TEDxSydney Youth brings the biggest ideas of next generation to Parramatta
University partners with TEDxSydney Youth
The University of Sydney is the proud Presenting Partner of TEDxSydney Youth, a collaboration empowering the leaders of tomorrow to share ideas for a better future in Sydney's geographic heart, Parramatta.
TEDxSydney Youth is back in 2023 with the support of the University of Sydney after a three-year pandemic hiatus. Held for the first time in Parramatta on 24 May, the event will feature bold and brilliant ideas of young people from 14 to 25 years, with a spotlight on emerging voices in the Western Sydney region.
This year's theme for TEDxSydney Youth explores ‘Future Creators’ and will provide a platform for young people to showcase their unique perspectives and ideas on how to reshape, rewire and inhabit our world.
“Young people aren’t just inheriting the future, they’re demanding a seat at the table."
“Young people aren’t just inheriting the future, they’re demanding a seat at the table in creating it,” said Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO.
“As Australia’s first university, we have a long history of empowering Australia’s brightest minds to strive for better for themselves, their communities and our world. We’re delighted to support TEDxSydney in providing a platform for these voices in Western Sydney this month.
“We recognise the importance of Western Sydney, to our city and our state. Over 30 per cent of NSW’s young people live in the region, it’s the geographical heart of the city and home to an increasing number of our students.
As Australia’s first university, we have a long history of empowering Australia’s brightest minds to strive for better for themselves, their communities and our world. We’re delighted to support TEDxSydney in providing a platform for these voices in Western Sydney this month.
“We are enormously proud that this year marks 45 years since we became the founding partner of the Westmead Health Precinct, which today provides facilities for more than 2000 students and 1000 staff as well as provides direct medical and healthcare benefits to the growing population of Western Sydney.”
Academics, students and alumni from the University of Sydney are often featured in the line-up of speakers selected by the TEDxSydney curators.
This year writer, critic, essayist, and the University of Sydney alumni Michael Sun will take the stage to explore how we can return the Internet to a place of joy, calling back to its early days.
Michael is a former editor of Honi Soit and has written across many Australian publications.
“I write on internet culture, which means my screen time is close to 18 hours a day, and I have a broken brain to show for it. I’m honoured to share my vision of improving online life — one that might involve turning back the clock to the wild west of the early Internet,” said Michael.
Michael is a former editor of the University’s publication Honi Soit. He has written across many of Australia’s most prominent publications, like the Guardian Australia, where he works in their lifestyle and culture team. He recently hosted the podcast, Saved for Later.
His work explores the topics of queerness, memory and internet ephemera, and his writing on film and music has been published in The Saturday Paper, The Monthly, ABC Arts, Sydney Review of Books, Australian Book Review, Vice, The Age and more.
I’m honoured to share my vision of improving online life — one that might involve turning back the clock to the wild west of the early Internet.
In his spare time, he hosts a weekly show on FBi Radio, which led to an opportunity with TEDxSydney Youth through another volunteer at the station who was on the curatorial team and posted a call-out.
Michael was inspired by speakers from 2019 to hit the Parramatta stage when his pitch was accepted.
“I remember avidly tuning into the 2019 edition of TEDxSydney Youth — I loved seeing some of my friends and idols, like James J. Robinson and Issy Phillips, take the stage with such warmth and panache. I’m just excited to be a part of it and share my vision of the online utopia,” he said.
Two other University alumni will speak at TedxSydney Youth.
Kelvin Tran, the founder of the Qing Fong Lion Dance Team, is performing with his Lion dance team and will give a short talk about its cultural significance and impact on his local community in Cabramatta. Finally, Tom Barrios Clarke, founder and CEO of Metaboly, will examine his use of technology and algorithms to design a new solution to an existing problem.
Tom will speak at TEDxSydney Youth about his use of technology and algorithms.
The University of Sydney has proudly partnered with TEDxSydney for over a decade. Our collaboration with TEDxSydney Youth reflects our commitment to bringing together brilliant minds from diverse backgrounds to tackle some of the world’s great challenges.
The platform gives young speakers and performers under 25 years the space to showcase their unique perspectives and thought-provoking ideas.
TEDxSydney Youth 2023 is on 24 May from 10am to 2pm at the Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, with standard registration starting from $40 and concession starting at $30.