3 March, 2016

Look who’s talking at TEDx Queenstown

TEDxQueenstown has announced three speakers and performers who’ll take to the stage on April 17.

The ‘connexions’ themed event will include performance poet Liz Breslin, social activist Ken Clearwater, and the multi-faceted Patrick Dodson.

The event invites leading thinkers and doers to deliver short (18 minutes or fewer) talks on an area of their expertise, each connected by the theme. After intensive auditions, training and practicing, around eleven will present at the Queenstown Memorial Centre.

Patrick Dodson has been a fan of the TED and TEDx programmes for many years.

“I already anticipate a lot of energy and emotion is going to go into the preparations,” said Mr Dodson.

“But it’ll be worth it. The possibility of connecting with like-minded people, the opportunity to inspire and share; I’m deeply honoured to be part of the weekend.”

Mr Dodson has spent the last 25 years in over 30 countries and has practiced as a chef, photographer, writer, public speaker and organiser. His talk will be based on his idea that your career need not be defining.

Ken Clearwater is also an experienced public speaker who’s had TEDxQueenstown on his bucket list. As an activist promoting greater awareness and understanding of male sexual abuse, he’s talked at conferences around the world, including at the UN.

Clearwater is a member of New Zealand’s only group supporting male survivors of abuse, MSSAT (Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust) and he says he’s keen to talk about the problem no one seems to want to hear.

“This is a huge opportunity to talk about this kind of stuff, this is a human rights issue, not a gender issue and it has to be addressed,” he said.

Liz Breslin is the first TEDxQueenstown 2016 performer to be announced. A writer and performance poet, Ms Breslin was runner up in the 2014 New Zealand National Poetry Slam.

For the uninitiated, performance and slam poetry is often fast-paced, edgy and off-the-cuff, a speciality Breslin’s known for.

Breslin said she was “totally excited” to be part of the event and promises a vibrant performance on the ‘connexions’ theme.

“I’ve centred the performance around a quote by 20^th Century writer E.M. Forster, “Only connect the prose and the passion… live in fragments no longer,”

“Connecting is everything, it’s important to us as people, so I’m looking forward to playing with this theme,” she said.

During the half-day event, guests will be treated to local food and beverages, special satellite activities and a few surprises during the evening. The non-profit event is made possible through the involvement of numerous local businesses and more than 30 volunteers.

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