Bess Hepworth

Athlete, Change Agent, Connector, Consultant, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, Gay, Idea generator, Social entrepreneur

Bess is a Social Scientist and Founder and Head Honcho of Bonza Pie Coaching and Performance Consultancy. She has a background in high performance sports and community development. Bess specialises in creativity and the power of serious play and is currently undertaking studies in biopsychology. Bess has a passion for making a case for the body in relation to academic and artistic performance. A champion of positive social change, Bess is changing the way Asia views community and accessible art and live performance installation. Bess has represented Hong Kong in cricket and Gaelic football and was a youth National Australian football coach and player. She has been involved in the event management of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup and co-founded Australia's first Refugee Women's Football team. Prior to founding Bonza Pie, Bess was the Sports Development and Events Manager at the Hong Kong Football Club. She also volunteered for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and lectured in Sports, Leisure and Recreation Events Management. Through Bonza Pie, Bess has begun to deeply explore the power of play and corporate creativity and explores these links to neuroscience and well being. She is very creative, playful and insightful; she loves to interact with her audience so watch out! She prides herself on her own professional education and continuous learning. Bess is an Exuberant Animal instructor and the only team building facilitator in Asia to be a member of the National Institute for Play and was recently named in the 2012 Stanford 'Who's Who' as one of the world's brightest minds in her field. She regularly consults with educators, corporations and communities to improve their productivity, well being and work­life balance strategies. Bess is currently the Events Coordinator for the Hong Kong San Francisco Ocean Film Festival and for TEDxWanChai, the Social Media Coordinator for TEDxMongkok, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (Hong Kong Tour) and an Advisory Board Member for Social Media Week Hong Kong. Her favorite quote is: "Don’t go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail!”

Being Inspired: Thank you TED! Being Active: Serious Play, Promoting Physical Activity through Positive Change, Cooperative & Peace Education, Homeless World Cup, Human Rights

The Beckoning of Lovely Inside Out Project Exuberant Animal - Frank Forencich. Exploring the joy of movement to create physical happiness The Energy Project - Tony Schwartz Improv Everywhere

Community Development