Our Team

Joel studied engineering and psychology at UWA. His design won 2008 WA Inventor of the Year and he was a finalist on ABC’s The New Inventors in 2007. He is currently completing his PhD - developing next-gen orthopaedic implants. Joel was Science Magazine’s 2011 Dance Your PhD winner. He is co-founder and licensee of TEDxPerth.

Marilyn’s role as Head of Academic Excellence allows her to focus on educating and motivating students to develop problem solving, critical thinking, innovation and creative skills through integrated inquiry-based learning projects which are fast becoming part of the learning culture in the boys’ college where she works.  She coordinates and runs the Gifted and Talented program, STE[A]M projects and promotes the idea of global citizenship, taking students as far afield as NASA and Beijing. Her passion is to inspire students to develop a love of learning through curiosity, independent thinking, gratitude and grit.

Marilyn is first and foremost a Maths teacher whose mantra is ‘If you’re going to limit your dreams, at least tend them to infinity’. She has taught at both secondary and tertiary levels, worked in teacher development programs, co-authored a series of middle school text books linking Maths and Culture and a number of research papers on various aspects of student engagement and learning. Her ongoing interest in action research and collaboration between schools and universities is an integral and rewarding part of her role at present.

Her most important role, however, is to inspire her three sons to follow their dreams with courage and integrity.

At age 13, Lexi released her first community venture - the app Girlgonehappy, providing forums and resources on mental health and wellbeing for young women. This led Lexi to becoming a National Youth Week representative, and a Channel 7 Ambassador for Youth.

Lexi is also heavily involved in the global World Scholars Cup competition, as both a scholar and volunteer. Winning the global level of the competition in 2018, Lexi noticed that significant financial and educational inequality dictated the performance of students in the competition. In order to combat this, she went on to form an online tutoring group to improve the disparity between students in the competition. World Scholars Club supports more than 100 underprivileged competitors weekly on curriculum content, debate, and leadership skills.

In 2017, Lexi undertook an astronomy research project with UWA, compiling a research paper eventually submitted to the Association of Variable Star Observers. Building on this experience, Lexi undertook the National Youth Science Forum flagship program, developing leadership and science research experience, and has since been selected for the program’s nationally recognised Student Leadership program.

Bethany is a Year 12 student at Mercedes College. She is an active member of the music department, taking lead roles in wind orchestra and several choirs, including House Choir Director for 2020.

In 2018 and 2019 she was selected for the band for the school production of The Addams Family and Wicked respectively at the Regal Theatre, and in 2019 took part in the school’s choir tour of Europe, culminating in the Summa Cum Laude Festival collecting several awards.

In 2019 Bethany attended the Western Australia Schools Constitutional Convention which focused on human rights in the constitution, and was then selected to represent Western Australia at the National Constitutional Convention in March 2020 alongside 14 other students.

Bethany is a passionate advocate for justice and the rule of law. Her aspirations are to study law at a leading university, and spend some of her study time overseas.

Lucy is a third-year mechanical engineering and finance student at Curtin University and a recipient of the 2019 Woodside Women in Science and Engineering scholarship.

Lucy is an intern at Cundall, where she works with a team that advise sustainable design solutions for the built environment. Cundall will work alongside TEDxPerth to certify future TEDxPerth events as carbon neutral.

Lucy is involved with Curtin Volunteers, including the Homework Help Program and the John Curtin Weekend Program. Lucy has achieved two Curtin Extra certificates that recognise her involvement as both a volunteer and leader with Curtin Volunteers and was a finalist for Curtin Volunteers ‘Leader of the Semester’ in 2019. Lucy’s passion for the environment and love for animals has led her to volunteer at an equestrian centre in Margaret River and with the Dolphin Experience Program in Monkey Mia in 2019.

Financial planner by day, food enthusiast by night. Kabir works in his own financial planning busines, is highly active in volunteer roles and is known to organise food events. Kabir is ecstatic to be apart of the TEDxPerth team.

After graduating from her master’s in marketing, communication and the media, Olivia's passion for the Seventh Art quickly led her to work on the production of many short films, features and TV commercials in Paris.

With over 10 years' experience as a casting director both in France and Australia, Olivia has recently been dedicating her time and energy to support community-based and not-for-profit projects, campaigns and events, big or small, for local and international organisations, while raising her two children.

Olivia is passionate about bringing people, talents and aspirations together and feels privileged to have met unique emerging artists and inspirational leaders through her eclectic experience in Perth.



She is thrilled to be joining the TEDxPerth Production Team this year.

In her spare time, Parul enjoys reading, playing board games and spending time with her two boys.

Benjamin studied lighting design at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, during which he worked with the Australian Ballet on the Royal Birmingham production of the Nutcracker.

After graduation Benjamin worked as a freelance engineer working with a variety of different arts organisations around Australia, including ballet, opera, rock and roll, and dance.

In 2009 he moved to Mauritius to be Lighting Designer and Consultant for theatre, dance, corporate and Presidential events. His work involved large scale dance concerts, corporate entities, such as HSBC, Air Mauritius, The Shaolin Monks and events for the President and Prime Minister.

Returning to Australia in 2010, Benjamin became Head of Lighting at West Australian Ballet, working with the company for two years and including a lot of regional touring. Subsequently he moved to London to work with White Light, the leading production supplier of lighting and AV services to the entertainment and corporate event industries.

Returning to Perth, Benjamin established his own company What Noiz, specialising in design, installation and production management for corporate events and theatre. He has been Lighting Designer for the West Australian Ballet and offered technical solutions for a large range of companies, including Toyota and the Perth Arena, in space activation and live streaming events such as the UFC Romero and Rockhold Fight at The Perth Arena.

Drianca is a Project Officer for the WA Department of Health and has qualifications in Psychology and Human Resource Management. She has a passion for organisational psychology and often finds herself deep in research about businesses, people and culture. Drianca strongly believes in the TED philosophy of ‘ideas worth spreading’ and is excited to be a part of making this happen.

Outside of work, Drianca enjoys brunching with her miniature Dachshund Finley, training at her local F45 gym and indulging in a glass of red wine with friends, especially at quiz nights.

Catherine is a marketing and events consultant with a passion for engagement, human connection, entrepreneurship, innovation and small business.  

With experience working across a diverse range of industries including entertainment, education and services both in Australia and the UK, Catherine holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Sociology) from Curtin University.

Having lived and travelled across the globe throughout her life, Catherine is now grounded in Perth (for the time being, raising her young family) and hopes to one day be able to show her children the world and ignite the same passion for different countries and cultures her parents lit for her.

Catherine is thrilled to be a part of the TEDxPerth team, is committed to making a positive contribution and excited to no doubt meet some interesting folks along the way!

Alice is a Research and Communications Officer at the Committee for Perth. With a background in Anthropology and Sociology, she is passionate about research, advocacy and creating positive social change.

While completing her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees Alice was fortunate to be able to volunteer across a number of areas, including education, media and communications. She also had the opportunity to work as an Anthropologist in remote Aboriginal communities both in the Kimberley and the Central Desert, and has conducted research within her own Jewish community of Perth. Committed to fostering dialogue and sustainable change around social issues, Alice is a member of the WA Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for the Australian Red Cross. She has a great love for the arts and continues to advocate for a diverse and vibrant cultural sector.

Alice is very excited to enter the new decade as a part of the TEDxPerth team in 2020.

Capucine has over 20 years marketing manager, communication and event experience across various sectors and internationally.

Capucine arrived in Perth in 2013. Wanting to contribute more, she is also working for other not-profit-institutions, such as Australian Red Cross as Vice President of the Bindaring Unit.

Born and raised in Perth, Blake always felt connected to the strong sense of community and history Perth has to offer. Blake is a Graphic Designer by trade with a strong focus on Identity and UI/UX design. He grew up with a love for local cinema and most certainly will talk your ear off about how underrated The Grand Budapest Hotel is. He is beyond excited to be part of the TEDxPerth Core Team after having volunteerd as a Day Volunteer for the last three years.

Dirk recently returned from New York where he works in technology for a non-profit cultural exchange program. Being a part of TEDxPerth is a great way for him to give back to the community and be immersed in new ideas.

Eileen is currently employed as a Senior Planner at Built. Born in Malaysia and having lived and worked in Kobe, Sheffield and Sydney, she now calls Perth her home. She has three passions in life: learning, promoting diversity of thought and travelling.

She has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and Communication Studies and is currently finishing her diploma in Business Governance with the Institute of Community Directors Australia.

Eileen is also the Treasurer for National Australia Women in Construction in Western Australia, a UniMentor for Women in Engineering and is a massive supporter of the Cambodian Children's Fund and the Cancer Council.

Anthony is a leading communications consultant with more than 25 years experience in a wide range of industries, both in Australia and internationally. He is Managing Director of Clarity, the leading brand and communications agency, which he co-founded in 1999.

Kai is a 15-year-old entrepreneur, broadcaster, freelancer, speaker and trailblazing change agent, motivated by a strong sense of social justice and a passion for content creation. He’s on a mission to follow his curiosities, and help others to do the same.

At age 12, he began producing and presenting on local radio, sparking his interest in creating content across various mediums. Months later he established The Tech Thread Co, his first e-commerce enterprise, immersing himself in the realities of business.

Going on to creating POV (Point of View), his own podcast, at 13, he further explored the potential of content for good.

Quickly realising that it’s not all plain sailing as a young entrepreneur, but still passionately curious, he started Millennial Studios, a media incubator for young people with the vision of creating a platform for impactful content.

With the co-creation of peer-to-peer tutoring agency Student Tutors United in late 2018, Kai had started and operated three enterprises in various industries.

He is now focussing on sharing his experiences, lessons and skills with other young people and enterprises, through speaking, consultancy and freelance work.

Kai was a speaker at TEDxPerth, The Age of Wonder, at Perth Concert Hall in 2018. He joins the team to help us develop and deliver TEDxYouth@Perth in 2020.

This position is currently available.

Charlie Gunningham sits on various advisory boards and is active among Perth’s tech startup sector. His full-time role is with the federal government’s Accelerating Commercialisation programme providing access to commercial advice and matching grants of up to $1 million for eligible projects. Having landed in Perth in 1997, Charlie topped the MBA at the UWA Business School, cofounded and then later sold aussiehome.com, ran reiwa.com and was CEO of Business News.

Michael Tucak is Principal Lawyer at creative legal, a specialist legal firm for WA's creative industries. He is a board member of pvi collective and the Chamber of Arts and Culture (WA), and a previous board member/chair at RTRFM 92.1, board member/secretary of Emerging Writer's Festival and board member at Artrage (Fringeworld).

Michael is passionate about developing the creative capacity of Western Australia and championing the benefits that flow from our own creative abilities. He has lectured in Arts Law at WAAPA and in Fashion Law and occasionally presents RTRM 92.1's 'Siamese Dream' show. He was recently elected as a local Councillor.