacted 100 hectares of forest.
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A string figure artist all her life, Gabrielle learnt the art from her grandmothers, extended family and other school children. Gabrielle’s matriarchal lineage is Byalli and she lives her dreaming now through her business, The Art of String Theory....

A Goo’enpul-Yuggera and Ngunda- Gabi Gabi Goori, Gaja Kerry is a teacher, facilitator and researcher of family and community history whose love of her old people, culture, country and stories lit her heart to follow their wishes to have language sp...

A naturopath based in the Noosa hinterland, Gary runs a health retreat which he founded in 1990. He offers education, treatments and recovery programs to create optimal wellness for his patients....

Geoff is a senior producer and broadcaster with ABC Radio National (RN) and a world music specialist.
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A former anti-discrimination and criminal defence lawyer, Ian has a long involvement in community....

Professor Ian Lowe is an emeritus professor, prominent environmental scientist, Former Head of Science at Griffith University as well as an adjunct professor at and Flinders University. Ian was chair of the first advisory council to produce a nationa...

This is a national organisation dedicated to building the capacity of communities to empower young people to step into leadership roles with resilient mindsets.
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A climate activist who tries to do a climate action every day, Jan is also involved in the constructive program of promoting alternatives to fossil fuels and our current energy dictatorship.
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Narrative therapist, mental health social worker and trainer, Jane practices as a therapist and is the author of two sets of transformative cards that aim to turn failure upside down....

Janet is Professor of Complex and Intelligent Systems at UQ. She leads a team studying social robotics and bio-inspired computation, and the Centre of Excellence in the Dynamics of Language (CoEDL)....

Jinibara artist and traditional Custodian of Jinibara Country, Jason grew up in West End, Brisbane, where he currently resides and retains strong links to his country. Jason’s artworks depict the narratives of people and place....

Jen and Willow bring years of combined expertise in psychology, storytelling, future thinking, Playback and applied theatre to lead workshops for women to transform their leadership story....

An award-winning Australian storyteller and enchantivist, Jenni teaches and coaches storytelling. Her passions are focused on stories of place, to celebrate the earth, to heal, to strengthen community and myths which express the divine feminine....

Jill was an ABC Education Producer from 1956-1978. Forced to resign in 1960 under the Marriage Act, Jill became an award-winning children’s author, playwright, editor, publisher and co-producer for Greater Glider Productions.
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A proud, queer, bisexual living in Brisbane, Joanne is passionate about bringing respectful and thoughtful conversation about identity and diversity to the forefront of community....

Dedicated to renewable energy and building community, Joe has spent 15 years carefully sprouting wind farms and solar farms that are popping up around Australia and Canada....

Greens city councillor, musician, poet and activist, Jonno pursues social change through multiple pathways, with a strong focus on sustainability, equality and grassroots democracy....

Kari is a musician, artist and a weaver of ceremony. Having conducted hundreds of ceremonies over the past 10 years, she dives into the realms of emotions; happiness and grief, exhilaration and sorrow....

A clinical herbalist, writer, researcher, botanist and lecturer, Kathleen enjoys sharing herbal and plant information with her audiences. In 1959, Kathleen discovered the edible and medicinal field guides of Euell Gibbons which has sparked 50 years o...

An Australian household name, Kerry O’Brien, has been a prominent Australian Journalist for over 45 years. Due to his respected works, he has been awarded six Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism, including the Gold Walkley for Outstanding L...

An award-winning Australian sound artist, composer and researcher working at the intersection of art, science and technology, Dr Barclay’s work has been commissioned, performed and exhibited internationally by Smithsonian Museum, UNESCO, Ear to the...

A veteran of the Australian music industry, Leanne has 25 years experience working in artist management and events. As an entrepreneur, she is the founder and director of the Rock and Roll Writers Festival and board member of Nightlife Music....

Leesa is the Director of Iscariot Media, specialising in Indigenous, creative and online projects. She has worked as an academic at Queensland College of Art, Griffith University in Indigenous Art and Protocols with a focus on Indigenous Cultural and...

Leigh is an award-winning journalist, author and host of 7:30 on ABC. With a strong background in politics, Sales has interviewed the likes of Hilary Clinton, Prime Ministers and Paul McCartney; been the designated Washington, USA correspondent in a ...

As a proud member of the Wiradjuri nation, Linda was the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the NSW Parliament and the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the Australian House of Representatives....

Animator, interactive media artist and leader of the Living Data programme, Lisa’s heritage is Aboriginal Australian and European. She created Living Data to explore the ways we respond, as scientists and artists, to disruptions to the natural rhyt...

Steven and Trudi Hayes are lovers of bees. They founded Little Star Bee Sanctuary on the mid-north coast of NSW using non-migratory processes, non-chemical practices and natural beekeeping principles....

Lyndon is a Gubbi Gubbi artist, educator and cultural performer. Raised on the Sunshine Coast by his grandmother, Lyndon’s arts practice represents his deep connection to country and depicts stories of his regions flora and fauna and creation stori...

Representing the Earth Builders Association of Australia, Marci is an ecologically-inspired activist and architect from Melbourne Design Studios....

Marita is a writer, musician, medical medium, midwife for the afterlife, stand up comedian, actor, and occasionally she washes dishes....

A human rights lawyer with a lengthy history in the community sector, Matilda is the president and principal solicitor at the LGBTI Legal Service, teaches Prison Law at Griffith University, and specialises in human rights and anti-discrimination for ...

Writer, consultant and zero waste advocate, Mia inspires people at the grass roots to start their own zero waste journey....

Michael is an Australian music guru, founder of Mushroom Records, Mushroom Music Publishing, Frontier Touring and the brain behind events such as Sound Relief. Over 40 years in the business, his influence over the Australian music industry is extensi...

A climate communicator with a passion for reaching across divides, Nell is fond of lots of things threatened by climate change: chocolate and human civilisation vie for top of the list. She is a team leader for Climate for Change and a coordinator fo...

Dr Nirala is a naturopathic physician who specialises in digestive disorders. She is the host of the popular podcast The SIBO Doctor Podcast for Practitioners, and has a digestive specialty clinic, The Biome Clinic in northern NSW....

Noel is an Australian lawyer, academic, founder and current Policy Advisor to the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership. With an extensive history of advocacy and public speeches, Noel has made an indelible mark on Indigenous policy for Austr...

Providing a platform for everyday Australians to connect through a regular laundry and shower service, Orange Sky Australia focus on creating a safe, positive and supportive environment for people who are often ignored or feel disconnected from the c...

A computer scientist at QUT, Paul leads the Australian Acoustic Observatory project, which is building a network of 400 sensors to collect sound from all over Australia....

Paul is a Registered Landscape Architect, Public Space Planner and educator with an interest in the intersection between people and the environment....

A professor of robotics at QUT, director of the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision, and Chief Scientist of Dorabot, Peter Corke’s research is concerned with enabling robots to see, and the application of robots to mining, agriculture and environm...

Professor Greste is an Australian- born journalist, author, media freedom activist and academic. He is a founding member of the advocacy group, the Alliance for Journalists Freedom, and the UNESCO Chair in Journalism and Communication at the Universi...

Ninety-year-old Peter was a lecturer in political and social philosophy at the University of Queensland, who went on to study cross-cultural and spiritual traditions, especially Aboriginal visions of life....

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The most popular astrologer in Bali for 20 years, studying the movements of the planets and how they affect individuals and world events, Pratima is fascinated by the synthesis of spirituality and physics....

Rhoda is currently the Head of Indigenous Programming for Sydney Opera House, Creative Director of Rhoda Roberts’ Gallery and Events and Festival Director of Boomerang Festival, produced with Byron Bay Blues Festival....

Robert was born on Kalkadoon traditional lands, known today as Mount Isa, where the Elders spoke Kalkatungu language. He has a Masters in Indigenous Language Education from the University of Sydney, and volunteers coordinating language programmes at ...

A Kalkadoon man from northwestern Queensland, Robert works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to support training, employment and business opportunities arising from major mining and construction projects occurring on T...

A Sunshine Coast local who has an insatiable curiosity about the lives of others, Robyn will start a conversation with anyone within cooee....

A student and freelance writer for the Gold Coast Bulletin, Get it Magazine, and Griffith University, Rosie is passionate about social justice and stories that create action....

Graphic artist, singer-songwriter, and former Australian junior chess champion, Narada is the author and illustrator of Understanding Sacred Geometry and the Flower of Life - a Higher Dimensional Perspective on an Ancient Wisdom Stream....

Medical doctor, podcaster, educator and entrepreneur Dr Sam is the President of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and an international speaker. His work inspires health and ethical living at all levels of society – individual, communit...

Scott is a journalist and former Cabinet Minister in the Qld LNP Government. He’s been a senior reporter with the ABC, Queensland Bureau Chief and National Chief
of Staff with The Australian and contributes to Sky News....

Scott commenced as Queensland Human Rights Commissioner in 2018. Since admission to legal practice in 1993 he has worked to empower individuals and communities, particularly in the areas of discrimination, native title, criminal law, guardianship and...

Simon is a Senior Lecturer at Griffith University, teaching and researching biodiversity conservation in rivers locally and globally....

Brisbane-based correspondent for SBS World News, Stefan has won numerous national radio and television media awards for his coverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Pacific, environment and multicultural issues....

A senior leader in the Northern Rivers Bushwalker’s Club (NSW), Stephen has led day and multi-day walks across Australia and a high altitude trek through the Indian Himalayas. His meditative, deep ecology walks have become one of the Club’s most ...

Ryan, a reformed helicopter parent, helicopter mechanic and work- in-progress great dad, shares a collection of observations he has made in the Children’s Festival....

Dr Toby is an acoustic ecologist using sound to monitor bee populations....

A proud descendant of the Kamilaroi nation, Tracy worked as a dietitian for the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, founded Wattleseed Nutrition & Dietetics and has commenced her PhD in government implemented nutrition policy for First Nation peop...

Active in fast-tracking transformative change through a suburban co-living community, this panel brings a fresh perspective. Giselle is an author, public speaker, researcher and change agent focused on safe climate restoration. Cate is an educator an...

Tenzin Chodron is a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition who has studied Buddhist philosophy and worked in Spiritual Care for Karuna Hospice Service during the past 19 years. In addition, Chodron has many years’ experience as a social worker, coun...

A conceptual artist and a founding member of the Brisbane-based proppaNOW artists’ collective, Vernon’s work critiques Australian popular culture, particularly the dichotomy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures....

Dr Uhlmann is the Secretary of the Qld Branch of Friends of the ABC. She is passionate about sustainable outcomes for societal issues.
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Mayor of the Torres Shire Council, Vonda has a Graduate Certificate in Australian Rural Leadership and another in Public Sector Management. She is a fellow of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner’s Indigenous Fellowship Program....

An intimacy consultant and holistic sex and relationship therapist, Waratah facilitates safe, empowering conversations around sex, sexuality, intimacy and relationships using both Eastern and Western modalities....