Francine Sculli

Activist, Artist, Brainstormer, Change agent, Educator/Teacher, Event planner, Explorer, Idea generator, Performer, Writer/Editor

Francine Sculli is a community engagement leader, educator, facilitator and creative practitioner who believes deeply in the power of people, stories and connection. As Head of Engagement at River Nile School, she works alongside young people from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds to create opportunities for their voices, ideas and experiences to shape the spaces around them - from schools and communities to stages, radio, public events and platforms like TEDx. With a background spanning education, the arts, community development and social impact, Francine is particularly interested in what becomes possible when we stop designing for people and start creating with them. At the heart of her work is a simple belief: people already hold extraordinary knowledge, creativity and possibility. Sometimes they just need the space, trust and opportunity to show us.

Creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and able to take up space. I'm passionate about young people, community, creativity, storytelling, social change and bringing people together across difference. I'm endlessly curious about how we build stronger communities by listening differently, sharing power and creating opportunities for people whose voices are too often spoken about to speak for themselves. Also: big ideas, colourful things, public art, slightly ambitious projects and turning "what if…?" into "let's try it."

The people closest to an issue should be closest to shaping what happens next. Too often, we invite people into spaces after the decisions have already been made and call it participation. I believe we need to shift from giving people a voice to recognising they already have one and redesign our systems, organisations and communities so we actually listen to it. When people are genuinely seen, heard and trusted, they don't just participate. They lead, create and change what is possible.

Building ecosystems, Co-design & participatory practice, Community development, Community engagement, Creative practice, Education, Facilitation, Inclusive engagement, Partnership development, Place-based practice, Refugee education & empowerment, Social impact, Storytelling, Systems thinking, Youth engagement, Youth voice & leadership

I've always loved the TED idea: that one person's story, question or way of seeing the world can shift something in someone else. But becoming a TEDx organiser has made me think even more deeply about whose ideas get a platform. My TED story is about creating that platform with young people whose voices aren't always heard in the places where ideas are shared and decisions are made and watching what happens when they realise their experiences aren't something they need to minimise, translate or apologise for. They are knowledge. They are ideas. And they deserve an audience. For me, TEDx isn't just about putting people on a stage. It's about helping someone recognise that what they have to say matters.

Seeing connections between completely unrelated things and somehow turning them into a project. Give me a blank wall, a room full of strangers, a half-formed idea, some Post-it notes and an unreasonable deadline and I'm strangely happy. I'm also very good at having an entire conversation using only song lyrics, and convincing people to say yes to ideas before I've entirely worked out how we're going to pull them off.