26 June, 2014
TEDxAuckland to Return in 2014 with Impressive Speaker Line-up
With an initial line-up of top New Zealand and international talent secured, TEDxAuckland has announced it will be
returning to the city for its third consecutive year this August.
Designed to inspire Aucklanders through storytelling, sustainable-thinking and innovation, this year’s think-fest will
be held on Saturday, 16 August at the Aotea Centre. The event will celebrate the resilience and courage of individuals
who are making the world a better place through this year’s theme, Ascending.
Amongst the 10 speakers already secured for the event are Nelson Mandela’s former chief of security, Rory Steyn; New
Zealand adventurer and author, Mike Allsop; and sustainability expert Rebecca Mills, who has been working with Sir
Richard Branson and Derek Handley at The B Team.
TEDxAuckland organiser, Elliott Blade, aims to build on the momentum of the previous two events and further strengthen
the relationship between New Zealand and the TEDx platform.
“Since TEDxAuckland launched, the event has started to introduce the idea of TED at a local level, and has focused on
kiwi thinkers and world-changing ideas. This year we are adding a selection of international speakers to the mix.”
“With further speakers to be announced over the next month, this year’s event is looking to be one of the best yet,”
says Blade.
Speakers already confirmed in this year’s line-up include:
Rory Steyn – Nelson Mandela’s former chief of security
Matt Stone – Award-winning Executive Chef at Greenhouse, a Perth-based restaurant focusing on sustainability and zero-waste
Vaughan Rowsell – CEO of Vend, an award-winning online retail POS for brick and mortar stores
Urzila Carlson – Award-winning stand-up comedian
Luke Nola – CEO of production company Luke Nola and Friends, creating inspiring, engaging and educational content for kids around
the globe
Mike Allsop – Inspiring kiwi adventurer who has survived a plane crash and run 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents. He recently
returned from a marathon around Mt Everest
Rebecca Mills – Self-described ‘Bruce Lee of sustainability strategy’, currently works with Sir Richard Branson at The B Team putting
people and planet alongside profit
Catherine Bell – Founder of Garden to Table Trust that educates children to grow and harvest, cook and share good simple food
John Boone – Rhythm Interactive founder, an interactive percussion business for the corporate events industry
Rachel Callander - Award winning NZ Wedding and Portrait photographer who has just produced Super Power Baby Project, a photographic art book due for launch in August 2014
Click here to read more information about the speakers.
TEDxAuckland will be taking place at the Aotea Centre on Saturday August 16, 2014 between 10:00am-6:00pm.
The complete speaker line-up will be announced mid-July.
For ticketing information, please visit Ticketmaster or TEDxAuckland.com.
About TEDx
x = independently organised event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a programme of local, self-organised events that bring people together
to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and
connection. These local, self-organised events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organised TED event. The TED
Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx programme, but individual TEDx events are self-organised. (Subject to
certain rules and regulations.)
About TED
TED is a non-profit organisation devoted to ‘ideas worth spreading’. Started as a conference in California 1984, TED has
grown to support those world-changing ideas with many initiatives.
At a TED conference, the world's leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or
less. TED speakers have included Roger Ebert, Sheryl Sandberg, Bill Gates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Benoit Mandelbrot,
Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Brian Greene, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
On TED.com, talks from TED conferences are shared with the world for free as TED Talks videos. A new TED Talk is posted
every weekday. Through the Open Translation Project, TED Talks are subtitled by volunteers worldwide. Through our
distribution networks, TED Talks are shared on TV, radio, Netflix and many websites.
The TEDx initiative grants free licenses to people around the world to organise TED-style events in their communities
with TED Talks and live speakers. Selected talks from these events are also turned into TED Talks videos.
The annual TED Prize grants $1 million to an exceptional individual with a wish to change the world. The TED Fellows
programme helps world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help,
amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. TED-Ed creates short video lessons by pairing master
teachers with animators, for use in classroom instruction or independent learning.
ENDS