TEDxAlbury

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Brendon Hyndman

  Systems thinker, educator, and play reformer reimagining schools through play, place, and purpose — challenging how we see the ‘hidden curriculum’ in education.

  Brendon Hyndman is an educator, researcher, and systems thinker whose work has transformed how schools approach play, wellbeing, and learning. As an Associate Professor and academic leader at Charles Sturt University, he has spent two decades exploring how everyday school environments- from playgrounds to classrooms can shape the health, behaviour, and futures of young people. His research has been featured internationally and has influenced teachers, school leaders, and policymakers across the world. Brendon has been a driving voice in the Global Recess Alliance, co-authored multiple books on school play, wellbeing and weather impacts on schools, and developed tools and guidelines used by schools worldwide to better understand children’s play and activity. But Brendon is more than an academic. He is a father of two daughters, a passionate endurance event pursuer, and a community advocate who sees play not as a luxury, but as a necessity for thriving schools and healthier societies.

• Chi Chi Wang

  Self-image facilitator challenging global beauty norms across genders and reclaiming undeniable confidence.

  Chi Chi Wang is the founder of C.C.Within, a self-image facilitator and author who helps people break free from body shame and rebuild lasting self-worth. Drawing on storytelling, psychology, and lived experience, she supports those who feel pressured to change their appearance in order to be accepted or valued. Through her coaching, workshops, and her book From Ugly to Beautiful Without Surgery, Chi Chi challenges culturally manufactured beauty ideals and explores their psychological and social impact across global contexts. Her work helps people understand how beauty standards shape identity, influence self-perception and affect our sense of worth.

• Daniel Searle

  Story teller, thought leader, disability and mental health advocate.

  Dan Searle is a physiotherapist, educator, and passionate advocate for inclusion and social change. Raised on a farm in rural New South Wales, he grew up with traditional views of masculinity but also learned the value of strong community networks—insights that continue to shape his work today. At 16, Dan experienced significant vision loss, an event that deepened his resilience and appreciation for accessibility and support. He has since shared his story as a lived experience presenter with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT for over 15 years, highlighting themes of identity, resilience, and advocacy. His professional journey has spanned healthcare and mental health—shaped by the unique perspective of having once been both a patient and a clinician. A proud member of the disability and LGBTIQ+ community, Dan works to break stigma, amplify diverse voices, and champion equity.

• Darren Wighton

  Darren Wighton is a Wiradjuri man from Condobolin in Central NSW, and has resided in Albury for more than 25 years. He is a skilled artist, cultural performer, and community leader who has worked in education, community orgs and pastoral care and now working for local land services. Darren has a passion for his language and culture and designs cultural programs to cater for schools, community groups and individuals with knowledge and learnings from our ancient culture passed down through Elders, stories and our connection to Country.

• Graeme Simpfendorfer

  From policing to politics to prime-time TV — now calling for generational change in how men lead.

  Graeme Simpfendorfer is a former police officer, local government leader, and national television personality with a passion for redefining what it means to be a man in today’s world. With 27 years in policing, including roles in homicide, armed robbery, and sex crimes investigations, Graeme has witnessed both the strength and fragility of the human spirit. As a former Deputy Mayor for the City of Wodonga, and a board member for the Centre Against Violence, he has been a strong advocate for respectful relationships, mental health, and community safety. Known to audiences across Australia and internationally through the Logie-nominated TV series Hunted Australia, Graeme challenges men to lead with courage, vulnerability, and integrity.

• Julia Brown

  Creative strategist and long-time advocate for communication that matters and communities that connect.

  With a deep curiosity about people and how we interact with the world around us, she brings warmth, clarity, and structure to moments of uncertainty. After navigating her own career transition Julia leaned into creativity not as an indulgence, but as a tool for resilience and reflection. This experience led her to create Space Inside Yourself, a self-guided journal that invites others to explore change with creativity, courage, and compassion. Through her consultancy, Upstream Communication, Julia delivers strategic engagement, marketing, and communications solutions that help organisations build trust, navigate change, and connect meaningfully with people they serve. Her work is grounded in trust-building, deep listening, and practical momentum. Based in Albury on Wiradjuri Country, Julia lives with her husband, two kids, and an ever-growing collection of notebooks. She believes creativity isn’t just for artists but a vital tool for leadership, wellbeing, and navigating what’s next.

• Kara Louise Chanter

  Cheeky, compassionate, and here to make death less of a dirty word — while fiercely supporting the people facing it.

  Kara is a palliative care nurse, end-of-life doula, funeral celebrant, pet death doula, loss and grief coach – and women’s circle facilitator, living and working in Albury-Wodonga, Wiradjuri and Duduroa Country. For more than a decade, Kara has worked alongside people and their families in those end of life, tender, and often sacred moments that come with dying, death, and grief. Her belief is simple: death is not just a medical event. It is deeply human. It is love, loss, stories, laughter, tears, and truth – all rolled into one. Through her work and her business Dying to Help, Kara offers end-of-life doula support, 1:1 and family grief coaching, bespoke funeral and memorial ceremonies, and community events that make talking about death feel less like a dark secret and more like a necessary, empowering, conversation. Her work is as much about the living as it is about the dying – giving people permission to show up, exactly as they are, right until the very last breath.

• Laylah Baines

  At the age of 9, Laylah Baines developed a love for music while attending piano lessons alongside her two older brothers. Several years later, she gravitated to learning guitar and singing, drawing inspiration from the likes of Kasey Chambers, Dolly Parton and John Williamson. She has performed on stages at various festivals and events and opened for Sara Storer and 2025 Australian Idol Runner-up Iilysh Retallick. Laylah writes and composes instrumental and lyrical works, reflecting on her own personal experiences and the world around her.

• Maliyan Mob

  Maylian Mob is a vibrant group of Aboriginal students from James Fallon High School, proudly mentored by Uncle Duncan and Jakida from Wiradjuri Echoes. The troupe performs traditional Aboriginal dances that celebrate culture, connection, and storytelling. We come from many different mobs but come together as one to perform on Wiradjuri land. Maliyan Mob represents the students’ first opportunity to deeply engage with culture and explore an important part of their identity.

• Matthew A.J. Anderson

  Horror author, narratologist and proud absurd word nerd.

  Matthew A.J. Anderson is a horror storyteller and public speaking educator. Originally from Queensland, Matt moved to Albury during the Covid-19 pandemic and ever since has worked to be a part of the local community. As the Vice-President of Education at Albury-Wodonga Toastmasters, Matt strives to help members reach their full potential as leaders and public speakers; and as a horror writer he seeks to deliver stories that explore the breadth and many depths of the human experience. He is also a podcaster, discussing topics of children’s literature, writing, and horror, but in his spare time, enjoys board games, cooking and trivia.

• Narayan Khanal

  Doctor, advocate, and storyteller exploring how failure can be the birthplace of purpose.

  Narayan is a junior doctor based in Albury Australia with a passion for youth empowerment, health equity and building leadership opportunities within diverse communities. Arriving in Australia as a refugee, his journey has shaped a deep commitment to tackling the barriers faced by young people from underrepresented backgrounds and ensuring their voices are included in decision-making processes. Narayan has represented Australia at the Y20 Summit, the official youth engagement group of the G20, and at other international forums where he has championed intergenerational dialogue and inclusive policy. He travelled to Geneva for the Global Summit of Refugees, contributing to global conversations on refugee-led policy, and also attended sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council. His contributions to advocacy and community have been recognised nationally: named Wollongong’s Young Citizen of the Year and finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Young Human Rights Medal.

• Peter Klein

  Peter Klein has been a vocalist/guitarist songwriter with ‘The RemnantZ’ - an Aussie Folk Rock band that played in cafes/parties for over 20 years. He’s recently performed solo and in ‘Platypus Jam’ - a backyard/house party band. He is also ‘Captain Pete’, entertaining primary school kids for over 20 years. Pete’s written four books (the Mudpoo series) and five plays which have been performed at many schools in North East Victoria.

• Wayne Davies

  Wayne ‘Whitedog’ Davies is a live looping artist, singer-songwriter and educator whose music explores the cycles of sound and life. Beginning his career as a songwriter and performer, he later became a music educator, working in schools and with special needs groups, where he witnessed the power of music to connect, heal and inspire. Wayne brings these experiences to the stage, building immersive looping performances that blend rhythm, melody and audience participation.