INTRODUCING OUR MC....  MARTY WILSON

TED Speaker on Resilience & Behaviour Change, Former Australian Comic of the Year.

Marty Wilson has spent his entire professional life studying resilience, partly because he was a full-time Stand Up Comic for 8 years in the UK (and nobody knows how to bounce back from adversity like an Aussie Comic performing to the Brits!), but also because is a relentless entrepreneur who has leapt from one successful career to another – he’s a Pharmacist turned Award-Winning Advertising Copywriter turned Stand Up Comic turned Bestselling Author and Speaker. He has spoken to over 500,000 people since he first leapt up on stage in 1997. In his first 12 months Marty won Australian Comic of the Year, appeared on the Footy Show, and was invited to the UK to become a full time Stand Up. He returned home 2008 and now helps people and businesses use humour and levity to lead behaviour change in the areas of health and innovation.

Marty structures his programs on the results of over 1,000 interviews he has done with inspirational and successful people for his 11 and counting books in his bestselling What I Wish I Knew series. From footy coach Wayne Bennett to a Buddhist Nun who works with prisoners on death row in L.A., from Comic Anh Do to a mother of eleven children, from a 911 survivor to chef Maggie Beer. This makes his programs incredibly human and instantly relatable to a wide variety of audiences.

MICHELLE DICKINSON

Michelle Dickinson (MNZM) is a passionate researcher and teacher with a love of science and engineering. Her background in Biomedical and Materials Engineering have combined her interests in both biology and materials science to give her a unique insight into how nature and technology can learn from each other for future scientific developments.

Michelle has always followed her dreams and never let traditional stereotypes scare her. She strongly believes that everyone should have access to learning about science and how things work. She is a firm believer in aiming high and working hard with great people who want to share the journey.

Some people call that liking a challenge but to her it is a way of life. Whether it’s her favourite sports of kitesurfing, rock climbing and mountain biking, or working towards finding a solution for a science-related question, Michelle is always looking for new challenges.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Michelle was recently announced as this year's New Zealand Woman of Influence for Science and Innovation.


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LAURIE LAWRENCE

Laurie Lawrence, a top athlete in his own right, is a former Australian Rugby Union Representative and Olympic and World Champion Swim coach.

Laurie Lawrence is a maker of champions, capable of lifting the spirits of those around him to soaring heights. Swim coaching has played an important part in Laurie’s life. He was able to balance his time around the pool with his studies, which resulted in Laurie achieving a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Teaching Diploma in Physical Education, and a Teaching Diploma. These qualifications have served Laurie and his pupils admirably during his coaching career. Laurie Lawrence has represented Australia in World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games as a swim coach. During the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane (1982) and Edinborough (1986), and the Olympics Games in Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988), Laurie’s pupils were standout performers. They succeeded in breaking many National, Commonwealth and World Records in a number of their gold medal winning performances. Lawrence protégés, Jon Sieben – Los Angeles (1984) and Duncan Armstrong – Seoul (1988), both won Olympic gold medals for Australia. Another Lawrence pupil and world record holder, Judy Young, won Para-Olympic gold for Australia when she was victorious in the special section of her 400 metre freestyle event in Seoul in 1988.

For many, Laurie represents the beloved Aussie larrikin who loves an audience and a stage, but this is only a tiny glimpse of the man. He sets his goals and encourages those within his influence to work towards personal perfection. And not only is he in demand, he gets results.

Laurie Lawrence is a True Australian in Heart, Mind and Soul.


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