Reflections from TEDx Sydney 2025: Finding Hope in Challenging Times
In May 2025, Katie and I had the joy of immersing ourselves in TEDx Sydney 2025. It was a powerful gathering themed around Three Horizons — Triage, Transition, and Transformation.
This article is a collaboration shaped by our reflections after the event, over dinner, and in the thoughtful conversations that followed.
The event opened with a smoke ceremony led by Kevin Heath, from K’Gari (Fraser Island, Queensland), the ancestral lands of the Butchulla people, who invited us to stay grounded and present.
Kevin’s invitation was a reminder that we carried through the day, especially as we explored the complexity of the challenges that we face, what TEDx Sydney’s Executive Director, Eleonor Cheetham Gammel, so aptly called our “messy humanity.”
Each speaker brought passionate insights into the challenges of our time. Here are a few that moved us most — sparking hope, optimism, and a sense of possibility:
✨ Sarah Wilson
Globally known for founding I Quit Sugar, Sarah invited us to sit with the inevitability of collapse — of systems, climate, or even civilisation. But instead of despair, she offered a reframe: What if this isn’t collapse, but correction? A homecoming?
🚌 Damon Gameau & Ruby Rodgers
Damon introduced Future Council, a project where a group of smart, curious kids travelled across Europe in a big yellow school bus, meeting with global companies and offering real, actionable ideas for change. Many companies are already backing them. As mothers of young children and adolescents, this one truly touched our hearts. It reminded us that young people don’t need permission to lead — they already are.
🥁 Ile Ilu Percussion – House of Drums
Led by Marina Da Silva, this performance was electric. Their rhythm pulsed through the room, inviting joy, connection, and empowerment. It was a visceral reminder of the power of embodied experience.
⚓ Simon Holmes à Court
Founder of Climate 200, Simon introduced the concept of the “Trim Tab” — a small rudder that can steer a large ship. His work with Community Independents shows that local movements, however small, can lead to systemic change. It was practical, powerful, and deeply encouraging.
🌿 Aunty McRose & Isabelle Reinecke
This dynamic duo bridged Indigenous law and Western advocacy, offering a model of collaboration rooted in relationship over ownership. They invited us to “build bridges using each other’s tools” — through stillness, deep listening, and respect.
🔄 Barry Irvin
Standing confidently in his farmer’s hat and RM Williams, Barry shared his vision for the Bega Circular Valley 2030 — a project uniting local business, government, and universities to create a circular economy model in regional NSW. It’s not just a dream; it’s already happening. We left inspired by the real possibility of regional transformation.
🎶 Gina Chick
You may know her from Alone Australia, but on this stage, Gina’s open heart and raw stories invited something deeper. She got the whole room singing in harmony through a call-and-response song — reminding us that connection, presence, and courage are what will bring us back to one another. It was one of the most human moments of the day.
For the full list of speakers, bios and talks, visit TEDxSydney’s website: 👉https://www.tedxsydney.com/2025-speakers
What TEDx Sydney 2025 left us with is this:
We are not powerless in the face of global shifts — climate, AI, politics, or societal change. Each of us has a meaningful role to play.
One speaker captured it perfectly when they asked: What if this moment is about finding our way back — to each other, to nature, and to our humanity?
It left us with the sense that the greatest opportunity ahead is to elevate to our best selves, so we can individually and collectively evolve into our next chapter.
Katie and Flo.
