Genevieve McLachlan | TedX Pipitea

Testimonial

"Being a TEDx speaker has been a long-held dream of mine & it finally came true, although I initially couldn’t believe I’d been accepted. What an amazing experience from beginning to end. Because of the constantly changing situation, TEDxPipitea 2021 was a very different experience as, rather than a live event in front of an audience of thousands, the plan was then for a live event in front of 100 people, but even that had to change. In the end all our speeches were filmed in a studio & live streamed with a live MC.

Throughout the whole process, from coaching to the final event, the TEDxPipitea organisers & speakers showed incredible resilience as none of us wanted to give up, we were determined to find a way to proceed. It wasn’t always easy as we only met in person a couple of times, at the initial launch & again at the livestream event, which we attended in person. That was the first time any of us had seen our speeches & I’m sure we were all as nervous as if we’d been doing them live, I know I was! For me, being with my fellow speakers & the TEDxPipitea team in person to watch the livestream event, was my favourite time as all our hard work had come to fruition.

Participating in TEDxPipitea 2021, has increased my confidence as a public speaker & given me the confidence to put myself out there. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes of it."

Our Differences Don’t Define Us

Not everyone is lucky enough to be born with full bodily function and though Genevieve was born with cerebral palsy & low vision, through tenacity and perseverance she’s learned to make her own luck, refusing to let her disabilities define her. Having previously worked in the disability sector, for the past 14 years she’s been running her own technology business, advocating for the percentage of our population who live with some form of disability or impairment that makes it difficult to fully participate in the digital world. Through the use of specialised solutions, her work makes technology accessible to all, creating an inclusive online environment for those who might otherwise be left out.