What happens when we stop asking “What’s next?” and start asking “What’s possible?”
This September, TEDxMelbourne invites you to join us for an exploration into the ideas shaping the world we've yet to fully imagine.
Our next event, Beyond the Horizon, encourages you to step back from the daily noise, question the systems we've inherited and hear directly from those who are already building what's coming.
Each curated talk will offer a unique perspective into what the next 10, 20, or even 50 years could look like. Discover how the choices we make today are actively shaping that future.
Hear from TEDxMelbourne-curated speakers, including:
- Tessa Forshaw, PhD – Cognitive scientist, senior researcher and co-founder of Next Level Lab at Harvard University. She examines the processes behind creative thought and how they can be nurtured, revealing how creativity, understood as both a science and a skill, can expand the ways we imagine the future.
- Hon Weng Chong – Medical doctor, Founder and CEO of Cortical Labs and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30. A pioneer in organic computing, his work merges biology and technology, raising urgent questions about intelligence, ethics and personhood in a world where life and machines intertwine.
- Andrew Wear – Economist, author and founder of Econovation. Drawing on global insights from the OECD and World Economic Forum, alongside his leadership in Melbourne’s economic development, he shows how bold thinking and practical action can help places and people thrive in a rapidly changing world.
- Tully Mahr – Gundungurra woman, emerging aerospace engineer and former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory intern through the Indigenous Space Academy. Currently completing her Master of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Melbourne, she bridges Indigenous knowledge with science and engineering, offering unique perspectives on the origins of life and the future of humanity.
- Nik and Harry Robinson – Father-and-son co-founders of Good Citizens Eyewear, a company turning single-use plastics into 100% recycled, modular eyewear. From their kitchen table beginnings to global stages like the United Nations and features in Forbes, they show how youth agency and bold ideas can drive innovation and reimagine sustainability.
- Rita Arrigo – Strategic Engagement Manager at the National AI Centre and founder of the world-first Responsible AI Network. With decades of experience leading AI and digital transformation, including as Chief Digital Advisor at Microsoft, she explores how emerging technologies like AI and XR can regenerate ecosystems, reconnect communities and build more sustainable futures.
Be part of an immersive experience from our opening act and live entertainment for the evening:
- Nico Lim (aka Flash Poetry) – Freestyle poet, rapper and author of The Silent World That Won’t Stop Talking. With experience leading workshops, mentoring emerging artists and performing across schools and community programs, he transforms audience ideas into live, improvised lyrical journeys. He explores how poetry and music can amplify voices, foster connection and ignite creativity, giving communities a space to reflect, respond and be part of the moment.
Beyond the Horizon is more than just a theme; it's a mindset. It's about shifting from simply reacting to the present to consciously participating in what's being created next – with curiosity, responsibility, and hope.
Come and be part of the conversation. Discover what's possible when we look beyond the horizon.
